| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080237442 | MULTI-RING SYSTEM FOR FUSELAGE BARREL FORMATION - An aircraft fuselage barrel ( | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080244888 | Method and Apparatus for Installing Fasteners - Apparatus for installing fasteners in a workpiece is mounted for computer controlled movement over the workpiece surface. The apparatus includes all of the tools, fasteners, drives and controls on-board that are needed to operate autonomously, without external connections. The apparatus may also include an on-board power supply for powering the tools, drives and controls. A supply of fasteners is held in an on-board replaceable cassette. An on-board fastener transferring device transfers individual fasteners from the cassette to the tools. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080295314 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AN INSTRUMENTED FASTENER - An instrumented fastener (e.g., a “tack” fastener) includes one or more light sources (e.g., light-emitting diodes) configured to produce a light beacon that includes encoded information regarding the instrumented fastener (e.g., part number), wherein the direction of the light beacon can be used to align external and/or internal assembly systems to the instrumented fasteners. The light beacon may be activated automatically, or via an instruction received from an external system. Once aligned, the assembly system may, for example, proceed with installing permanent fasteners between neighboring tack fasteners. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20090026321 | MORPHING AIRCRAFT WITH TELESCOPIC LIFTING AND CONTROL SURFACES - A morphing aircraft includes a lifting body and a telescopic lifting or control surface, such as a wing, coupled to the lifting body. The lifting surface is deployable between extended and retracted positions relative to the lifting body and configured such that, when disposed in the extended position, the flight characteristics of the aircraft correspond to those of a low-speed, high-lift aircraft, and when disposed in the retracted position, the flight characteristics of the air-craft correspond to those of a high-speed, low-lift aircraft, the lifting surface is disposed entirely within the lifting body, and an outboard end surface of the lifting surface blends continuously into an outer mold line surface of the lifting body. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090112925 | INTELLIGENT FASTENER INSTALLATION SYSTEM - One embodiment of a fastening apparatus may include at least one of a fastener and a collar having a code with information regarding the fastener and/or collar. The code may be communicated to one or more databases of a computer. The fastener and/or collar may be tightened, located, maintained, and/or inspected according to the code and/or database information. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090120562 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOW-BULK TOUGHENED FABRICS FOR LOW-PRESSURE MOLDING PROCESSES - A method and apparatus for manufacturing. A fiber layer and a porous bonding layer are formed to form a unidirectional lay-up of fibers. The lay-up of fibers is heated under pressure to form a unidirectional composite tape of desired thickness to substantially maintain the fibers in a desired configuration. The unidirectional composite tape is slit to a desired width, and the slit unidirectional composite tape is loaded into a multiaxial fabric machine. A first layer is built from the composite tape in the multiaxial machine, and a second layer is built from the composite tape on the first layer at a predetermined angle from the first layer in the multiaxial machine. The first and second layers are consolidated to form a composite fabric in a continuous process. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090287352 | ROBOTIC SYSTEM INCLUDING FOLDABLE ROBOTIC ARM - A system includes an end effector, a robotic wrist for orienting the end effector; and a robotic arm for positioning the end effector. The robotic arm is foldable into a stack. The robotic wrist is mounted to a last link of the robotic arm. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20100071192 | ELECTROMAGNETIC CLAMPING DEVICE - An apparatus may comprise a permanent magnet unit, an end effector, and an electromagnetic clamping device. The end effector may be capable of performing workpiece operations. The electromagnetic clamping device may have an activated state and a deactivated state. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100217437 | AUTONOMOUS ROBOTIC ASSEMBLY SYSTEM - An apparatus comprises a plurality of mobile robotic machines, a wireless communications system, and a motion control system. The plurality of mobile robotic machines may be capable of moving to a number of locations in an assembly area and performing operations to assemble a structure in the assembly area. The wireless communications system may be capable of providing communications with the plurality of mobile robotic machines within the assembly area. The motion control system may be capable of generating position information for the plurality of mobile robotic machines in the assembly area and communicating the position. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20110010007 | AUTONOMOUS ROBOTIC PLATFORM - The different advantageous embodiments may provide an apparatus that may comprise a number of robotic platforms, a wireless communications system, and a computer system. The number of robotic platforms may be configured to move to a number of locations in an assembly area and interact with a number of robotic devices. The wireless communications system may be configured to provide communication with the number of robotic platforms and the number of robotic devices within the assembly area. The computer system may be configured to exchange information with the number of robotic platforms and the number of robotic devices using the wireless communications system. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110018182 | Electromagnetic Clamping System for Manufacturing Large Structures - An apparatus comprises a housing, a core located in the housing, a coil unit associated with the core and located in the housing, and a backing plate made of a high-permeability material. The apparatus may be used for generating high clamping forces between materials that are interposed between the core and the backing plate such that manufacturing operations can be carried out. The core has a cross section with an elongate shape. The coil unit is configured to generate magnetic fields and has the elongate shape. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110239448 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING FASTENERS - Apparatus for installing fasteners in a workpiece is mounted for computer controlled movement over the workpiece surface. The apparatus includes all of the tools, fasteners, drives and controls on-board that are needed to operate autonomously, without external connections. The apparatus may also include an on-board power supply for powering the tools, drives and controls. A supply of fasteners is held in an on-board replaceable cassette. An on-board fastener transferring device transfers individual fasteners from the cassette to the tools. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110245971 | SYNCHRONOUS ROBOTIC OPERATION ON A STRUCTURE HAVING A CONFINED SPACE - A fully automated method is performed on a structure having a confined space. The structure has a location that is identifiable from within the confined space and from outside the confined space. A first robotic system moves a first end effector inside the confined space such that the first end effector is positioned over the location. A first vector corresponding to the location is generated. A second robotic system moves a second end effector outside the confined space such that the second end effector is positioned over the location. A second vector corresponding to the location is generated. The first and second vectors are used to move the first and second end effectors to a new location such that the first and second end effectors are in working opposition. The first and second end effectors perform a synchronous operation at the new location. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20120011693 | Agile manufacturing apparatus and method for high throughput - A method, apparatus and computer program product are present for performing a manufacturing procedure. A component may be positioned in a work area. A plurality of groups of robots may be operated in parallel and robots of each group of robots of the plurality of groups of robots may be operated in synchronism for performing a plurality of manufacturing operations at a plurality of locations on the component. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120014759 | Electromagnetic Crawler Assembly System - A method and apparatus for performing operations on a workpiece. A first frame in a frame system may be held on the workpiece by applying a vacuum to the first frame. A second frame in the frame system may be detached from the workpiece by applying a pressure to the second frame. The second frame may be moved to a location on the workpiece. The second frame may be attached to the workpiece by applying the vacuum to the second frame. An operation may be performed on the workpiece. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120030926 | ROBOT-DEPLOYED ASSEMBLY TOOL AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING FASTENERS IN AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES - An assembly system and method for assembling an aircraft wing box or other structure that may define an interior area accessible through at least one access opening are provided. The method includes inserting a robot having an assembly tool mounted thereto into the interior area through the at least one access opening. The assembly tool may be positioned at a fastener location, and may be clamped to the structure. A hole may be made through the structure, and a fastener may be installed in the hole. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120210802 | FORCE AND NORMALITY SENSING FOR END EFFECTOR CLAMP - A robotic system comprises an end effector including an electromagnetic clamp, a force sensor attached to the end effector for measuring force exerted by the clamp against a work piece surface, and a plurality of normality sensors. The normality sensors are positioned about the force sensor to determine whether the clamp is normal to the surface before the force sensor makes contact with the surface. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120272505 | Robot having obstacle avoidance mechanism - A robot is placed on a first surface of a panel. The robot includes a body and first and second feet connected to the body via joints. A flux conducting device is positioned on an opposing second surface of the panel, opposite the robot, so that each foot of the robot is magnetically coupled to the flux conducting device. The flux conducting device is moved along the exterior surface to pull the robot along the interior surface until an obstacle on the first surface is encountered. The robot decouples one of the feet from the flux conducting device, lifts the decoupled foot above the obstacle, and moves the decoupled foot past the obstacle. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20130031764 | Robot including telescopic assemblies for positioning an end effector - A robot includes an actuator assembly, first and second parallel telescoping lead screw assemblies cantilevered from the actuator assembly, and an end effector supported by ends of the lead screw assemblies. The actuator assembly causes each lead screw assembly to independently deploy and retract. | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130152397 | AUTOMATED ASSEMBLY OF PANELIZED AIRCRAFT FUSELAGES - A facility for assembling aircraft fuselages comprises a plurality of movable cradles. Each cradle is configured to support a fuselage keel structure and assemble a panelized fuselage in a single upright build position. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130167610 | Riveting Tool and Method with Electromagnetic Bucking Bar Normalization - A riveting tool including a magnet, a magnetically attractive housing, a non-magnetically attractive bucking bar received in the housing, the bucking bar being moveable relative to the housing along a bucking bar axis, and an actuation mechanism to move the bucking bar along the bucking bar axis. | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130185925 | ROBOT FOR CLAMPING ONTO UPRIGHT FRAME MEMBERS - A system includes a frame having spaced apart first and second upright members, and a robot including an end effector and a plurality of arms. The arms extend from the end effector and clamp onto the first and second frame members to position the end effector between the first and second frame members. | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130263431 | Electromagnetic Clamping Device - An apparatus may comprise a permanent magnet unit, an end effector, and an electromagnetic clamping device. The end effector may be capable of performing workpiece operations. The electromagnetic clamping device may have an activated state and a deactivated state. | 10-10-2013 |
| 20130285399 | CLAMP ASSEMBLY INCLUDING PERMANENT MAGNETS AND COILS FOR SELECTIVELY MAGNETIZING AND DEMAGNETIZING THE MAGNETS - A clamp assembly comprises a first clamp including a plurality of magnet devices. Each magnet device includes a permanent magnet and a coil surrounding the permanent magnet. The clamp assembly further comprises a controller for pulsing the coils to selectively magnetize and demagnetize the permanent magnets. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130297070 | Robot having obstacle avoidance mechanism - A system includes a driver robot having a body with a pair of spaced apart flux conductors, and a follower robot having an articulated body with a pair of spaced apart magnets. The magnets are coupled to the flux conductors when the articulated body is in an engaged position. One of the magnets is decoupled from one of the flux conductors when the articulated body is in a flipping or stepping position. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20140096365 | MANUFACTURING METHOD AND ROBOTIC ASSEMBLY SYSTEM - A manufacturing method employing a robotic assembly system includes first and second fastener system components that are positioned by a robotic assembly on opposite sides of at least two structural pieces that are to be fastened together. The first system component includes a particular tool of a plurality of different types of tools, where the particular tool installs a particular fastener of a plurality of different types of fasteners. Each tool includes a block or base of magnetic material with a passageway opening for the fastener associated with the tool passing through the base. The robotic assembly positions the tool against one side of the structural pieces to be fastened, and positions an electromagnet assembly on the opposite side of the structural pieces. Activating the electromagnet assembly clamps the structural pieces together. With the fastener positioned in a hole through the structural pieces, the tool is activated to install the fastener between the structural pieces. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140115860 | MULTIFUNCTION LEGS FOR AUTONOMOUS CRAWLING ASSEMBLY EQUIPMENT - An automated motorized device may be configured to move on a structure for use in assembling operations thereon. The automated motorized device may comprise a plurality of multifunction movement components, which may be attached to one or more movement assemblies. Functions of each multifunction movement component may comprise adhering and moving. The adhering function may be performed using sealing element, which may be used to create seal between corresponding multifunction movement component and structure. The moving function may be performed using a rolling element, which may be configured to allow rolling on the structure. In some instances, one or more of the multifunction movement components may be configured to also provide floating function, which may be performed, e.g., mechanically or pneumatically. In some instances, three non-floating multifunction movement components may be configured to form a triangle, to enable maintaining contact with the structure, including when traversing compound surfaces. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140196290 | Electromagnetic Crawler Assembly System - A method and apparatus for performing operations on a workpiece. A first frame in a frame system may be held on the workpiece by applying a vacuum to the first frame. A second frame in the frame system may be detached from the workpiece by applying a pressure to the second frame. The second frame may be moved to a location on the workpiece. The second frame may be attached to the workpiece by applying the vacuum to the second frame. An operation may be performed on the workpiece. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140234011 | Fluid Application Device - A method and apparatus for applying a viscous fluid onto a surface. An applicator associated with an extension member may be positioned over the surface using a robotic operator. The extension member may be configured to maintain a selected distance between the applicator and a fluid source for the viscous fluid. The viscous fluid may be dispensed from the fluid source to the applicator. The viscous fluid may be applied onto the surface using the applicator. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140360003 | ELECTROMAGNETIC CLAMPING METHOD - An apparatus may comprise a permanent magnet unit, an end effector, and an electromagnetic clamping device. The end effector may be capable of performing workpiece operations. The electromagnetic clamping device may have an activated state and a deactivated state. | 12-11-2014 |
| 20150035632 | Clamp Assembly including Permanent Magnets and Coils for Selectively Magnetizing and Demagnetizing the Magnets - A clamp assembly comprises a first clamp including a plurality of magnet devices. Each magnet device includes a permanent magnet and a coil surrounding the permanent magnet. The clamp assembly further comprises a controller for pulsing the coils to selectively magnetize and demagnetize the permanent magnets. | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150074963 | MANUFACTURING METHOD AND ROBOTIC ASSEMBLY SYSTEM - A manufacturing method employing a robotic assembly system includes first and second fastener system components that are positioned by a robotic assembly on opposite sides of at least two structural pieces that are to be fastened together. The first system component includes a particular tool of a plurality of different types of tools, where the particular tool installs a particular fastener of a plurality of different types of fasteners. Each tool includes a block or base of magnetic material with a passageway opening for the fastener associated with the tool passing through the base. The robotic assembly positions the tool against one side of the structural pieces to be fastened, and positions an electromagnet assembly on the opposite side of the structural pieces. Activating the electromagnet assembly clamps the structural pieces together. With the fastener positioned in a hole through the structural pieces, the tool is activated to install the fastener between the structural pieces. | 03-19-2015 |
