Apparatus, system, and method for forming metal parts
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsDavid G. Jensen, Michael D. McGraw
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for forming a metal workpiece having a first surface is described herein. The apparatus includes a trough containing a liquid. The apparatus also includes a support for positioning the metal workpiece in an impact-receiving position. In the impact-receiving position, the first surface is submerged in the liquid. The apparatus includes a driven member for applying multiple impacts to the first surface of the metal workpiece while the metal workpiece is in the impact-receiving position.
Claims21
1-14. (canceled)
A method of forming a metal workpiece, the method comprising:
- submerging the metal workpiece in a liquid in a trough;
- and
- with the metal workpiece submerged in the liquid, repeatedly impacting a first surface of the metal workpiece with a driven member, wherein the driven member is attached to a robot, and the robot is movable along a track extending along a length of the trough to enable the driven member to move relative to the length of the trough as the driven member applies multiple impacts to the metal workpiece.
A metal workpiece formed by the process of:
- submerging the metal workpiece in a liquid;
- and
- with the metal workpiece submerged in the liquid, repeatedly impacting a first surface of the metal workpiece with a driven member, wherein the driven member is attached to a robot, and the robot is movable along a track extending along a length of the metal workpiece to enable the driven member to move relative to the metal workpiece as the driven member applies multiple impacts to the metal workpiece.
An apparatus comprising:
- a controller programmed with a desired shape of a metal workpiece, the controller configured to:
- control a driven member to repeatedly impact a first surface of a metal workpiece while the metal workpiece is submerged in a liquid;
- and
- control the driven member to move along a length of the metal workpiece to enable the driven member to move relative to the length of the metal workpiece as the driven member applies multiple impacts to the metal workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.