Conformable tool

• US 5,168,635 A
• Filed: 04/10/1992
• Issued: 12/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Peter L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAROIAN, HARRY
• Application Number:
  US07/866,855
• Time in Patent Office: 242 Days
• Field of Search: 33/561.1, 33/562, 33/529
• US Class Current: 33/561.1
• CPC Class Codes: B28B 7/025 the mould surface being made of or being supported by a plurality of small elements, e.g. to create double curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/207 using a plurality of fixed, simultaneously operating transducers G01B5/213 - G01B5/22 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method for approximating a workpiece contour. The conformable tool includes a support plate having a plurality of apertures and a two dimensional arrangement of a plurality of pins, each of which is slidably disposed within a corresponding aperture of the support plate. A plurality of locking members works in concert to simultaneously lock the plurality of pins in position once the pins have effectively approximated the contour. The conformable tool is pressed against the three dimensional contour of the workpiece so that each pin is displaced in response to the workpiece contour. The pins are then simultaneously locked in place by the locking members and the conformable tool is removed from the workpiece contour so that the conformable tool can be used as a forming base to reproduce the workpiece surface.

Claims

1. A conformable tool for approximating a workpiece contour, comprising:

(a) a support plate having a plurality of apertures;

(b) a plurality of pins, wherein each said pin is slidably disposed within a corresponding aperture of said support plate;

(c) a plurality of locking members for simultaneously locking said plurality of pins in a fixed position, wherein the number of pins is greater than the number of locking members; and

(d) means for applying compressive pressure to one or more of said locking members.

2. The conformable tool as recited in claim 1, further comprising means, surrounding said plurality of pins, for holding said support plate.

3. The conformable tool as recited in claim 2, wherein said holding means is a circular housing.

4. The conformable tool as recited in claim 1, further comprising a flexible sheet wrapped about the periphery of said plurality of pins for more closely approximating said workpiece contour.

5. The conformable tool as recited in claim 2, wherein said locking members are equally spaced and disposed within said holding means, and wherein said plurality of locking members is comprised of moveable locking members and floating locking members, and wherein said locking members are arranged in an alternating manner about the periphery of said support plate such that each moveable locking member is positioned adjacent said pressure application means and is disposed between floating locking members.

6. The conformable tool as recited in claim 1, wherein said locking members comprise a plurality of flexible bands wrapped about the periphery of said plurality of pins, wherein said support plate is flanked on each side by at least one said flexible band.

7. The conformable tool as recited in claim 1, wherein each end of each said pin is larger than the diameter of said corresponding aperture thereby preventing each said pin form dislodging from said support plate.

8. A conformable tool for approximating a workpiece contour, comprising:

(a) a support plate having a plurality of apertures;

(b) a plurality of pins, wherein each said pin is slidably disposed within a corresponding aperture of said support plate;

(c) a plurality of locking members for simultaneously locking said plurality of pins in a fixed position, wherein the number of pins is greater than the number of locking members;

(d) means for applying compressive pressure to one or more of said locking members;

(e) means, surrounding said plurality of pins, for holding said support plate, wherein said locking members are equally spaced and disposed within said holding means, and wherein said plurality of locking members is comprised of moveable locking members and floating locking members, and wherein said locking members are arranged in an alternating manner about the periphery of said support plate such that each moveable locking member is positioned adjacent said pressure application means and is disposed between floating locking members, and wherein each end of each said pin is larger than the diameter of said corresponding aperture thereby preventing each said pin from dislodging from said support plate.