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US 12,558,799 B2Granted
Gripping apparatus and associated systems and methods for gripping flexible materials
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorAllen Halbritter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gripping apparatus includes an impermeable layer defining a vacuum port, a first flow media layer associated with the impermeable layer, and a second flow media layer opposed from the first flow media layer to define a receiving space therebetween.
Claims20
A gripping apparatus comprising:
- a first impermeable layer defining a vacuum port;
- a first flow media layer disposed directly adjacent to the first impermeable layer;
- a second impermeable layer opposed from the first impermeable layer;
- and
- a second flow media layer disposed directly adjacent to the second impermeable layer and opposed from the first flow media layer,
- wherein the first flow media layer and the second flow media layer are spaced apart to define a receiving space therebetween, the receiving space being open at one or more lateral ends to permit insertion of a material between the first flow media layer and the second flow media layer.
3 more elements
A system for gripping a flexible material, the system comprising:
- a first gripping apparatus comprising:
- a first impermeable layer;
- a first flow media layer disposed directly adjacent to the first impermeable layer of the first gripping apparatus;
- a second impermeable layer opposed from the first impermeable layer;
- and
- a second flow media layer disposed directly adjacent to the second impermeable layer and opposed from the first flow media layer of the first gripping apparatus,
- wherein the first flow media layer and the second flow media layer are spaced apart to define a first receiving space therebetween, the first receiving space being open at one or more lateral ends to permit insertion of a material between the first flow media layer and the second flow media layer;
- a second gripping apparatus comprising:
- a third impermeable layer;
- a third flow media layer disposed directly adjacent to the third impermeable layer of the second gripping apparatus;
- a fourth impermeable layer opposed from the third impermeable layer;
- and
- a fourth flow media layer disposed directly adjacent to the fourth impermeable layer and opposed from the third flow media layer of the second gripping apparatus,
- wherein the third flow media layer and the fourth flow media layer are spaced apart to define a second receiving space therebetween, the second receiving space being open at one or more lateral ends to permit insertion of the material between the third flow media layer and the fourth flow media layer;
- and
- a vacuum source in fluid communication with the first gripping apparatus and the second gripping apparatus.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.