Systems and methods for automated bracket design

Claim 1

A design system for designing a bracket for a gas turbine engine, said design system comprising a computer including a part model library and a drawing note library, said computer receiving a bracket model in electronic form as input and having a plurality of executable modules stored therein, said modules comprising: a bracket intelligence builder module for generating intelligence data for the bracket model, said module configured to prompt a user to select a feature if the model does not have intelligence data and to automatically attach intelligence data to the model based on the selected feature, said bracket intelligence builder module further configured to generate a consistency table usable for checking consistency of folded and unfolded models; a bracket unfolding module for unfolding a bracket model to a flat pattern; a bracket bend relief module for creating bend reliefs in the flat pattern; a bracket folding module to fold a bracket flat pattern; a bracket minimum material check module to check for minimum distances between bracket pattern features; a bracket weld gap check module to identify weld gaps in the bracket model; a flat pattern wireframe processor module to generate a bracket solid flat pattern; a library component selection module to aid a user in selecting and orienting bracket components from said part model library; a bracket assembly identification module for identifying relationships between bracket components to generate a parts list file; a drawing format and title block annotation module for generating an annotated drawing format; an item generation and placement module for placing item numbers on a drawing; and a bracket notes selection and placement module to determine a notes package for placement on a drawing.

Claim 19

A method for operating a computer to design a bracket for a gas turbine engine, the computer including a memory having a part model library and a drawing note library stored therein, the computer receiving a bracket model in electronic form as input and having a number of executable modules stored therein, said method comprising the steps of: generating intelligence data for the bracket model using a bracket intelligence builder module, the module providing that at least some of the intelligence date is automatically generated; generating a consistency table usable for checking consistency of folded and unfolded models: creating bend reliefs in the bracket model; checking the bracket model for minimum distances between bracket model features; and identifying weld gaps in the bracket model.

Claim 20

A method for operating a computer to design a bracket for a gas turbine engine, the computer including a memory having a part model library and a drawing note library stored therein, the computer receiving a bracket model in electronic form as input and having a number of executable modules stored therein, said method comprising the steps of: generating intelligence data for the bracket model using a bracket intelligence builder module, the module providing that at least some of the intelligence date is automatically generated; generating a consistency table usable for checking consistency of folded and unfolded models: creating bend reliefs in the bracket model; checking the bracket model for minimum distances between bracket model features; and identifying weld gaps in the bracket model.