US 12,252,271 B2
Methods and systems for assembly and installation of airframe crown modules
Daniel R. Smith, Woodinville, WA (US); Darrell D. Jones, Mill Creek, WA (US); and Jeremy Evan Justice, Mill Creek, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Nov. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/454,276.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/115,050, filed on Nov. 18, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0153437 A1, May 19, 2022
Int. Cl. B64F 5/10 (2017.01); B23P 21/00 (2006.01); B64C 1/06 (2006.01)
CPC B64F 5/10 (2017.01) [B23P 21/004 (2013.01); B64C 1/061 (2013.01); B64C 1/068 (2013.01); B23P 2700/01 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for assembling an aircraft, the method comprising:
receiving an upper half barrel section of a fuselage that is in a crown up orientation at a crown module attach station of a first assembly line;
advancing the upper half barrel section on a track in a process direction along the first assembly line through a line of serially arranged work stations according to a takt time;
fabricating a crown module of the aircraft in a second assembly line according to the takt time, wherein the second assembly line is a feeder line to the crown module attach station; and
installing the crown module into the upper half barrel section at the crown module attach station;
wherein the crown module and the upper half barrel section are fabricated in parallel such that the crown module and the upper half barrel section arrive at the crown module attach station just in time to install the crown module into the upper half barrel section.