Abstract: A method for determining a shim profile for assembling a first mating surface of a first part with a second mating surface of a second part includes: obtaining a baseline surface model of the first mating surface; scanning the first mating surface when the first part is in a deviated configuration to generate a scan-based surface model of the first mating surface; deforming the scan-based surface model of the first mating surface relative to the baseline surface model of the first mating surface to generate a first deformed surface model of the first mating surface; deforming the first deformed surface model of the first mating surface relative to a surface model of the second mating surface to generate a second deformed surface model of the first mating surface; and comparing the second deformed surface model of the first mating surface to the surface model of the second mating surface.

Abstract: Disclosed aircraft wing-to-body join methods include measuring a 3D surface contour of each wing root interface surface of a wing root to form a complete wing root 3D surface profile; measuring a 3D surface contour of each wing stub interface surface of a wing stub to form a complete wing stub 3D surface profile; calculating a virtual fit between the aircraft wing and the aircraft body assembly that defines one or more gaps between the wing root interface surface and the wing stub interface surface; and aligning the aircraft wing to the aircraft body assembly to achieve a real fit consistent with the virtual fit.

Abstract: The invention controls a power cinching function of a motor vehicle door latch in order to improve door seal performance under conditions wherein vibrations could otherwise reduce seal effectiveness. With the door latched closed in a flush condition, the vehicle speed is compared to a slow-speed threshold. When the vehicle speed is greater than the slow-speed threshold, then a vehicle vibration parameter is compared to a vibration threshold. When the vibration parameter is greater than the vibration threshold, then the power cinching function is activated to move the door to to a subflush condition which increases a compression of the seal between the door and a vehicle door frame. When the door is in the subflush condition, the vehicle speed continues to be compared to the slow-speed threshold, and when the vehicle speed is less than the slow-speed threshold then the door is released back to the flush condition.

Abstract: The invention controls a power cinching function of a motor vehicle door latch in order to improve door seal performance under conditions wherein vibrations could otherwise reduce seal effectiveness. With the door latched closed in a flush condition, the vehicle speed is compared to a slow-speed threshold. When the vehicle speed is greater than the slow-speed threshold, then a vehicle vibration parameter is compared to a vibration threshold. When the vibration parameter is greater than the vibration threshold, then the power cinching function is activated to move the door to to a subflush condition which increases a compression of the seal between the door and a vehicle door frame. When the door is in the subflush condition, the vehicle speed continues to be compared to the slow-speed threshold, and when the vehicle speed is less than the slow-speed threshold then the door is released back to the flush condition.

Abstract: A double eccentric positioning apparatus uses two equal offset eccentric bushings to accurately position a tool (such as a drill bushing) in two dimensions. Miniature servo motors and precise gearing control the rotation of each eccentric bushing, which controls the direction of the offset vectors. The offset vectors are used to determine the final position of the drill bushing. The desired rotation angles can be mathematically calculated based on desired position. The inner eccentric bushing is located concentric to the offset of the outer eccentric bushing. This allows any position, within a radius of two times the eccentric offset, to be achieved. The use of worm gearing on the eccentric bushings prevents back-driving of the servo motors, due to the lead angle of the worm gears, and the friction between the worm wheel and worm gear.

Abstract: Disclosed aircraft wing-to-body join methods include measuring a 3D surface contour of each wing root interface surface of a wing root to form a complete wing root 3D surface profile; measuring a 3D surface contour of each wing stub interface surface of a wing stub to form a complete wing stub 3D surface profile; calculating a virtual fit between the aircraft wing and the aircraft body assembly that defines one or more gaps between the wing root interface surface and the wing stub interface surface; and aligning the aircraft wing to the aircraft body assembly to achieve a real fit consistent with the virtual fit.

Abstract: Disclosed aircraft wing-to-body join methods include (a) applying targets to a wing and a body assembly at the respective wing root and wing stub, (b) determining the 3D locations of the targets by photogrammetry, (c) generating 3D surface profiles for the interface surfaces of the wing root and wing stub by combining scans of the interface surfaces, (d) calculating a virtual fit between the wing and the body assembly that defines one or more gaps between the generated 3D surface profiles of the wing root and wing stub, (e) positioning at least three position sensors within the wing root and/or the wing stub, and (f) aligning the wing to the body assembly to achieve a real fit consistent with the calculated virtual fit using feedback from the position sensors. Methods of determining the target locations and/or the 3D surface profiles may utilize a mobile scanning platform.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to automatically fabricate fillers are disclosed. An example method includes aligning rigid surface data with flexible surface data, the rigid surface data and the flexible surface data being permitted to overlap when aligned; when aligned, defining the rigid surface data and the flexible surface data based on a same parameter space; calculating a displacement function based on differences between corresponding ones of first points in the flexible surface data and second points in the rigid surface data; determining a modified position of a first one of the first points by modifying the first one of the first points based on a value of the displacement function; calculating a gap between the modified position of the first one of the first points and a second one of the second points; and creating a physical filler to fill a physical gap corresponding to the calculated gap.

Abstract: Disclosed aircraft wing-to-body join methods include (a) applying targets to a wing and a body assembly at the respective wing root and wing stub, (b) determining the 3D locations of the targets by photogrammetry, (c) generating 3D surface profiles for the interface surfaces of the wing root and wing stub by combining scans of the interface surfaces, (d) calculating a virtual fit between the wing and the body assembly that defines one or more gaps between the generated 3D surface profiles of the wing root and wing stub, (e) positioning at least three position sensors within the wing root and/or the wing stub, and (f) aligning the wing to the body assembly to achieve a real fit consistent with the calculated virtual fit using feedback from the position sensors. Methods of determining the target locations and/or the 3D surface profiles may utilize a mobile scanning platform.

Abstract: A double eccentric positioning apparatus uses two equal offset eccentric bushings to accurately position a tool (such as a drill bushing) in two dimensions. Miniature servo motors and precise gearing control the rotation of each eccentric bushing, which controls the direction of the offset vectors. The offset vectors are used to determine the final position of the drill bushing. The desired rotation angles can be mathematically calculated based on desired position. The inner eccentric bushing is located concentric to the offset of the outer eccentric bushing. This allows any position, within a radius of two times the eccentric offset, to be achieved. The use of worm gearing on the eccentric bushings prevents back-driving of the servo motors, due to the lead angle of the worm gears, and the friction between the worm wheel and worm gear.

Abstract: A double eccentric positioning apparatus uses two equal offset eccentric bushings to accurately position a tool in two dimensions. Miniature servo motors and precise gearing control the rotation of each eccentric bushing, which controls the direction of the offset vectors. The offset vectors are used to determine the final position of the drill bushing. The desired rotation angles can be mathematically calculated based on desired position. The inner eccentric bushing is located concentric to the offset of the outer eccentric bushing. This allows any position, within a radius of two times the eccentric offset, to be achieved. The use of worm gearing on the eccentric bushings prevents back-driving of the servo motors, due to the lead angle of the worm gears, and the friction between the worm wheel and worm gear.

Abstract: A method for determining characteristics of a shim fittable between first and second bodies, comprising: (a) placing optical targets in respective sets of holes in the first and second bodies; (b) scanning respective surfaces of the first and second bodies using a three-dimensional scanner to acquire point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data; (c) processing the point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data to derive first deviation values representing the deviation of the surface of the first body from a nominal surface of the first body and second deviation values representing the deviation of the surface of the second body from a nominal surface of the second body; (d) correlating the first deviation values with the second deviation values based on a best fit position of the first body relative to the second body; and (e) computing shim gap values based on the correlated first and second deviation values.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to automatically fabricate fillers are disclosed. An example method includes aligning rigid surface data with flexible surface data, the rigid surface data and the flexible surface data being permitted to overlap when aligned; when aligned, defining the rigid surface data and the flexible surface data based on a same parameter space; calculating a displacement function based on differences between corresponding ones of first points in the flexible surface data and second points in the rigid surface data; determining a modified position of a first one of the first points by modifying the first one of the first points based on a value of the displacement function; calculating a gap between the modified position of the first one of the first points and a second one of the second points; and creating a physical filler to fill a physical gap corresponding to the calculated gap.

Abstract: A method for determining characteristics of a shim fittable between first and second bodies, comprising: (a) placing optical targets in respective sets of holes in the first and second bodies; (b) scanning respective surfaces of the first and second bodies using a three-dimensional scanner to acquire point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data; (c) processing the point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data to derive first deviation values representing the deviation of the surface of the first body from a nominal surface of the first body and second deviation values representing the deviation of the surface of the second body from a nominal surface of the second body; (d) correlating the first deviation values with the second deviation values based on a best fit position of the first body relative to the second body; and (e) computing shim gap values based on the correlated first and second deviation values.

Abstract: A method for determining characteristics of a shim fittable between first and second bodies, comprising: (a) placing optical targets in respective sets of holes in the first and second bodies; (b) scanning respective surfaces of the first and second bodies using a three-dimensional scanner to acquire point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data; (c) processing the point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data to derive first deviation values representing the deviation of the surface of the first body from a nominal surface of the first body and second deviation values representing the deviation of the surface of the second body from a nominal surface of the second body; (d) correlating the first deviation values with the second deviation values based on a best fit position of the first body relative to the second body; and (e) computing shim gap values based on the correlated first and second deviation values.

Abstract: A method for preventing undesirable lowering of an air suspension system for a motor vehicle includes the steps of sensing vehicle speed of the motor vehicle, determining whether the sensed vehicle speed is equal to a predetermined speed, venting air from the air suspension system to lower a vehicle body of the motor vehicle if the sensed vehicle speed is equal to the predetermined speed, sensing height of corners of the vehicle body, calculating a height rate for the corners of the vehicle body based on the sensed height, determining whether a height rate of a corner of the vehicle body is greater than a predetermined rate, and disabling or halting venting of the air suspension system if the height rate of a corner of the vehicle body is greater than the predetermined rate.

Abstract: A method for allowing enhanced driver selection of suspension damping and steering efforts for a motor vehicle includes the steps of presenting to a driver of the motor vehicle a plurality of suspension damping modes and steering efforts modes for the motor vehicle, allowing the driver to select only predetermined combinations of the suspension damping modes and steering efforts modes, and adjusting the suspension damping and steering efforts of the motor vehicle based on the predetermined combination selected by the driver, and automatically adjusting the modes based on predetermined conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus calibrates a suspension control module of a vehicle to within a preselected tolerance of a predetermined ride height with reference to the vehicle coordinate system, the vehicle having at least one adjustable suspension unit interposed between the sprung and unsprung vehicle mass. The calibration is adjusted for rigid body cross-talk and for suspension system overshoot and undershoot. The apparatus includes a first device for measuring a first distance corresponding to an actual ride height of a vehicle and for generating a first signal representative thereof and a second device for measuring a second distance between the vehicle sprung and unsprung mass and for generating a second signal thereof.

Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for supplying compressed air to both an engine and an air suspension of a motor vehicle. The assembly comprises a direct current electric motor, a centrifugal air pump, and a piston pump. The motor has a shaft extending outwardly from opposite sides of the motor, with the centrifugal pump being driven by one end of the shaft and the piston pump being driven by the other end of the shaft. The centrifugal pump produces high volumes of air at low pressure required by the engine, while the piston pump produces low volumes of air at high pressure required by the air suspension. Bypass valves are provided to selectively divert the air provided by the pumps to the atmosphere.

Abstract: An ophthalmic instrument support having a flat floor-supported base and a cabinet extends upward from one end of the base, a post projects upward from the cabinet and the upper end of the post pivotally engages one end of a horizontal frame upon which a table is mounted for limited horizontal movement to permit a pair of spaced instruments thereon selectively to be brought into alignment with the eyes of a patient when seated in a vertically adjustable chair with the patient's lap extending beneath the horizontal frame. The post is adjustable vertically a limited amount to dispose the table and instruments thereon at a desired vertical position according to a doctor's eyes when the doctor is seated upon another chair opposite a patient.