Patent ID: 6269527
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: B23P,B23Q,B64F,G05B,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for fabricating wing panels with a desired chordwise and spanwise curvature from a plurality of elongated wing planks attached together and stiffened with stringers parallel to each other, said apparatus comprising:a fixture having a plurality of headers in a first set, said headers having surfaces and index locations on which said planks can be assembled and held at said desired curvature with attachment devices for holding said planks as assembled on said fixture;an elevator supporting said fixture in an elongated pit for precise adjustment in a generally vertical direction of said fixture and said assembled wing planks;a stringer positioning device for positioning a stringer loaded thereon against said assembled wing planks accurately in accordance with a wing design;a first support structure having linear mobility in a ""Z"" direction laterally of said pit and in an ""X"" direction longitudinally of said pit, and also having rotational mobility about a vertical ""B"" axis and about an ""A"" axis parallel to said ""X"" axis;a downwardly opening yoke having two arms depending from a top member suspended over said pit on said support structure;tools mounted on opposite arms of said yoke for performing clamp-up, drilling and fastener installation functions to fasten said stringer to said assembled wing panel planks on said fixture; anda control system for generating signals to an actuator for moving said elevator in a generally vertical direction to position said assembled wing panel planks at an elevation corresponding to a next stringer to be attached to said wing planks.