SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A WING PANEL

• US 20140090252A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Buttrick, James N., Jones, Darrell D., Munk, Clayton L., Sisco, Farahnaz Tanni, Smith, Daniel R., Aquino, Jayson J., Batt, Edward John, Micale, Antonio C., Couevas, Chris G., Ramos, Mario, Namdaran, Azita N., Noor, Noman S., Mottaz, Donald A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,943,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/897.2
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 15/142 Aerospace structures
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/004 the units passing two or more work-stations whilst being composed
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 23/00 Machines or arrangements of machines for performing specified combinations of different metal-working operations not covered by a single other subclass if the particular kinds of operation are not essential B23Q37/00 - B23Q41/00; working by laser beam combined with other working of metal B23K26/0093
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 23/06 Metal-working plant comprising a number of associated machines or apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/01 Aircraft parts
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/10 Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/50 Handling or transporting aircraft components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49622 Vehicular structural member making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/51 Plural diverse manufacturing apparatus including means for metal shaping or assembling

Abstract

A system and method are provided to automate the assembly of a wing panel, such as utilized by commercial aircraft. In the context of a system, a tacking cell is provided that is configured to tack one or more stringers to a skin plank. The system also includes a riveting cell configured to receive a tacked plank from the tacking cell and to rivet the one or more stringers to the skin plank. The system also includes a splicing cell configured to receive a plurality of riveted planks from the riveting cell and to attach one or more splice stringers to the plurality of riveted planks. Further, the system includes a side of body cell configured to receive a spliced panel from the splicing cell and to attach a side of body chord thereto to produce a wing panel.

Claims

1. A system for automated manufacture of aircraft wing panels comprising:

a tacking cell configured to tack one or more stringers to a skin plank;

a riveting cell configured to receive a tacked plank from the tacking cell and to rivet the one or more stringers to the tacked plank;

a splicing cell configured to receive a plurality of riveted planks from the riveting cell and to attach one or more splice stringers to the plurality of riveted planks; and

a side of body cell configured to receive a spliced panel from the splicing cell and to attach a side of body chord thereto to produce a wing panel.

2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a staging cell upstream of the riveting cell for receiving the one or more tacked planks and for providing the one or more tacked planks to the riveting cell.

3. A system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one reconfigurable cart configured to carry the one or more stringers to the tacking cell and the one or more splice stringers to the splicing cell.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein the reconfigurable cart is configured to travel via rails.

5. A system according to claim 3 wherein the reconfigurable cart comprises an automated guided vehicle.

6. A system according to claim 1 further comprising an overhead positioning system configured to move the skin plank to the tacking cell, the tacked plank to the riveting cell, the riveted plank to the splicing cell and the spliced panel to the side of body cell.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein the overhead positioning system comprises a plurality of vice jaws having first and second jaw members with first and second clamp members, wherein at least one of the clamp members is adjustable.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein each vice jaw further includes one or more extendible members that are configured to adjustably extend into the vice jaw.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the riveting cell, the splicing cell and the side of body cell comprises a plurality of lines to provide for parallel processing.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the tacking cell, the riveting cell and the splicing cell each include programmably reconfigurable tooling for maintaining the skin plank, the tacked plank and the riveted plank, respectively, in a predefined position.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the programmably reconfigurable tooling is configured to define a plurality of different positions so as to permit the skin plank, the tacked plank and the riveted plank to be maintained in different respective predefined positions.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein the tacking cell, the riveting cell, the splicing cell and the side of body cell each include one or more robots.

13. A method for automated manufacture of aircraft wing panels comprising:

tacking one or more stringers to a skin plank in a tacking cell;

receiving a tacked plank from the tacking cell and riveting the one or more stringers to the tacked plank in a riveting cell;

receiving a plurality of riveted planks from the riveting cell and attaching one or more splice stringers to the plurality of riveted planks in a splicing cell; and

receiving a spliced panel from the splicing cell and attaching a side of body chord thereto within a side of body cell to produce a wing panel.

14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising receiving the one or more tacked planks at a staging cell upstream of the riveting cell and providing the one or more tacked planks to the riveting cell.

15. A method according to claim 13 further comprising carrying the one or more stringers to the tacking cell and the one or more splice stringers to the splicing cell with a reconfigurable cart.

16. A method according to claim 13 further comprising moving the skin plank to the tacking cell, the tacked plank to the riveting cell, the riveted plank to the splicing cell and the spliced panel to the side of body cell using an overhead positioning system.

17. A method according to claim 13 further comprising providing for parallel processing within at least one of the riveting cell, the splicing cell and the side of body cell.

18. A method according to claim 13 further comprising adjustably engaging the skin plank, the tacked plank and the riveted plank with programmably reconfigurable tooling within the tacking cell, the riveting cell and the splicing cell, respectively, so as to maintain the skin plank, the tacked plank and the riveted plank in respective predefined positions.

19. A method according to claim 18 further comprising defining a plurality of different positions with the programmably reconfigurable tooling so as to permit the skin plank, the tacked plank and the riveted plank to be maintained in different respective predefined positions.

20. A method according to claim 13 further comprising performing functions within the tacking cell, the riveting cell, the splicing cell and the side of body cell with one or more robots.