Methods for system component installation utilizing direct manufactured components
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJeffrey H. Wood
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for fabricating a structure to include at least a portion of a conduit retention system is described. The method includes receiving parameters for the structure and the portion of the conduit retention system associated with the structure via a user interface, providing the parameters to a machine configured to fabricate the structure and incorporate the portion of the conduit retention system, the machine using a direct manufacturing process, and operating the machine to integrally fabricate the structure and the portion of the conduit retention system.
Claims12
A conduit retention system comprising:
- a directly manufactured airframe structure comprising at least one strengthening rib;
- a conduit support saddle integrally formed within said at least one strengthening rib, said conduit support saddle and said at least one strengthening rib forming a single directly manufactured device;
- and
- a conduit clamp configured to engage said conduit support saddle and retain at least one conduit therebetween.
A conduit retention system comprising:
- a conduit support saddle comprising at least one substantially semi-circular conduit support area and a relatively flat surface area;
- and
- a conduit clamp comprising at least one substantially semi-circular perimeter and at least one clip, said at least one semi-circular conduit support area and said at least one substantially semi-circular conduit support area configured to substantially surround a diameter of a conduit when said at least one clip is engaged with said flat surface area in a snap fit relationship, said conduit support saddle integrally formed within a portion of a directly manufactured airframe strengthening rib.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.