IP Library Granted Patent US 11,344,942
Granted Patent B2
US 11,344,942 · App. 16/419,190 · Granted May 31, 2022

Actuator-based compensation for deformation of a mandrel

Inventors: Nicklaus Cummings Kimball (Mesa, AZ); Michael John McNulty (Scottsdale, AZ); Robert Loftus (Gilbert, AZ)
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
B21D22/16B29C70/32B29L2031/3076
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,344,942
App. No.
16/419,190
Granted
May 31, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system to manufacture an object includes a headstock, a tailstock, and a mandrel having a first end coupled to the headstock and a second end coupled to the tailstock. The system also includes an actuator coupled to one or more of the headstock, the tailstock, or the mandrel, the actuator operable to apply a force to the one or more of the headstock, the tailstock, or the mandrel, to oppose deformation of the mandrel.

Claims (31)

1. A system to manufacture an object, the system comprising:

a headstock;

a tailstock;

a mandrel having a first end coupled to the headstock and a second end coupled to the tailstock;

one or more processors configured to detect a deformation of the mandrel; and

an actuator coupled to one or more of the headstock, the tailstock, or the mandrel, the actuator operable to apply a force to the one or more of the headstock, the tailstock, or the mandrel, to oppose the detected deformation of the mandrel.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the force has a component that opposes a deformation force that includes a force due to gravity.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the force has a component that opposes a deformation force that includes a force due to contact with a fiber placement head.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is coupled to the headstock and is operable to change an orientation of the headstock.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is coupled to the tailstock and is operable to change an orientation of the tailstock.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is coupled to the mandrel and is operable to apply one or more of a tensional force or a compressional force on the mandrel.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the actuator is further operable to apply one or more of a second tensional force or a second compressional force on the mandrel.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mandrel includes deformation sensors configured to detect deformation of the mandrel.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are coupled to the actuator and configured to control the actuator based on rotation of the mandrel and detected deformation.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the object corresponds to an aircraft part or a spacecraft part.

11. A device comprising:

a mandrel;

a sensor configured to detect deformation of the mandrel; and

an actuator at least partially inside the mandrel and coupled to multiple attachment points of the mandrel to enable the actuator to apply a force to one or more of the attachment points to oppose the detected deformation of the mandrel.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the force includes a compressional force.

13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the force includes a tensional force.

14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the deformation sensor is coupled to the mandrel.

15. A method for manufacturing an object, the method comprising:

using a processor to perform operations including:

detecting a deformation of a mandrel; and s

ending a command to adjust an actuator to apply a force to one or more of a headstock, a tailstock, or the mandrel, to oppose deformation of the mandrel.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising: receiving a sensor input from one or more deformation sensor of the mandrel; and processing the sensor input to detect the deformation.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the command causes the actuator to change an orientation of one or more of the headstock or the tailstock.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the command causes the actuator to apply one or more of a tensional force or a compressional force on the mandrel.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising controlling the actuator based on rotation of the mandrel and detected deformation of the mandrel.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the force has a first component that opposes a gravity component of a deformation force and has a second component that opposes a fiber placement head component of the deformation force.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2019
From: KIMBALL, NICKLAUS CUMMINGS; MCNULTY, MICHAEL JOHN; LOFTUS, ROBERT
To: THE BOEING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 049252/0135 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200368803A1 · Nov 26, 2020