Manufacturing system and methods
AssigneeRevcor, Inc.
InventorRichard R. Shelby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect, a manufacturing system is provided having lobe clamps configured to secure lobes of a spider, drive assemblies configured to pivot the lobe clamps, sensors for detecting the position of the lobe clamps, and a control system operably coupled to the drive assemblies and configured to cause the drive assemblies to pivot the lobe clamps and impart a twist to lobes of the spider. In another aspect, a method is provided that includes twisting lobes of a spider in a first direction toward initial target positions using a machine, permitting the lobes to twist in a second direction toward free state positions, and twisting one or more of the lobes using the machine in response to the one or more lobes having free state positions different than final target positions of the lobes.
Claims44
A method of twisting a spider using a machine, the method comprising:
- securing the machine to lobes of a spider;
- twisting the lobes in a first direction toward initial target positions using the machine;
- permitting the lobes to twist in a second direction toward first free state positions in response to the lobes reaching the initial target positions, the machine being secured to the lobes as the lobes twist toward the first free state positions;
- and
- twisting one or more of the lobes in the first direction or the second direction toward first corrective target positions using the machine in response to the one or more lobes having first free state positions different than final target positions of the lobes.
A method of twisting a spider using a machine, the method comprising:
- securing the machine to lobes of a spider;
- twisting the lobes in a first direction toward initial target positions using the machine;
- permitting the lobes to twist in a second direction toward first free state positions in response to the lobes reaching the initial target positions;
- measuring the first free state position of each of the lobes using sensors of the machine;
- and
- determining first corrective target positions for one or more of the lobes in response to the one or more lobes having first free state positions different than final target positions of the one or more lobes.
A method of twisting a spider using a machine, the method comprising:
- securing the machine to lobes of a spider;
- twisting the lobes in a first direction toward initial target positions using the machine;
- permitting the lobes to twist in a second direction toward first free state positions in response to the lobes reaching the initial target positions, the machine being secured to the lobes as the lobes twist toward the first free state positions;
- and
- twisting a plurality of the lobes in the first direction or the second direction toward first corrective target positions using the machine in response to the plurality of lobes having first free state positions different than final target positions of the lobes,
- wherein twisting the plurality of the lobes toward first corrective target positions using the machine includes twisting the plurality of the lobes independently of each other.
A method of twisting a spider using a machine, the method comprising:
- securing the machine to lobes of a spider;
- twisting the lobes in a first direction toward initial target positions using the machine;
- determining first values corresponding to first free state positions of the lobes using the machine;
- and
- twisting one or more of the lobes in the first direction or a second direction toward first corrective target positions using the machine in response to the first values corresponding to the first free state positions of the one or more lobes being different than second values corresponding to final target positions of the one or more lobes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.