Utility fixture for creating a distributed utility network

• US 9,895,741 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2014
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Oberoi, Harinder S., Gerosa, Alfredo Jose, Barrick, Kevin Marion, Do, Quang T., Hu, Yuanxin Charles, Sarh, Branko, Mackay, Scott Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoo, Jun
• Application Number:
  US14/559,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20160008934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• 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 and apparatus for distributing a number of utilities. The number of utilities may be coupled between a number of utility sources and a utility fixture. The number of utilities may be coupled between the utility fixture and a mobile system.

Claims

1. A method for distributing a number of utilities, the method comprising:

coupling the number of utilities between a number of utility sources and a first coupling unit of a utility fixture;

moving a first mobile system across a floor into a selected position relative to the utility fixture, wherein the first mobile system comprises a first corresponding coupling unit and a second coupling unit;

coupling the number of utilities between the utility fixture and the first mobile system by autonomously coupling the first corresponding coupling unit of the first mobile system to the first coupling unit of the utility fixture;

moving a second mobile system across the floor to the first mobile system, wherein the second mobile system comprises a second corresponding coupling unit; and

coupling the number of utilities between the second mobile system and the first mobile system by coupling the second corresponding coupling unit of the second mobile system to the second coupling unit of the first mobile system such that the number of utilities flows downstream from the number of utility sources, through the utility fixture, through the first coupling unit of the utility fixture, through the first corresponding coupling unit of the first mobile system, through the second coupling unit of the first mobile system, and through the second corresponding coupling unit of the second mobile system to the second mobile system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the number of utilities between the utility fixture and the first mobile system comprises:

autonomously aligning the first coupling unit associated with the utility fixture with the first corresponding coupling unit associated with the first mobile system; and

autonomously mating the first coupling unit with the first corresponding coupling unit to couple the number of utilities between the utility fixture and the first mobile system.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

affixing the utility fixture to a floor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the number of utilities between the number of utility sources and the utility fixture comprises:

plugging a number of input cables extending from the utility fixture into a number of output connections associated with the number of utility sources.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the number of utilities between the utility fixture and the first mobile system comprises:

autonomously connecting the first coupling unit associated with the utility fixture to the first corresponding coupling unit associated with a drivable tower.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

autonomously connecting the first coupling unit associated with the utility fixture to the first corresponding coupling unit associated with a drivable tower to physically couple the utility fixture to the drivable tower.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the first mobile system comprises:

driving a tower into a selected tower position relative to the utility fixture.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein driving the tower comprises:

driving the tower autonomously from a holding area into the selected tower position within an assembly area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the number of utilities between the utility fixture and the first mobile system comprises:

coupling a tower to the utility fixture; and

coupling an assembly fixture to the tower such that the number of utilities flows downstream from the number of utility sources, through the utility fixture, through the tower, and to the assembly fixture.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the number of utilities between the utility fixture and the first mobile system comprises:

coupling a tower to the utility fixture to establish a distributed utility network.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

adding a number of cradle fixtures to the distributed utility network.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

adding a number of external mobile platforms to the distributed utility network.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein adding the number of cradle fixtures to the distributed utility network comprises:

coupling the number of cradle fixtures to the tower in series.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first mobile system comprises a tower; and

the second mobile system comprises an assembly fixture holding a portion of a fuselage of an aircraft.