Automated Production of Acoustic Structures
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsEric Herrera, Noel Timothy Gerken, John Scott Bauman
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Abstract
A laser cuts overlapping ribbons of acoustic material into acoustic devices. An automatically controlled manipulator includes an end effector having groups of placement tools for simultaneously placing multiple acoustic devices in a cellular core. The placement tools include mandrels provided with vacuum pickups for picking up and holding the acoustic devices during transport to the core. A vision system aligns the placement tools with the cells of the core. The end effector includes a thermal radiation device for bonding the acoustic devices to the core.
Claims44
Apparatus for producing an acoustic structure having a core with a plurality of cells, comprising:
- a manipulator;
- an end effector mounted on the manipulator, including a plurality of acoustic device placement tools each capable of placing an acoustic device in one of the cells of the core;
- and
- a digital controller including a set of digital instructions for controlling movement of the manipulator and operation of the end effector.
Apparatus for automated production of an acoustic core having a plurality of cells, comprising:
- a material supply system for supplying ribbons of acoustic material;
- a laser for converting the ribbons into a plurality of acoustic devices;
- an end effector for picking up the acoustic devices and placing the acoustic devices in the cells;
- and,
- a controller coupled with the laser and the end effector.
Apparatus for installing a generally hollow acoustic device in a cell of a cellular core, comprising:
- a tool capable of being inserted into the acoustic device;
- a vacuum pickup on the tool capable of holding the acoustic device against the tool;
- and
- a shaper on the tool for shaping an end of the acoustic device.
Apparatus for fabricating a plurality of acoustic devices adapted to be installed in a cellular core, comprising:
- a supply of adhesive for bonding each of the acoustic devices to the core;
- a supply of acoustic material sheets;
- a cutter for cutting the acoustic material sheets into a desired shape;
- and,
- a joiner for joining the acoustic material sheets together.
A method of automated production of an acoustic core having a plurality of cells, comprising:
- fabricating a plurality of acoustic devices;
- picking up groups of the acoustic devices;
- placing the groups of the acoustic devices respectively in cells of the core;
- and
- bonding the acoustic devices to the core.
A method of installing a generally hollow acoustic device in a cell of a cellular core, comprising:
- inserting a tool into the acoustic device;
- using a vacuum to hold the acoustic device on the tool;
- shaping an end of the acoustic device to match a shape of the cell;
- picking up the acoustic device using the tool;
- and
- placing the acoustic device in a cell using the tool.
A method of fabricating a plurality of acoustic devices adapted to be placed in a cellular core, comprising:
- overlapping ribbons of acoustic material;
- cutting the overlapping ribbons into a plurality of individual pieces of the acoustic material each having a profile of one of the acoustic devices;
- and
- joining the individual pieces along their edges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.