System for assembling aircraft
First Claim
1. A system for moving components of an airplane into assembly alignment, comprising:
- a jacking system including assembly jacks for supporting and moving components of the airplane into assembly alignment;
a measurement system independent of the jacking system for determining locations of a plurality of features of the components of the airplane while the components are supported on the assembly jacks, wherein the measurement system includes;
a plurality of transmitters arranged in a constellation on a first structure defining an assembly space in which the airplane is being assembled;
a plurality of component targets disposed on the components in a plurality of predetermined locations known in a first coordinate system of the airplane; and
a plurality of reference targets arranged on a second structure defining the assembly space in a plurality of predetermined positions known in a second coordinate system of the assembly space; and
a computer system responsive to measurements from the measurement system for determining the relative positions of the components in the first coordinate system of the airplane and for controlling the movement of the assembly jacks to bring the components into assembly alignment.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for assembling aircraft is disclosed. An example system for moving components of an airplane into assembly alignment includes a jacking system including assembly jacks for supporting and moving components of the airplane into assembly alignment; a measurement system independent of the jacking system for determining locations of a plurality of features the components of the airplane while the components are supported on the assembly jacks; and a computer system for determining the relative positions of the components in a coordinate system of the airplane and for controlling the movement of the assembly jacks to bring the components into assembly alignment.
103 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for moving components of an airplane into assembly alignment, comprising:
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a jacking system including assembly jacks for supporting and moving components of the airplane into assembly alignment; a measurement system independent of the jacking system for determining locations of a plurality of features of the components of the airplane while the components are supported on the assembly jacks, wherein the measurement system includes; a plurality of transmitters arranged in a constellation on a first structure defining an assembly space in which the airplane is being assembled; a plurality of component targets disposed on the components in a plurality of predetermined locations known in a first coordinate system of the airplane; and a plurality of reference targets arranged on a second structure defining the assembly space in a plurality of predetermined positions known in a second coordinate system of the assembly space; and a computer system responsive to measurements from the measurement system for determining the relative positions of the components in the first coordinate system of the airplane and for controlling the movement of the assembly jacks to bring the components into assembly alignment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of moving components of an airplane into assembly alignment, comprising:
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determining initial positions of the components responsive to determining locations of a plurality of transmitters relative to a plurality of reference targets, the transmitters being arranged in a constellation on a first structure defining an assembly space in which the airplane is assembled, the reference targets being arranged on a second structure defining the assembly space in a plurality of predetermined positions known in a first coordinate system of the assembly space; determining relative positions of the components in a second coordinate system of the airplane, the second coordinate system being different than the first coordinate system; determining desired final locations for the components to be moved from the initial positions; automatically determining motion to align the components to be moved with the desired final locations; automatically determining displacements of assembly jacks to produce the determined motion; performing the determined motion; and after the components have been moved, automatically determining locations of the moved components at final assembled positions. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system, comprising:
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assembly jacks to support and move components of an airplane into assembly alignment; a measurement system to locate features of the components of the airplane while the components are supported on the assembly jacks; a computer system to determine relative positions of the components in a coordinate system of the airplane and to control movement of the assembly jacks to bring the components into assembly alignment; and means for determining a cruise orientation of the airplane based on final assembly locations of the assembly jacks.
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Specification