US 11,987,390 B2
Modulable installation for assembling aircraft, and method for changing configuration within such an installation
Cédric Godard, Toulouse (FR); Florian Collado, Toulouse (FR); Jacques Bouriquet, Toulouse (FR); Jean-Marc Datas, Toulouse (FR); and Nicolas Darbonville, Blagnac (FR)
Assigned to Airbus Operations (S.A.S.), Toulouse (FR)
Filed by Airbus Operations (S.A.S.), Toulouse (FR)
Filed on Feb. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/165,076.
Claims priority of application No. 2001063 (FR), filed on Feb. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0237905 A1, Aug. 5, 2021
Int. Cl. B64F 5/10 (2017.01); B64C 1/00 (2006.01); B64C 1/18 (2006.01)
CPC B64F 5/10 (2017.01) [B64C 2001/0045 (2013.01); B64C 1/18 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A modulable aircraft assembly installation including a floor and a plurality of assembly stations distributed over the floor, the installation comprising:
a plurality of access structures for accessing the aircraft during assembly of the aircraft, each structure of the plurality of access structures being mobile over the floor, and the plurality of access structures comprising:
at least one access structure at an orbital junction between a first and a second fuselage section;
at least one access structure at two junctions between the second fuselage section and each of two aircraft wings; and
at least one access structure at at least one junction between a rear fuselage section and at least one tail unit;
wherein the installation is configured to adopt a plurality of distinct configurations, each having a different distribution of the access structures between the assembly stations; and
a mobile fuselage section support including:
a chassis mobile over the floor of the installation;
a front support cradle for the second fuselage section mounted to be mobile longitudinally on the chassis;
a rear support cradle for the second fuselage section mounted to be mobile longitudinally on the chassis; and
a plurality of jacks for maintaining a shape of the second fuselage section, the maintaining jacks being mounted on the chassis and arranged longitudinally between the front support cradle and the rear support cradle and oriented vertically or substantially vertically.