Automatic airfoil root prep machine and associated method
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsFrank J. Trzcinski, Manfried Carl Verch, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for polishing an airfoil root includes a fixture for holding the airfoil, an actuation cylinder assembly for moving the fixture holding the airfoil, a brush, a motor for rotating the brush, a switch, and control circuitry. The actuation cylinder assembly is configured to move the fixture holding the airfoil toward the brush to trigger the switch, and the control circuitry is configured to run a timer when the switch is triggered to control contact between the airfoil and the brush for polishing.
Claims16
An apparatus for polishing an airfoil root, the apparatus comprising:
- a fixture for holding the airfoil;
- an actuation cylinder assembly for moving the fixture holding the airfoil;
- a brush;
- a motor for rotating the brush;
- a switch, wherein the actuation cylinder assembly is configured to move the fixture holding the airfoil toward the brush to trigger the switch;
- and
- control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to run a timer when the switch is triggered to control contact between the airfoil and the brush for polishing.
A method of polishing a workpiece, the method comprising:
- positioning the workpiece in a fixture, wherein the fixture is movable;
- rotating a brush;
- moving the fixture toward the rotating brush at a given pressure in the actuation cylinder so that the workpiece can contact the brush;
- triggering timer when a position of the fixture reaches a given point relative to the rotating brush;
- and
- moving the fixture away from the rotating brush with the actuation cylinder after a time period of the timer has elapsed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.