Clamping mechanism

• US 20040141821A1
• Filed: 01/08/2004
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Otten, Juergen
• Granted Patent: US 7,226,253 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 408/103
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2270/12 Centering of two components relative to one another
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 47/287 Jigs for drilling plate-like workpieces templates for marking the position of fittings on wings or frames E05D11/0009
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/50 with product handling or receiving means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/553 Centering means adapted to be replaced by Tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/56245 including tool-guide [or bushing]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/563 Work-gripping clamp
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/567 Adjustable, tool-guiding jig

Abstract

The drilling of a hole through at least two structural components in alignment with a predrilled hole or marked location in one of the structural components is facilitated by a clamping mechanism that has a bail with two legs. One leg carries a first clamping section with a guide channel for a centering pin or a drill bit. When the centering pin has served its purpose it is removed from the guide channel which then guides the drill bit. The other leg carries a second clamping section opposite the first clamping section. The second clamping section has a pressure bushing drivable by a clamping drive for clamping the second structural component against the first structural component for drilling a hole through all structural components including through a predrilled hole or for simultaneously drilling all structural components at the marked location. The pressure bushing has a hollow free end forming a cavity.

Claims

1. A clamping mechanism for clamping at least two structural components to each other comprising a clamping bail forming a clamping opening, a first clamping section (9) carried by said clamping bail to face across said clamping opening, a second clamping section (10) carried by said clamping bail to face across said clamping opening in alignment with said first clamping section (9), said first clamping section comprising a guide element (11) for guiding a drill bit, a removable centering pin (12) axially movable in said guide element (11) for aiding in positioning a first structural component of said at least two structural components in a correct drilling position, and wherein said second clamping section (10) comprises a pressure member (15) and a clamping drive for pressing said pressure member (15) against a second structural component of said at least two structural components and against said first structural component to establish a clamped position for said at least two structural components.

2. The clamping mechanism of claim 1, wherein said guide element (11) is constructed as a drill bushing for first guiding said centering pin (12) and for then guiding said drill bit (DB) after removal of said centering pin (12) from said drill bushing (11).

3. The clamping mechanism of claim 1, further comprising an adapter (20) secured to said first clamping section (9) in axial alignment with said guide element for holding a drill in an aligned drilling position.

4. The clamping mechanism of claim 3, wherein said adapter (20) comprises a locking device for locking said drill to said first clamping section (9).

5. The clamping mechanism of claim 3, wherein said adapter (20) is a chuck for locking said drill to said first clamping section (9).

6. The clamping mechanism of claim 1, wherein said clamping drive comprises a cam (13A), an eccentric mounting (14) rotatably securing said cam (13A) to said second clamping section (10) and a drive lever (13) secured to said cam for rotating said cam against said pressure member (15).

7. The clamping mechanism of claim 1, wherein said clamping drive comprises a clamping screw (21) rotatably mounted in said second clamping section, said clamping screw having a free end forming said pressure member (15).

8. The clamping mechanism of claim 1, wherein said clamping drive comprises a clamping push rod (22) slidably and rotatably mounted in said second clamping section and an operating lever (23) secured to one end of said clamping rod, said clamping push rod having a free end forming said pressure member (15).

9. The clamping mechanism of claim 1, wherein said clamping drive comprises a piston cylinder device mounted to said second clamping section, said piston cylinder device comprising a piston having a free end forming said pressure member (15).

10. The clamping mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a suction device (17) communicating with said guide element (11) for sucking drill chips out of said guide element.

11. The clamping mechanism of claim 1, wherein said guide element (11) comprises a hollow guide channel in said first clamping section (9), said hollow guide channel being axially aligned with said pressure member (15) in said second clamping section.

12. The clamping mechanism of claim 1, wherein said pressure member (15) comprises a free end for contacting said other structural component and a dead end bore or cavity (15A) in said pressure member in axial alignment with said guide element (11), said dead end bore opening into said free end of the pressure member wherein said free end of the pressure member, in a clamping position surrounds a structural component area through which a hole is being and a drill bit tip can enter into said bore or cavity (15A) when a hole drilling is completed.