COMPONENT MOVING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20170050830A1
• Filed: 08/21/2015
• Published: 02/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Podnar, Gregg W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,221,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/07568 Steering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/147 Whole unit including fork support moves relative to mast

Abstract

A component moving system may include a cart, and a component support assembly coupled to the cart. The component support assembly may include a component cradle moveable in first linear translational directions, second linear translational directions that are orthogonal to the first linear translational directions, third linear translation directions that are orthogonal to the first and second linear translational directions, and first rotational directions.

Claims

1. A component moving system, comprising:

a cart; and

a component support assembly coupled to the cart, wherein the component support assembly comprises a component cradle moveable in first linear translational directions, second linear translational directions that are orthogonal to the first linear translational directions, third linear translation directions that are orthogonal to the first and second linear translational directions, and first rotational directions.

2. The component moving system of claim 1, wherein the cart is moveable in a forward direction, a reverse direction, a right direction, a left direction, and second rotational directions.

3. The component moving system of claim 1, wherein the first linear translational directions are lateral linear directions, wherein the second linear translational directions are longitudinal linear directions, and wherein the third linear translational directions are vertical linear directions.

4. The component moving system of claim 1, wherein the component cradle is configured to support a component above a support surface or below a support surface.

5. The component moving system of claim 1, wherein the cart comprises one or more drive wheel assemblies, wherein at least one of the drive wheel assemblies comprises:

one or more drive wheels; and

one or more drive motors configured to drive the one or more drive wheels.

6. The component moving system of claim 5, wherein the at least one of the drive wheel assemblies comprises one or more steering motors configured to steer the one or more drive wheels.

7. The component moving system of claim 5, wherein the one or more drive wheels comprises two coaxial drive wheels, and wherein each of the two coaxial drive wheels is differentially driven by the one or more drive motors.

8. The component moving system of claim 1, wherein the cart comprises:

a main body; and

one or more outriggers extending outwardly from a lower portion of the main body, wherein the one or more outriggers comprises a support wheel assembly comprising one or more support wheels.

9. The component moving system of claim 8, wherein the support wheel assembly further comprises one or more steering motors coupled to the one or more support wheels, wherein the one or more steering motors are configured to independently steer the one or more support wheels.

10. The component moving system of claim 1, wherein the component cradle comprises one or more hanging brackets extending downwardly from the component cradle, wherein the hanging brackets are configured to support a component below the component cradle.

11. The component moving system of claim 1, wherein the component support assembly further comprises a table including a fixed base and a frame rotatably secured to the fixed base, wherein the component cradle is coupled to the frame, and wherein rotation of the frame relative to the fixed base causes rotation of the component cradle in the first rotational directions.

12. The component moving system of claim 1, wherein the component support assembly further comprises first translators and second translators coupled to the component cradle, wherein the first translators are configured to move the component cradle in the first linear translational directions, and wherein the second translators are configured to move the component cradle in the second linear translational directions.

13. The component moving system of claim 1, wherein the component support assembly further comprises:

one or more support columns; and

one or more lift brackets moveably secured to the one or more support columns, wherein the one or more lift brackets are coupled to the component cradle, and wherein the one or more lift brackets are configured to move the component cradle through the third linear directions.

14. The component moving system of claim 1, wherein the component cradle comprises at least one engaging pad configured to abut into a surface of a component.

15. The component moving system of claim 1, wherein the component cradle comprises at least one support configured to mate with a reciprocal access port formed in a wing.

16. The component moving system of claim 1, wherein the component cradle comprises at least one moveable beam that is moveable between positions to accommodate components of different shapes and sizes.

17. A component moving system, comprising:

a cart moveable in a forward direction, a reverse direction, a right direction, a left direction, and first rotational directions; and

a component support assembly coupled to the cart, wherein the component cradle is configured to support a component above and below a support surface, wherein the component support assembly comprises a component cradle moveable in lateral linear translational directions, longitudinal linear translational directions that are orthogonal to the lateral linear translational directions, vertical linear translation directions that are orthogonal to the lateral and longitudinal linear translational directions, and second rotational directions.

18. The component moving system of claim 17, wherein the cart comprises:

a main body having a housing;

one or more outriggers extending outwardly from a lower portion of the housing, wherein the one or more outriggers comprises a support wheel assembly comprising one or more support wheels; and

one or more drive wheel assemblies, wherein at least one of the drive wheel assemblies comprises one or more drive wheels coupled to the main body, and one or more drive motors configured to drive the one or more drive wheels.

19. The component moving system of claim 18, wherein the at least one of the drive wheel assemblies comprises one or more steering motors configured to steer the one or more drive wheels.

20. The component moving system of claim 18, wherein the one or more drive wheels comprises two coaxial drive wheels, and wherein each of the two coaxial drive wheels is differentially driven by the one or more drive motors.

21. The component moving system of claim 18, wherein the support wheel assembly further comprises one or more steering motors coupled to the one or more support wheels, wherein the one or more steering motors are configured to independently steer the one or more support wheels.

22. The component moving system of claim 17, wherein the component cradle comprises one or more hanging brackets extending downwardly from the component cradle, wherein the hanging brackets are configured to support a component below the component cradle.

23. The component moving system of claim 17, wherein the component support assembly further comprises:

a table including a fixed base and a frame rotatably secured to the fixed base, wherein the component cradle is coupled to the frame, and wherein rotation of the frame relative to the fixed base causes rotation of the component cradle in the second rotational directions about a central axis of the table;

first translators and second translators coupled to the component cradle and the frame, wherein the first translators are configured to move the component cradle in the lateral linear translational directions, and wherein the second translators are configured to move the component cradle in the longitudinal linear translational directions;

one or more support columns; and

one or more lift brackets moveably secured to the one or more support columns, wherein the one or more lift brackets are coupled to the fixed base, and wherein the one or more lift brackets are configured to move the component cradle through the vertical linear directions.

24. The component moving system of claim 17, wherein the component cradle comprises:

at least one engaging pad configured to abut into a surface of a component; and

at least one support configured to mate with a reciprocal access port formed in the component.

25. The component moving system of claim 17, wherein the component cradle comprises at least one moveable beam that is moveable between positions to accommodate components of different shapes and sizes.

26. A component moving system, comprising:

a cart moveable in a forward direction, a reverse direction, a right direction, a left direction, and first rotational directions, wherein the cart comprises;

a main body having a housing;

parallel outriggers extending outwardly from a lower portion of the housing, wherein each of the parallel outriggers comprises a support wheel assembly comprising one or more independently-steered support wheels; and

three drive wheel assemblies, wherein each of the three drive wheel assemblies comprises a pair of coaxially differentially-driven wheels coupled to the main body;

a component support assembly coupled to the cart, wherein the component cradle is configured to support a component above and below a support surface, wherein the component support assembly comprises;

a component cradle moveable in lateral linear translational directions, longitudinal linear translational directions that are orthogonal to the lateral linear translational directions, vertical linear translation directions that are orthogonal to the lateral and longitudinal linear translational directions, and second rotational directions, wherein the component cradle comprises one or more hanging brackets extending downwardly from the component cradle, wherein the hanging brackets are configured to support a component below the component cradle;

a table including a fixed base and a frame rotatably secured to the fixed base, wherein the component cradle is coupled to the frame, and wherein rotation of the frame relative to the fixed base causes rotation of the component cradle in the second rotational directions about a central axis of the table;

first translators and second translators coupled to the component cradle and the frame, wherein the first translators are configured to move the component cradle in the lateral linear translational directions, and wherein the second translators are configured to move the component cradle in the longitudinal linear translational directions;

a pair of support columns;

a pair of lift brackets moveably secured to the pair of support columns, wherein the pair of lift brackets is coupled to the fixed base, and wherein the pair of lift brackets is configured to move the component cradle through the vertical linear directions;

at least one engaging pad configured to abut into a surface of a component;

at least one oval support configured to mate with a reciprocal oval access port formed in the component; and

at least one moveable beam that is moveable between positions to accommodate components of different shapes and sizes.