Gap filler roller assembly
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorPaul Reed Stone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A roller assembly for forming adjacent curved surfaces in a composite gap filler member includes a first roller supported by a first support member wherein the first roller rotates relative to the first support member about a first axis of rotation. A second roller is supported by a second support member wherein the second roller rotates relative to the second support member about a second axis of rotation. First support member is rotatable about a third axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation extends in a direction transverse to the first axis of rotation. Second support member is rotatable about a fourth axis of rotation. The fourth axis of rotation extends in a direction transverse to the second axis of rotation.
Claims20
A roller assembly for forming adjacent curved surfaces in a composite gap filler member, comprising:
- a first roller is supported by a first support member wherein the first roller rotates relative to the first support member about a first axis of rotation;
- a second roller is supported by a second support member wherein the second roller rotates relative to the second support member about a second axis of rotation, wherein:
- the first support member is rotatable about a third axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation extends in a direction transverse to the first axis of rotation;
- and
- the second support member is rotatable about a fourth axis of rotation and the fourth axis of rotation extends in a direction transverse to the second axis of rotation.
A method of forming adjacent curved surfaces in a composite gap filler member, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a first roller against composite material wherein:
- the first roller is supported by a first support member;
- the first roller rotates relative to the first support member about a first axis of rotation;
- and
- the first support member is rotatable about a third axis of rotation which extends in a direction transverse to the first axis of rotation;
- positioning a second roller against the composite material wherein:
- the second roller is supported by a second support member;
- the second roller rotates relative to the second support member about a second axis of rotation;
- and
- the second support member is rotatable about a fourth axis of rotation which extends in a direction transverse to the second axis of rotation;
- pulling the composite material past the first and second rollers wherein the first roller rotates about the first axis of rotation and the second roller rotates about the second axis of rotation;
- and
- rotating the first axis of rotation about the third axis of rotation and rotating the second axis of rotation about the fourth axis of rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.