Automated production of acoustic structures
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsEric Herrera, Noel Timothy Gerken, John Scott Bauman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser cuts overlapping ribbons of acoustic material into acoustic devices. An automatically controlled manipulator includes an end effector having groups of placement tools for simultaneously placing multiple acoustic devices in a cellular core. The placement tools include mandrels provided with vacuum pickups for picking up and holding the acoustic devices during transport to the core. A vision system aligns the placement tools with the cells of the core. The end effector includes a thermal radiation device for bonding the acoustic devices to the core.
Claims21
A method of automated production of an acoustic core having a plurality of cells, comprising:
- fabricating a plurality of acoustic devices, wherein fabricating the plurality of acoustic devices comprises overlaying ribbons of acoustic material, laser cutting the ribbons of acoustic material into a shape of the acoustic devices and joining cut edges of the ribbons of acoustic material together;
- picking up groups of the acoustic devices;
- placing the groups of the acoustic devices respectively in cells of the core;
- and
- bonding the acoustic devices to the core.
A method of installing a generally hollow acoustic device in a cell of a cellular core, comprising:
- inserting a tool into the acoustic device, using a vacuum to hold the acoustic device on the tool, wherein inserting the tool into the acoustic device includes using a tip of the tool to spread apart the end of the acoustic device into which the tool may be inserted;
- shaping an end of the acoustic device to match a shape of the cell;
- picking up the acoustic device using the tool;
- and
- placing the acoustic device in a cell using the tool.
A method of automated production of an acoustic core having a plurality of cells, comprising:
- fabricating a plurality of acoustic devices, wherein fabricating the plurality of acoustic devices includes:
- overlaying ribbons of acoustic material, and
- laser cutting the ribbons in a shape of the acoustic devices and welding together edges of the ribbons surrounding at least a portion of each of the acoustic devices, and wherein the method further comprises:
- picking up groups of the acoustic devices;
- placing the groups of the acoustic devices respectively in cells of the acoustic core;
- and
- bonding the acoustic devices to the acoustic core.
A method of installing an acoustic device in a cell of a cellular core, wherein the acoustic device is generally hollow, the method comprising:
- inserting a tool into the acoustic device, using a vacuum to hold the acoustic device on the tool;
- shaping an end of the acoustic device to match a shape of the cell using a shaper comprising a plurality of fingers slidable over the tool and into the acoustic device;
- picking up the acoustic device using the tool;
- and
- placing the acoustic device in a cell using the tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.