Assembly tower
First Claim
1. An assembly tower apparatus for supporting a tool and for assisting in the construction of large aircraft components;
- said assembly tower apparatus comprising;
a base;
a platform operationally coupled to said base for supporting an indiviual thereon and for movement relative thereto;
a fastening tool disposed on said platform;
a drive system operatively associated with one of said base and said platform for moving said base freely on a ground surface and for moving said platform vertically relative to said base in response to a selected control signal;
a control system for selectively generating and communicating control signals to said drive means;
a tower guidance system disposed fixedly relative to said ground surface and adiacent said work-piece providing a defined path of movement adjacent said workpiece;
a guidance element associated with said base and engageable with said tower guidance system for limiting movement of said base on said ground surface in accordance with said defined path when said guidance element and said base are interengaged, and said base being freely moveable outside of said defined path when said guidance element is not engaged with said tower guidance system; and
said control system being responsive to information input thereto by said individual to precisely control movement of said apparatus to thereby effect controlled movement of said platform in three axes and to cause said base to become engaged or disengaged with said guidance element.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An assembly tower method and apparatus for use with an assembly jig having a tower guidance apparatus. The assembly tower includes a base, a platform coupled to the base for movement relative thereto, a drive system for moving the base relative to the ground and for moving the platform to the base in response to selected control signals. A Control System is included in the assembly tower for selectively generating and communicating the respective control signals to the drive system. A tower guidance apparatus is engagable with a guidance element of the tower to limit movement of the base relative to the ground in accordance with a pre-defined path. The tower carries a tool for assisting in constructing large aircraft components such as fuselage panels which are supported on the assembly jig.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An assembly tower apparatus for supporting a tool and for assisting in the construction of large aircraft components;
- said assembly tower apparatus comprising;
a base; a platform operationally coupled to said base for supporting an indiviual thereon and for movement relative thereto; a fastening tool disposed on said platform; a drive system operatively associated with one of said base and said platform for moving said base freely on a ground surface and for moving said platform vertically relative to said base in response to a selected control signal; a control system for selectively generating and communicating control signals to said drive means; a tower guidance system disposed fixedly relative to said ground surface and adiacent said work-piece providing a defined path of movement adjacent said workpiece; a guidance element associated with said base and engageable with said tower guidance system for limiting movement of said base on said ground surface in accordance with said defined path when said guidance element and said base are interengaged, and said base being freely moveable outside of said defined path when said guidance element is not engaged with said tower guidance system; and said control system being responsive to information input thereto by said individual to precisely control movement of said apparatus to thereby effect controlled movement of said platform in three axes and to cause said base to become engaged or disengaged with said guidance element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- said assembly tower apparatus comprising;
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11. An assembly apparatus for assisting with constructing large aircraft components comprised of a first member and a second member, said assembly apparatus comprising:
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an assembly jig supported on a ground surface, said assembly jig including a fixture and a tower guidance apparatus, said fixture including means for supporting said first member and said second member fixedly relative to said assembly jig; and said tower guidance apparatus being fixedly disposed relative to said ground surface to define a pre-determined path adjacent said assembly jig; an assembly tower including a base, a platform operatively coupled to said base for movement relative thereto, a drive system coupled to one of said base and said platform for moving said base relative to the surface and for moving said platform relative to said base in response to a control signal, a control system for selectively generating and communicating control signals to said drive system and to a guidance system coupled to said base to make said guidance system selectively engageable with said tower guidance apparatus for placing said assembly tower in a disengaged position, wherein said base is freely movable in a plane substantially parallel to the ground surface, and an engaged position wherein said guidance system engages with said tower guidance apparatus to thereby limit movement of said base relative to the ground along said predetermined path. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An assembly tower apparatus for facilitating construction of aircraft fuselage panels, said apparatus comprising;
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a base; a platform operatively associated with said base for supporting an individual thereon above said base; a fastening tool disposed on said platform and controllable by said individual; a first system for raising and lowering said platform relative to said base to thereby place said individual at a desired elevational position relative to a fuselage component; a second system for propelling said base freely on a ground surface; a guide mechanism independent of said base and said platform and fixed relative to said ground surface, and disposed adjacent said fuselage panel, for defining a pre-determined path of movement; a guide element operably associated with said base and engageable with said guide mechanism; a third system associated with said base and engageable with said guide mechanism for propelling said base along a path defined by said guide mechanism; and a control system controlled by an individual supported on said platform for generating control signals applied to said first, second and third systems such that said operator is able to control movement of said base freely about said ground surface or to cause said guide element of said base to become engaged with said guide mechanism, to thereby limit movement of said base to movement along said path defined by said guide mechanism.
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Specification