Dual function movement component for automated assembly systems
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJames Darryl Gamboa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pneumatic device may be configured and used to provide multiple movement related functions, such as in an automated assembly system. The pneumatic device may comprise a chamber; a sealing element configurable to contact a surface, to enable creating a seal around the chamber by application of pneumatic suction into the chamber; a biasing element configurable to push the sealing element away from the surface; and a pneumatic cushion configurable to expand by application of pneumatic inflow, thus urging the pneumatic device away from the surface.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- adhering an automated motorized device on a structure by use of at least one of a plurality of dual function movement components, wherein:
- the plurality of dual function movement components is arranged into one or more movement assemblies;
- each of the one or more movement assemblies is configured to operate separately;
- adhering the automated motorized device on the structure comprises sealing a sealing element, of at least one of the dual function movement components, in direct contact against a surface of the structure by forming a vacuum in a suction chamber defined between the sealing element and the surface of the structure to urge the automated motorized device towards the surface of the structure;
- and
- gliding the automated motorized device on the surface of the structure, wherein gliding comprises inflating an inflatable bladder, of at least one of the dual function movement components, to urge the sealing element away from the surface of the structure and to break the seal between the sealing element and the surface of the structure such that no portion of the sealing element is in contact with the surface of the structure.
A method for fabricating an aircraft component, the method comprising:
- adhering on a surface of the aircraft component, by use of at least one of a plurality of dual function movement components, an automated motorized device that is configured to apply one or more fabricating related functions to each of a plurality of predetermined locations on the aircraft component, wherein:
- the plurality of dual function movement components is arranged into one or more movement assemblies;
- each of the one or more movement assemblies is configured to operate separately;
- adhering the automated motorized device on the surface of the aircraft component comprises sealing a sealing element, of at least one of the dual function movement components, in direct contact against the surface of the aircraft component by forming a vacuum in a suction chamber defined between the sealing element and the surface of the aircraft component to urge the automated motorized device towards the surface of the aircraft component;
- and
- gliding the automated motorized device on the surface of the aircraft component, wherein gliding comprises inflating an inflatable bladder, of at least one of the dual function movement components, to urge the sealing element away from the surface of the aircraft component and to break the seal between the sealing element and the surface of the aircraft component such that no portion of the sealing element is in contact with the surface of the aircraft component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.