公开(公告)号：US10892608B2

公开(公告)日：2021-01-12

申请号：US15926050

申请日：2018-03-20

Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY

Inventor： Nick S. Evans ,  Bradley J. Mitchell ,  Kevin Callahan

IPC: H02G1/12

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a cable including an insulating member, a shielding layer, and a conductor, the apparatus includes a frame forming a housing having an aperture configured to receive an end portion of the cable; a first gripping member disposed within the housing and being configured to grip the cable; and a second gripping member disposed within the housing and being configured to grip the cable; wherein the second gripping member is mounted within the housing so as to be movable relative to the first gripping member to effect fanning and cutting of a portion of the shielding layer.

公开(公告)号：US10759060B1

公开(公告)日：2020-09-01

申请号：US16363771

申请日：2019-03-25

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Ty A. Larsen ,  Bradley J. Mitchell

IPC: B25J15/02 ,  B25J9/12

Abstract: A bundle gripping tool employs a support ring concentric to a bundle axis and having a first open sector accessing a central aperture. A closure ring mounted on the support ring is concentric with and rotatable about the bundle axis and has a second open sector wherein rotation of the closure ring to an open position at least partially aligns the first and second open sectors exposing the central aperture. Rotation to a closed position misaligns the second open sector from the first open sector, covering the first open sector gating the central aperture. A plurality of snare cables is engaged between a first set of attachment points on the support ring and a second set of attachment points on the closure ring. The first set of attachment points and second set of attachment points are relatively positioned whereby each of said plurality of snare cables partially encircles the bundle axis in the closed position and exposes the bundle axis in the open position. An operating mechanism is configured to rotate the closure ring.

公开(公告)号：US20200161843A1

公开(公告)日：2020-05-21

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 ,  H01R43/28

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 may be passed 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 on the shield strands as they are pulled and subsequently torn across the sharp edge of the hole, producing a uniformly trimmed shield.

公开(公告)号：US20200161824A1

公开(公告)日：2020-05-21

申请号：US16195619

申请日：2018-11-19

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Grace L. Duncan ,  Bradley J. Mitchell ,  Damien O. Martin ,  Dinh X. Tran ,  Eerik J. Helmick ,  Aphea Ann Thornton ,  Nick S. Evans ,  David S. Wright ,  Lars E. Blacken ,  Keith M. Cutler

IPC: H01R43/28 ,  H01B13/00 ,  H01B13/22 ,  H02G1/12

Abstract: An automated 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：US20200161028A1

公开(公告)日：2020-05-21

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

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：US20200160504A1

公开(公告)日：2020-05-21

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 ,  H01B13/00 ,  H01B13/22 ,  H05K9/00

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：US20170369271A1

公开(公告)日：2017-12-28

申请号：US15190119

申请日：2016-06-22

Applicant: The Boeing Company

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

IPC: B65H59/10 ,  B65H51/005

CPC classification number: B65H59/10 ,  B65H51/005 ,  B65H2701/36 ,  H01R43/28 ,  H02G1/14

Abstract: A wire processing system includes a tray having at least one tray surface configured to sequentially receive a first wire and a second wire from a wire feed system of a wire processing machine. The tray surface has a surface feature configured to provide a wire-to-surface coefficient of friction between the tray surface and the first wire higher than a wire-to-wire coefficient of friction between the first wire and the second wire laying on top of the first wire. The wire-to-surface coefficient of friction reduces 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.

公开(公告)号：US20170308068A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-26

申请号：US15137556

申请日：2016-04-25

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Eerik J. Helmick ,  Bradley J. Mitchell ,  Nick S. Evans

IPC: G05B19/418 ,  H01R43/20 ,  H01R107/00

CPC classification number: G05B19/41805 ,  B25J9/1687 ,  G05B2219/39183 ,  G05B2219/45033 ,  G05B2219/45064 ,  H01R43/20 ,  H01R2107/00 ,  Y10S901/02

Abstract: A method 500 of operating an automated machine 100 is provided for inserting wires into grommet cavity locations 110 of an electrical connector 112 to compensate for manufacturing tolerances associated with the electrical connector. The method comprises inserting wires into grommet cavity locations of the electrical connector based upon a plug map 300 having offset values to compensate for manufacturing tolerances associated with the electrical connector. The method may further comprise selecting from a plurality of pre-generated plug maps having offset values the closest matching pre-generated plug map for the electrical connector based upon offset values associated with each of the plurality of pre-generated plugs maps. The selected pre-generated plug map having offset values corresponds to the plug map used to insert wires into grommet cavity locations of the electrical connector.

公开(公告)号：US09666781B2

公开(公告)日：2017-05-30

申请号：US13970416

申请日：2013-08-19

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Bradley J. Mitchell ,  Trevor M. Laib ,  Sridhar K. Iya ,  George M. Roe

IPC: B64C3/14 ,  B64D41/00 ,  H01L35/28 ,  B64D13/00 ,  B64D13/06

CPC classification number: H01L35/28 ,  B64D13/00 ,  B64D41/00 ,  B64D2013/0618 ,  Y02T50/44 ,  Y02T50/53 ,  Y02T50/56

Abstract: A thermal energy harvester and power conversion system employs a bleed air duct containing the flow of high temperature air from an engine. A lower temperature air source is included with an energy conversion device having a hot interface operably engaged to the bleed air duct and a cold interface operably engaged to the lower temperature air source. The energy conversion device generates electrical power from a thermal gradient between the bleed air duct and the lower temperature air source and the electrical power is routed to a power feeder.

公开(公告)号：US20160117869A1

公开(公告)日：2016-04-28

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: G07C5/00 ,  B64D45/00 ,  B64F5/00 ,  G01M17/04

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.