公开(公告)号：US20230191593A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-22

申请号：US18071345

申请日：2022-11-29

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： Andrew D. NORTON ,  Xin DONG ,  Dragos A. AXINTE

IPC: B25J9/06 ,  B25J18/06 ,  B25J9/14

CPC classification number: B25J9/065 ,  B25J9/142 ,  B25J18/06

Abstract: A continuum arm robot comprising: a tool, a tip section comprising a number of sections a manipulatable robotic section having multiple degrees of freedom, a stiffening section comprising a passive core with an inflatable section surrounding the passive core and a valve for allowing a fluid into the inflatable outer; and a passive section comprising a length of flexible conduit, wherein the core of the passive section and the stiffening section contain the cables for manipulating the tip section and the fluid conduit for supplying the fluid to the inflatable outer.

公开(公告)号：US20230052058A1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-16

申请号：US17882816

申请日：2022-08-08

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： Andrew D. NORTON ,  Dragos A. AXINTE ,  Matteo RUSSO ,  Xin DONG

IPC: B25J9/06 ,  B25J9/00 ,  B25J9/16 ,  B25J13/08 ,  B25J15/00 ,  B25J18/06

Abstract: A continuum arm robot system comprising at least a first continuum arm robot and a second continuum arm robot, each continuum arm robot being controlled by its own actuator pack, and each actuator pack being coupled to a single control computer, wherein at least the second continuum arm robot comprises a releasable connection mechanism to engage in gripping the first continuum arm robot in a workspace, so as to link the at least two continuum arm robots into a single redundant robotic system with at least the second continuum arm robot providing support for the first continuum arm robot.

公开(公告)号：US20190330997A1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-31

申请号：US16379942

申请日：2019-04-10

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： Andrew D. NORTON ,  Andres A. GAMEROS

IPC: F01D21/00 ,  G02B23/24 ,  G01N21/85 ,  G01N21/954

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the inspection and repair/maintenance of an item such as a gas turbine engine. Apparatus (110) is provided for connecting apertures (124,142) in an item to be inspected. The apparatus (110) comprises a tubular guide (130) with first and second ends (134,136) and a hollow interior (138) for receiving an inspection tool, and a housing fixture (120) for mounting the tool to an outer shell (126) of the item. The apparatus (110) provides an articulated joint between the tubular guide (130) and the housing fixture (120). A cooling system may also be included.

公开(公告)号：US20190054638A1

公开(公告)日：2019-02-21

申请号：US16052966

申请日：2018-08-02

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： Andrew D. NORTON ,  Dragos A. AXINTE ,  Xin DONG ,  David AIATORRE TRONCOSO

IPC: B25J18/06 ,  F01D21/00 ,  B25J9/06 ,  B25J11/00

Abstract: A hyper-redundant manipulator for insertion into an area of interest through an aperture is shown. The hyper-redundant manipulator comprises a plurality of individually-lockable sections, each of which comprise a plurality of segments having positions that are adjustable relative to each other so as to adopt a pose. A respective locking mechanism is located in each section and is configured to switch between a locked condition in which the pose of the segments in the respective section is locked, and an unlocked condition in which the pose of the segments in the respective section is not locked. A plurality of actuators common to all of the sections are provided to adjust the pose of the segments in sections with a locking mechanism in an unlocked condition.

公开(公告)号：US20190054534A1

公开(公告)日：2019-02-21

申请号：US16058189

申请日：2018-08-08

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： Andrew D. NORTON ,  Moataz M. ATTALLAH ,  Khamis E. ESSA ,  Sheng LI

IPC: B22F3/11 ,  B22F3/105 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y30/00 ,  B33Y50/02 ,  B23K26/342

Abstract: Method of forming porous structures which are permeable in two or more dimensions. The method comprises forming successive layers of material on top of one another and, for each layer, selectively fusing powdered material according to a geometry having voids to be permeable in one or more dimensions at an energy density which is sufficient to only fully fuse a portion of said material to create additional permeability.

公开(公告)号：US20240189983A1

公开(公告)日：2024-06-13

申请号：US18509662

申请日：2023-11-15

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： Liam D. HARRISON ,  Andrew D. NORTON

IPC: B25J9/06 ,  B25J9/10 ,  B25J9/12 ,  B25J19/00

CPC classification number: B25J9/065 ,  B25J9/102 ,  B25J9/12 ,  B25J19/0025

Abstract: A section of a continuum arm robot including a pair of pivot points at a first and second end of the joint, the section further having a first and second connecting rod connected to the section and joining at the centre of the section, the connecting rods has a plurality of gear teeth at the peripheral ends of the connecting rod that intermesh at a central point on the section.

公开(公告)号：US20240051049A1

公开(公告)日：2024-02-15

申请号：US18226972

申请日：2023-07-27

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC

Inventor： Monica M. CASTRO PALACIOS ,  Adam CLARE ,  James MURRAY ,  Alistair G. SPEIDEL ,  Alexander JACKSON-CRISP ,  Andrew D. NORTON

IPC: B23H1/04 ,  B23H7/26 ,  B23H1/10

CPC classification number: B23H1/04 ,  B23H7/26 ,  B23H1/10

Abstract: An electrical-discharge machining tool comprising a ground electrode, a moveable and activatable assistive electrode and a cutting electrode, a first conduit for supplying a dielectric and a second conduit for flushing dielectric material, wherein when used on a dielectric layer on a substrate the assistive electrode is activated and positioned substantially between the ground electrode and the cutting electrode.

公开(公告)号：US20230398634A1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-14

申请号：US18197159

申请日：2023-05-15

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： Andrew D. NORTON ,  James KELL ,  Michael A. O'KEY

IPC: B23K26/361 ,  B23K26/06 ,  B23K26/082 ,  B23K26/0622

CPC classification number: B23K26/361 ,  B23K26/0652 ,  B23K26/0643 ,  B23K26/082 ,  B23K26/0624 ,  B23K2101/001

Abstract: A laser ablation tool comprising a laser source which produces a beam heaving a beam path and an ablation head, the ablation head comprising a housing which on each side of the beam path is separated into a first and second portion, and at least a first Risley prism and a second Risley prism connected to the first and second portions of the housing the first and second Risley prisms being connected to a rotation mechanism, so that the two Risley prisms can be moved relative to each other and the housing so as to deflect the beam.

公开(公告)号：US20230191630A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-22

申请号：US17992349

申请日：2022-11-22

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： Andrew D. NORTON ,  Matteo RUSSO ,  Xin DONG

IPC: B25J19/00 ,  B25J18/00

CPC classification number: B25J19/0004 ,  B25J18/00

Abstract: A locking system for a continuum arm robot system, the robot system includes: a continuum arm robot having a manipulatable tip, a passive robot section through which controls for the manipulatable tip, and at least one ferromagnetic collar, and at least one external controllable electromagnetic device which can be activated so that the ferromagnetic section on the continuum arm robot is attracted to the electromagnetic device.

公开(公告)号：US20230191629A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-22

申请号：US17992262

申请日：2022-11-22

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC

Inventor： Andrew D. NORTON ,  Matteo RUSSO ,  Xin DONG

IPC: B25J17/00 ,  B25J18/06 ,  B25J9/10

CPC classification number: B25J17/00 ,  B25J18/06 ,  B25J9/1075

Abstract: A rigid link for a flexible robot, the rigid link including a rigid link body having a hollow core, the rigid link with at least two arms having proximal and distal ends, the arms are connected to the rigid link body, and wherein the arms being deployable between a closed configuration in which the proximal and distal ends of the arms are positioned proximate to the rigid link body and open configuration in which the arms are moved so that the distal ends of the arms are positioned away from the body of the rigid link.