Seam tracking drilling machine

• Main Authors: SCHALLER; DAVID A, WHEETLEY; MICHAEL J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.11.1995
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: BORING; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOTDIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT; DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g.ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS; MACHINE TOOLS; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OFPARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOTOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TRAILERS; TRANSPORTING; TURNING

A seam tracking robotic drilling machine (10) is disclosed which is capable of moving a drill head along the seam (12) between abutting skin panels (16, 18) to drill a plurality of precisely positioned holes (18) through the panel. The machine (10) includes a perimeter support frame (20) which mounts a platform (36) for rotation about an axis (38) generally perpendicular the panels to be drilled. The platform supports a carriage (48) for movement along an axis 50 parallel the surface of the panels and in the direction of the seam while the carriage (48) supports an inner carriage (62) for movement along axis 60 perpendicular thereto. A drill head (74) is mounted on the inner carriage (62). A series of variable height vacuum cup assemblies (22-28) support the perimeter support frame (20). A similar series of variable height vacuum cup assemblies (66-72) support the inner carriage (62). When one set of vacuum cup assemblies is activated for attachment to the panels, the other set is deactuated to allow the machine to walk along the seam.