Patent ID: 6237210
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: B64C,B64F,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of fabricating, equipping and outfitting at least a segment of an aircraft fuselage including a plurality of fuselage sections, in an assembly area including a riveting zone having an automatic riveting machine, an equipping zone and an outfitting zone, said method comprising the following steps:a) moving a first fuselage section into said riveting zone, and joining said first fuselage section onto an initial structure using said automatic riveting machine;b) moving said first fuselage section and said initial structure in common so that said first fuselage section is moved from said riveting zone into said equipping zone;c) moving a second fuselage section into said riveting zone, and joining said second fuselage section onto said first fuselage section using said automatic riveting machine;d) at least partially overlapping in time with said step c), installing equipment components into said first fuselage section in said equipping zone;e) moving said first fuselage section and said second fuselage section in common so that said first fuselage section is moved from said equipping zone into said outfitting zone and said second fuselage section is moved from said riveting zone into said equipping zone;f) moving a third fuselage section into said riveting zone, and joining said third fuselage section onto said second fuselage section using said automatic riveting machine;g) at least partially overlapping in time with said step f), installing equipment components into said second fuselage section in said equipping zone and installing outfitting components into said first fuselage section in said outfitting zone; andh) moving said first, second and third fuselage sections in common so that said second fuselage section is moved from said equipping zone into said outfitting zone and said third fuselage section is moved from said riveting zone into said equipping zone.