DUAL FUNCTION MOVEMENT COMPONENT FOR AUTOMATED ASSEMBLY SYSTEMS

• US 20140115894A1
• Filed: 10/30/2012
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Gamboa, James Darryl
• Granted Patent: US 9,327,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/897.2
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 9/0007 Portable machines comprising means for their guidance or support directly on the workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 11/00 Work holders not covered by any preceding group in the subclass, e.g. magnetic work holders, vacuum work holders for holding or positioning work for welding, soldering, or cutting by applying heat locally B23K37/04; specially adapted to machine tools B23Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60V 1/043 the walls being flexible skirt details B60V1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 57/024 specially adapted for moving on inclined or vertical surfaces endless-track vehicles for ascending or descending stairs B62D55/075; hand-carts with provision for travelling up or down stairs B62B5/02
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/10 Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49622 Vehicular structural member making

Abstract

A pneumatic device may be configured and used to provide multiple movement related functions, such as in an automated assembly system. The pneumatic device may comprise a chamber; a sealing element configurable to contact a surface, to enable creating a seal around the chamber by application of pneumatic suction into the chamber; a biasing element configurable to push the sealing element away from the surface; and a pneumatic cushion configurable to expand by application of pneumatic inflow, thus urging the pneumatic device away from the surface.

Claims

1. A pneumatic device defining a chamber, the pneumatic device comprising:

a sealing element configurable to contact a surface, to enable creating a seal around the chamber by application of pneumatic suction into the chamber, thus urging the pneumatic device towards the surface;

a biasing element configurable to push the sealing element away from the surface, to enable disabling the urging towards the surface; and

a pneumatic cushion configurable to expand, by application of pneumatic inflow, thus urging the pneumatic device away from the surface.

2. The pneumatic device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the pneumatic cushion is incorporated into the biasing element, the at least a portion of the pneumatic cushion being adapted to lift, when inflated, the biasing element thus pushing the sealing element away from the surface and break the seal around the chamber.

3. The pneumatic device of claim 1, wherein the pneumatic cushion comprises an inflatable bladder that is inflated by the application of the pneumatic inflow.

4. The pneumatic device of claim 1, wherein the pneumatic device is configured to hold an object coupled to pneumatic device to a structure by use of the seal created around the chamber by the application of the pneumatic suction.

5. The pneumatic device of claim 1, wherein the pneumatic device is configured to glide an object coupled to pneumatic device over a structure when is the pneumatic cushion is expanded by the application of the pneumatic inflow.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a movement assembly for use in an automated motorized device that is operable to traverse a structure, the movement assembly comprising a plurality of dual function movement components, wherein;

functions of each dual function movement component comprise adhering to the structure and gliding over the structure; and

each dual function movement component comprises a plurality of elements adapted for supporting each of the functions.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the movement assembly is operable to secure itself to the structure by configuring one or more of the plurality of dual function movement components to adhere to the structure.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more of the plurality of dual function movement components are configured to adhere to the structure by creating vacuum by use of air suction.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the movement assembly is operable to secure itself to the structure by configuring one or more of its plurality of dual function movement components to glide over the structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more of the plurality of dual function movement components are configured to glide over the structure by creating hovering effect by use of air bearing.

11. A method, comprising:

moving an automated motorized device on a structure by use of a plurality of dual function movement components, wherein;

the plurality of dual function movement components is arranged into one or more movement assemblies,

each of the one or more movement assemblies is configured to operate separately, and

functions of each dual function movement component comprise adhering and gliding.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising moving the automated motorized device by:

applying via at least one of the plurality of dual function movement components, adhering to the structure; and

applying via at least another one of the plurality of dual function movement components, gliding over the structure.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one of the plurality of dual function movement components is attached to a first movement assembly and the at least another one of the plurality of dual function movement components is attached to a second movement assembly.

14. The method of claim 12, comprising applying the adhering to the structure by creating of a seal between the at least one of the plurality of dual function movement components and the structure.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising creating the seal by application of pneumatic suction into a chamber in the at least one of the plurality of dual function movement components.

16. The method of claim 12, comprising applying the gliding over the structure by application of pneumatic inflow into an air bearing cushion in the at least another one of the plurality of dual function movement components.

17. A method for fabricating an aircraft component, the method comprising:

moving by use of a plurality of dual function movement components, an automated motorized device that is configured to apply one or more fabricating related functions to each of a plurality of predetermined locations on the aircraft component, wherein;

the plurality of dual function movement components is arranged into one or more movement assemblies,

each of the one or more movement assemblies is configured to operate separately, and

functions of each dual function movement component comprise an adhering function and a gliding function.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the aircraft component comprises a fuselage, a wing, or a section thereof.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising moving the automated motorized device by configuring at least one dual function movement component of at least one of the one or more movement assemblies to apply the gliding function.

20. The method of claim 17, comprising securing the automated motorized device to the aircraft component by configuring at least one dual function movement component of at least one of the one or more movement assemblies to apply the adhering function.