GB2467371A - Component positioning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A tool 10 for positioning components relative to an internal structure (14, fig 1) of a body (16, fig 1), comprises a first member 18 and a plurality of arms 32 depending from the first member. Each arm has a free end 34 comprising a mounting formation 48 for releasably mounting a component 52 to the internal structure. The arms are reversibly moveable between a retracted position, and a deployed condition, in which the free ends of the arms protrude radially outwardly of the first member. The tool may be used to position multiple components relative to a surface of a body, for instance, when inserting electrical components, such as gauges, to an internal wall within a shaft of a gas turbine engine. Preferably, the arms are pivotally mounted to the first member and are rotatable between the retracted and deployed positions under the influence of actuator means. The actuator means may comprise an actuator 54 moveable along an axial path, such that contact between the actuator and the arms causes the arms to move out of the retracted position. The component may be adhered to the internal structure with adhesive.

Description

COMPONENT POSITIONING APPARATUS AND METHOD

The present invention relates to apparatus and a method for positioning of one or more components and more particularly, although not exclusively, to apparatus for use in positioning electrical components relative to an internal surface of a body during manufacture or assembly.

Internal cavities within hollow bodies can provide useful internal space within which one or more component parts of an assembly can be mounted. In this way the body provides a housing for the components, which are mounted to an internal wall thereof such that the body at least partially encloses the component and provides a degree of shielding from external conditions.

One situation in which electronic components are mounted in an internal space is in the bore of a shaft. Within the aerospace industry, for example, electronic components are often required to be located on or adjacent the internal wall of a shaft within a gas turbine engine.

However there exists a problem in that the bore of a shaft may have a relatively small opening for access to the internal wall thereof. Furthermore the shaft is typically elongate in form such that the opening at an end of the shaft allows highly restricted access for the available internal space.

This problem is further compounded when it is considered that components may need to be mounted or fixed to the internal wall of the shaft. Thus it is necessary that the components must be inserted into the shaft bore but also that the component must be pressed outwardly against the internal wall of the shaft for a period of time in which the fixation of the component to the shaft can be carried out.

Accordingly, the positioning and/or mounting of electrical components to the internal wall of a hollow body is often a time consuming process in which individual components must be mounted one at a time. As components are mounted in an incremental fashion, the available internal wall space for further components diminishes such that further components must be carefully oriented and positioned in order to optimise coverage of the internal wall. Such steps can cause an unwanted bottle-neck in an associated manufacturing or assembly process.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for positioning of multiple components relative to an internal wall of a body in a more efficient manner.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a tool for positioning components relative to an internal wall of a body, the apparatus comprising: a first member and a plurality of arms depending from the first member, each arm having a free end comprising a mounting formation for releasably mounting a component thereto, wherein the arms are reversibly moveable between a retracted position in which the free end of the arms are radially proximate to or contained within the first member and a deployed condition in which the free ends of the arms protrude radially outwardly of the first member.

The tool may have an axis and the arms may be arranged obliquely to said axis when in the retracted condition in readiness for axial or radial actuation thereof.

In one embodiment, the tool arms are moveable in a synchronous or corresponding manner. The tool may comprise actuation means for moving the arms in a controlled manner between said retracted and deployed conditions. According to a preferred embodiment, the actuation means comprises a retaining means for holding or biasing the arms in the deployed condition. A common actuation and/or retaining means may be provided for respective movement and/or holding of the arms in unison. Additionally or alternatively, control means may be provided to ensure synchronous operation of the arms.

The actuation means may comprise a collar member which is axially rnoveable relative to the first member. The actuation means may slide back and forth along the first member.

The actuation means may comprise a biasing member arranged to apply a constant biasing force to one or more arms once deployed so as to ensure the free ends of the arms are pressed towards the body wall. The biasing member may comprise a circumferential spring member which may comprise a material having shape memory, such as for example an elastic material.

The actuator and biasing member may work cooperatively in moving the arms from the retracted to the deployed condition.

According to one embodiment, the first member comprises a support member which may be moveable in an axial and/or rotational manner. The support member may take the form of an elongate rod or bar.

The tool may comprise an open-ended housing within which the arms are housed in the retracted position. The housing may be moveable relative to the arms to expose the arms for deployment. Preferably the housing is generally tubular in shape. The housing may be mounted relative to the support member and may be axially moveable there-along to selectively expose or enclose the arms.

According to one particular embodiment, the housing comprises actuation means for actuation of the arms between said retracted and deployed positions. The housing may comprise a circumferential wall or flange for selectively contacting the arms as the housing is axially moved along the shaft. The arms may be arranged obliquely relative to the actuator such that axial movement of the actuator relative thereto causes the actuator to ride up said arms and thereby force the arms in a direction substantially perpendicular to said axial motion of the actuator.

In one embodiment, the arms are pivotally mounted relative to the first member.

Operation of the actuation means may cause rotation of the arms about their respective pivot mountings.

The, or each, arm may comprise adjoining first and second arm portions, said arm portions being obliquely arranged. The first and second arm portions may be arranged in an end to end fashion as a single rigid arm member. The arm may comprise a mounting formation for the removable mounting of a component thereto, which mounting formation may be pivotally attached to a free end of the arm to be actuated upon deployment thereof. The actuator may contact with a first arm portion for retraction of the arm and with a second arm portion for movement to the deployed condition.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of positioning components relative to an internal surface of a body, the method comprising: releasably mounting a plurality of components on a tool, the tool having a plurality of arms which are moveable between radially retracted and extended positions, and the components being mounted on said arms; positioning the tool relative to the internal surface of the body; moving the arms from the retracted position to the extended position so as to locate the components against the internal wall.

The method may comprise biasing the arms towards the internal surface so as to ensure correct location of the component against the surface. A constant biasing force may be applied over a period of time to all the arms of the tool.

In one embodiment, the method comprises retaining the components on said arms with a first retaining force and, once deployed, applying an opposing transfer force to transfer said component to said body surface, wherein the transfer force is greater in magnitude than the retaining force.

The component may be adhered to the arm using a first adhesive and a second adhesive may be applied between the component and the body surface, the second adhesive [providing greater adhesion than the first adhesive. The arms may be forcibly moved to said retracted position in order to overcome the adhesion of the first adhesive and thereby release the component from the arm. The tool may be maintained in a deployed condition for sufficient time to allow curing or setting of the second adhesive.

One or more working embodiments of the present invention are described in further detail below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a side view of component positioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a half longitudinal section of a tool according to a first embodiment of the invention in a retracted condition; Figure 3 shows a half longitudinal section of the apparatus of figure 2 in a deployed condition; Figure 4 shows a half longitudinal section of a tool according to a second embodiment of the invention in a deployed condition; Figure 5 shows a half longitudinal section of a tool according to a third embodiment of the invention in a retracted condition; and, Figure 6 shows a half longitudinal section of a tool according to a fourth embodiment of the invention in a deployed condition.

The embodiments present invention described below provide for one or more electrical components to be applied to an inside surface of body which is circular in profile. The invention may equally be applied to non-circular body cavity profiles, such as, for example those having an oval, elliptical or polygonal profile. In addition the invention may be applied to non-uniform internal cavities having one or more oblique walls, such as tapering or diverging cavities.

In all the embodiments below, the body against which the components are positioned is in the form of a shaft, although the embodiments described below may equally be applied to the internal cavity of a body other than a shaft, providing the internal cavity has an opening to allow access to the inside of the cavity.

Turning now to figure 1, there is shown a tool 10 having a head 12 arranged for insertion into an internal bore 14 of shaft 16. In this embodiment, the shaft is intended for use within a gas turbine engine and is arranged to allow transmission of torque between rotating components thereof.

The tool head 12 is mounted on a support 18 which allows axial insertion of the head into the shaft 16 in the direction of arrow A. The support 18 is in the form of a rod or bar which may be attached to any form of known actuator to allow insertion and removal of the head 12 from the shaft bore 14. Any or any combination of a conventional support jig, a ram, a robot or the like may be used for this purpose and will not be described in detail here for conciseness. The support 18 is moveable by the actuator both axially and rotationally.

Figures 2 to 6 show various optional embodiments for the features of the tool head 12.

All of the embodiments described below are axi-symmetrical and so only a half-sectional view is required to capture the features of the tool which are repeated at suitable angular spacings about the tool axis, dependent on the number of components to be positioned within the bore 14.

The process of mounting electrical components, such as gauges, to a body may be referred to in the art as instrumenting' the body.

Turning now to figure 2, a first embodiment is shown in which the tool head comprises a housing 22 which may be considered to provide a rigid cover or sheath for the internal components of the tool head. The housing 22 comprises a collar portion 24 and an outer peripheral wall 26, the peripheral wall 26 and collar 24 being connected by an intermediate wall 28 which is arranged in a generally radial orientation with respect to tool axis 20.

The collar portion 24 closely surrounds the support member 18 and is shaped in section to correspond to the sectional shape of the support member 18 such that the collar is moveable in an axial direction back and forth along the support member.

The peripheral wall 26 represents the outermost wall of the tool head 12. The peripheral wall 26 defines a hollow interior in which further components are mounted as will be described in further detail below. The peripheral wall 26 is generally tubular in form. The housing 22 is closed at one end by the intermediate wall 28 but has an opening or mouth 29 at the opposing end 30. As an alternative to intermediate wall 28, spokes or other spacing formations could be used to retain the wall 26 relative to collar 24.

A plurality of arms 32 are mounted within the housing 22 when the tool is in a retracted or storage condition as shown in figure 2. The arms 32 are angularly spaced about the axis 20. The present embodiment has a total of three arms 32 although more arms could be provided if required to position more than three components at a time, provided the arms can be accommodated within the space constraints of the housing 22 and/or internal space in which the tool is to be deployed.

Each arm has first 34 and second 36 ends and is pivotally mounted part-way along its length at 38 in a manner which allows the first and second ends to move towards and away from the axis 20 within predetermined constraints. The arm 32 has a first portion 32A which terminates at the first end 34 and a second portion 32B which terminates at the second end 36. The first 32A and second 32B portions are obliquely angled and meet at corner or elbow 40. An obtuse angle is formed between the first 32A and second 32B arms portions. In an alternative embodiment, the arm 32 could be curved in form to achieve the necessary angular spacing between the first and second portions.

The arm 32 is pivotally mounted by a pin to a mounting formation 42 depending from the support 18. The support extends through the collar 24 and part way into the interior of the housing 22 so as to provide a suitable mounting portion for the arm 32.

Biasing means in the form of a circumferential spring or other elastic band member 44 is provided towards the second end 36 of the arm 32. In this regard the second portion 32B of the arm is provided with an indent or notch 46 within which the biasing means is located. The biasing means is similarly located on each arm in the tool so as to bias the second end of the respective arms towards the tool axis 20.

Whilst a circumferential spring or band member is preferred to bias all arms simultaneously, it is to be noted that individual coil or leaf springs could be provided for each arm, the tension therein being such that each arm is biased to substantially the same degree.

At the first end 34 of arm 32, there is provided a component mounting formation 48 which is pivotally attached to the arm at pin 50. The mounting formation 48 takes the form of a plate member, on which a gauge 52 or other component to be located in the shaft bore 14 is positioned. The plate member may be provided with releasable gripping formation (not shown) for releasably holding the component 52 by friction.

However in the present embodiment, the component is attached to the plate using a light adhesive.

An actuator 54 depends inwardly from the peripheral wall 22 and takes the form of a circumferential wall, which terminates a distance from the axis 20 so as to define an opening which is smaller in diameter than the opening 29 and co-axial therewith. In this position the actuator 54 contacts the first portion 32A of arm 32 so as to prevent contact between the plate 28 and/or component 52 thereon and the peripheral wall 26. Thus the component 52 is retained within the perimeter of the housing 22 so as to protect the component prior to deployment.

The method of instrumenting the shaft 16 is now described with reference to figures 2 and 3. The housing 22 is first retracted in the direction of arrow B to expose the component mounting formations 48. A component 52 is releasably mounted to a mounting formation 48 on each arm using a light adhesive or friction-based releasable mounting means, such as grippers (not shown) or the like. The housing 22 is then moved forward so as to cover the components 52 on the mounting formations 48 in readiness for use.

The tool is then inserted into the internal space to be instrumented -in this case, the bore 14 of shaft 16 -with the housing 22 in its foremost position, covering the arms and components mounted thereon. The tool may be moved axially and/or rotated into the desired position. Once the tool head achieves a predetermined position within the bore 14, the support is held fast and the housing is retracted in the direction of arrow B. As the housing 22 moves relative to the arms, the actuator 54 moves in unison therewith. As the housing 22 is retracted, the actuator 54 rides along the first arm portion 32A, permitting outward movement of the first end 34 of the arm 32 once clear of the open end of housing 22. The biasing of the arm by spring member 44 causes the arm to move to its deployed condition as shown in figure 3.

The movement of the arm 32 into the deployed condition of figure 3 is controlled at least in part by the movement of the actuator 54 along the first arm portion 32A.

However the second end 36 of the arm 32 is radially spaced from the axis 20 to a greater extent than the inner edge of the actuator 54 such that the actuator comes into contact with the second arm portion 32B as the housing is retracted. Thus abutment between the actuator and second arm portion 32B also controls pivoting of the arm 32 about pivot point 38 such that the component mounting portion 48 moves radially outwardly in the direction of arrow C. In this manner, the length of the actuator and the shape of the arm can be selected such that the component 52 is moved into position against the interior wall of bore 14 either by the spring component 44 or the action of the actuator 54 against the second arm portion 32B or else a combination of the two.

Whilst a common spring component 44 is envisaged for biasing all arms simultaneously, it will be appreciated that each arm is pivotally mounted independently of the other arms. Thus non-circular geometries can be accommodated by amending the relative positioning and/or shape of the arms, whilst retaining a common spring component.

Once deployed, the spring member 46 serves to bias the first end 34 of arm 32 in an outward direction such that the component 52 is pressed against the bore wall 14 in the absence of any external forces. The pivot 50 ensures that correct contact between the component and interior wall is maintained regardless of any inclination of the interior wall.

It will be appreciated that the component 52 generally has a first side or face, which is in contact with the component mounting formation 48 during deployment and an opposing side or face which faces the internal surface or wall against which the component is to be located. The first side of the component is provided with a relatively light or weak adhesive so as to prevent the component coming free of the mounting formation 48 prior to the intended deployment.

The opposing side of the component is provided with a relatively stronger adhesive such that upon location of the component against the bore wall 14, the bond between the component 52 and the wall will be greater than the bond between the component and the mounting formation. The tool may be required to be held as shown in figure 3 in the deployed condition for a predetermined time whilst the adhesive between the component and the wall cures.

After the predetermined time has elapsed, the housing may be moved back along the support 18 to its initial position in a direction opposite to arrow B as shown in figure 2.

Thus the actuator 54 will contact the first arm portion 32A and urge the arm away from the bore wall 14. Once the radial component of the force applied to the first arm portion 32A by actuator 54 exceeds the adhesive bond between the component and the mounting formation 48, the mounting formation will come away from the component, leaving it adhered to the internal bore wall 14.

The tool can then be removed from the shaft and prepared for mounting further components at an alternative location in the same shaft 16 or else for mounting components in a different shaft.

Prior to mounting on the tool, the components may be wired up if required such that any necessary electrical connection between the components can be established prior to positioning in the bore. Accordingly, the components and associated wiring can be deployed simultaneously using a tool according to the present invention.

Turning now to figure 4, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention, in which the peripheral wall 26 of the housing 22 is no longer present. The embodiment of figure 4 is similar to that of figure 1 and like features have been numbered accordingly.

However in this embodiment the housing of figure 2 has been modified in shape such that it no longer encloses the arms but instead takes the form of a collar member 56 which is moveable back and forth along the support bar l8so as to actuate the arm 58.

The collar member 56 closely surrounds the support 18 and is shaped in section so as to provide an opening for reception of the support. The collar member 56 and support 18 are correspondingly shaped.

The collar member 56 in figure 4 is shown in a deployed condition, wherein it is drawn away from the arms 58 such that the arms are biased into the deployed condition by virtue of the biasing spring member 44. When retraction of the arms is required, the collar member 56 is moved towards the arm 58 such that an abutment portion 60 of the collar member 58 comes into contact with the second portion 58B of the arm 58. The force applied to the collar member is transferred to the arm and causes the arm to pivot about pivot point 38 such that the first arm portion 58A pivots towards the axis 20 and retracts the component mounting formation 48.

The arm 58 of figures 4 and 5 is the same as the arm 32 in figures 2 and 3 save that the angle between the first 58A and second 58B arm portions is reduced such that the second arm portion 58B is oriented for actuation from the rear by collar member 56.

Thus the second arm portion 58B is obliquely angled relative to axis 20 when the arm 58 is fully deployed. For this purpose an intermediate arm portion 580 has been provided between the first and second arm portions. As with the arm 32, the arm 58 could instead be curved in shape in order to achieve the desired movement in response to actuation by the collar member 56.

In figure 5, the device operates as described in relation to figure 4 save that the embodiment of figure 5 also comprises a housing or sleeve 62 to cover the arms and components mounted thereto when retracted. The housing 62 is mounted about the support bar 18 and is axially moveable along the bar such that the housing 62 can be moved away from component mounting formations 48 for deployment thereof. The housing 62 is moveable independently of the collar member 56 in this embodiment but may alternatively be linked to the collar member for movement in unison therewith.

In the above embodiments, it is envisaged that the housing 22 or 62 and/or the collar member 56 may be slid over the support 18 simply by virtue of a small clearance there-between. Thus the control of the movement of the actuation means is determined by the force applied thereto by an operator or else by an automated drive means.

However in the event that the movement of the housing 22 or collar member 56 is required to be further controlled, one or more stops can be provided on the outer surface of the support member to limit the freedom of available movement of the housing or collar.

In addition to the pivoting mounting 50, the component retaining formations 48 of the above embodiments comprise a resiliently compliant material in order to allow them to conform to the curved surface, to which the gauge is to be applied. The plate or pad is made of a conforming material, to provide adequate strength to hold the gauge hard against the surface, to allow curing, yet soft enough to conform to the surface to ensure uniform contact for bonding.

Alternatively, the plates could be of a defined radius, and be designed to be interchangeable, for different size bores.

Turning now to figure 6, a further embodiment is shown, which is the same as the embodiment of figures 2 and 3 save that the plate-like component mounting formation 48 has been replaced with a mounting for an inspection device 62. In this embodiment the inspection device is a camera but may additionally or alternatively comprise a probe or the like.

The device of figure 6 is operated in a manner similar to that of figures 2 and 3 by retracting the housing 22 to allow deployment of the arms 32. When deployed, the first end 34 of arm 32 is biased towards the internal surface to be inspected due to the force applied by spring component 44. The radially outermost corner or vertex 34A of the arm end 34 maintains a substantially point contact with the surface. The tool head can then be moved in a controlled manner in an axial and/or rotational direction for inspection of the internal surface.

The biasing of the arms using spring member 44 allows automatic expansion and retraction of the arms 32 such that the camera 62 follows the contours of the body under inspection. In addition, the camera 62 and/or probe is mounted a short distance from the tip 34A of the arm 32 such that a constant spacing is maintained between the internal surface of the shaft and the probe/camera. This feature is an important consideration for certain types of inspection and in particular for eddy current inspection. Alternatively, the probe may be mounted at the tip 34A or else projecting a small distance outwardly there-from such that the probe itself maintains contact with the inspected surface.

The device can be used to probe or scan holes and bores of varying diameters, including tapered holes, non-circular surfaces, and the like.

Whilst the above embodiments are described with reference to the locating of components against an inwardly facing surface of a body, such as a shaft, it will be appreciated that the orientation of the above described device could simply be amended to allow location of components against a radially outwardly facing surface by adjusting the relative radial alignment of the actuator 54, arms 32 and spring member 44.

Any of the features described above in relation to any one or more embodiments is interchangeable with any corresponding or alternative feature of any other embodiment wherever practicably possible. For example, the camera or probe 62 of figure 6 may be interchanged with the component mounting formation 48 of figures 4015. In addition, the camera or probe 62 may be mounted in addition to the component mounting formation of any one of figures 2 to 5 such that the tool may perform a dual function.

Whilst the above-described embodiments are principally axi-symmetric, having a plurality of arms, it is envisaged that the tool need only have one arm for deploying a component or holding a component adjacent the relevant internal surface, whilst the one or more further arms may be used to support the device relative to the body.

For the avoidance of doubt, the reference numerals within the claims are provided by way of example only as an aid to the reader and are not limiting on the scope of the claims.

Claims (22)

1. CLAIMSA tool (10) for positioning components relative to an internal structure (14) of a body (16), the tool comprising: a first member (18) and a plurality of arms (32;58) depending from the first member, at least one of the arms having a free end (34) comprising a mounting formation (48) for releasably mounting a component (52;62) thereto, wherein the arms are reversibly moveable between a retracted position in which the free end of the arms are radially proximate to or contained within the first member, and a deployed condition in which the free ends of the arms protrude radially outwardly of the first member.
2. 2 A tool (10) according to claim 1, wherein the arms (32;58) are arranged in the deployed condition to force the mounting formation (48) and component (52) thereon against the internal structure (14) of the body (12) for transfer of the component (52) from the mounting formation (48) to the internal structure (14).
3. 3 A tool (10) according to claim 1 or 2 comprising an axis (20), the arms (32;58) being angularly spaced about said axis for radial deployment relative thereto.
4. 4 A tool (10) according to claim 3, wherein the arms (32;8) are pivotably mounted relative to said first member (18) and are rotatable between said retracted and deployed conditions under the influence of actuator means (44;54;60).
5. A tool (10) according to claim 4, wherein the actuation means (44;54;60) comprise an actuator (54) mounted relative to said first member and moveable along an axial path, the arms (32;58) being arranged obliquely to said axis (20) in the retracted condition and in the movement path of the actuator such that contact between the actuator and the arms causes the arms to move out of the retracted condition.
6. 6 A tool (10) according to claim 4 or 5, the actuation means (44;54;60) comprising a circumferential member (54;60) arranged to act on the plurality of arms (32;58) such that the arms are moveable in a synchronous manner between said retracted and deployed conditions.
7. 7 A tool (10) according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the actuation means (44;54;60) comprises a biasing member (44) which passes about each of the arms (32;58) so as to bias the arms into the deployed condition.
8. 8 A tool (10) according to claim 7, wherein the biasing member is arranged to apply a constant biasing force to the arms in the deployed condition so as to ensure the free ends of the arms are pressed towards the internal structure of the body.
9. 9 A tool (10) according to any preceding claim in which the first member comprises an elongate support member (18) which is moveable in an axial and/or rotational manner.
10. A tool (10) according to any preceding claim further comprising an open-ended housing (22) within which the arms (32;58) are housed in the retracted condition, the housing being moveable relative to the arms to expose the arms for movement to the deployed condition.
11. 11 A tool (10) according to claim 10 when dependent on claim 5, wherein the housing (22) comprises a peripheral wall (26) and the actuator (54) takes the form of a circumferential wall depending from said peripheral wall.
12. 12 A tool (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein each arm (32;58) comprises adjoining first (32A) and second (32B) arm portions, said arm portions being arranged at different angular orientations relative to the tool axis (20).
13. 13 A tool (10) according to claim 12, wherein the actuator (54) is arranged to selectively contact the first (32A) and second (32 B) arm portions for respective retraction and deployment of the arms (32;58).
14. 14 A tool (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting formation (48) for the removable mounting of a component (52) to the arm (32;58) is pivotally attached to a free end of the arm.
15. A tool (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein each arm has a mounting formation (48) thereon.
16. 16 A method of positioning components (52;62) relative to an internal structure (14) of a body (12), the method comprising: releasably mounting a plurality of components on a tool (10), the tool having a plurality of arms (32;58) which are moveable between radially retracted and extended positions, and the components being mounted on said arms; positioning the tool relative to the internal structure of the body; moving the arms from the retracted position to the extended position so as to locate the components against the internal structure.
17. 17 The method of claim 16, further comprising retaining the components (52) on said arms with a first retaining force and, once deployed, applying an opposing transfer force to transfer said component to said body structure (14), wherein the transfer force is greater in magnitude than the retaining force.
18. 18 The method of claim 16 or 17, wherein the component is adhered to the arm using a first adhesive and a second adhesive is applied between the component (52) and the body structure (14), the second adhesive providing greater adhesion than the first adhesive.
19. 19 The method of claim 18 wherein the arms (32;58) are forcibly moved to said retracted position in order to overcome the adhesion of the first adhesive and thereby release the component from the arm.
20. The method of any one of claims 16 to 19, comprising applying a constant biasing force such that the arms (32;58) are biased towards the internal body structure (14) in the deployed condition over a period of time so as to ensure correct location of the component (52;62) against the structure.
21. 21 A tool substantially as herein-before described with reference to figures 1 to 3, 4, and 6.
22. 22 A method of positioning components substantially as herein-before described with reference to figures 1 to 3, 4, 5 and 6.