Back to results
US 7,024,952 B2Granted
Automated method and system to assemble and inspect tubing assemblies
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsDan N. Huynh, David K. Vogt, Stephen J. Morgan, Christopher C. Calkin, Kyle G. Dalton, Michael L. Jones, William S. Carnegie, Yong C. Joo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated method and system to assemble and inspect tubing assemblies includes one or more coordinate tables with each table having a plurality of robotic fixtures mounted for movement on the table. The robotic fixtures are controlled by a computerized control system to move to predetermined positions on the table surface, and tubing holders on the robotic fixtures are controlled to receive portions of a bent length of metal tubing to inspect and assemble the portions of tubing.
Claims25
A tubing assembly and inspection apparatus comprising:
- a table having a planar table surface with a surface area that is defined by mutually perpendicular X axis and Y axis directions;
- a plurality of tubing support fixtures mounted on the table surface, each support fixture being adapted to support a length of tubing, each support fixture having a separate motive source supporting the support fixture on the table surface for movement of the support fixture over the table surface in both the X axis direction and the Y axis direction;
- and
- a control system communicating with each of the support fixtures for controlling movement of the support fixtures over the table surface to predetermined locations of the support fixtures on the table surface.
1 more element
A tubing assembly and inspection apparatus comprising:
- a table having a planar table surface;
- a plurality of tubing support fixtures mounted on the table surface, each support fixture being adapted to support a length of tubing, each support fixture having a motive source supporting the support fixture on the table surface for movement of the support fixture over the table surface;
- a control system communicating with each of the support fixtures for controlling movement of the support fixtures over the table surface to predetermined locations of the support fixtures on the table surface;
- and
- the motive source of each support fixture supporting the support fixture for movement on the table surface in mutually perpendicular directions over the table surface.
2 more elements
A tubing assembly and inspection apparatus comprising:
- a table having a planar table surface;
- a plurality of tubing support fixtures mounted on the table surface, each support fixture being adapted to support a length of tubing, each support fixture having a motive source supporting the support fixture on the table surface for movement of the support fixture over the table surface;
- a control system communicating with each of the support fixtures for controlling movement of the support fixtures over the table surface to predetermined locations of the support fixtures on the table surface;
- the motive source of each support fixture supporting the support fixture for movement on the table surface in mutually perpendicular directions over the table surface;
- each support fixture having a tubing holder that is rotatable relative to the table surface;
- and
- each support fixture having an actuator operatively connected to the tubing holder for moving the tubing holder relative to the support fixture.
4 more elements
A tubing assembly and inspection apparatus comprising:
- a table having a planar table surface;
- a plurality of tubing support fixtures mounted on the table surface, each support fixture being adapted to support a length of tubing, each support fixture having a motive source supporting the support fixture on the table surface for movement of the support fixture over the table surface;
- a control system communicating with each of the support fixtures for controlling movement of the support fixtures over the table surface to predetermined locations of the support fixtures on the table surface;
- the table surface having an area that is defined by mutually perpendicular X and Y axes of the table surface, the X axis having X coordinate locations spacially arranged along the X axis and the Y axis having Y coordinate locations spacially arranged along the Y axis, the X coordinate locations and the Y coordinate locations defining a grid of X and Y coordinate locations on the table surface;
- and
- the grid of X and Y coordinate locations being recorded in the control system whereby the control system controls movement of the support fixtures over the table surface to predetermined X and Y coordinate locations on the table surface.
3 more elements
A tubing assembly and inspection apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of separate tables, each table having a planar table surface with a surface area that is defined by mutually perpendicular X axis and Y axis directions;
- at least one tubing support fixture mounted on each table surface, each support fixture being adapted to support a length of tubing, and each support fixture having a separate motive source supporting the support fixture on the table surface for movement of the support fixture over the table surface in both the X axis direction and the Y axis direction.
A tubing assembly and inspection apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of separate tables, each table having a planar table surface;
- at least one tubing support fixture mounted on each table surface, each support fixture being adapted to support a length of tubing, and each support fixture having a motive source supporting the support fixture on the table surface for movement of the support fixture over the table surface;
- each support fixture on each table surface having a tubing holder that is rotatable relative to the table surface;
- and
- each support fixture on each table surface having an actuator operatively connected to the tubing holder for movement of the tubing holder relative to the table surface.
2 more elements
A method of assembling and inspecting tubing, the method comprising:
- providing a table with a planar table surface having a surface area that is defined by mutually perpendicular X axis and Y axis directions;
- providing a plurality of tubing support fixtures on the table surface with each support fixture being adapted to support a length of tubing and each support fixture having a separate motive source that is operable to move the support fixture over the table surface in both the X axis direction and the Y axis direction;
- operating the motive source of each support fixture to move each support fixture to a predetermined location on the table surface;
- and
- positioning a length of tubing on each support fixture.
2 more elements
A method of assembling and inspecting tubing, the method comprising:
- providing a table with a planar table surface;
- providing a plurality of tubing support fixtures on the table surface with each support fixture being adapted to support a length of tubing and each support fixture having a motive source that is operable to move the support fixture over the table surface;
- operating the motive source of each support fixture to move each support fixture to a predetermined location on the table surface;
- positioning a length of tubing on each support fixture;
- and
- securing together lengths of tubing positioned on the support fixtures.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.