Method for building an assembly fixture for supporting a fuselage assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for building an assembly fixture, the method comprising:
- driving a first cradle fixture across a floor to a first selected cradle position in an assembly area, wherein the first cradle fixture comprises a first number of retaining structures configured to support a fuselage section;
driving a second cradle fixture across the floor to a second selected cradle position in the assembly area relative to the first cradle fixture in the assembly area, wherein the second cradle fixture comprises a second number of retaining structures configured to support the fuselage section, wherein during the steps of driving the first cradle fixture and driving the second cradle fixture, the first cradle fixture is not connected to the second cradle fixture;
configuring the first cradle fixture and the second cradle fixture to form the assembly fixture in the assembly area by;
coupling the second cradle fixture to the first cradle fixture in the assembly area after driving the second cradle fixture across the floor to the assembly area to form an interface between the first cradle fixture and the second cradle fixture, wherein the interface is an electrical and physical interface that enables a number of utilities to flow between the first cradle fixture and the second cradle fixture, wherein the number of utilities includes electrical power; and
positioning the first number of retaining structures of the first cradle fixture and the second number of retaining structures of the second cradle fixture to engage a plurality of fuselage sections; and
engaging the plurality of fuselage sections with the first number of retaining structures and the second number of retaining structures after forming the assembly fixture in the assembly area to support the plurality of fuselage sections by the assembly fixture in the assembly area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for building an assembly fixture for holding a fuselage assembly. A number of cradle fixtures may be driven across a floor to an assembly area. The number of cradle fixtures may be configured to form the assembly fixture.
204 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for building an assembly fixture, the method comprising:
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driving a first cradle fixture across a floor to a first selected cradle position in an assembly area, wherein the first cradle fixture comprises a first number of retaining structures configured to support a fuselage section; driving a second cradle fixture across the floor to a second selected cradle position in the assembly area relative to the first cradle fixture in the assembly area, wherein the second cradle fixture comprises a second number of retaining structures configured to support the fuselage section, wherein during the steps of driving the first cradle fixture and driving the second cradle fixture, the first cradle fixture is not connected to the second cradle fixture; configuring the first cradle fixture and the second cradle fixture to form the assembly fixture in the assembly area by; coupling the second cradle fixture to the first cradle fixture in the assembly area after driving the second cradle fixture across the floor to the assembly area to form an interface between the first cradle fixture and the second cradle fixture, wherein the interface is an electrical and physical interface that enables a number of utilities to flow between the first cradle fixture and the second cradle fixture, wherein the number of utilities includes electrical power; and positioning the first number of retaining structures of the first cradle fixture and the second number of retaining structures of the second cradle fixture to engage a plurality of fuselage sections; and engaging the plurality of fuselage sections with the first number of retaining structures and the second number of retaining structures after forming the assembly fixture in the assembly area to support the plurality of fuselage sections by the assembly fixture in the assembly area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for building an assembly fixture, the method comprising:
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driving a first cradle fixture across a floor to a first selected cradle position relative to a tower in an assembly area, wherein the first cradle fixture comprises a first number of retaining structures configured to support a fuselage section, and wherein the tower is configured to allow a human operator or a mobile platform to access and enter an interior of a fuselage assembly supported on the assembly fixture; coupling the first cradle fixture to the tower in the assembly area after driving the first cradle fixture across the floor to the first selected cradle position; driving a second cradle fixture across the floor to a second selected cradle position in the assembly area relative to the first cradle fixture in first selected cradle position in the assembly area, wherein the second cradle fixture comprises a second number of retaining structures configured to support the fuselage section, wherein during the steps of driving the first cradle fixture and driving the second cradle fixture, the first cradle fixture is not connected to the second cradle fixture; coupling the second cradle fixture to the first cradle fixture in the assembly area after driving the second cradle fixture across the floor to the second selected cradle position in the assembly area to form the assembly fixture in the assembly area; positioning the first number of retaining structures of the first cradle fixture and the second number of retaining structures of the second cradle fixture to engage a fuselage section; and engaging the fuselage section with the first number of retaining structures and the second number of retaining structures after forming the assembly fixture in the assembly area to support the fuselage section by the assembly fixture in the assembly area. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for building an assembly fixture, the method comprising:
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driving a first cradle fixture across a floor to a first selected cradle position in an assembly area, wherein the first cradle fixture comprises a first number of retaining structures configured to support a fuselage section; macro-positioning the first cradle fixture in the first selected cradle position using a radar system; driving a second cradle fixture across the floor to a second selected cradle position in the assembly area relative to the first cradle fixture in first selected cradle position in the assembly area, wherein the second cradle fixture comprises a second number of retaining structures configured to support the fuselage section, wherein during the steps of driving the first cradle fixture and driving the second cradle fixture, the first cradle fixture is not connected to the second cradle fixture; macro-positioning the second cradle fixture in the second selected cradle position using the radar system; coupling the second cradle fixture to the first cradle fixture in the assembly area after macro-positioning the second cradle fixture in the second selected cradle position in the assembly area to form the assembly fixture in the assembly area; micro-positioning the first number of retaining structures of the first cradle fixture and the second number of retaining structures of the second cradle fixture to engage a fuselage section using a laser tracking system; and engaging the fuselage section with the first number of retaining structures and the second number of retaining structures after forming the assembly fixture in the assembly area and micro-positioning the first number of retaining structures and the second number of retaining structures to support the fuselage section by the assembly fixture in the assembly area. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification