US 12,296,437 B2
Systems and methods for supporting a workpiece in a manufacturing environment
Matthew B. Moore, Edmonds, WA (US); and Patrick B. Stone, Monroe, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/971,718.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/275,005, filed on Nov. 3, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0138621 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. B25B 11/02 (2006.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01); B64F 5/50 (2017.01)
CPC B25B 11/02 (2013.01) [B64F 5/50 (2017.01); B64F 5/10 (2017.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for supporting a workpiece in a manufacturing environment, the system comprising:
a support beam that is elongated along a longitudinal axis and comprises a first end and a second end longitudinally opposed from the first end;
a first beam-side index, comprising a first cone-shaped projection that is coupled to and that projects downward from the first end of the support beam;
a second beam-side index, comprising a second cone-shaped projection that is coupled to and that projects downward from the second end of the support beam;
at least one hanger suspending from the support beam and configured for coupling the workpiece below the support beam in a known workpiece location relative to the support beam based on a geometry of the workpiece;
a first frame comprising a first base and a first riser defining a first vertical axis;
a first carriage coupled to the first riser, wherein the first carriage moves relative to the first riser along the first vertical axis, receives the first end of the support beam, and supports the first end of the support beam along the first vertical axis;
a first frame-side index, comprising a first socket that is coupled to the first carriage and that mates with the first beam-side index to locate the first end of the support beam at a first known index location relative to the first carriage;
a second frame comprising a second base and a second riser defining a second vertical axis;
a second carriage coupled to the second riser, wherein the second carriage moves relative to the second riser along the second vertical axis, receives the second end of the support beam, and supports the second end of the support beam along the second vertical axis;
a second frame-side index, comprising a second socket that is coupled to the second carriage and that mates with the second beam-side index to locate the second end of the support beam at a second known index location relative to the second carriage; and
a computer controller programmed to instruct movement of the first carriage along the first vertical axis and the second carriage along the second vertical axis to selectively position the workpiece based on the known workpiece location, the first known index location and the second known index location.