Apparatus and method for abrading a composite material
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRichard Allen Miller, II, Narinder Kumar Gautam
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Abrading apparatus and methods for treating opposing web surfaces of an elongate part include engaging the surfaces with first and second abrasion devices coupled to a frame. A drive assembly advances the frame along the part while the abrasion devices are operated to treat the surfaces. A guard assembly is coupled to the frame and includes first and second guards positioned to block portions of the contact areas of the first and second abrasion devices.
Claims20
An abrading apparatus for use with an elongate part, the elongate part having a base and a web with a root end joined to the base and a free end opposite the root end, the web further defining opposed first and second web surfaces, the abrading apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a drive assembly coupled to the frame and configured to drive the abrading apparatus along a longitudinal length of the elongate part;
- an abrasion assembly including:
- a first abrasion device coupled to the frame and including a first abrasion element defining a first abrasion device effective contact area engageable with the first web surface;
- and
- a second abrasion device coupled to the frame and including a second abrasion element defining a second abrasion device effective contact area engageable with the second web surface;
- a guard assembly coupled to the frame and including:
- a first guard disposed between the frame and the first abrasion element, wherein the first guard extends over a portion of the first abrasion device effective contact area, the first guard being between the first web surface and a portion of the first abrasion device effective contact area associated with the first abrasion device;
- and
- a second guard disposed between the frame and the second abrasion element, wherein the second guard extends over a portion of the second abrasion device effective contact area, the second guard being between the second web surface and a portion of a second abrasion device effective contact area associated with the second abrasion device;
- and
- a controller for controlling operation of the drive assembly, the first abrasion device, and the second abrasion device.
An abrading apparatus for use with a stringer, the stringer having a base and a web having a root end joined to the base and a free end opposite the root end, the web further defining opposed first and second web surfaces, the abrading apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a drive assembly coupled to the frame and configured to drive the abrading apparatus along a longitudinal length of the stringer;
- an abrasion assembly including:
- a first carriage coupled to the frame by a first power operated slide;
- a first rotary sander coupled to the first carriage and including a first rotary sander element having a first rotary sander surface, the first rotary sander surface defining a first rotary sander effective contact area engageable with the first web surface;
- a first orbital sander coupled to the first carriage and including a first orbital sander element having a first orbital sander surface, the first orbital sander surface defining a first orbital sander effective contact area engageable with the first web surface;
- a second carriage coupled to the frame by a second power operated slide;
- a second rotary sander coupled to the second carriage and including a second rotary sander element having a second rotary sander surface, the second rotary sander surface defining a second rotary sander effective contact area engageable with the second web surface;
- and
- a second orbital sander coupled to the second carriage and including a second orbital sander element having a second orbital sander surface, the second orbital sander surface defining a second orbital sander effective contact area engageable with the second web surface;
- a guard assembly coupled to the frame and including:
- a first guard positioned to extend over portions of the first rotary sander effective contact area and the first orbital sander effective contact area, the first guard being between the first web surface and the portion of the first orbital sander effective contact area associated with the first orbital sander;
- a second guard positioned to extend over portions of the second rotary sander effective contact area and the second orbital sander effective contact area, the second guard being between the second web surface and the portion of the second orbital sander effective contact area associated with the second orbital sander;
- and
- a controller for controlling operation of the drive assembly, the first rotary sander, the first orbital sander, the second rotary sander, the second orbital sander, the first power operated slide, and the second power operated slide.
A method of abrading a stringer, the stringer having a base and a web having a root end joined to the base and a free end opposite the root end, the web further defining opposed first and second web surfaces, the method comprising:
- positioning an abrading apparatus relative to the stringer with first and second abrasion devices engaging the first and second web surfaces, respectively;
- placing a first guard of the abrading apparatus between the first web surface and a portion of a first abrasion device effective contact area associated with the first abrasion device;
- placing a second guard of the abrading apparatus between the second web surface and a portion of a second abrasion device effective contact area associated with the second abrasion device;
- and
- while advancing the abrading apparatus along the stringer, simultaneously operating the first and second abrasion devices to abrade the first and second web surfaces, respectively, at unblocked portions of the first and second abrasion device effective contact areas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.