Insertion tool
AssigneesGeneral Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics Limited
InventorsDeepak Trivedi, Grover Andrew Bennett, Stephen Paul Leclerc, Andrew Crispin Graham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An insertion tool for performing an operation on equipment, the insertion tool including: a plurality of segments, each segment of the plurality of segments including a body comprising: a first hinge; and a second hinge, the first hinge of a first segment being coupled to the second hinge of a second segment adjacent to the first segment through an interface, wherein the interface comprises a powder gap, a multi-modal interface, a compliance feature, a displace-to-lock configuration, an interference fit, or any combination thereof, wherein the insertion tool is configured to be selectively rigidizable using a strength member interfacing with the plurality of segments.
Claims16
An insertion tool for performing an operation on equipment, the insertion tool comprising:
- a plurality of segments including adjacent first and second segments connected to one another via an interface;
- wherein the interface comprises a first hinge member of the first segment and a second hinge member of the second segment;
- wherein the first hinge member is coupled to the second hinge member;
- wherein the first hinge member comprises a post and the second hinge member comprises a recess in which the post is received;
- wherein the post and recess allow the first and second segments to pivot relative to one another;
- wherein the first and second segments are shiftable between a non-rigid configuration, wherein the post is positioned in the recess with a loose fit, and a rigid configuration, wherein the post is positioned in the recess with a close-fit;
- wherein the post and recess are configured to be shifted between the loose fit and close-fit by rotating at least one of the first and second segments with respect to one another about an axis of rotation extending through the post and the recess while the post is retained in the recess;
- and wherein the post and the recess each have an elongate configuration such that the post and the recess each have an aspect ratio different than 1:1 such that when at least one of the first and second segments is rotated with respect to one another about the axis of rotation extending through post and the recess, the post and recess are shifted from the loose fit to the close-fit, wherein the post contacts the recess at opposing outer surface portions of the post, wherein said aspect ratio is defined as a length and width of a cross section of an end face of the post and a cross section of the recess;
- wherein the first and second hinge members define the axis of rotation about which the first and second segments are rotatable, the axis of rotation being transverse to a longitudinal axis of each of the first and second segments;
- wherein the post extends from a surface of the first segment in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation.
An insertion tool for performing an operation on equipment, the insertion tool comprising:
- a plurality of segments including a first segment and an adjacent second segment connected to one another via an interface;
- wherein the interface comprises a first hinge member of the first segment and a second hinge member of the second segment;
- wherein the first hinge member is coupled to the second hinge member;
- wherein the first hinge member comprises a post and the second hinge member comprises a recess in which the post is received, wherein the recess comprises an endless inner facing surface that surrounds the post;
- wherein the post and recess allow the first and second segments to pivot relative to one another;
- wherein the first and second segments are shiftable between a non-rigid configuration, wherein the post is positioned in the recess with a loose fit, and a rigid configuration, wherein the post is positioned in the recess with a close-fit;
- a strength member extending between the first and second segments and intersecting the interface, wherein the strength member is configured to shift the first and second segments between the non-rigid configuration and the rigid configuration;
- wherein the post and recess are configured to be shifted between the loose fit and close-fit by rotating at least one of the first and second segments with respect to one another about an axis of rotation extending through the post and the recess while the post is retained in the recess;
- and wherein the post and the recess each have an aspect ratio different than 1:1 such that when at least one of the first and second segments is rotated with respect to one another about the axis of rotation extending through the post and the recess, the post and recess are shifted from the loose fit to the close-fit, wherein said aspect ratio is defined as a length and width of a cross section of the post and the recess;
- wherein the first and second hinge members define the axis of rotation about which the first and second segments are rotatable, the axis of rotation being transverse to a longitudinal axis of each of the first and second segments;
- wherein the post extends from a surface of the first segment in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.