Back to results
US 7,681,615 B2Granted
Tow width adaptable placement head device and method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorPeter D. McCowin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A replaceable tow alignment path kit for a tow placement device may include a tow alignment tray to guide a predetermined width of tow along a tow path of a tow placement head. The tow alignment tray may include a channel having a width corresponding to the predetermined width of tow and a connector to releasably engage the tow placement head.
Claims19
A plurality of kits for a tow placement head, each respective kit comprising:
- a tow alignment tray configured to guide a predetermined width of tow along a tow path of the tow placement head, each respective kit being configured to accept a different predetermined width of tow, the tow placement head being configured to place a first predetermined width of tow in response to installation of a first kit of the plurality of kits and the tow placement head being configured to place a second predetermined width of tow in response to installation of a second kit of the plurality of kits, the second predetermined width of tow being different than the first predetermined width of tow;
- the tow alignment tray being detachably securable to the frame.
An end effector for attachment to a positioning device, the device end effector comprising:
- a frame;
- a frame fastener to fasten the frame to the positioning device;
- and
- a first tow path kit configured to connect to the frame, the first tow path kit being configured to accommodate a first predetermined width of tow, the end effector being configured to dispense the first predetermined width of tow in response to the first tow path kit being connected to the frame, the first tow path kit comprising:
- a first tow alignment tray to align the first predetermined width of tow, the first tow alignment tray being detachably securable to the frame;
- a second tow path kit configured to connect to the frame, the second tow path kit being configured to accommodate a second predetermined width of tow that is different than the first predetermined width of tow, the end effector being configured to dispense the second predetermined width of tow in response to the second tow path kit being connected to the frame, the second tow path kit comprising:
- a second tow alignment tray to align the second predetermined width of tow, the second tow alignment tray being detachably securable to the frame.
4 more elements
A system comprising:
- a tow placement head including a frame;
- a positioning device to position the tow placement head;
- a first tow path kit corresponding to a first predetermined width of tow, the first tow path kit comprising:
- a first tow alignment tray configured to guide the first predetermined width of tow along a tow path of the tow placement head, the tow placement head being configured to dispense the first predetermined width of tow in response to the first tow path kit being installed on the tow placement head, the first tow alignment tray being detachably securable to the frame;
- and
- a second tow path kit corresponding to a second predetermined width of tow being different than the first predetermined width of tow, the second tow path kit comprising:
- a second tow alignment tray configured to guide the second predetermined width of tow along the tow path of the tow placement head, the tow placement head being configured to dispense the second predetermined width of tow in response to the second tow path kit being installed on the tow placement head, the second tow alignment tray being detachably securable to the frame.
4 more elements
A laminating apparatus for manufacturing an aircraft structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a tow placement head;
- and
- a plurality of tow path kits, each of the tow path kits including an alignment tray being detachably securable to the tow placement head, each tow path kit
- being adapted to a tow of a predetermined width that is different from the predetermined width of a remainder of the plurality of tow path kits.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.