End effector, welding system, and method for welding composite components
AssigneeRohr, Inc.
InventorsWenping Zhao, John J. Gangloff, Jr., Michael A. Klecka, Zhigang Wang, Abhijit Chakraborty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An end effector for welding composite components includes an end effector housing and a welding member mounted to the end effector housing. The end effector further includes a leading roller mounted to the end effector housing forward of the welding member and at least one follower roller mounted to the end effector housing aft of the welding member. The end effector further includes at least one first cooling air jet positioned to direct a first stream of cooling air toward the at least one follower roller.
Claims15
An end effector for welding composite components, the end effector comprising:
- an end effector housing extending in a welding direction between and to a forward housing end and an aft housing end;
- an induction welding member mounted to the end effector housing, the induction welding member including an induction coil;
- a leading roller mounted to the end effector housing forward of the induction coil in the welding direction;
- at least one follower roller, each follower roller of the at least one follower roller mounted to the end effector housing aft of the induction coil in the welding direction, the at least one follower roller including a first follower roller disposed adjacent the induction welding member such that the induction coil is disposed between the leading roller and the first follower roller in the welding direction;
- and
- at least one first cooling air jet disposed between the induction welding member and the first follower roller in the welding direction, the at least one first cooling air jet positioned to direct a first stream of cooling air toward and onto the first follower roller.
A welding system comprising:
- a welding fixture configured to retain a stack of adjacent composite components;
- a robotic arm which is movable relative to the welding fixture;
- and
- an end effector mounted to a distal end of the robotic arm, the end effector comprising:
- an end effector housing extending in a welding direction between and to a forward housing end and an aft housing end;
- an induction welding member mounted to the end effector housing, the induction welding member including an induction coil;
- a leading roller mounted to the end effector housing forward of the induction coil in the welding direction and configured to roll along a surface of the stack;
- at least one follower roller, each follower roller of the at least one follower roller mounted to the end effector housing aft of the induction coil in the welding direction, the at least one follower roller including a first follower roller disposed adjacent the induction welding member such that the induction coil is disposed between the leading roller and the first follower roller in the welding direction, the first follower roller including a rolling surface configured to roll along the surface of the stack;
- and
- at least one first cooling air jet disposed between the induction welding member and the first follower roller in the welding direction, the at least one first cooling air jet configured to direct a stream of cooling air toward and onto the rolling surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.