Reconfigurable Workpiece Support Fixture

• US 20090322008A1
• Filed: 08/25/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Freeland, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,006,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 269/296
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/035 with an array of longitudinally movable rods defining a reconfigurable support surface
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/103 Constructional elements used for constructing work holders
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 11/005 Vacuum work holders

Abstract

An exemplary reconfigurable workpiece support fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a base, and a plurality of spaced-apart plates are removably attachable to the base. Each plate defines a plurality of notches along an angular profile. A plurality of spaced-apart manifolds are receivable in the plurality of notches, and each manifold spans across the plurality of plates. A plurality of attachment devices are removably attachable to the plurality of manifolds.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable workpiece support fixture comprising:

a base;

a plurality of spaced-apart plates removably attachable to the base, each plate defining a plurality of notches along an angular profile;

a plurality of spaced-apart manifolds receivable in the plurality of notches, each manifold spanning across the plurality of plates; and

a plurality of attachment devices removably attachable to the plurality of manifolds, the plurality of attachment devices including electromagnets.

2-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method of supporting a workpiece on a workpiece support fixture, the method comprising:

removably attaching a plurality of spaced-apart plates to a base, each plate defining a plurality of notches along an angular profile;

receiving a plurality of spaced-apart manifolds in the plurality of notches, each manifold spanning across the plurality of plates;

removably attaching a plurality of attachment devices to the plurality of manifolds; and

removably attaching a workpiece to the plurality of attachment devices.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein removably attaching the workpiece includes generating an attraction force between the plurality of manifolds and the workpiece.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

abutting each manifold against a side of the notch in which the manifold is received when the notch is defined at an angle that is angularly displaced from a direction of gravitational urging.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the attraction force includes one of a suction force and a magnetic force.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein removably attaching a plurality of spaced-apart plates to a base comprises:

removably fastening the plurality of spaced-apart plates to the base.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein each manifold of the plurality of spaced-apart manifolds has a plurality of spaced-apart receptacles that are configured to removably receive an attachment device of the plurality of attachment devices, and further comprising:

removably attaching the plurality of attachment devices to selected ones of the plurality of spaced-apart receptacles.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

sealing receptacles of the plurality of spaced-apart receptacles that do not have an attachment device removably attached thereto.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

providing at least one clearance depression on an edge of at least one of the plurality of spaced-apart plates to accommodate a built-up portion of the workpiece.

21. A method of reconfiguring a workpiece support fixture, the method comprising:

removably attaching a plurality of first spaced-apart plates to a base, each of the first spaced-apart plates defining a plurality of first notches along a first angular profile;

receiving a plurality of spaced-apart manifolds in the plurality of first notches, each manifold spanning across the plurality of first spaced-apart plates, each manifold defining a plurality of spaced-apart receptacles;

removably attaching a plurality of attachment devices to the plurality of manifolds in receptacles that are within edges of a workpiece to be supported; and

when any receptacles are beyond any edge of the workpiece, sealing the receptacles that are beyond the edges of the workpiece.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

removably attaching a plurality of second spaced-apart plates to the base, each of the second spaced-apart plates defining a plurality of second notches along a second angular profile that is different from the first angular profile.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

removing the plurality of first spaced-apart plates from the base prior to removably attaching the plurality of second spaced-apart plates to the base.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

removably attaching a plurality of attachment devices to the plurality of manifolds in receptacles that are within edges of a second workpiece to be supported; and

when any receptacles are beyond any edge of the second workpiece, sealing the receptacles that are beyond the edges of the second workpiece.

29. A method of supporting a workpiece on a workpiece support fixture, the method comprising:

removably attaching a plurality of spaced-apart plates to a base, each plate of the plurality of spaced-apart plates having a plurality of notches in an edge of the plate that is configured to support the workpiece;

receiving a plurality of manifolds in the plurality of notches, each manifold of the plurality of manifolds being received in one notch of the plurality of notches in at least two of the plurality of spaced-apart plates and spanning across the at least two of the plurality of spaced-apart plates;

removably attaching a plurality of attachment devices to the plurality of manifolds; and

removably attaching a workpiece to the plurality of attachment devices.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein removably attaching a plurality of spaced-apart plates to a base, comprises removably fastening the plurality of spaced-apart plates to the base.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the edge of each plate that is configured to support the workpiece is configured to define an angular profile, and wherein receiving a plurality of manifolds in the plurality of notches, comprises:

abutting each manifold of the plurality of manifolds against a side of the notch in which the manifold is received when the notch is defined at an angle that is angularly displaced from a direction of gravitational urging.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein removably attaching a workpiece to the plurality of attachment devices, comprises:

generating an attraction force between the plurality of manifolds and the workpiece.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein each manifold of the plurality of manifolds has a plurality of spaced-apart receptacles that are configured to removably receive an attachment device of the plurality of attachment devices, and further comprising:

sealing receptacles of the plurality of spaced-apart receptacles that do not have an attachment device received thereby.

34. The method of claim 29, and further comprising:

providing at least one clearance depression on the edge of at least one of the plurality of spaced-apart plates to accommodate a built-up portion of the workpiece.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein providing at least one clearance depression on the edge of at least one of the plurality of spaced-apart plates comprises:

affixing attachment devices of the plurality of attachment devices to the edge of the at least one of the plurality of spaced-apart plates that are shorter than attachment devices of the plurality of attachment devices that are affixed to other spaced-apart plates of the plurality of spaced-apart plates.