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A process and apparatus for fabricating wing panels from a plurality of elongated wing planks attached together with splice stringers along adjacent longitudinal edges and stiffened with stringers parallel to each other and to the splice stringers includes a fixture having a series of headers on whi

A process and apparatus for fabricating wing panels from a plurality of elongated wing planks attached together with splice stringers along adjacent longitudinal edges and stiffened with stringers parallel to each other and to the splice stringers includes a fixture having a series of headers on which the planks can be assembled and held at the desired curvature with attachment devices for holding the planks as assembled on the fixture. An elevator supports the fixture in an elongated pit for precise adjustment in a generally vertical direction of the fixture and the assembled wing planks. A stringer positioning device is mounted along one longitudinal edge of the pit for positioning a stringer loaded thereon against the assembled wing planks accurately in accordance with the wing design. A downwardly opening yoke having two arms depending from a top cross member is suspended over the pit on a support structure. Tools are mounted on opposite arms of the yoke for performing clamp-up, drilling and fastener installation functions to fasten the stringers to the assembled wing panel planks on the fixture. A saddle mechanism is mounted on rails running longitudinally of the pit for moving the support structure longitudinally of the pit to position the yoke and the tools mounted thereon sequentially at fastener positions spaced along the stringer. A control system generates signals to an actuator for moving the elevator in a generally vertical direction to position the assembled wing panel planks at an elevation corresponding to a next stringer to be attached to the wing planks, and also controls operation of the support structure saddle and the tools on the yoke. The invention can also be used to fabricate individual planks from wing plate and stringers for assembly into complete wing panels on another apparatus.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A process of fabricating wing panels for airplane wings at a desired chordwise curvature and spanwise curvature according to a wing design. said wing panels having a plurality of elongated wing planks attached together and stiffened with stringers parallel to each other,

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A process of fabricating wing panels for airplane wings at a desired chordwise curvature and spanwise curvature according to a wing design. said wing panels having a plurality of elongated wing planks attached together and stiffened with stringers parallel to each other, said method comprising:assembling said planks on a first set of headers of a fixture and holding said planks as assembled on said fixture at said desired curvature;supporting said fixture on an elevator in an elongated pit for precise adjustment of said fixture and said assembled wing planks in a generally vertical direction;positioning a stringer against said assembled wing planks accurately in accordance with said wing design;suspending a downwardly opening yoke over said pit on a support structure and operating tools mounted on opposite arms of said yoke for performing clamp-up, drilling and fastener installation functions with said tools to fasten said stringer to said assembled wing panel planks on said fixture;moving said support structure along horizontal rails longitudinally of said pit along a "X" axis to position said yoke and said tools mounted thereon sequentially at fastener positions spaced along said stringer; andmoving said elevator in a generally vertical direction to position said assembled wing panel planks at a desired elevation corresponding to a next stringer to be attached to said wing planks.