Abstract:
A method is provided for mounting a wing of an aircraft to a fuselage of the aircraft, in which a difference between a vertical target position and a vertical actual position of a mounting point is determined Then, on the basis of the determined difference, a readjustment of the wing is performed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2007/063013, filed Nov. 29, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The technical field relates to airplane assembly. In particular, the technical field relates to a method for mounting a wing of an aircraft to a fuselage of the aircraft, a mounting system, a computer-readable medium, a program element and a processor. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    When, during aircraft assembly, a wing of the aircraft has to be mounted to the fuselage of the aircraft care has to be taken that both the angle of attack and the sweep are correct. Therefore, the wing is mounted to a moveable positioning unit which is adapted for moving the wing to the fuselage and for adjusting the position of the wing with respect to the fuselage. However, this adjustment procedure is a laborious and time consuming process. 
         [0004]    It is therefore at least one object of the invention to provide for an improved wing adjustment. In addition, other objects, desirable features, and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for mounting a wing of an aircraft to a fuselage of the aircraft, the method comprising the step of determining a difference between a first actual z-position of a first mounting point of the wing and a first target z-position of the first mounting point, wherein the determination of the first difference is performed on the basis of a first measurement device attached to the fuselage and a first positioning device attached to the wing. 
         [0006]    Therefore, according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, by simply attaching a measurement device to the fuselage and a positioning device to the wing, a mis-adjustment of the wing can be determined during the mounting procedure. This may provide for a fast and effective wing adjustment. 
         [0007]    According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the step of determining a second difference between a second actual z-position of a second mounting point of the wing and a second target z-position of the second mounting point, wherein the determination of the second difference is performed on the basis of a second measurement device attached to the fuselage and a second positioning device attached to the wing. 
         [0008]    Therefore, according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a second measurement of a mis-adjustment of the wing is performed, for example, at a different location of a contact area between wing and fuselage. Thus, a two-dimensional wing adjustment may be possible. 
         [0009]    According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the step of adjusting the wing with respect to the fuselage on the basis of at least one of the first difference and the second difference. 
         [0010]    For example, according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, after having determined the two differences, a wing adjustment may be performed, resulting in a reduction or minimisation of the differences. 
         [0011]    According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the steps of attaching the first measuring device to the fuselage, arranging the first positioning device at a defined position relative to the first measuring device, transferring a hole located at the first mounting point to the first positioning device, resulting in a hole in the first positioning device, and attaching the first positioning device to the wing, such that the position of the hole corresponds to a position of a wing mounting point. 
         [0012]    Thus, for example, the exact position of the first mounting point with respect to the measuring device may be transferred to the positioning device, which is then attached to the wing. Therefore, after moving the wing to the fuselage, it may be determined, whether the measuring device and the positioning device are now in the defined position relative to each other or not. If they are not in the defined position relative to each other, a corresponding difference is determined on which basis a further adjustment may be performed. 
         [0013]    According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, arranging of the first positioning device at the defined position relative to the first measuring device is performed by means of a spacer. 
         [0014]    For example, the spacer may be adapted as a lock consisting of, for example, aluminium, titanium or any other metal or metal compound, or any other material, such as a synthetic material. However, the spacer may be of any other form. 
         [0015]    According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the step of adjusting the wing on the basis of a crown fitting. 
         [0016]    Such a crown fitting may provide for a correct wing adjustment along the y-axis as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0017]    According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises the step of adjusting the wing on the basis of a determination of a contact between a spar and the wing. 
         [0018]    This may provide for an exact wing adjustment with respect to the x-axis as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0019]    According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the determination of the first difference is performed by means of an electronic determination device. 
         [0020]    Furthermore, the determination of the second difference may be performed by means of the same or a different electronic determination device. This may provide for a fast and exact difference determination. 
         [0021]    According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a mounting system for mounting a wing of an aircraft to a fuselage of the aircraft is provided, the mounting system comprising a determination unit for determining a first difference between a first actual z-position of a first mounting point of the wing and a first target z-position of the first mounting point, wherein the determination of the first difference is performed on the basis of a first measurement device attached to the fuselage and a first positioning device attached to the wing. 
         [0022]    According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a computer-readable medium may be provided, in which a computer program of mounting a wing of an aircraft to a fuselage of the aircraft is stored which, when being executed by a processor, causes the processor to carry out the above-mentioned method steps. 
         [0023]    Furthermore, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a program element of mounting a wing of an aircraft to a fuselage of the aircraft is provided which, when being executed by a processor, causes the processor to carry out the above-mentioned method steps. 
         [0024]    Furthermore, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a processor for mounting a wing of an aircraft to a fuselage of the aircraft may be provided, the processor being adapted to carry out the above-mentioned method steps. 
         [0025]    The mounting and adjustment process may be embodied as the computer program, i.e., by software, or may be embodied using one or more special electronic optimisation circuits, i.e. in hardware, or the method may be embodied in hybrid form, i.e., by means of software components and hardware components. 
         [0026]    The program element, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, is preferably loaded into working memories of a data processor. The data processor may thus be equipped to carry out exemplary embodiments of the methods of the present invention. The computer program may be written in any suitable programming language, such as, for example, C++ and may be stored on a computer-readable medium, such as a CD-ROM. Also, the computer program may be available from a network, such as the World Wide Web, from which it may be downloaded into processors or any suitable computers. 
         [0027]    These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic representation of a section of a fuselage of an airplane to which the wing is mounted; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic representation of the mounting section according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic representation of the mounting section after having transferred the holes to the positioning devices; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic representation of a wing at which the positioning devices are attached; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic representation of positioning devices arranged at a defined location with respect to mounting devices with the help of spacer units, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  shows a mounting system for performing the method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  shows a representation of the mounting section of  FIG. 1  in a first assembly state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  shows a representation of the mounting section of  FIG. 1  in a second assembly state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  shows a representation of the mounting section of  FIG. 1  in a third assembly state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  shows a representation of the wing of  FIG. 4  in a fourth assembly state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  shows a representation of the mounting section of  FIG. 1  and the wing of  FIG. 4  in a fifth assembly state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
       
    
    
       [0040]    The illustrations in the drawings are schematic. In different drawings, similar or identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0041]    The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or summary or the following detailed description. 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic representation of an airplane fuselage  101  with a mounting section  102  at which a wing can be mounted. The mounting section  102  comprises mounting holes  201 ,  202 ,  204 ,  205 . The mounting holes  201 ,  202 ,  204 ,  205  are adapted for positioning the wing with the respect to the fuselage  101 . 
         [0043]    The mounting section  102  may further comprise a front spar and a back spar (not depicted in  FIG. 1 ). The wing which has to be mounted to the mounting section  102  may comprise a corresponding front spar and a corresponding back spar. 
         [0044]    Front spar and back spar each comprise two bore holes  201 ,  202  and  204 ,  205 . Furthermore, first and second positioning devices  105 ,  106  may be attached to the mounting section  102  (and arranged at a defined position with respect to the four bore holes). 
         [0045]    The coordinate system at the upper left of  FIG. 1  defines the directions of the x, y and z-axes. 
         [0046]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic representation of the mounting section  102  after installation of the mounting devices  103 ,  104  and the positioning devices  105 ,  106 . 
         [0047]    At a first step, the first measuring device  103  is attached to the fuselage or mounting section  102  by means of, for example, attachment devices  207 ,  208 . Furthermore, at the other side of the mounting section  102 , the measuring device  104  is attached to the mounting section  102  by means of attachment devices  209 ,  210 . 
         [0048]    Then, in a second step, the first positioning device  105  is arranged at a defined position relative to the first measuring device  103 . Such arrangement may be performed with the help of a spacer  301  (as depicted in  FIG. 5 ). Furthermore, the second positioning device  106  is arranged at a defined position relative to the second measuring device  104 . 
         [0049]    Then, the positioning holes  201 ,  202  are transferred into the first positioning device  105 , resulting in a hole in the first positioning device  105 . Furthermore, holes  204 ,  205  are transferred to the second positioning device  106 . 
         [0050]    Then, in a next step, the first and second positioning devices  105 ,  106  are attached to the wing. 
         [0051]    Then, the wing is moved towards the fuselage and the differences between the actual z-positions of the first and second mounting points  211 ,  213  of the wing  107  (see  FIG. 4 ) means first and second target z-positions  201 ,  204 , respectively, are determined. 
         [0052]    After that, a wing adjustment may be performed on the basis of the determined differences. 
         [0053]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic representation of the mounting section  102  at which the first measuring device  103  and the second measuring device  104  are attached. 
         [0054]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic representation of the wing  107 , at which the first positioning device  105  and the second positioning device  106  are attached at the mounting points  211 ,  212  and  213 ,  214 , respectively. 
         [0055]    The mounting points  211 ,  212  and  213 ,  214  thereby correspond to the target positions  201 ,  202  and  204 ,  205  which are located at the mounting section  102  of the fuselage  101 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic representation of the measuring devices  103 ,  104  and the positioning devices  105 ,  106 , which are arranged with respect to the measuring devices  103 ,  106  with the help of respective spacer units  301 ,  302 . 
         [0057]    The spacer units  301 ,  302  may, for example, have a thickness Δz1, Δz2 of, for example, 20 mm. However, the thickness may be bigger or smaller. 
         [0058]    After having attached the measuring devices  103 ,  104  to the mounting section  102  of the fuselage  101  and after having attached the positioning devices  105 ,  106  to the wing  107 , and after having moved the wing towards the fuselage, Δz1 and Δz2 may be measured. In case Δz1 and Δz2 differ from the target value (which is, for example, 20 mm), a further wing adjustment may be performed. 
         [0059]    The measuring devices or the positioning devices may comprise grooves or trenches, such that an attachment position can be varied. Therefore, the spacer  301  may always fit in between. 
         [0060]      FIG. 6  shows a mounting system for mounting a wing of an aircraft to a fuselage of the aircraft, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The mounting system depicted in  FIG. 6  comprises an output unit  601 , for example a computer screen, and an input unit  602 , for example a keyboard. Furthermore, the system comprises a processor  604  and a storage unit  603  in which a computer program for mounting the wing to the fuselage is stored. 
         [0061]    Furthermore, the mounting system comprises a determination unit  605  adapted for determining the differences Δz1 and Δz2. The determination unit  605  may further be adapted for determining, for example a contact between a spar and the wing or for determining a crown fitting. 
         [0062]    Further determination units may be provided. 
         [0063]    The mounting system further comprises a wing mounting unit  606 , which is adapted for moving and positioning the wing  107  with respect to the fuselage  101 . 
         [0064]    The wing mounting and positioning may be performed in a fully automated manner or user guided in a semi-automated manner. 
         [0065]      FIG. 7  shows a representation of the mounting section of  FIG. 1  in a first assembly state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As may be seen from the figure, a positioning device  106  is attached to the mounting section  102  of the fuselage. 
         [0066]      FIG. 8  shows a representation of the mounting section of  FIG. 1  in a second assembly state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Here, a measurement device  104  is attached to the mounting section  102  of fuselage at a predetermined distance from the measurement device  104  (e.g. by transferring holes from the fuselage to the measurement device  104 ). The distance is determined by spacer  302 . 
         [0067]      FIG. 9  shows a representation of the mounting section of  FIG. 1  in a third assembly state, in which all three elements  102 ,  104  and  104  are assembled at the mounting section. 
         [0068]      FIG. 10  shows a representation of the wing of  FIG. 4  in a fourth assembly state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Here, the positioning device  106  is attached to the wing  107 , for example by using the transferred holes. 
         [0069]      FIG. 11  shows a representation of the mounting section of  FIG. 1  and the wing of  FIG. 4  in a fifth assembly state according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As may be seen from the figure, the wing  107  is moved towards the fuselage section  102  for final mounting of the wing  107 . By determining the difference Δz between actual z-position of the positioning device  106  and the z-position of the measurement device  104  (which z-position corresponds to the target z-position minus the height of the spacer  302 ) an adjustment of the wing  107  with respect to the fuselage may be performed on the basis of the difference. 
         [0070]    It should be noted that the term ‘comprising’ does not exclude other elements or steps and the ‘a’ or ‘an’ does not exclude a plurality. Also, elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined. Moreover, while at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.