System for assembling aircraft
First Claim
1. A system for establishing a reference monument inside an aircraft as-built representing a desired cruise orientation for the as-built aircraft, comprising:
- a measurement system to measure relative locations of aerodynamically significant features of the as-built aircraft;
an orientation calculation system to calculate the desired cruise orientation of the as-built aircraft based on the measured locations of the features;
means for moving a tool reference surface to an orientation corresponding to the calculated desired cruise orientation while the tool reference surface is outside the aircraft; and
means for transferring the orientation of the tool reference surface from outside the aircraft to the reference monument inside the aircraft.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system automatically moves large scale components of a vehicle such as an airplane, into final assembly alignment. A noncontact measurement system determines the locations of aerodynamically significant features on each of the components. The measured locations of the components are used to control an automated jacking system that includes assembly jacks for individually moving the components into assembly alignment. A system is provided for calculating the cruise configuration of the vehicle “as-built” and for transferring the cruise configuration into the vehicle where it is recorded in the form of a physical monument.
93 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for establishing a reference monument inside an aircraft as-built representing a desired cruise orientation for the as-built aircraft, comprising:
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a measurement system to measure relative locations of aerodynamically significant features of the as-built aircraft; an orientation calculation system to calculate the desired cruise orientation of the as-built aircraft based on the measured locations of the features; means for moving a tool reference surface to an orientation corresponding to the calculated desired cruise orientation while the tool reference surface is outside the aircraft; and means for transferring the orientation of the tool reference surface from outside the aircraft to the reference monument inside the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of establishing a reference monument inside an aircraft as-built representing a desired line-of-flight for the as-built aircraft, comprising:
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measuring locations of aerodynamically significant features of the as-built aircraft; calculating a desired cruise orientation of the as-built aircraft based on the measured locations of the features; and transferring the desired cruise orientation to the reference monument by; orienting a tool reference surface located outside the aircraft according to the calculated desired cruise orientation; and applying an orientation of the tool reference surface to the reference monument inside the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification