DE102006001385A1 - Rail guided machining system for application in aircraft industry, has guide rails which can be fixed such that, the received form is retained in self-stable manner - Google Patents

Abstract

Rail guided machining system has two guiding rails (3,4) running parallel to each other and has a processing machine (5) equipped with a bore -, rivet -, counter boring- or milling tool. The processing machine is displaced along the guiding rails and is held at the guiding rails at several places. The tool is displaced transverse to the rail plane. The guiding rails can be fixed such that, the received form is retained in self-stable manner.

Description

The The invention relates to a processing system according to the preamble of Claim 1.

Out In practice, generic processing systems known, which serve to create high-precision executed drilling. Such processing systems for example, in the aviation industry in the construction of aircraft and helicopters used to drill holes in skin panels. The position of the borehole on the workpiece surface is the same important as the orientation of the drill so that this at the respective Processing point in the surface normal on the frequent convex or concave curved skin panels is aligned.

The wells are arranged substantially in a row or are at least within a comparatively narrow processing strip, z. B. in the mentioned Outer skin panels the screw or rivet holes there to create where the outer skin sheets be mounted on ribs or frames of the fuselage or wing construction should.

Around a precise one Alignment of the drill holes to guarantee, the respective drilling tool is not performed by hand, but at two mutually parallel guide rails. These guide rails are the vault the workpiece to be machined, For example, a fuselage or wing surface, precisely adjusted and run parallel to this vault. Through the arched Course of the guide rails It is ensured that the drilling tool at each processing point always perpendicular to the surface of the workpiece to be machined is aligned so that the holes exactly as specified in the surface normal run.

Possibly. however, combined drilling-countersinking tools can be used also by drilling the tool separately drilled and then lowered become. It is also conceivable, such processing systems with to equip a riveting tool, or with milling heads, um partly for reasons The weight saving material to be removed from the workpiece to be machined.

Out Practice is a first type of very expensive to produce and correspondingly expensive processing systems known in which for each Processing strip attached to a helicopter or airplane is a rigid, CNC-milled rail system created is exactly what the individual curvature of the respective processing strip is adjusted.

After this made these processing systems with the appropriate effort are, can They successively in several series in a series production Helicopters or planes for always the same processing points with comparatively short up times be used so that compared to the elaborate first time Creation of time expenditure for up times in these systems is low and the overall economic cost for the Processing on several aircraft or helicopters relativized.

When setup time is referred to in this context, the amount of time required is to dismantle the machining system from a first workpiece and it on a second workpiece to assemble and to put it in a working condition, So until the processing of the second workpiece by the tool of Processing machine can be started.

Farther are cheaper in practice Machining systems known in which the guide rails flexibly deformable are and by means of suction cups placed on the respective workpiece surface become. These editing systems can be sequential for multiple same or for Different processing strips are used as they are due the flexibility the guide rails respectively are individually customizable.

she however, they require a re-adjustment each time, even if they do in the context of a series production for always similar processing points used on several aircraft or helicopters of the same type become. This adaptation to a single processing strip is less complicated and faster than creating the above, CNC-milled guide rails. Of the Time required for the set-up times at the second and every following application is with these systems but comparatively large, because of the time required for the respective adjustment always the same size as in the first adjustment remains. The total setup time, for the Processing on several aircraft or helicopters calculated, can therefore produce larger series in production be bigger than when using the former type of expensive processing systems.

One Another disadvantage of this type of processing system is the use of suction cups. Where holes, elevations or other interruptions of the workpiece surface are present, the required vacuum can not be built up to the guide rails safe on the workpiece to keep.

The invention is based on the object to improve a generic processing system to the effect that this is as versatile and economically as possible, and in particular requires the lowest possible set-up times.

These Task is performed by a processing system with the characteristics of Claim 1 solved.

The Invention proposes in other words, guide rails before, which deformable and thus to different processing strips are adaptable, comparable to the above second, flexible Type of machining systems. The inventively provided possibility the guide rails solidify, allows also a rigid design of the processing system, comparable with the above-mentioned type of machining system.

hereby the advantages of both systems are achieved: a comparatively fast adaptation to a specific geometry of a particular Processing strip is without the complex, high-precision production a rigid system possible. Likewise, a quick set up of the processing system other similar workplaces as part of a series production possible. Due to the inherent rigidity after the initial adjustment, the namely, once adapted to a particular processing site guide rails of the first workpiece be removed and reused while retaining their shape become, if on a second workpiece a similar processing strip to be edited.

moreover will be an additional Advantage created, the above-mentioned type of processing systems not: by the inherent rigidity are the guide rails also there on workpieces attachable, where suction cups can not give sufficient support.

the Professional stand for the solidification of the guide rails several methods or constructive configurations available: pure By way of example, it can be provided in a first variant that a guide rail is designed multi-layered and two mutually displaceable Has layers. It can be provided that in favor of a preferably easy handling the two layers firmly together at one point are connected and only otherwise are displaceable. In any case, by the two- or multi-layered Construction allows that at a bend of the guide rail the layers are shifted against each other. Be the two layers subsequently fixed and fixed in its displaced position, the guide rail retains the occupied Bending at.

The Layers can be mechanically fixed by appropriate terminals. Alternatively or additional can do this they are chemically fixed, for example by adhesives between the layers. The adaptation of the guide rails to the geometry of the processing strip, ie to the workpiece, takes place in such a Case during the so-called pot life of the adhesive, that is, during the time that the adhesive for setting or curing requires. Once the adhesive layers sufficiently firm with each other connects, the guide rail removed from the workpiece surface become. She is now sufficiently rigid to maintain her shape, and can be used on other similar workpieces.

Other chemical binders can for example in the form of thermoplastic layers within the guide rails be provided so that when heated these thermoplastic layers melt or melt and act as a binder, which the adjacent layers together connects and cools down fixed to one another in the respective relative position.

The Flexibility of the individual layers can be improved by that at least one of the layers is slotted. Especially if then the slits filled out be, for example by adhesive or a comparable binder, the function of the slots is also impaired. The flexibility of slotted position is thereby reduced in addition to the effect which in any case results from the connection with the next adjacent location.

A second variant, the guide rail initially flexible and subsequently solidify, is to provide a shell, in which a curable Ground is located. For example, the shell may be transparent and the hardenable mass can under UV light or certain other lighting conditions, or by air access, or by reaction with the humidity, or by the action of temperature or the like harden, or it may be a two- or multi-component mass are filled into the shell, wherein an automatic reaction the at least two components take place. During the pot life of this at least two-component mass can the flexible guide rails adapted to the workpiece surface become.

A third conceivable variant for solidifying initially flexible guide rails is to mechanically clamp the guide rails. For this purpose, holders of the Füh run rail to clamping elements. The length of the holder causes a distance of the guide rail from the clamping elements, wherein the guide rail is connected to the so-called head end with the holder, and attack clamping elements on the opposite spaced foot or clamping points of the holder. The fact that the guide rail is firmly connected to the holders, results in undeformed, relaxed state, a certain distance between the individual holders to each other. By means of the clamping elements, the foot or clamping points of the holders can now be brought to a shortened or greater distance relative to one another, and these respective stresses will cause the guide rail to bend. If the holder, for example, pulled together, the guide rail is curved convex. If the holders are spread, the guide rail is arched concavely.

The Clamping elements can designed as custom made connecting rods or tabs be, each connecting two holders together. The length of the Clamping element then determines the type, ie convex or concave, as well as the intensity the curvature, the on the guide rail is achieved. An assortment of prefabricated clamping elements can be provided be, and according to the desired curvature the guide rail then the corresponding clamping elements are attached to the holders.

Advantageous can but no prefabricated clamping elements with a predetermined Clamping effect can be used, but individually adjustable clamping elements. these can easily for different geometries are always reused again and allow a highly accurate individual adjustment of the guide rails to the respective Workpiece geometry. They also leave during the mounting of the guide rails on the workpiece subsequent Adjustments, allowing a trouble-free compensation of tolerances possible is. It may therefore be provided, the clamping elements advantageous to design as threaded rods.

Two opposing Threaded sections of a threaded rod may extend into the two span exciting holder and there with corresponding opposing threads interact, so that depending on the direction of rotation of the threaded rod the both holders are pulled towards each other or spread apart.

In economically even cheaper and technically simpler design can be provided that the threaded rod is not two differently extending threaded sections but that, for example, a consistent same Threaded rod is provided, which extends over several or all Holder of a guide rail extends. Nuts on the threaded rod are each a holder either directly or indirectly by means of intermediate components, so that in effect a mother acts on a holder in any case. By turning the nut is their longitudinal movement on the threaded rod causes, so that by means of adjustment of the nuts two holders spread apart or compressed can be.

There two guide rails are advantageously used in the processing system, one as possible wide support to allow the processing machine can advantageous both guide rails deformed and then be fixed. When using clamping elements is therefore advantageously provided that each guide rail at least one Clamping element is assigned.

Especially can be advantageously provided on at least one of the two guide rails, to use two mutually parallel clamping elements, to allow a particularly good stiffening of this guide rail. Especially when the processing system is horizontal in its longitudinal direction and is arranged on an approximately vertical workpiece surface, and insofar a lower and an upper guide rail is provided, the lower guide rail by means of two Clamping be stiffened as this lower guide rail a particularly high proportion of weight and other forces must absorb.

Advantageous can be a parallel alignment of the two guide rails by fasteners be secured, so that a total of approximately ladder-like construction the guide rails is effected, wherein each of the two guide rails with a spar the conductor is comparable and the fasteners with the Sprouts of the ladder are comparable.

Advantageously, a perforated plate with a hole matrix can be provided between the guide rails. The holes provided therein are located at least at the points where machining of the workpiece is provided, so that the tool can be moved through these holes to the workpiece. The perforated plate can therefore be an element of a safety concept, which helps to prevent damage to the workpiece: If the machine has been moved to a wrong position and the tool are moved to the workpiece, the perforated plate will be an obstacle, which detected by an appropriate safety circuit so that the further feed of the tool is interrupted can and damage the workpiece can be avoided.

In order to that mentioned Perforated plate forms a sufficient resistance to the tool and if possible Low weight is designed according to stiff, can be advantageous Pressure pads provided be, which are arranged on the perforated plate on the side, the to the workpiece is directed so that when applied guide rails, the Andruckstücke on rest on the workpiece surface and stiffen the perforated plate. The perforated plate can therefore comparatively light and thin accomplished be, for example, from an aluminum sheet of only about 1 - 1.5 mm sheet thickness and still have sufficient resistance at one Feed the tool have to address the mentioned safety circuit if accidental contact between tool and Perforated sheet done.

Advantageous can the pressure pieces transverse to the longitudinal direction the guide rails be slit, so that its deformability and bendability improved and the Andruckstücke the deformability of the guide rails preferably little affect. Due to the slotted design of Andruckstücke this can especially long running so that a particularly fast and inexpensive assembly of the prestress lugs allows on the perforated plate is compared to using a variety of individual, respectively according to short-sized Andruckstücken.

One embodiment The invention is based on the purely schematic representations below explained in more detail. there shows

1 an overall perspective view of a processing system,

2 in the same perspective view a view of the guide rails without processing machine,

3 in a perspective view a view of the guide rails together with clamping and connecting elements in a partially exploded view, the

4 to 6 different views of the perforated plate and the fasteners, the

7 to 9 different views on one of the guide rails including clamping elements, and the

10 to 12 different views on the other guide rail including clamping element.

In the 1 is with 1 overall designates a processing system, which consists essentially of two components: a rail component 2 has guide rails 3 and 4 on. In view of the apparent in Fig. Orientation of the processing system 1 which is horizontally extending angeord net and is aligned for machining a vertical workpiece surface, the guide rail 3 as upper and the serrated guide rail 4 referred to as the lower guide rail.

The second component, which may also be referred to as a machine component, is passed through a processing machine 5 educated. The processing machine 5 is along the two guide rails 3 and 4 traversable. For this purpose, the lower guide rail 4 designed as a rack, so that provided with a corresponding gear or a worm drive the processing machine 5 for a motor drive of the processing machine 5 at the rail component 2 can provide. In order to be able to approach not only exactly linearly aligned processing points, the tool is within the processing machine 5 transverse to the longitudinal direction of the guide rails 3 and 4 movable, so that it can act on the workpiece within a certain width, namely within the so-called processing strip.

2 shows the rail component 2 without the processing machine. A perforated plate 6 extends substantially over the entire length of the rail component 2 , The in the perforated plate 6 provided holes do not form the same pattern, but the machining of the workpiece through some of the holes of the perforated plate 6 respectively.

The perforated plate 6 is used in particular for error prevention: In case of incorrect positioning of the processing machine 5 For example, before the tool meets the workpiece surface to be machined, it would first contact the perforated plate 6 collide. A corresponding safety circuit can be provided, which interrupts the further feed of the tool on the workpiece surface in the event of such a collision and thus avoids the machining of the workpiece at a location not provided.

While the rail component 2 due to the flexibility of the guide rails 3 and 4 In principle, can be used on a variety of components and at different points of the components, is the perforated plate 6 with its specific hole pattern always adapted to a special processing strip of the workpiece to be machined, so that differed for the processing Licher processing strip always each specially suitable perforated plates 6 be used. As part of a series production, if multiple identical processing strips are processed, the perforated plate 6 therefore be used several times accordingly.

The 3 to 12 show the structure of the rail component 2 from several assemblies: The rail component 2 consists on the one hand of the guide rails 3 and 4 , each with tie rods 7 and keepers 8th , and on the other hand from the perforated plate 6 and fasteners 9 , The holders 8th are at headpoints 10 firmly with the respective guide rail 3 respectively. 4 connected. By foot or clamping points 12 and thus from the guide rails 3 and 4 spaced the tie rods 7 through the holders 8th , wherein the upper guide rail 3 only one tension rod 7 is assigned and the lower guide rail 4 two tension rods 7 assigned.

The tie rods 7 are designed as threaded rods on which each holder 8th from at least one mother 11 flanked, namely on the side from which the holder should be pressure loaded. In the illustrated embodiment, in each case on both sides of the holder 8th nuts 11 provided to the holder 8th play free on the tie rods 7 to fix and the highest possible degree of inherent rigidity of the rail component 2 sure.

By appropriate adjustment of the nuts 11 on the tie rods 7 can be the distance of the foot points of the holder 8th be varied with each other. Compared to the fixed attachment points of the holder 8th by means of their head-points 10 on the guide rails 3 and 4 arise in this way tension, leading to a curvature of the respective guide rails 3 and 4 lead, so the course of the guide rails 3 and 4 the curvature of a workpiece surface can be adjusted exactly:
For example, the distances of the holder 8th on the tie rods 7 enlarged, so the guide rails bulge 3 and 4 concave, ie inward, pulled in towards the foot points. Be in contrast, the holder 8th on the tie rods 7 contracted, then the associated guide rail 3 respectively. 4 convex, arch away from the foot points. This adjustment allows the rail component 2 on curved component surfaces, as they occur for example in aircraft and helicopters on fuselage sections or wing surfaces are perfectly adapted.

When first adjusting the rail component 2 to the respective geometry of a particular processing strip in the workpiece to be machined, the rail component 2 initially be flexible by removing all the nuts 11 without contact with adjacent components on the tie rods 7 are arranged. The rail component 2 can therefore be bent, with the foot points of the holder 8th on the tie rods 7 move. Such is a coarse adjustment of the rail component 2 achievable to the geometry of the processing strip. In this roughly adapted condition of the rail component 2 can the nuts 11 for fixing the position of the holder 8th be tightened.

A subsequent fine adjustment of the rail component 2 can be done for example by means of an optical control is controlled by means of light, whether all holders 8th abut the workpiece surface without gaps. Where necessary, by means of nuts 11 the bend of the guide rails 3 and 4 be corrected until all holders 8th abut the workpiece surface without gaps.

Alternatively to the above-mentioned procedure when first adapting the rail component 2 to a certain processing strip can be provided that the rail component 2 initially not flexible but inherently rigid, by all nuts from the beginning 11 for fixing the position of the holder 8th are tightened. Nevertheless, the rail component is 2 deformable according to the present inventive concept: it can be so "loose" and stress-free applied to the workpiece that caused by this application deformation of the rail component 2 is excluded. It will therefore - depending on their own course and depending on the curvature of the workpiece surface - have only a random contact with the workpiece at one or a few places. Subsequently, by means of rotation of the nuts 11 and by means of corresponding bracing of the holder 8th on the tie rods 7 the bend of the guide rails 3 and 4 adjusted so that all holders 8th abut the workpiece surface without gaps.

Following the initial adjustment of the rail component 2 At a certain processing point can be in the context of a series production this set rail component 2 be used without repeated adjustments and adjustments in always the same places in several copies of the same type of helicopter or aircraft. The editing system 1 can serve, for example, to create a series of holes where there is a surface or cladding sheet with a supporting rib or bulkhead structure of the aircraft or frame structure of the aircraft or helicopter screwed or riveted.

Overall, results from the structure of the rail component 2 a structure similar to a ladder: the two longitudinal guide rails 3 and 4 are comparable to the spars of the ladder, while the fasteners 9 comparable to the rungs of a ladder. Where the fasteners 9 to the guide rails 3 and 4 by means of the holder 8th are special designed holders 8th provided, which have two through holes, so that these holders 8th two on the connecting elements 9 apparent retaining pins 12 take up.

Out 3 it can be seen that the connecting elements have a central area 14 each, through the perforated plate 6 is covered, where from the 1 . 2 and 3 it can be seen that in this middle area 14 the connecting elements 9 Through holes are provided, which with the holes of the perforated plate 6 aligned.

The through-holes may have a shoulder and so defining the entire rail component 2 Serve on the workpiece: screws can be flush received in the through holes or inserted into these through holes sleeves, the screw heads are received in the cavities of the through holes or the sleeves and so no obstructive supernatant above the perforated plate 6 let arise.

The screws can be screwed directly to the workpiece or be fixed as through-bolts by means of nuts on the workpiece, for which purpose so-called "Auffädelungsstellen" are provided on the workpiece in this way 2 in the area of their fasteners 9 Festge on the workpiece sets, wherein at each connecting element 9 the attachment with one, two or more screw can be provided.

prestress lugs 15 are provided in the form of elongated, slotted strips, wherein the slots introduced into the strips as easy as possible bending the Andruckstücke 15 allow and thus a trouble-free adjustment of the rail component 2 to a curved workpiece surface, without this adjustment by too much rigidity of the Andruckstücke 15 to hinder.

The guide rails 3 and 4 each have at their two ends in each case a guide bore 17 on, according to 1 and 2 in each case one end cap in the ends shown on the right 16 is inserted, while at the opposite ends in each case the guide bore 17 remained open. If a particularly long processing strip is to be machined, the guide holes can be used 17 a juxtaposition of several rail components 2 done to each other: the guide rails 3 and 4 the next adjacent rail component 2 instead of the end caps 16 Guide pin, which in the respective guide rails 3 and 4 are fixed and in the open guide holes 17 are insertable. This is an exact centering of the adjoining guide rails 3 and 4 adjacent rail components 2 allows. The processing machine 5 can therefore be uninterrupted over the entire length of both or more rail components 2 be moved so that these two or more rail components 2 the total length of the overall machining system created 1 determine.

In such a juxtaposition of multiple rail components 2 is before the tension and the resulting deformation of the guide rails 3 and 4 Ensure that the multiple, adjacent guide rails 3 respectively. 4 as gapless as possible abut each other. These are the guide rails 3 and 4 independently longitudinally movably mounted: Those holders 8th attached to the fasteners 9 are fixed, are fixed with guide sleeves 18 connected, through which the tie rods 7 extend and where the tie rods 7 are guided longitudinally displaceable. The fixation or bracing this with guide sleeves 18 provided holder 8th done by the plant of nuts 11 on the guide sleeves 18 ,

These on the fasteners 9 specified holder 8th also have bearing sleeves 19 on which the retaining pins 12 the connecting elements 9 take up. Because the holder 8th narrower than the space in the forked ends of the fasteners 9 , the holders can 8th with their bearing sleeves 19 on the retaining pins 12 in the longitudinal direction of the retaining pins 12 be moved back and forth.

If several rail components 2 can be strung together on a workpiece, can be by this mobility of the holder 8th opposite the connecting elements 9 a guide rail 3 or 4 in their longitudinal direction, so that two adjacent guide rails 3 or two adjacent guide rails 4 can abut each other without gaps. Thus, an uninterrupted, precise guidance of the processing machine 5 over two adjacent rail components 2 away. In their respective orientation, the guide rail 3 or 4 with the help of a hand cocking lever 20 be set, with by means of the respective hand cocking lever 20 a tension of the respective holder 8th on the retaining pin 12 of the associated connecting element 9 he follows.

Claims (15)

Rail-guided machining system, with two mutually parallel guide rails, and with a can be equipped with a drilling, riveting, countersinking or milling tool processing machine, wherein the processing machine along the guide rails is movable, and is held in several places on the guide rails, and wherein the Tool is transversely movable to the rail plane, and wherein the guide rails are deformable in their longitudinal direction, such that the running through the two guide rails rail plane is convex or concave curved, characterized in that at least one of the guide rails ( 3 . 4 ) is designed so that it maintains its own inherent stable form. Machining system according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide rail ( 3 . 4 ) is multi-layered, wherein at least two layers are mutually displaceable and optionally, obstructing the displaceability, can be fixed. Processing system according to claim 2, characterized in that that releasable Clamps are provided, by means of which the layers mechanically fixable are. Processing system according to claim 2, characterized in that that between the layers an adhesive or a similar binder is provided, by means of which the layers are chemically fixable. Processing system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized characterized in that at least one of the layers is slotted, in such a way that their flexibility is improved. Machining system according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide rail ( 3 . 4 ) forms a shell which is filled with a curable composition. Machining system according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide rail ( 3 . 4 ) with fixed to the guide rail ( 3 . 4 ) holders ( 8th ), the holders ( 8th ) along the guide rail ( 3 . 4 ) are spaced apart, and that at a distance from the through the guide rails ( 3 . 4 ) running rail plane clamping elements are provided, wherein a clamping element between each two holders ( 8th ) and is loadable on train or on pressure. Machining system according to claim 7, characterized in that the clamping elements as threaded tie rods ( 7 ) are configured. Machining system according to claim 8, characterized in that on the threaded tie rods ( 7 ) Nuts ( 11 ), which in each case on a holder ( 8th ). Processing system according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that each guide rail ( 3 . 4 ) is assigned at least one clamping element. Processing system according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that at least one guide rail ( 3 . 4 ) are associated with two mutually parallel clamping elements, wherein the two clamping elements in the rail plane or parallel to each other are spaced apart. Processing system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by connecting elements ( 9 ), which along the guide rails ( 3 . 4 ) are arranged at a distance to each other and the guide rails ( 3 . 4 ) keep aligned parallel to each other. Processing system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a perforated plate ( 6 ) between the guide rails ( 3 . 4 ), which has holes through which the tool is feasible against the workpiece. Processing system according to claim 13, characterized by pressure pieces ( 15 ), which on the perforated plate ( 6 ) are provided on the workpiece facing side and extend to the plane of the workpiece surface. Processing system according to claim 14, characterized in that the pressure pieces ( 15 ) transversely to the longitudinal direction of the guide rails ( 3 . 4 ) are slotted.