Reconfigurable flexible rail apparatus and method

Abstract

A method and apparatus for performing operations on a work piece comprises a flexible rail system and a multi-axis carriage. The flexible rail system may be capable of being attached to a work surface. The multi-axis carriage may be coupled to the flexible rail system. The multi-axis carriage may be capable of moving along the flexible rail system and may be capable of moving a tool in axes relative to the work surface. The tool may be single use or multi use and may be removably coupled to the frame and or carriage

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a flexible rail system capable of being attached to a work surface; and   a multi-axis carriage coupled to the flexible rail system, wherein the multi-axis carriage is capable of moving along the flexible rail system and is capable of moving a tool in axes relative to the work surface.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a tool module capable of being removably coupled to the multi-axis carriage, wherein the tool module comprises a frame and the tool, wherein the tool is mounted on the frame.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the tool is located on a first side of the tool module further comprising:
 a pressure foot located on the first side and capable of applying pressure to the work surface.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the flexible rail system comprises a flexible rail, and wherein the tool module further comprises:
 a reaction unit located on a second side of the tool module and capable of stabilizing the multi-axis carriage during operation of the tool.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the reaction unit is capable of stabilizing the multi-axis carriage while the multi-axis carriage moves along the flexible rail. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a set of rollers associated with the pressure foot.   
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the reaction unit comprises at least one of a set of feet and a set of rollers. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the multi-axis carriage comprises:
 a first motor that is capable of moving the multi-axis carriage on the flexible rail along an X-axis in the axes.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the multi-axis carriage further comprises:
 a second motor capable of moving the tool in the tool module along a Y-axis in the axes   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the pressure foot is rotatable about an A-axis that is parallel to the X-axis and is movable to contact the work surface. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the pressure foot is capable of providing a force that is normal to the work surface. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible rail system is a flexible vacuum rail system. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible rail system comprises:
 a plurality of rails.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the work surface is curved. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the tool is removably attached to the frame. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the tool is selected from one of a drill, a measurement probe, a rivet hammer, a router, a trimming saw, a grinding wheel, and a fastener. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the work surface is a surface of a work piece selected from one of an aircraft fuselage, an aircraft wing, an aircraft door, an aircraft empennage, an aircraft control surface, a spacecraft, a ship, a tank, and a building. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for performing operations on an aircraft work piece.
 a flexible vacuum rail capable of being attached to a curved work surface of the work piece;   a multi-axis carriage coupled to the flexible rail system, wherein the multi-axis carriage is capable of moving along the flexible rail system and is capable of moving a tool in axes relative to the curved work surface and wherein the multi-axis carriage comprises:   a first motor capable of moving the multi-axis carriage on the flexible rail along an X-axis in the axes; and   a second motor capable of moving the tool in a tool module along a Y-axis in the axes;   a tool module capable of being removably coupled to the multi-axis carriage and comprising:   a frame;   the tool, wherein the tool is mounted on the frame, wherein the tool is located on a first side of the tool module, and wherein the tool is selected from one of a drill, a measurement probe, a rivet hammer, a router, a trimming saw, a grinding wheel, and a fastener;   a pressure foot located on the first side of the tool module, wherein the pressure foot is capable of applying pressure to the curved work surface, is rotatable about an A-axis that is parallel to the X-axis, and is capable of providing a force that is normal to the curved work surface; and   a reaction unit located on a second side of the tool module and capable of stabilizing the multi-axis carriage during operation of the tool and capable of stabilizing the multi-axis carriage while the multi-axis carriage moves along the flexible rail, wherein the reaction unit comprises at least one of a set of fixed feet and a set of rollers.   
   
   
       19 . A method for performing an operation on a work piece, the method comprising:
 attaching a vacuum rail with a multi-axis carriage coupled to the vacuum rail to a surface of a work piece;   coupling a tool module to the multi-axis carriage, wherein the tool module has a tool capable of performing the operation;   moving the multi-axis carriage along the flexible vacuum rail to a location on the work piece; and   performing the operation at the location.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the performing step comprises:
 applying a force against the surface with a pressure unit located on a first side of the tool module, wherein the pressure unit is rotatable around an axis parallel to an axis of movement of the multi-axis carriage and wherein force is normal to the surface;   providing a reactive force to the force with a reactive unit located on a second side of the tool module; and   performing the operation after the force and the reactive force are applied.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the operation is selected from at least one of a drilling operation, a sealing operation, a measuring operation, and a fastening operation. 
   
   
       22 . A method for performing an operation on an aircraft work piece comprising:
 attaching a flexible vacuum rail with a multi-axis carriage coupled to the flexible vacuum rail to a surface of the aircraft work piece;   coupling a tool module to the multi-axis carriage, wherein the tool module has a tool capable of performing the operation;   moving the multi-axis carriage along the flexible vacuum rail to a location on the aircraft work piece; and   applying a force against the surface with a pressure unit located on a first side of the tool module, wherein the pressure unit is rotatable around an axis parallel to an axis of movement of the multi-axis carriage and wherein force is normal to the surface;   providing a reactive force to the force with a reactive unit located on a second side of the tool module; and   performing the operation after the force and the reactive force are applied, wherein the operation is selected from at least one of a drilling operation and a fastening operation.