Back to results
US 10,766,303 B2Granted
Positioning systems
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorTheodore Martin Boyl-Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for positioning a manufacturing tool. A wheel assembly comprises a wheel plate and rollers. The wheel plate has a perimeter and an axis of rotation that is tiltable about a tilt axis. The rollers are arranged near the perimeter of the wheel plate, each of the rollers having an axis of rotation parallel to the tilt axis. An apparatus comprises an upper frame, a lower frame associated with the upper frame, a wedge slideably located between the upper frame and the lower frame, and a force applicator associated with the wedge.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- an upper frame;
- a lower frame associated with the upper frame;
- a wedge slideably located between the upper frame and the lower frame;
- a force applicator associated with the wedge;
- an upper air bearing coupled to the upper frame;
- and
- a lower air bearing coupled to the lower frame, wherein the upper air bearing and the lower air bearing are configured to suspend the wedge substantially frictionless.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- an upper frame;
- a lower frame;
- a bias system connected to the upper frame and the lower frame and biasing the upper frame and lower frame towards each other;
- an upper air bearing coupled to the upper frame;
- a lower air bearing coupled to the lower frame;
- a foot associated with the lower frame;
- a wedge slideably located between the upper air bearing and the lower air bearing;
- and
- a force applicator associated with the wedge.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- determining a desired height for an apparatus, the apparatus comprising an upper frame, a lower frame associated with the upper frame, a wedge slideably located between the upper frame and the lower frame, and a force applicator associated with the wedge;
- activating an upper air bearing coupled to the upper frame and a lower air bearing coupled to the lower frame to suspend the wedge substantially frictionless prior to applying the force to the wedge;
- and
- applying a force to the wedge using the force applicator to slide the wedge between the upper frame and the lower frame such that the apparatus increases in height to the desired height.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.