Method and system for conforming assembly systems to contours of curved surfaces
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B23Q-009/00
F16B-005/12
F16B-047/00
출원번호
US-0288528
(2016-10-07)
등록번호
US-10166641
(2019-01-01)
발명자
/ 주소
Gamboa, James Darryl
출원인 / 주소
THE BOEING COMPANY
대리인 / 주소
MH2 Technology Law Group LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
6
초록▼
Methods and systems for configuring a manual and/or automated processing system to conform to a contoured surface of a structure are disclosed. One example includes an automated processing system with a flexible rail configuration. One or more turnbuckles and/or other actuators configure and hold th
Methods and systems for configuring a manual and/or automated processing system to conform to a contoured surface of a structure are disclosed. One example includes an automated processing system with a flexible rail configuration. One or more turnbuckles and/or other actuators configure and hold the flexible rail configuration into conformity with the surface (which could be flat or of a curvature) during processing by the automated processing system. Additionally, one or more combination suction-cup pressurized-air devices may be coupled to the flexible rail configuration for selectively attaching the flexible rail configuration to the contoured surface and also for selectively releasing and/or facilitating elevation and movement of the flexible rail configuration above and about the contoured surface. A multi-function end effector may be associated with the flexible rail configuration and be moveable relative thereto.
대표청구항▼
1. An automated processing system for use on a surface having a contour, the automated system comprising: an elongated flexible component having a first portion and a second portion;an actuatable component movable between a first position and a second position and having a first portion and a second
1. An automated processing system for use on a surface having a contour, the automated system comprising: an elongated flexible component having a first portion and a second portion;an actuatable component movable between a first position and a second position and having a first portion and a second portion;a first bracket having a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion of the first bracket, wherein the first portion of the actuatable component is connected to the first portion of the first bracket, and the first portion of the elongated flexible component is generally fixedly connected to the second portion of the first bracket for movement with and flexure with respect to the first bracket;a second bracket having a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion of the second bracket, wherein: the second portion of the actuatable component is connected to the first portion of the second bracket; the second portion of the elongated flexible component is generally fixedly connected to the second portion of the second bracket for movement with and flexure with respect to the second bracket; the actuatable component is configured to induce relative movement between the first bracket and the second bracket upon the actuatable component moving between the first position and the second position; and the elongated flexible component is configured to flex into a contour upon the relative movement between the first bracket and the second bracket;an actuator that selectively moves the actuatable component between the first position and the second position; andat least one end effector operably connected to the elongated flexible component. 2. The automated processing system of claim 1, wherein: the actuatable component, the first bracket, the second bracket, and the elongated flexible component are configured such that upon the actuatable component moving between the first position and the second position, the first portion of the first bracket and the first portion of the second bracket move away from one another, and the second portion of the first bracket and the second portion of the second bracket move towards one another. 3. The automated processing system of claim 1, wherein: the actuatable component, the first bracket, the second bracket, and the elongated flexible component are configured such that upon the actuatable component moving between the first position and the second position, the first portion of the first bracket and the first portion of the second bracket move towards one another, and the second portion of the first bracket and the second portion of the second bracket move away from one another. 4. The automated processing system of claim 1, further comprising: the first portion of the actuatable component being generally rigid;the second portion of the actuatable component being generally rigid; anda turnbuckle threadingly connected to both the first portion and the second portion of the actuatable component, wherein the turnbuckle is configured, upon selective rotation thereof, to simultaneously move the first portion of the actuatable component and the second portion of the actuatable component outwardly relative to the turnbuckle or inwardly relative to the turnbuckle. 5. The automated processing system of claim 1, further comprising: a turnbuckle threadingly connected to both the first portion and the second portion of the actuatable component, wherein the turnbuckle is configured, upon selective rotation thereof, to simultaneously move the first portion of the actuatable component and the second portion of the actuatable component outwardly relative to the turnbuckle or inwardly relative to the turnbuckle, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the actuatable component are generally rigid; anda motor drivingly connected to the turnbuckle for selectively rotating the turnbuckle. 6. The automated processing system of claim 1, further comprising: a motor drivingly connected to the first portion of the actuatable component and to the second portion of the actuatable component and configured to selectively move the first portion of the actuatable component and the second portion of the actuatable component towards one another or away from one another. 7. The automated processing system of claim 1, further comprising: a first motor drivingly connected to the first portion of the actuatable component;a second motor drivingly connected to the second portion of the actuatable component; andthe first motor and the second motor being configured to selectively move the first portion of the actuatable component and the second portion of the actuatable component towards one another or away from one another. 8. The automated processing system of claim 1, wherein: the first portion of the actuatable component includes a first fluid-actuated piston-cylinder device having a rod connected to selectively move the first portion of the first bracket towards or away from the first portion of the second bracket; andthe second portion of the actuatable component includes a second fluid-actuated piston-cylinder device having a rod connected to selectively move the first portion of the second bracket towards or away from the first portion of the first bracket. 9. The automated processing system of claim 1, wherein: the first portion of the actuatable component includes a first cable connected to selectively move the first portion of the first bracket towards or away from the first portion of the second bracket; andthe second portion of the actuatable component includes a second cable connected to selectively move the first portion of the second bracket towards or away from the first portion of the first bracket. 10. The automated processing system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one suction cup connected to the elongated flexible component that selectively attaches the elongated flexible component to the surface having the contour. 11. The automated processing system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one pressurized air bearing connected to the elongated flexible component that facilitates movement of the elongated flexible component over the surface having the contour. 12. The automated processing system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one suction cup connected to the elongated flexible component that selectively attaches the elongated flexible component to the surface having the contour; andat least one pressurized air bearing connected to the elongated flexible component that facilitates movement of the elongated flexible component over the surface having the contour. 13. The automated processing system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one support device coupled to the elongated flexible component, wherein the at least one support device is configured to selectively operate as one of a vacuum cup that selectively attaches the elongated flexible component to the surface having the contour and a pressurized air bearing that facilitates movement of the elongated flexible component over the surface having the contour. 14. An automated processing system for processing a structure having a contoured surface, the automated processing system comprising: at least one flexible rail having a first end and a second end;at least one combination suction cup-pressurized air device coupled to the flexible rail;a multi-function end effector associated with the flexible rail and moveable relative thereto; andmeans for configuring the flexible rail to conform to the contoured surface of the structure. 15. The automated processing system of claim 14, further comprising: at least one suction cup connected to an elongated flexible component that selectively attaches the elongated flexible component to the contoured surface. 16. The automated processing system of claim 15, further comprising: at least one pressurized air bearing connected to the elongated flexible component that facilitates movement of the elongated flexible component over the contoured surface. 17. The automated processing system of claim 15, further comprising: at least one suction cup connected to the elongated flexible component that selectively attaches the elongated flexible component to the contoured surface; andat least one pressurized air bearing connected to the elongated flexible component that facilitates movement of the elongated flexible component over the contoured surface. 18. The automated processing system of claim 15, further comprising: at least one support device coupled to the elongated flexible component, wherein the at least one support device is configured to selectively operate as one of a vacuum cup that selectively attaches the elongated flexible component to the contoured surface and a pressurized air bearing that facilitates movement of the elongated flexible component over the contoured surface. 19. A method of using an automated system, including at least one flexible rail, for processing a structure that includes a contoured surface, the method comprising: configuring the flexible rail to achieve a non-linear shape conforming to the contoured surface;demountably coupling the flexible rail, as configured to the non-linear shape, to the contoured surface at a first location;performing a first processing operation on the structure;decoupling the flexible rail, configured to the non-linear shape, from the contoured surface; andautomatically maintaining the non-linear shape of the flexible rail while moving the automated system from the first location to another location on the contoured surface. 20. An apparatus for use in connection with a processing system on a surface having a contour, the apparatus comprising: an elongated flexible component having a first portion and a second portion generally opposite the first portion thereof;a turnbuckle;a generally rigid first component connected to the turnbuckle;a generally rigid second component connected to the turnbuckle;a first bracket having a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion thereof;the first component being connected to the first portion of the first bracket;a second bracket having a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion thereof;the second component being connected to the first portion of the second bracket;the first portion of the elongated flexible component being generally fixedly connected to the second portion of the first bracket for movement with and flexure with respect to the first bracket;the second portion of the elongated flexible component being generally fixedly connected to the second portion of the second bracket for movement with and flexure with respect to the second bracket;the turnbuckle being threadingly connected to both the first component and the second component, wherein the turnbuckle is configured, upon selective rotation thereof, to simultaneously move the first component and the second component and thereby induce relative movement between the first bracket and the second bracket; andthe elongated flexible component being configured to flex into a contour generally conforming to the contour of the surface upon the relative movement between the first bracket and the second bracket.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (6)
Gamboa, James Darryl, Dual function movement component for automated assembly systems.
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