Portable modular manufacturing system

• US 20080178537A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Spangler, John M., Dietz, Mark E.
• Application Number:
  US11/700,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20080178537A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/36.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/00 Machines for assembling a multiplicity of different parts to compose units, with or without preceding or subsequent working of such parts, e.g. with programme control
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/004 the units passing two or more work-stations whilst being composed
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 37/00 Metal-working machines, or constructional combinations thereof, built-up from units designed so that at least some of the units can form parts of different machines or combinations; Units therefor in so far as the feature of interchangeability is important features relating to particular metal-working operations, see the relevant subclass, e.g. B23P23/00
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 37/007 Modular machining stations designed to be linked to each other
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 5/02 Buildings or groups of buildings for industrial purposes, e.g. for power-plants or factories buildings forming part of cooling plants E04H5/10

Abstract

A modular manufacturing station is provided. The modular manufacturing station has a plurality of beams forming a skeleton and being capable of extension and retraction. The modular manufacturing station also has at least one utility connection for receiving external utilities. Additionally, the modular manufacturing station has at least one piece of manufacturing equipment. Furthermore, the modular frame has a control system configured to regulate operation of the manufacturing equipment.

Claims

1. A modular manufacturing station, comprising:

a plurality of beams forming a skeleton and being capable of extension and retraction;

at least one utility connection for receiving external utilities;

at least one piece of manufacturing equipment; and

a control system configured to regulate operation of the manufacturing equipment.

2. The modular manufacturing station of claim 1, further including an article transportation device for transporting an article through the manufacturing station.

3. The modular manufacturing station of claim 1, further including at least one connection device for connecting to another modular manufacturing station.

4. The modular manufacturing station of claim 3, wherein the control system is further configured to communicate with other modular manufacturing stations.

5. The modular manufacturing station of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to automatically expand and contract the plurality of beams.

6. The modular manufacturing station of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to expand and contract the plurality of beams based on input from an operator.

7. The modular manufacturing station of claim 1, further including one of a hydraulic system and electric motor system utilized to expand the plurality of beams.

8. A method for deploying a manufacturing station, comprising:

connecting to a utilities source;

expanding the manufacturing station to a desired dimension; and

setting the manufacturing station to an operational state in which the manufacturing station performs a manufacturing task.

9. The method of claim 8, further including connecting to other manufacturing stations.

10. The method of claim 9, further including regulating the manufacturing tasks of the other manufacturing stations.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein expanding the manufacturing station further includes actuating a hydraulic system.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein expanding the manufacturing station further includes actuating an electric motor system.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein expanding the manufacturing station is performed automatically.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein expanding the manufacturing station is performed based on user input.

15. A manufacturing chain comprising:

a first modular manufacturing station including;

a plurality of beams forming a skeleton and being capable of extension and retraction;

at least one utility connection for receiving external utilities;

at least one connection device for connecting to another modular manufacturing station;

at least one piece of manufacturing equipment; and

a control system configured to regulate operation of the manufacturing equipment wherein, the first modular manufacturing station is a master modular manufacturing station having operational control over the at least a second modular manufacturing station, the at least second manufacturing station including;

a plurality of beams forming a skeleton and being capable of extension and retraction;

at least one connection device for connecting to another modular manufacturing station;

at least one pin of manufacturing equipment; and

a control system configured to regulate operation of the manufacturing equipment.

16. The manufacturing chain of claim 15, further including an article transportation device for transporting an article through the manufacturing chain.

17. The manufacturing chain of claim 15, wherein each modular manufacturing station is further configured to automatically expand and contract the plurality of beams.

18. The manufacturing chain of claim 15, wherein each modular manufacturing chain is further configured to expand and contract the plurality of beams based on input from an operator.

19. The manufacturing chain of claim 15, further including a hydraulic system utilized to expand the plurality of beams.

20. The manufacturing chain of claim 15, further including an electric motor system utilized to expand the plurality of beams.

21. A modular manufacturing station, comprising:

a plurality of beams forming a skeleton;

an article transportation device for transporting at least one article through the manufacturing station, the article transportation device being configured to operably connect to other article transportation devices associated with other modular manufacturing stations;

at least one utility interface device for receiving external utilities;

at least one piece of manufacturing equipment; and

a control system configured to regulate operation of the manufacturing equipment and the transportation device.

22. The modular manufacturing station of claim 21, wherein the article transportation device includes a hollow portion through which a conveying device travels.

23. The modular manufacturing station of claim 22, wherein the article transportation device further includes at least one article gripping device operably connected to the conveying device.

24. The modular manufacturing station of claim 23, wherein the article transportation device is operably connected to the other article transportation devices via the conveying device.

25. The modular manufacturing station of claim 24, wherein the article transportation device shares the conveying device with the other article transportation devices.

26. The modular manufacturing station of claim 25, wherein the conveying device is one of a cable, chain, and belt.

27. The modular manufacturing station of claim 21, wherein the article transportation device is positioned along a top portion of the modular manufacturing station.

28. The modular manufacturing station of claim 21, wherein the article transportation device is positioned along a bottom portion of the modular manufacturing station.

29. A manufacturing chain comprising:

a first modular manufacturing station including;

a plurality of beams forming a skeleton;

an article transportation device for transporting at least one article through the manufacturing station, the article transportation device being configured to operably connect to other article transportation devices associated with other modular manufacturing stations;

at least one utility connection for receiving external utilities;

at least one interface device for connecting to another modular manufacturing station;

at least one piece of manufacturing equipment; and

a control system configured to regulate operation of the manufacturing equipment wherein, the first modular manufacturing station is a master modular manufacturing station having operational control over the at least a second modular manufacturing station, the at least second manufacturing station including;

a plurality of beams forming a skeleton;

an article transportation device for transporting at least one article through the manufacturing station, the article transportation device being configured to operably connect to other article transportation devices associated with other modular manufacturing stations;

at least one interface device for connecting to another modular manufacturing station;

at least one piece of manufacturing equipment; and

a control system configured to regulate operation of the manufacturing equipment according to instruction from the master control system.

30. The manufacturing chain of claim 29, wherein each article transportation device includes a hollow portion through which a conveying device travels.

31. The manufacturing chain of claim 30, wherein each article transportation device further includes at least one article gripping device operably connected to the conveying device.

32. The manufacturing chain of claim 31, wherein each article transportation device is operably connected to another article transportation device via the conveying device to form a continuous article transportation device along the entire manufacturing chain.

33. The manufacturing chain of claim 32, wherein the manufacturing chain includes one continuous conveying device configured to travel through the hollow portion of each article transportation device of the manufacturing chain.

34. The manufacturing chain of claim 33, wherein the conveying device is one of a cable, chain, and belt.

35. The manufacturing chain of claim 29, wherein each article transportation device is positioned along a top portion of an associated modular manufacturing station.

36. The manufacturing chain of claim 29, wherein each article transportation device is positioned along a bottom portion of an associated modular manufacturing station.