System and method for manufacturing a wing box

• Main Authors: SMITH DANIEL R, JONES DARRELL D, MUNK CLAYTON L, NOOR NOMAN S, COUEVAS CHRIS G, BATT EDWARD JOHN, MOTTAZ DONALD A, RAMOS MARIO, SISCO FARAHNAZ TANNI, NAMDARAN AZITA N, AQUINO JAYSON J, BUTTRICK JAMES N, MICALE ANTONIO C
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.06.2015
• Subjects: AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING ORREPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLYADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFTCOMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

A system and method are provided to automate the assembly of a wing panel, such as utilized by commercial aircraft. In the context of a system, a tacking cell (22) is provided that is configured to tack one or more stringers to a skin panel. The system also includes a riveting cell (26) configured to receive a tacked plank from the tacking cell (22) and to rivet the one or more stringers to the skin panel. The system also includes a splicing cell (32) configured to receive a plurality of riveted planks from the riveting cell (26) and to attach one or more splice stringers to the plurality of riveted planks. Further, the system includes a side of body cell (34) configured to receive a spliced panel from the splicing cell (32) and to attach a side of body chord thereto to produce a wing panel.