Holding device for generating a retaining pressure on an airplane component
First Claim
1. An apparatus for supporting a workpiece having a contoured surface, comprising:
- a fluid reservoir arrangement containing and adapted to supply a pressurized hydraulic fluid;
a first support unit comprising a first cylinder, a first piston movably arranged in said first cylinder and bounding a variable-volume first chamber in said first cylinder, a first support element connected to said first piston and protruding from said first cylinder by a first variable extent dependent on a movable position of said first piston in said first cylinder, a first fluid passage connecting said first chamber with said fluid reservoir arrangement and establishing communication of said pressurized hydraulic fluid between said fluid reservoir arrangement and said first chamber, and a first valve interposed in said first fluid passage and adapted to be selectively opened and closed so as to selectively permit and shut-off said communication of said pressurized hydraulic fluid between said fluid reservoir arrangement and said first chamber, wherein said first support element is adapted to contact and support the contoured surface of the workpiece at a first location whereby said first support element protrudes from said first cylinder by a first protrusion amount that is dependent on and defined by a first position of the contoured surface at the first location, and wherein said variable-volume first chamber is the only variable-volume space to which said pressurized hydraulic fluid is communicated through said first valve so that when said first support element contacts said contoured surf ace and said first valve is closed then said variable-volume of said first chamber is invariably fixed at a respective existing first fixed volume and said first variable extent of protrusion of said first support element from said first cylinder is invariably fixed at said first protrusion amount; and
a second support unit comprising a second cylinder, a second piston movably arranged in said second cylinder and bounding a variable-volume second chamber in said second cylinder, a second support element connected to said second piston and protruding from said second cylinder by a second variable extent dependent on a movable position of said second piston in said second cylinder, a second fluid passage connecting said second chamber with said fluid reservoir arrangement and establishing communication of said pressurized hydraulic fluid between said fluid reservoir arrangement and said second chamber, and a second valve interposed in said second fluid passage and adapted to be selectively opened and closed so as to selectively permit and shut-off said communication of said pressurized hydraulic fluid between said fluid reservoir arrangement and said second chamber, wherein said second support element is adapted to contact and support the contoured surface of the workpiece at a second location whereby said second support element protrudes from said second cylinder by a second protrusion amount that is dependent on and defined by a second position of the contoured surface at the second location, and wherein said variable-volume second chamber is the only variable-volume space to which said pressurized hydraulic fluid is communicated through said second valve so that when said second support element contacts said contoured surface and said second valve is closed then said variable-volume of said second chamber is invariably fixed at a respective existing second fixed volume and said second variable extent of protrusion of said second support element from said second cylinder is invariably fixed at said second protrusion amount.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A holding device produces a retaining pressure on a contoured airplane component (40) for holding the component in place when work is performed on the component. For this purpose the holding device (10) comprises a support (11) and at least one holding element (16) connected to the support (11) and projecting from the support (11) for contacting the contoured airplane component (40) in a holding zone. A spacing between a contact area of the holding element (16) and the support (11) is adjustable in accordance with the contour of the airplane component (40) in the holding zone. The adjustment of the position of the holding element relative to the support (11) moves the holding element (16) more or less against the surface contour so that the holding force is applied exactly where needed on the holding zone. A plurality of holding elements can be advanced toward the surface contour to variable extents so that all contact areas together conform to the surface contour.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for supporting a workpiece having a contoured surface, comprising:
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a fluid reservoir arrangement containing and adapted to supply a pressurized hydraulic fluid; a first support unit comprising a first cylinder, a first piston movably arranged in said first cylinder and bounding a variable-volume first chamber in said first cylinder, a first support element connected to said first piston and protruding from said first cylinder by a first variable extent dependent on a movable position of said first piston in said first cylinder, a first fluid passage connecting said first chamber with said fluid reservoir arrangement and establishing communication of said pressurized hydraulic fluid between said fluid reservoir arrangement and said first chamber, and a first valve interposed in said first fluid passage and adapted to be selectively opened and closed so as to selectively permit and shut-off said communication of said pressurized hydraulic fluid between said fluid reservoir arrangement and said first chamber, wherein said first support element is adapted to contact and support the contoured surface of the workpiece at a first location whereby said first support element protrudes from said first cylinder by a first protrusion amount that is dependent on and defined by a first position of the contoured surface at the first location, and wherein said variable-volume first chamber is the only variable-volume space to which said pressurized hydraulic fluid is communicated through said first valve so that when said first support element contacts said contoured surf ace and said first valve is closed then said variable-volume of said first chamber is invariably fixed at a respective existing first fixed volume and said first variable extent of protrusion of said first support element from said first cylinder is invariably fixed at said first protrusion amount; and a second support unit comprising a second cylinder, a second piston movably arranged in said second cylinder and bounding a variable-volume second chamber in said second cylinder, a second support element connected to said second piston and protruding from said second cylinder by a second variable extent dependent on a movable position of said second piston in said second cylinder, a second fluid passage connecting said second chamber with said fluid reservoir arrangement and establishing communication of said pressurized hydraulic fluid between said fluid reservoir arrangement and said second chamber, and a second valve interposed in said second fluid passage and adapted to be selectively opened and closed so as to selectively permit and shut-off said communication of said pressurized hydraulic fluid between said fluid reservoir arrangement and said second chamber, wherein said second support element is adapted to contact and support the contoured surface of the workpiece at a second location whereby said second support element protrudes from said second cylinder by a second protrusion amount that is dependent on and defined by a second position of the contoured surface at the second location, and wherein said variable-volume second chamber is the only variable-volume space to which said pressurized hydraulic fluid is communicated through said second valve so that when said second support element contacts said contoured surface and said second valve is closed then said variable-volume of said second chamber is invariably fixed at a respective existing second fixed volume and said second variable extent of protrusion of said second support element from said second cylinder is invariably fixed at said second protrusion amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification