公开(公告)号：US11919647B2

公开(公告)日：2024-03-05

申请号：US16875704

申请日：2020-05-15

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Andrew David Clark ,  Thamir Rauf Al-Alusi ,  David William Kirkbride ,  Frederick T. Calkins ,  Bradley J. Mitchell

IPC: B64D13/02 ,  B60T5/00 ,  B64C25/00 ,  B64C25/42 ,  F16D65/78

CPC classification number: B64D13/02 ,  B60T5/00 ,  B64C25/001 ,  B64C25/42 ,  F16D65/78

Abstract: Thermal control system for aircraft main landing gear wheel wells and related methods are disclosed. An example thermal control system includes a conduit defining a fluid passageway between an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the conduit positioned in fluid communication with a landing gear wheel well and the outlet of the conduit positioned in fluid communication with the atmosphere. The conduit generates a pressure differential through the fluid passageway between the inlet and the outlet to exhaust heat from the landing gear wheel well to the atmosphere.

公开(公告)号：US11329460B2

公开(公告)日：2022-05-10

申请号：US16195482

申请日：2018-11-19

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Grace L. Duncan ,  Bradley J. Mitchell ,  Nick S. Evans ,  Damien O. Martin

IPC: H02G1/12 ,  H01B13/06 ,  H01R43/28 ,  H01R4/72 ,  H01R43/02

Abstract: A shield trim is performed by tearing bunched shield strands circumferentially along a circular edge. The apparatus includes a pair of aligned metal plates that have been drilled through multiple times such that holes of varying diameters pass through both plates. A cable gripper on the entry side of the device clamps the cable in place. A shield gripper on the rear side of the device closes over the exposed shielding of the cable, and the two plates are pushed together. The shield gripper travels with the rear plate, pushing the shield over the wires and causing the shield to bunch between the two plates. With the two plates pushed together, both grippers open and the cable is pulled free from the device. This pull forces a stress concentration which tears the shield strands across the sharp edge of the hole, producing a uniformly trimmed shield.

公开(公告)号：US20210383950A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-09

申请号：US17458063

申请日：2021-08-26

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Grace L. Duncan ,  Lars E. Blacken ,  Keith M. Cutler ,  Bradley J. Mitchell

IPC: H01B13/06 ,  B25J11/00 ,  B25J15/00 ,  H01B13/00

Abstract: A method utilizes a funnel system and robotic end effector grippers to feed an unjacketed portion of a shielded cable through a sleeve. The funnel is designed with one or more thin extensions (hereinafter “prongs”) on which a sleeve is placed prior to a cable entering the funnel. Preferably two or more prongs are employed, although a single prong may be used if properly configured to both guide a cable and fit between the sleeve and cable. The prongs close off the uneven surface internal to a sleeve and provide a smooth surface for the cable to slide along and through the sleeve, preventing any damage to the exposed shielding. The sleeve is picked up and held on the prongs using a robotic end effector. If the sleeve is a solder sleeve, the robotic end effector has grippers designed to make contact with the portions of the solder sleeve that are between the insulating rings and the central solder ring.

公开(公告)号：US11120928B2

公开(公告)日：2021-09-14

申请号：US16195520

申请日：2018-11-19

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Grace L. Duncan ,  Lars E. Blacken ,  Keith M. Cutler ,  Bradley J. Mitchell

IPC: B23P19/00 ,  H01B13/06 ,  B25J11/00 ,  B25J15/00 ,  H01B13/00

Abstract: A method utilizes a funnel system and robotic end effector grippers to feed an unjacketed portion of a shielded cable through a sleeve. The funnel is designed with one or more thin extensions (hereinafter “prongs”) on which a sleeve is placed prior to a cable entering the funnel. Preferably two or more prongs are employed, although a single prong may be used if properly configured to both guide a cable and fit between the sleeve and cable. The prongs close off the uneven surface internal to a sleeve and provide a smooth surface for the cable to slide along and through the sleeve, preventing any damage to the exposed shielding. The sleeve is picked up and held on the prongs using a robotic end effector. If the sleeve is a solder sleeve, the robotic end effector has grippers designed to make contact with the portions of the solder sleeve that are between the insulating rings and the central solder ring.

公开(公告)号：US10810728B2

公开(公告)日：2020-10-20

申请号：US16195421

申请日：2018-11-19

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Grace L. Duncan ,  Bradley J. Mitchell ,  Damien O. Martin

IPC: G06T7/00 ,  G06T3/40 ,  G06T7/90 ,  H01B13/22 ,  H05K9/00 ,  H01B13/00 ,  H04N5/247 ,  H01B11/10

Abstract: Semi-automated (with manual feeding) and fully automated (with automated feeding) solutions for using a vision system to evaluate shield trim quality on shielded cables. The vision system uses a multiplicity of cameras and a corresponding multiplicity of mirrors in order to achieve a 360-degree view of the cable segment to be inspected. Cables to be inspected are positioned in a repeatable location based on the strip length of the cable (where the edge of the cable jacket is located relative to the end of the cable). The processing system receives a live image feed from the camera system and then uses color and dimensional analysis of the acquired images to determine whether the shield trim meets quality control specifications or not.

公开(公告)号：US20200161810A1

公开(公告)日：2020-05-21

申请号：US16195583

申请日：2018-11-19

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Grace L. Duncan ,  Bradley J. Mitchell ,  Lars E. Blacken ,  Keith M. Cutler

IPC: H01R13/6581 ,  H01R13/6592 ,  H01R43/28 ,  H01R43/052

Abstract: A system for processing an end of a cable. The system includes: a cable delivery system; a cable processing module; a pallet supported by the cable delivery system; a drive wheel rotatably coupled to the pallet; a motor operatively coupled for driving rotation of the drive wheel; and an idler wheel rotatably coupled to the pallet and forming a nip with the drive wheel. The cable processing module includes cable processing equipment configured to perform an operation on an end of a cable and a computer system. The computer system is configured to: (a) cause the drive wheel to rotate in a cable pushing direction to cause a specified length of cable to be inserted into the cable processing equipment; (b) activate the cable processing equipment to perform an operation on the inserted end of the cable; and (c) cause the drive wheel to rotate in a cable pulling direction to cause the specified length of cable to be removed from the cable processing equipment.

公开(公告)号：US20200048028A1

公开(公告)日：2020-02-13

申请号：US16655053

申请日：2019-10-16

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Eerik J. Helmick ,  Bradley J. Mitchell ,  Nick S. Evans ,  Damien O. Martin ,  Aphea Ann Thornton

IPC: B65H59/10 ,  B65H51/005 ,  H01R43/048 ,  H02G1/12 ,  H01R43/28

Abstract: A method of reducing entanglement of wires includes receiving, at a tray, one or more first wires of a first wire group from a wire feed system of a wire processing machine. In addition, the method includes receiving, at the tray, one or more second wires of a second wire group from the wire feed system after receiving the first wire group at the tray. The method further includes physically separating, using a separator device associated with the tray, at least a portion of the first wire group from the second wire group. The method also includes moving the second wire group relative to the first wire group, reducing movement of at least a portion of the first wire group relative to a tray surface during movement of the second wire group relative to the first wire group.

公开(公告)号：US20200048027A1

公开(公告)日：2020-02-13

申请号：US16655019

申请日：2019-10-16

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Bradley J. Mitchell ,  Nick S. Evans ,  Damien O. Martin ,  Aphea Ann Thornton ,  Eerik J. Helmick

IPC: B65H59/10 ,  H01R43/28 ,  H02G1/14 ,  B65H51/005

Abstract: A method of reducing entanglement of wires includes receiving from a wire feed system of a wire processing machine a first wire on a tray surface providing a wire-to-surface coefficient of friction between the tray surface and the first wire. In addition, the method includes receiving from the wire feed system a second wire at least partially on top of the first wire, the wire-to-surface coefficient of friction being higher than a wire-to-wire coefficient of friction between the first wire and the second wire. The method also includes moving the second wire relative to the first wire, and reducing movement of at least a portion of the first wire relative to the tray surface during movement of the second wire relative to the first wire due to the wire-to-surface coefficient of friction being higher than the wire-to-wire coefficient of friction.

公开(公告)号：US20180267498A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-20

申请号：US15460141

申请日：2017-03-15

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Eerik J. Helmick ,  Bradley J. Mitchell

IPC: G05B19/19

CPC classification number: G05B19/19 ,  G05B2219/37582 ,  H01R43/0228 ,  H01R43/05 ,  H01R43/28

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for wire processing. In certain examples, a wire processing system is disclosed. The wire processing system includes an electrical wire and solder sleeve joining system. The electrical wire and solder sleeve joining system includes an end effector configured to hold a solder sleeve and a split funnel configured to guide insertion of wire into the solder sleeve, allow movement of the solder sleeve through the split funnel in a second position, and prevent movement of the solder sleeve through the split funnel in a first position. The end effector can additionally be configured to remove a slug from the wire.

公开(公告)号：US10073811B2

公开(公告)日：2018-09-11

申请号：US14989900

申请日：2016-01-07

Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY

Inventor： Kevin L. Swearingen ,  Bradley J. Mitchell ,  Jeanne C. Maggiore ,  Stephen Gregory Dame ,  David A. Followell ,  Dane Joe Grgas

IPC: G01M17/00 ,  G06F17/00 ,  G01M17/04 ,  G07C5/00 ,  B64D45/00 ,  B64F5/60 ,  B64C25/50

CPC classification number: G06F17/00 ,  B64C25/505 ,  B64D45/00 ,  B64D2045/0085 ,  B64F5/60 ,  G01M17/04 ,  G07C5/008

Abstract: A method for health monitoring of a damper associated with a landing gear is described which includes receiving sensor data from a pressure transducer and an accelerometer and optionally a thermal sensor operably mounted on or near the damper, a computer system, and applying, using the computer system, a diagnostic algorithm to the sensor data to induce and predict the health of the damper.