Flanged and tapered pin for method to automate part loading and unloading
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsDonald Lloyd CONAWAY, Larry Dean HEFTI, David James FALCONER FYVIE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A forming die for forming a part is disclosed. The forming die includes a lower forming die portion comprising a lower pin receiving opening for receiving a lower portion of a removable securing pin that secures a lower surface of a part to be formed to the lower forming die; and an upper forming die portion, positionable above the lower forming die portion, comprising an upper pin receiving opening for receiving an upper portion of the removable securing pin that secures an upper surface of the part to be formed to the upper forming die portion.
Claims20
A forming die for forming a part, the forming die comprising:
- a lower forming die portion comprising a lower pin receiving opening for receiving a lower portion of a removable securing pin that secures a lower surface of a part to be formed to the lower forming die;
- and
- an upper forming die portion, positionable above the lower forming die portion, comprising an upper pin receiving opening for receiving an upper portion of the removable securing pin that secures an upper surface of the part to be formed to the upper forming die portion.
A hot box for hot forming a part, the hot box comprising:
- a lower hot box portion, comprising:
- a lower housing, a lower heating platen, received within the lower housing and configured to support a lower forming die portion, and a lower pin receiving opening for receiving a lower portion of a removable securing pin that secures a lower surface of a part to be formed to the lower housing and the lower heating platen and
- an upper hot box portion, positionable above the lower hot box portion and comprising:
- an upper housing, an upper heating platen, received within the upper housing and configured to support an upper forming die portion, and an upper pin receiving opening for receiving an upper portion of the removable securing pin that secures an upper surface of the part to be formed to the upper housing and the upper heating platen.
A platform comprising:
- an end effector;
- and
- a gripper attached to the end effector that grips a securing pin that secures a part to a lower hot box portion of a hot box, wherein the securing pin comprises a tapered lower body portion, a flange arranged between the lower body portion and an upper body portion, and a recessed ridge arranged above the flange that allows the gripper to hold the securing pin.
A part securing pin comprising:
- a tapered lower body portion;
- an upper body portion;
- a flange arranged between the lower body portion and the upper body portion;
- and
- a recessed ridge arranged above the flange that allows a gripper to hold the hot box securing pin.
A method for securing part to be formed in a hot box or superplastic forming (SPF) press assembly, the method comprising:
- securing the part to be formed to a platform using a securing pin, wherein the platform comprises an end effector and a gripper attached to the end effector a securing pin;
- moving the part to be formed using the securing pin to a lower hot box portion of the hot box in a hot box press assembly;
- and
- releasing the part by actuating the gripper to release the securing pin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.