Back to results
US 9,933,247 B2Granted
Mandrel configuration monitoring system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsDon Michael Clark, Austin Michael Cangelosi, Li Chun Chang, Deborah E. Errazo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for monitoring a mandrel. A first plurality of transmitting devices is positioned with respect to the mandrel. Signals from a portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices are received at a receiving device. The signals are processed to determine a configuration of the mandrel.
Claims22
A method for monitoring a mandrel, the method comprising:
- positioning a first plurality of transmitting devices on the mandrel, each transmitting device of the first plurality of transmitting devices being configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the transmitting device;
- receiving, at a receiving device, the signals indicative of the positions of the transmitting devices from a portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices;
- processing the signals indicative of the positions of the transmitting devices from the portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices to determine a current configuration of the mandrel;
- identifying a desired configuration for the mandrel;
- comparing the current configuration to the desired configuration;
- and
- when the current configuration does not match the desired configuration, modifying the mandrel such that the mandrel has the desired configuration, wherein the current configuration does not match the desired configuration when the mandrel has deformed such that a current position of one of the transmitting devices in the current configuration does not match a desired position of the one of the transmitting devices in the desired configuration.
4 more elements
A system comprising:
- a mandrel;
- a first plurality of transmitting devices physically associated with the mandrel, each transmitting device of the first plurality of transmitting devices being configured to generate a signal indicative of position of the transmitting device;
- and
- a receiving device configured to receive the signals indicative of the positions of the transmitting devices from a portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the receiving device and configured to process the signals indicative of the positions of the transmitting devices from the portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices to determine a current configuration of the mandrel, to identify a desired configuration for the mandrel, to compare the current configuration to the desired configuration, and, when the current configuration does not match the desired configuration, to modify the mandrel such that the mandrel has the desired configuration, wherein the current configuration does not match the desired configuration when the mandrel has deformed such that a current position of one of the transmitting devices in the current configuration does not match a desired position of the one of the transmitting devices in the desired configuration.
3 more elements
A method for monitoring a current configuration of a mandrel, the method comprising:
- attaching a plurality of transceivers to the mandrel, each transceiver of the plurality of transceivers being configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the transceiver;
- receiving, at a receiving device, the signals indicative of the positions of the transmitting devices from a portion of the plurality of transceivers;
- processing the signals indicative of the positions of the transmitting devices to determine the current configuration of the mandrel;
- comparing the current configuration of the mandrel to a desired configuration for the mandrel;
- and
- replacing the mandrel when the current configuration does not match the desired configuration, wherein the current configuration does not match the desired configuration when the mandrel has deformed such that a current position of one of the transmitting devices in the current configuration does not match a desired position of the one of the transmitting devices in the desired configuration.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.