초록 ▼

Apparatus and a method for assembly of panels into a composite structure are provided. The structure includes a form jig ( 1) having form boards (3, 4, 5) defining forming edges (6, 7, 8) against which a composite panel to be precisely formed may be drawn by a number of edge clamps (12), usually in

Apparatus and a method for assembly of panels into a composite structure are provided. The structure includes a form jig ( 1) having form boards (3, 4, 5) defining forming edges (6, 7, 8) against which a composite panel to be precisely formed may be drawn by a number of edge clamps (12), usually in combination with suction devices (26, 27, 28, 29, 30). The edge clamps (12) are able to extend around edges of the panel (13) for initial location of the panel against the form boards and subsequent more powerful drawing action to draw the panel into intimate contact with the forming edges of the form boards.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. Composite structure assembly apparatus for holding a curved composite panel, said apparatus including: a form jig, having at least one former, said at least one former having a curvature less than the curvature of said panel, said form jig for drawing a composite panel to a r

What is claimed is: 1. Composite structure assembly apparatus for holding a curved composite panel, said apparatus including: a form jig, having at least one former, said at least one former having a curvature less than the curvature of said panel, said form jig for drawing a composite panel to a required form and for supporting the panel in said required form for subsequent operations on the panel; and said form jig including a plurality of edge clamps, each edge clamp fordrawing the panel towards the at least one former. 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said each edge clamp is adapted initially to reach around an edge of the panel and to engage a rear surface of the panel facing away from the jig, prior to the said drawing of the panel towards the jig. 3. Apparatus as in claim 2 in which said each edge clamp is adapted firmly to draw an edge region of the panel into intimate contact with the at least one former. 4. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said each edge clamp is adapted firmly to draw an edge region of the panel into intimate contact with the at least one former. 5. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said each edge clamp has a drawing stroke of at least substantially 70 mm. 6. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said each edge clamp includes a transport mechanism and panel engager, wherein the transport mechanism moves the panel engager along its stroke. 7. Apparatus in claim 1 in which said each edge clamp includes a transport mechanism and panel engagement means wherein the transport mechanism moves the panel engagement means along its stroke. 8. Apparatus as in claim 7 in which the panel engagement means includes a panel engager surface pivotable thereon to allow even contact of the panel engager surface with the rear surface of the panel. 9. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said each edge clamp is adapted to engage the rear surface of the panel via a panel stiffener attached to the rear surface of the panel. 10. Apparatus as in claim 1 including a series of suction devices adapted to engage a front surface of the panel to draw the panel into contact with the at least one former in conjunction with said each edge clamp. 11. Apparatus as in claim 10 in which the suction devices are adapted progressively to draw the panel into contact with the at least one former prior to said each edge clamp drawing an edge region of the panel into intimate contact with the at least one former. 12. Apparatus as in claim 10 in which the at least one former comprises a series of spaced form boards, each having an edge contoured to define part of the shape of the front surface of the panel and at least one said suction device is mounted on a form board. 13. Apparatus as in claim 12 in which a pair of suction devices are mounted, one on either side of a said form board, to equalise drawing forces about the plane of the form board and thereby prevent form board distortion. 14. Apparatus as in claim 12 in which at least one suction device is mounted within a cutout in a said form board whereby the drawing force which the suction device exerts on the panel will be transmitted into the jig within the plane of the form board. 15. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which the at least one former is shaped to form the front surface of the panel to a convex shape. 16. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which the at least one former comprises a series of spaced form boards, each having an edge contoured to define part of the shape of the front surface of the panel. 17. Apparatus as in claim 16 in which the form boards are spaced from one another sufficient to allow access to the panel for subsequent assembly operations. 18. Apparatus as in claim 1 including location means substantially to prevent movement of the panel in directions substantially within the plane of the panel. 19. Apparatus as in claim 1 including locater substantially to prevent movement of the panel in directions substantially within the plane of the panel. 20. Apparatus as in claim 19 in which the locater is disposed generally centrally of the panel along at least one edge thereof, when in the jig, whereby accurately to locate the centre of the at least one edge of the panel with respect to a fixed datum. 21. Apparatus as in claim 19 in which the locater comprises a wheel and slide arrangement in which one of the wheel and slide is affixed to the panel and the other is affixed to the jig whereby forming movement of the panel will cause movement of the wheel along the slide. 22. Apparatus as in claim 21 in which the wheel and slide have co-operating V-shaped elements whereby to locate the wheel on the slide in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the wheel along the slide. 23. Apparatus as in claim 19 in which one element of the locater is affixed to a tab projecting from an edge of the panel. 24. Apparatus as in claim 1 including means to transport the formed panel to a structure to which the panel is to be attached. 25. Apparatus as in claim 24 in which the transport means includes a track along which the jig and panel travel to the structure. 26. Apparatus as in claim 25 including means centrally to support the structure and a pair of said jigs disposed one on each side thereof. 27. A method of assembling a composite structure utilizing the apparatus according to claim 1, including the steps of supporting said panel in a generally vertical plane in close proximity to said form jig; operating edge clamps on the form jig to extend around peripheral edges of the panel and draw the panel loosely against the jig; operating sequentially a series of suction devices on the jig to commence drawing the panel into intimate contact with the jig; operating again the edge clamps to complete the drawing of the panel into the said intimate contact with the jig, and assembling the formed panel to a further part of the composite structure. 28. A method as in claim 27 in which the panel is drawn from a first shape of greater surface curvature to a second shape of lesser surface curvature conforming to at least one former on the form jig. 29. An apparatus for assembling a composite structure including supporting a curved composite panel in a generally vertical plane in close proximity to a form jig wherein said form jig, has a curvature less than the curvature of the composite panel; means for operating edge clamps on the form jig to extend around peripheral edges of the panel and draw the panel loosely against the jig; means for sequentially operating a series of suction devices on the jig to commence drawing the panel into intimate contact with the jig; and means for tightening the edge clamps to complete the drawing of the panel into the said intimate contact with the jig, permitting the assembly of the formed panel to a further part of the composite structure. 30. Composite structure assembly apparatus, said apparatus including: a form jig, having at least one former, for drawing a composite panel to a required form and for supporting the panel in said required form for subsequent operations on the panel; and a plurality of edge clamps, each edge clamp for drawing the panel towards the at least one former, wherein the at least one former comprises a series of spaced form boards, each having an edge contoured to define part of the shape-of the front surface of the panel. 31. Composite structure assembly apparatus, said apparatus including: a form jig, having at least one former, for drawing a composite panel to a required form and for supporting the panel in said required form for subsequent operations on the panel; and a plurality of edge clamps, each edge clamp for drawing the panel towards the at least one former, wherein the at least one former comprises a series of spaced form boards, each having an edge contoured to define part of the shape of the front surface of the panel and at least one said suction device is mounted on at least one of said form boards.