Apparatuses and methods for modeling tubing runs

• US 10,460,072 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2015
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Shinners, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): McMahon, Matthew R
• Application Number:
  US14/835,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20170061035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/00 Application of procedures in order to connect objects or parts, e.g. coating with sheet metal otherwise than by plating joining mitred profiles B21D53/745; riveting B21J; uniting components by forging or pressing to form integral members B21K25/00; welding B23K; press-fitting, force-fitting, or shrinking in general B23P11/00, B21D19/00; by adhesives F16B11/00 ; Connections as such F16L, F16B; Tube expanders
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/04 of tubes with tubes; of tubes with rods crimped pipe joints as such F16L13/14
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/046 Connecting tubes to tube-like fittings
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/11 Joints, e.g. ball joints, universal joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0685 Manufacture of ball-joints and parts thereof, e.g. assembly of ball-joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/069 with at least one separate part to retain the ball member in the socket; Quick-release systems
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0695 Mounting of ball-joints, e.g. fixing them to a connecting rod
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/106 for ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2113/14 Pipes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/15 Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49853 of sphere, i.e., ball, in socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32032 Plural ball and socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32311 Ball and socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32754 Variably preloaded

Abstract

A modeling assembly (100) for layout of rigid tubing comprises a first releasable coupling assembly (110) and a second releasable coupling assembly (120). The modeling assembly (100) also comprises a lockable adjustment assembly (130) comprising a first component (140) and a second component (150). The first component (140) is configured to be removably coupled to an end A of a first rigid tube (102) via the first releasable coupling assembly (110). The second component (150) is configured to be removably coupled to an end C of a second rigid tube (104) via the second releasable coupling assembly (120). With the lockable adjustment assembly (130) in the loose coupled state, the first component (140) and the second component (150) have only three degrees of freedom relative to each other. With the lockable adjustment assembly (130) in the locked coupled state, the first component (140) and the second component (150) have zero degrees of freedom relative to each other.

Claims

1. A modeling assembly (100) for layout of rigid tubing, the modeling assembly (100) comprising:

a first releasable coupling assembly (110), comprising a first female threaded member (116) and a first male threaded member (112) that has a first portion (113) and that is configured to be threaded into the first female threaded member 116;

a second releasable coupling assembly (120), comprising a second female threaded member (126) and a second male threaded member (122) that has a first portion (123) and that is configured to be threaded into the second female threaded member (126); and

a lockable adjustment assembly (130) comprising a first component (140) and a second component (150), wherein;

the first component (140) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130) is configured to be removably coupled to an end A of a first rigid tube (102), having a first longitudinal axis (103), via the first releasable coupling assembly (110), the first component (140) comprising a spherical portion (143) and a first through opening (141) passing through the spherical portion (143) along the first longitudinal axis (103) of the first tube (102), wherein the first portion (113) of the first male threaded member (112) passes through the first through opening (141) of the first component (140) to be accepted by the first female threaded member (116),

the second component (150) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130) is configured to be removably coupled to an end C of a second rigid tube (104), having a second longitudinal axis (105), via the second releasable coupling assembly (120), the second component (150) comprising a cavity (152) configured to accept the spherical portion (143) of the first component (140), the second component (150) comprising a second through opening (151) passing through the second component (150) along the second longitudinal axis (105) of the second rigid tube (104), wherein the first portion (123) of the second male threaded member (122) passes through the second through opening (151) of the second component (150) to be accepted by the second female threaded member (126),

the lockable adjustment assembly (130) is selectively configured to a loose coupled state or a locked coupled state,

with the lockable adjustment assembly (130) in the loose coupled state, the first component (140) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130) and the second component (150) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130) have only three degrees of freedom relative to each other; and

with the lockable adjustment assembly (130) in the locked coupled state, the first component (140) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130) and the second component (150) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130) have zero degrees of freedom relative to each other.

2. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first releasable coupling assembly (110) comprises:

a first expander (114) configured to be interposed between the first component (140) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130) and the first female threaded member (116), wherein the first expander (114) comprises a through central cavity (117); and

wherein, when the first female threaded member (116) and the first expander (114) are positioned inside the first rigid tube (102), the first portion (113) of the first male threaded member (112) is inserted through the first component (140) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130), and the first male threaded member (112) is threaded into the first female threaded member (116) to compress the first expander (114) in an axial direction (129) along the first longitudinal axis (103) of the first rigid tube (102) between the first component (140) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130) and the first female threaded member (116), the first expander (114) expands in a radial direction (128), perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis (103) of the first rigid tube (102), to press against and frictionally engage a first interior surface (109) of the first rigid tube (102).

3. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 2, wherein:

the first male threaded member (112) further comprises a second portion (111), and

the second portion (111) of the first male threaded member (112) is configured not to pass through the first through opening (141) of the first component (140).

4. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 2, wherein:

the first female threaded member (116) comprises an extension (115) and a flange (119),

the extension (115) is configured to be accepted within the through central cavity (117) of the first expander (114) and to support at least a portion of the first expander (114) in the radial direction (128), and

the flange (119) is configured to axially compress the first expander (114) when the first portion (113) of the first male threaded member (112) is threaded into the first female threaded member (116).

5. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 4, wherein the first releasable coupling assembly (110) further comprises a first washer (219) configured to be interposed between the first expander (114) and the flange (119) of the first female threaded member (116) of the first releasable coupling assembly (110).

6. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 2, wherein the first releasable coupling assembly (110) further comprises a second washer (217) configured to be interposed between the first expander (114) and the first component (140) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130).

7. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the second releasable coupling assembly (120) further comprises:

a second expander (124) configured to be interposed between the second component (150) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130) and the second female threaded member (126), wherein the second expander (124) comprises a through central cavity (118); and

wherein, when the second female threaded member (126) and the second expander (124) are positioned inside the second rigid tube (104), the first portion (123) of the second male threaded member (122) is inserted through the second component (150) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130), and the second male threaded member (122) is threaded into the second female threaded member (126) to compress the second expander (124) in an axial direction (131) along the second longitudinal axis (105) of the second rigid tube (104) between the second component (150) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130) and the second female threaded member (126), the second expander (124) expands in a radial direction (132), perpendicular to the second longitudinal axis (105) of the second rigid tube (104) to press against and frictionally engage a second interior surface (209) of the second rigid tube (104).

8. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 7, wherein:

the second male threaded member (122) further comprises a second portion (121), and

the second portion (121) of the second male threaded member (122) is configured not to pass through the second through opening (151) of the second component (150).

9. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein:

the cavity (152) of the second component (150) is selectively configured to an expanded state, corresponding to the loose coupled state of the lockable adjustment assembly (130) or a contracted state, corresponding to the locked coupled state of the lockable adjustment assembly (130);

in the expanded state, the cavity (152) of the second component (150) is configured to be loosely coupled with the spherical portion (143) of the first component (140); and

in the contracted state, the cavity (152) of the second component (150) is configured to fixedly retain the spherical portion (143) of the first component (140).

10. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 9, wherein:

the second component (150) comprises fingers (153) and notches (154) formed between the fingers (153),

each of the notches (154) has a width (156),

the width (156) of the notches (154) decreases when the cavity (152) of the second component (150) is configured from the expanded state to the contracted state, and

the width (156) of the notches (154) increases when the cavity (152) of the second component (150) is configured from the contracted state to the expanded state.

11. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 10, wherein:

the second component (150) further comprises a neck (158); and

the lockable adjustment assembly (130) further comprises a threaded nut (159) configured to progressively threadably engage the neck (158) of the second component (150) to configure the cavity (152) of the second component (150) to the contracted state or to progressively threadably disengage the neck (158) of the second component (150) to configure the cavity (152) of the second component (150) to the expanded state.

12. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 11, wherein the neck (158) of the second component (150) is tapered.

13. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 10 wherein:

the first component (140) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130) further comprises a neck (142), and

at least one of the fingers (153) of the second component (150) comprises a relief cutout (157) configured to clear the neck (142) of the first component (140).

14. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first component (140) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130) comprises markings (190) configured to indicate an orientation of the first rigid tube (102) with respect to the second rigid tube (104).

15. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the first component (140) of the lockable adjustment assembly (130) comprises at least one marking (162) indicating a center of the lockable adjustment assembly (130).

16. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein the lockable adjustment assembly (130) further comprises a position sensor (160).

17. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 16, wherein the position sensor (160) is coupled to one of the first component (140) or the second component (150).

18. A modeling assembly (100) for layout of rigid tubing, the modeling assembly (100) comprising:

first rigid tubes (102), each having an end A and an end B;

second rigid tubes (104), each having an end C and an end D;

first releasable coupling assemblies (110), each comprising a female threaded member (116) and a first male threaded member (112) that has a first portion (113) and that is configured to be threaded into the first female threaded member (116);

second releasable coupling assemblies (120), each comprising a second female threaded member (126) and a second male threaded member (122) that has a first portion (123) and that is configured to be threaded into the second female threaded member (126); and

lockable adjustment assemblies (130) each comprising a first component (140) and a second component (150), wherein;

the first component (140) of each one of the lockable adjustment assemblies (130) is configured to be removably coupled to the end A or the end B of one of the first rigid tubes (102) via one of the first releasable coupling assemblies (110), wherein the first component (140) comprises a spherical portion (143) and a first through opening (141) passing through the spherical portion (143) along a first longitudinal axis (103) of the one of the first rigid tubes (102), wherein the first portion (113) of the first male threaded member (112) passes through the first through, opening (141) of the first component (140) to be accepted by the first female threaded member (116),

the second component (150) of each one of the lockable adjustment assemblies (130) is configured to be removably coupled to one of the end C or the end D of one of the second rigid tubes (104) via one of the second releasable coupling assemblies (120), wherein the second component (150) comprises a cavity (152) configured to accept the spherical portion (143) of the first component (140), the second component (150) comprising a second through opening (151) passing through the second component (150) along a second longitudinal axis (105) of the one of the second rigid tubes (104), wherein the first portion (123) of the second male threaded member (122) passes through the second through opening (151) of the second component (150) to be accepted by the second female threaded member (126),

each one of the lockable adjustment assemblies (130) is selectively configured to a loose coupled state or a locked coupled state,

with one of the lockable adjustment assemblies (130) in the loose coupled state, the first component (140) of the one of the lockable adjustment assemblies (130) and the second component (150) of the one of the lockable adjustment assemblies (130) have only three degrees of freedom relative to each other; and

with one of the lockable adjustment assemblies (130) in the locked coupled state, the first component (140) of the one of the lockable adjustment assemblies (130) and the second component (150) of the one of the lockable adjustment assemblies (130) have zero degrees of freedom relative to each other.

19. The modeling assembly (100) according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the first rigid tube (102) or the second rigid tube (104) comprises a telescoping assembly (180), wherein at least one of the first rigid tube (102) or the second rigid tube (104) has an adjustable length (182).