Dual-Interface Coupler

• US 20160009417A1
• Filed: 12/03/2014
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Oberoi, Harinder S., Reese, Richard Griffith IV, Do, Quang T., Draper, Alan S., Miller, Jeffrey Lawrence, Kozak, Michael J., Stojanoski, Vanco
• Granted Patent: US 10,525,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 15/02 Riveting procedures
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 15/10 Riveting machines electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 15/142 Aerospace structures
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 15/28 Control devices specially adapted to riveting machines not restricted to one of the preceding subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 15/32 Devices for inserting or holding rivets in position with or without feeding arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 15/40 for forming rivet heads
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/10 Aligning parts to be fitted together
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/002 the units stationary whilst being composed
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/00 Indexing scheme relating to the articles being treated, e.g. manufactured, repaired, assembled, connected or other operations covered in the subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 2700/01 Aircraft parts
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/163 Jaws or jaw attachments
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/005 Manipulators for mechanical processing tasks
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/007 Riveting
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/007 mounted on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1682 Dual arm manipulator; Coordination of several manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1687 Assembly, peg and hole, palletising, straight line, weaving pattern movement
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1697 Vision controlled systems
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14368 holes with means for anchoring the injected material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/0081 before shaping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/026 characterised by the shape of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/10 : incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. casting around inserts or for coating articles coating a surface by casting in general B05D1/30, B29C39/126 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/123 : Making multilayered articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/22 : Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14336 : Coating a portion of the article, e.g. the edge of the article B29C45/14573 and B29C45/14598 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/70 : by moulding using a particular moulding technique, see the relevant technique , e.g. by injection B29C45/14467
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2715/00 : Condition, form or state of preformed parts, e.g. inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/748 : Machines or parts thereof not otherwise provided for conveyor belts B29L2031/7092; driving belts B29L2031/7094; bearings B29L2031/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 : on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/418 : Bearings, e.g. ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/8207 : by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/60 : Vehicles using regenerative power
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/145 : the arm forming the axle housing
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/001 : Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/008 : Attaching arms to unsprung part of vehicle B60G7/005, B60G7/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/025 : the object being a shop, cafeteria or display the object being a theatre or stagethe object being a workshop B60P3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/00 : Fuselages; Constructional features common to fuselages, wings, stabilising surfaces or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/06 : Frames; Stringers; Longerons ; Fuselage sections
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/068 : Fuselage sections
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/069 : Joining arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/10 : Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/50 : Handling or transporting aircraft components
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 19/06 : Solid rivets made in one piece
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41805 : characterised by assembly
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45071 : Aircraft, airplane, ship cleaning manipulator, paint stripping
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 : characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/12 : using feedback
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 : Management or planning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 : Mobile robot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/02 : Arm motion controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/41 : Tool

Abstract

A method for coupling a number of utilities between a first system and a second system is provided. A first interface that couples the number of utilities between the first system and the second system is created between the first system and a utilities unit. The first interface is activated. A second interface between the second system and the utilities unit is deactivated, while the first interface remains activated.

Claims

1. A method for coupling a number of utilities between a first system and a second system, the method comprising:

creating a first interface between the first system and a utilities unit that couples the number of utilities between the first system and the second system;

activating the first interface; and

deactivating a second interface between the second system and the utilities unit while the first interface remains activated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the first interface comprises:

creating the first interface autonomously.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the first interface comprises:

mating a first coupling unit associated with the utilities unit with a first corresponding coupling unit associated with the first system to create the first interface.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

creating the second interface that mechanically couples the utilities unit to the second system prior to the first interface being created; and

activating the second interface prior to the first interface being created.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein creating the second interface comprises:

mating a second coupling unit associated with the utilities unit with a second corresponding coupling unit associated with the second system to create the second interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the first interface comprises:

activating the first interface autonomously.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein deactivating the second interface comprises:

deactivating the second interface autonomously.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein deactivating the second interface comprises:

deactivating the second interface between a second coupling unit associated with the utilities unit and a second corresponding coupling unit associated with the second system autonomously.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

recreating the second interface;

reactivating the second interface; and

deactivating the first interface, while the second interface remains activated.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

disengaging the utilities unit from the second system while the second interface remains activated.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

driving the first system away from the second system.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

recreating the second interface autonomously;

reactivating the second interface autonomously;

deactivating the first interface autonomously, while the second interface remains activated; and

disengaging the utilities unit from the second system autonomously while the second interface remains activated.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

disengaging the second coupling unit from the second corresponding coupling unit.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

driving the first system away from the second system to move the utilities unit away from the second system.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the first interface comprises:

creating a utility interface between a first coupling unit associated with the utilities unit and a first corresponding coupling unit associated with the first system; and

distributing the number of utilities from the second system through the utilities unit across the utility interface to the first system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein creating the first interface further comprises:

driving the first system towards the utilities unit; and

aligning the first corresponding coupling unit with the first coupling unit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein aligning the first corresponding coupling unit with the first coupling unit comprises:

guiding a roller associated with the first corresponding coupling unit within a guidance fork associated with the first coupling unit.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein aligning the first corresponding coupling unit with the first coupling unit comprises:

moving the first coupling unit in a direction along at least one of an X-axis, a Y-axis, or a Z-axis to align the first coupling unit with the first corresponding coupling unit.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein aligning the first corresponding coupling unit with the first coupling unit comprises:

aligning the first corresponding coupling unit with the first coupling unit autonomously at least one of linearly or rotationally using the first system.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein aligning the first corresponding coupling unit with the first coupling unit comprises:

aligning the first corresponding coupling unit with the first coupling unit autonomously using an autonomous vehicle fixedly associated with the first system.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a first coupling unit associated with a utilities unit;

a first corresponding coupling unit associated with a first system and coupleable to the first coupling unit;

a second coupling unit associated with the utilities unit; and

a second corresponding coupling unit associated with a second system and coupleable to the second coupling unit.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first system is an external mobile platform.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the second system is a cradle fixture.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first coupling unit is a quick-change device and the first corresponding coupling unit is a corresponding quick-change device.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first coupling unit is a male quick-change device and the first corresponding coupling unit is a female quick-change device.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the second coupling unit is a quick-change device and the second corresponding coupling unit is a corresponding quick-change device.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the second coupling unit is a female quick-change device and the second corresponding coupling unit is a male quick-change device.

28. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

a base, wherein the utilities unit is associated with the base and wherein the base is associated with the second system.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising:

a rail system associated with the second system, wherein the base is configured to move along the rail system.

30. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:

a first alignment system associated with the first corresponding coupling unit.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the first alignment system comprises at least one of a set of movement systems, a sensor system, or a roller.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the sensor system comprises at least one of an imaging system, a laser device, or a set of laser targets.

33. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:

a second alignment system associated with the second corresponding coupling unit.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the second alignment system comprises at least one of a set of movement systems, a sensor system, or a guidance fork.

36. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:

a first interlocking device capable of activating and deactivating a first interface formed between the first coupling unit and the first corresponding coupling unit.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the first interlocking device comprises:

a number of elements, wherein each of the number of elements is associated with at least one of the first coupling unit or the first corresponding coupling unit.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 further comprising:

a second interlocking device capable of activating and deactivating a second interface formed between the second coupling unit and the second corresponding coupling unit.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the second interlocking device comprises:

the number of elements, wherein each of the number of elements is associated with at least one of the second coupling unit or the second corresponding coupling unit.

40. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:

a cable management system that manages a number of utility cables that carry a number of utilities from the second system to the utilities unit.

35. (canceled)

41-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A dual-interface coupler comprising:

a first coupling unit associated with a utilities unit;

a first corresponding coupling unit associated with a first system and coupleable to the first coupling unit;

a second coupling unit associated with the utilities unit;

a second corresponding coupling unit associated with a second system and coupleable to the second coupling unit;

a first alignment system associated with the first corresponding coupling unit; and

a second alignment system associated with the second corresponding coupling unit.

44-50. -50. (canceled)