Automated Wing Painting System

• US 20130071573A1
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Brewer, Kenneth R., Swanberg, Jeffery P., Ordona, Carlos Aromin, Rouaud, Didier
• Granted Patent: US 8,455,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 427/421.1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/22 movable relative to the spray area
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/005 mounted on vehicles or designed to apply a liquid on a very large surface, e.g. on the road, on the surface of large containers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/041 with spray heads reciprocating along a straight line
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0431 with spray heads moved by robots or articulated arms, e.g. for applying liquid or other fluent material to 3D-surfaces B05B13/0436, B05B13/0442, B05B13/0447, B05B13/0463 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/06 specially designed for treating the inside of hollow bodies spray heads B05B1/00 - B05B7/00; devices for covering leaks in pipes or hoses, e.g. hose-menders, from inside the pipe F16L55/162; sprayed layers of rubber or plastics for internal protection of pipes or pipe fittings against corrosion or incrustation F16L58/1027
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 14/40 for use in spray booths
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 16/20 Arrangements for spraying in combination with other operations, e.g. drying; Arrangements enabling a combination of spraying operations
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 16/40 Construction elements specially adapted therefor, e.g. floors, walls or ceilings ceiling elements filtering inflow of air into the booth B05B16/60; walls specially adapted for promoting separation of excess material B05B14/44
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/0075 Manipulators for painting or coating
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/02 travelling along a guideway
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0084 comprising a plurality of manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/10 Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/30 Cleaning aircraft

Abstract

A method and apparatus for spraying a liquid onto a surface. An apparatus comprises a nozzle and a number of disks. The nozzle is configured to generate a spray of a liquid towards a surface. The number of disks is positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to form a gap through which a portion of the spray of the liquid passes towards the surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a nozzle configured to generate a spray of a liquid towards a surface; and

a number of disks positioned relative to the nozzle and configured to form a gap through which a portion of the spray of the liquid passes towards the surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of disks comprises:

a first disk having a first flange around a first edge of the first disk; and

a second disk having a second flange around a second edge of the second disk, wherein the first flange and the second flange form the gap.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first disk and the second disk are configured to rotate while the nozzle generates the spray of the liquid.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the spray of the liquid has a spray axis extending through the nozzle and wherein the first disk is positioned at a first angle to the spray axis and the second disk is positioned at a second angle to the spray axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the number of disks further comprises:

a third disk having a third flange around a third edge of the third disk; and

a fourth disk having a fourth flange around a fourth edge of the fourth disk.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a movement system configured to rotate the number of disks.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a liquid remover system positioned relative to the number of disks, wherein the liquid remover system is configured to remove the liquid from the number of disks.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the liquid remover system comprises at least one of a scraper and a vacuum system.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the liquid remover system comprises:

a collection structure configured to hold the liquid removed from the number of disks by the liquid remover system.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing, wherein the nozzle and the number of disks are associated with the housing, and the housing, the nozzle, and the number of disks form a tool.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:

a robot, wherein the tool is configured to be connected to an end effector on an arm of the robot.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a lift system capable of positioning an object in a selected orientation; and

a number of robots including the robot, wherein the number of robots is capable of applying a number of finishing compounds to at least one of an interior of the object and an exterior of the object, while the object remains in the selected orientation.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid is selected from one of a number of finishing compounds, a top coat paint, a waxy oil, paint, an adhesive, a lubricant, a primer, and a sealant.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface is for an object selected from one of a wing, an engine cowling, a fuselage, a rudder, a barrel, and a tank.

15. A method for spraying a liquid onto a surface, the method comprising:

generating a spray of the liquid from a nozzle towards the surface; and

sending a portion of the spray of the liquid towards the surface through a gap formed by a number of disks positioned relative to the nozzle.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

removing blocked liquid from the number of disks.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

rotating the number of disks while the spray of the liquid is directed towards the surface.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the number of disks comprises a first disk having a first flange around a first edge of the first disk and a second disk having a second flange around a second edge of the second disk, wherein the first flange and the second flange form the gap.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the number of disks further comprises a third disk having a third flange around a third edge of the third disk and a fourth disk having a fourth flange around a fourth edge of the fourth disk, wherein the first flange, the second flange, the third flange, and the fourth flange form the gap in a form of a slot.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the liquid is selected from one of a number of finishing compounds, a top coat paint, a waxy oil, paint, an adhesive, a lubricant, a primer, and a sealant.