Modular tooling approach to major structural repair

• US 20040039465A1
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: McGrory, Matt, Boyer, Larry Paul, Knaus, Greg
• Application Number:
  US10/226,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20040039465A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/95
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/401 characterised by control arrangements for measuring, e.g. calibration and initialisation, measuring workpiece for machining purposes G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/402 characterised by control arrangements for positioning, e.g. centring a tool relative to a hole in the workpiece, additional detection means to correct position G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32228 Repair, rework of manufactured article
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37275 Laser, interferometer

Abstract

A controller for modular tooling includes a central processing unit. A scanner port is configured to establish and maintain communicative connection between an optical scanner and the central processing unit. A database is in communicative connection with the central processing unit. The database includes at least one numeric model of an aircraft, assembly, sub-assembly or component part; at least one standardized procedure for a repair of an aircraft, assembly, subassembly or component part; and a tooling library containing operating characteristics of at least one controllable tool. An effecter port is configured to establish and maintain communicative connection between a controllable tool and the central processing unit. An operator interface is in communicative connection with the central processing unit.

Claims

1. A controller for modular tooling, the controller comprising:

a central processing unit;

a scanner port configured to establish and maintain communicative connection between an optical scanner and the central processing unit;

a database in communicative connection with the central processing unit, the database including;

at least one numeric model of an aircraft, assembly, sub-assembly or component part;

at least one standardized procedure for a repair of an aircraft, assembly, sub-assembly or component part; and

a tooling library containing operating characteristics of at least one controllable tool;

an effecter port configured to establish and maintain communicative connection between a controllable tool and the central processing unit; and

an operator interface in communicative connection with the central processing unit.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the optical scanner includes a laser tracker.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the optical scanner includes at least one 112 concern video camera.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the database is remotely located from the controller.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the repair database includes at least one configuration of configurable fixturing stored in association with the standardized procedure.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the tooling library the characteristics include normalized values for the controllable tools.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the operator interface includes a graphic user interface.

8. A software product for controlling modular tooling, the software product comprising:

an interrupt assigned to a scanner port and configured to establish and maintain communicative connection between an optical scanner and a central processing unit;

a database, the database including;

at least one numeric model of an aircraft, assembly, sub-assembly or component part;

at least one standardized procedure for a repair of an aircraft, assembly, sub-assembly or component part; and

a tooling library containing operating characteristics of at least one controllable tool;

an interrupt assigned to an effecter port and configured to establish and maintain communicative connection between a controllable tool and the central processing unit;

an operator interface in communicative connection with the central processing unit;

a first algorithm to compare information received at the interrupt assigned to the scanner with numeric models to produce an assessment of damage to an aircraft; and

a second algorithm to control the controllable tool, based upon the assessment and the operator interface.

9. The software product of claim 8, wherein the optical scanner includes a laser tracker.

10. The software product of claim 8, wherein the optical scanner includes at least one video camera.

11. The software product of claim 8, wherein the database is remotely located from the controller.

12. The software product of claim 8, wherein the database includes at least one configuration of configurable fixturing stored in association with the standardized procedure.

13. The software of claim 8, wherein the database includes normalized values for the controllable tools.

14. The software of claim 8, wherein the operator interface includes a graphic user interface.

15. A method for major structural repair of an aircraft, the method comprising:

surveying a damaged aircraft with an optical scanner;

comparing the surveyed aircraft to a prestored numeric model of aircraft in order to establish variances between the numeric model and the surveyed aircraft;

developing a repair procedure based upon the variances, the repair procedure including using at least one controllable tool;

placing the controllable tool in relation to the damaged aircraft according to the repair procedure;

monitoring the placing of the controllable tool with the optical scanner to establish a displacement;

correcting the placing of the controllable tool based upon the displacement; and

effecting repair according to the developed procedure.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the optical scanner includes a laser tracker.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the optical scanner includes a video camera.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein developing of a repair procedure includes referring to a repair database.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein placing a controllable tool includes fixing the damaged aircraft in space.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein effecting the repair includes monitoring by the optical scanner.

21. A portable modular tooling platform for working on a workpiece, the tooling platform comprising:

at least one controllable tool, configured to work on a workpiece;

an optical system configured to sense a location of each of the workpiece and the controllable tool in three-dimensioned space;

a controller communicatively connected to the laser tracker and to the controllable tool; and

a user interface, communicatively connected to the controller and configured to direct the controller to control the controllable tool.

22. The tooling platform of claim 21, wherein the controller is communicatively linked to a database.

23. The tooling platform of claim 22, wherein the database includes at least one numeric model of an aircraft, assembly, sub-assembly or component part.

24. The tooling platform of claim 23, wherein the database includes at least one standardized procedure for a repair of an aircraft, assembly, sub-assembly or component part.

25. The tooling platform of claim 24, wherein the database includes a tooling library containing operating characteristics of at least one controllable tool.

26. The tooling platform of claim 21, wherein the optical system includes a laser tracker.

27. The tooling platform of claim 21, wherein the optical system includes a video camera.