Methods and Devices for Electrostatic Discharge of a Workpiece

• US 20180371836A1
• Filed: 06/23/2017
• Published: 12/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Gaugler, Steve W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,519,714 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/18 with supporting struts formed as ladders E06C1/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/383 Foldable ladders in which the longitudinal members are brought together on folding E06C9/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/397 characterised by having wheels, rollers, or runners
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/42 Ladder feet; Supports therefor for scaffold elements E04G5/02

Abstract

Example implementations relate to methods and devices for electric discharge of a workpiece. An example device includes a housing structure configured with an inner portion that extends partially into an outer portion and an elongate rod positioned inside the housing structure. The device also includes a cover component coupled to a first end of the rod proximate a slot of the outer portion of the housing structure, and a lock coupled around the rod proximate a slot of the inner portion of the housing structure. The device also includes a compressible spring positioned within the housing structure, a ground component coupled to a second end of the rod, and an attachment component that is configurable for coupling the device to a workpiece such that the ground component presses against a ground when the workpiece is positioned on the ground and is in use.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a housing structure configured with an inner portion that extends partially into an outer portion, wherein the inner portion and outer portion move relative to each other;

an elongate rod positioned inside the housing structure, wherein a first end of the elongate rod extends through a top of the housing structure and a second end of the elongate rod extends through a bottom of the housing structure;

a compressible spring positioned within the housing structure, wherein the spring is partially compressed between the top of the housing structure and the bottom of the housing structure such that a first end of the spring presses against an inner surface of the outer portion of the housing structure and a second end of the spring presses against an inner surface of the inner portion of the housing structure;

a ground component coupled to the second end of the elongate rod; and

an attachment component coupled to the outer portion of the housing structure, wherein the attachment component is configurable for coupling the device to a workpiece such that the ground component presses against a ground surface when the workpiece is positioned on the ground surface and is in use.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein when the device is coupled to the workpiece such that the ground component presses against the ground surface when the workpiece is positioned on the ground surface and is in use, and an application of downward force is applied to the workpiece, the outer portion of the housing structure remains stationary relative to the workpiece while the application of downward force causes the ground component to further press against the ground surface causing the inner portion of the housing structure to further extend into the outer portion of the housing structure by an amount proportionate to an amount of additional compression of the spring.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein when the ground component presses against the ground surface when the workpiece is positioned on the ground surface and is in use, the device causes electrostatic charges in the workpiece to transfer into the ground surface via the ground component.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the outer portion of the housing structure is greater than a diameter of the inner portion of the housing structure.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein an amount that the inner portion of the housing structure extends into the outer portion of the housing structure depends on an amount of compression of the compressible spring.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first end of the elongate rod extends through the top of the housing structure via a slot in the outer portion of the housing structure, and wherein the first end of the elongate rod extends through the bottom of the housing structure via a slot in the inner portion of the housing structure.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

a cover component coupled to the first end of the elongate rod proximate the slot of the outer portion of the housing structure, wherein the cover component is a cap bolt; and

a lock coupled to the elongate rod proximate the slot of the inner portion of the housing structure, wherein the lock is positioned outside the housing structure.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the ground component comprises a wheel made out of a conductive material.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the compressible spring is positioned around and unattached to the elongate rod within the housing structure.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the attachment component comprises a clamping element.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein all components of the device are made out of a conductive material.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the workpiece is a ladder.

13. A system comprising:

a workpiece;

a device configurable to couple to the workpiece, wherein the device comprises;

a housing structure configured with an inner portion that extends partially into an outer portion, wherein the inner portion and outer portion move relative to each other;

an elongate rod positioned inside the housing structure, wherein a first end of the elongate rod extends through a top of the housing structure and a second end of the elongate rod extends through a bottom of the housing structure;

a cover component coupled to the first end of the elongate rod;

a lock coupled to the elongate rod, wherein the lock is positioned outside the housing structure;

a compressible spring positioned within the housing structure, wherein the spring is partially compressed between the top of the housing structure and the bottom of the housing structure such that a first end of the spring presses against an inner surface of the outer portion of the housing structure and a second end of the spring presses against an inner surface of the inner portion of the housing structure;

a ground component coupled to the second end of the elongate rod; and

an attachment component coupled to the outer portion of the housing structure, wherein the attachment component is for coupling the device to the workpiece such that the ground component presses against a ground surface when the workpiece is positioned on the ground surface and is in use.

14. The system of claim 13, when the device is coupled to the workpiece such that the ground component presses against the ground surface when the workpiece is positioned on the ground surface and is in use, and an application of downward force is applied to the workpiece, the outer portion of the housing structure remains stationary relative to the workpiece while the application of downward force causes the ground component to further press against the ground surface causing the inner portion of the housing structure to further extend into the outer portion of the housing structure by an amount proportionate to an amount of additional compression of the spring.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein when the ground component presses against the ground surface when the workpiece is positioned on the ground surface and is in use, the device causes electrical charges in the workpiece to transfer into the ground surface via the ground component.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein a diameter of the outer portion of the housing structure is greater than a diameter of the inner portion of the housing structure.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein an amount that the inner portion of the housing structure extends into the outer portion of the housing structure depends on an amount of compression of the compressible spring.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the first end of the elongate rod extends through the top of the housing structure via a slot in the outer portion of the housing structure, and wherein the first end of the elongate rod extends through the bottom of the housing structure via a slot in the inner portion of the housing structure.

19. A method comprising:

coupling, via an attachment component of a device, a housing structure of the device to a workpiece such that a ground component of the device presses against a ground surface when the workpiece is positioned on the ground surface and is in use, wherein the housing structure includes an inner portion that extends partially into an outer portion, and wherein the inner portion and the outer portion move relative to each other;

responsive to an application of downward force on the workpiece, compressing a compressible spring positioned within the housing structure of the device, wherein the spring is partially compressed between a top of the housing structure and a bottom of the housing structure such that a first end of the spring presses against an inner surface of the outer portion of the housing structure and a second end of the spring presses against an inner surface of the inner portion of the housing structure;

responsive to compressing the compressible spring, causing the ground component of the device to extend toward the ground surface.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

responsive to the application of downward force on the workpiece, extending the elongate rod towards the ground surface.