公开(公告)号：US20250079785A1

公开(公告)日：2025-03-06

申请号：US18460968

申请日：2023-09-05

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Shawn David Mohlman ,  Lars Eric Blacken ,  Bradley J. Mitchell ,  Jeffrey Alan McCaskey ,  Aldo Mario Barletta ,  Elle Suzanne Stapleton ,  Darren Chan ,  Joel Douglas Johnson ,  Joshua Lampkins ,  Wyatt Mcallister

IPC: H01R43/20 ,  B25J9/16

Abstract: In an example, a method for assembly of a modular cable connector includes, at an end effector of a robotic insertion system, holding a cable insert module for insertion into a module slot of a module retainer. Two or more images are captured of the module retainer. Image processing is performed to identify a segmented image region corresponding to the module retainer and a virtual plane parallel to a face of the module retainer. The end effector is moved to an alignment pose determined based, at least in part, on the segmented image region and the virtual plane. The end effector is moved from the alignment pose toward an insertion pose. Upon insertion of the cable insert module into the module slot of the module retainer, the cable insert module is released from the end effector.

公开(公告)号：US20250079050A1

公开(公告)日：2025-03-06

申请号：US18241756

申请日：2023-09-01

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Grace L. Duncan ,  Bradley J. Mitchell ,  Scott M. Beute ,  Mary Fundenberger ,  David J. TerHaar ,  Kevin M. Barrick ,  Christopher T. Cudney ,  Matt Michmerhuizen

IPC: H01B13/18 ,  H01B13/00

Abstract: An automated apparatus for installing a sleeve on a cable includes a split funnel assembly, a cable feeding mechanism, a robot comprising a robot tool mounting flange and a plurality of robot motors, a sleeve gripper mounted to the robot tool mounting flange, a plurality of heaters, and a computer configured to output commands in accordance with a predetermined computer program. The split funnel assembly includes an actuator and a split funnel comprising a pair of funnel halves which are able to open and close in response to activation of the actuator. Each funnel half comprises a cable guide channel and a funnel extension. While the split funnel is in the funnel closed state, the funnel extensions form a seat for the sleeve and the cable guide channels form a repeatable path for the cable to follow through the funnel. The apparatus further includes a cable centering gripper, a cable clamp assembly, a slug puller assembly, and a ground lead management system.

公开(公告)号：US20240286864A1

公开(公告)日：2024-08-29

申请号：US18115477

申请日：2023-02-28

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Grace L. Duncan ,  Bradley J. Mitchell ,  Scott M. Beute ,  Mary Fundenberger ,  David J. TerHaar

IPC: B65H49/32 ,  B65H51/10 ,  B65H51/14 ,  B65H51/32

CPC classification number: B65H49/324 ,  B65H51/105 ,  B65H51/14 ,  B65H51/32 ,  B65H2403/40 ,  B65H2404/222 ,  B65H2404/261

Abstract: A system for processing a cable end of a cable. The system includes: a pallet delivery system; a cable processing module; a pallet supported by the pallet delivery system; an on-pallet dual-belt cable feed mechanism configured for linear feeding of the cable end into the cable processing module; and an off-pallet electric motor operatively coupled for driving circulation of a pair of belts of the dual-belt cable feed mechanism. The cable processing module includes cable processing equipment configured to perform an operation on the cable end and a computer. The computer is configured to: (a) cause the dual belts to circulate in respective cable pushing directions 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 dual belts to circulate in respective cable pulling directions to cause the specified length of cable to be withdrawn from the cable processing equipment.

公开(公告)号：US11662713B2

公开(公告)日：2023-05-30

申请号：US16840761

申请日：2020-04-06

Applicant: The Boeing Company

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

IPC: B25J9/16 ,  H01R43/20 ,  G05B19/418 ,  H01R107/00

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

Abstract: An automated wire insertion machine for inserting wires into grommet cavity locations of an electrical connector includes a controllable wire insertion robot and a processor to generate pre-generated plug maps based upon an original plug map of the grommet cavity locations and to control the wire insertion robot based upon one pre-generated plug map to insert the wires into the grommet cavity locations. The pre-generated plug maps are generated by defining a range of potential error of the grommet cavity locations that includes at least one of a potential rotational error and a potential translational error, defining an acceptable tolerance of the grommet cavity locations that includes at least one of an acceptable rotational tolerance and an acceptable translational tolerance, and calculating offset values of the grommet cavity locations based on the range of potential error and the acceptable tolerance, thereby generating the plurality of pre-generated plug maps.

公开(公告)号：US11332339B2

公开(公告)日：2022-05-17

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: H01F7/06 ,  B65H59/10 ,  H01R43/048 ,  H02G1/12 ,  H01R43/28 ,  B65H51/005 ,  H01R43/20 ,  H02G1/06 ,  H01R43/052 ,  H02G3/04

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：US20190151995A1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-23

申请号：US16239146

申请日：2019-01-03

Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY

Inventor： Nick S. Evans ,  Bradley J. Mitchell ,  Mark Blumenkrantz

IPC: B23K26/364 ,  B23K26/38 ,  B23K26/08 ,  B23K26/12 ,  B23K26/06

Abstract: A wire guide and a laser wire-processing device that includes a wire guide are provided. The laser wire-processing device includes a housing and an aperture in a side of the housing, wherein the aperture defines a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the aperture. The laser wire-processing device also includes a backstop arranged in the housing and aligned with the longitudinal axis, the backstop defining a wire-contact surface in a facing relationship with the aperture. The laser wire-processing device also includes a wire guide arranged in the housing to manipulate a wire inserted through the aperture into a desired position relative to the longitudinal axis between the aperture and the backstop. The laser wire-processing device also includes a laser operable to direct a laser beam toward an insulation layer of the wire. The wire guide could be a tube arranged in the device or a backstop guide.

公开(公告)号：US10109974B2

公开(公告)日：2018-10-23

申请号：US15010525

申请日：2016-01-29

Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY

Inventor： Eerik J. Helmick ,  Bradley J. Mitchell

IPC: H01R43/20 ,  H01R43/28 ,  H01R33/90 ,  H01R39/64 ,  H01L41/053

Abstract: A wire insertion system includes a fixture, a first vibrating element connected to the fixture, and a gripper adapted to interface with the fixture and to support a plurality of wires, in which the gripper includes a body, at least one gripping member coupled to the body, and a second vibrating element connected to the gripper. The wire insertion system further includes a sensor coupled to the fixture, and a controller coupled to the sensor and in communication with the first vibrating element, the second vibrating element, and the gripper, and configured to vibrate the first vibrating element and the second vibrating element using signals from the sensor.

公开(公告)号：US20170087816A1

公开(公告)日：2017-03-30

申请号：US15377782

申请日：2016-12-13

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Ty A. Larsen ,  Emma Romig ,  Bradley J. Mitchell

IPC: B32B38/00 ,  B32B37/06 ,  B32B38/04

CPC classification number: B32B38/0004 ,  B22F7/08 ,  B29C64/141 ,  B32B37/06 ,  B32B38/04 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  F28D20/02 ,  F28F1/10 ,  F28F3/02 ,  F28F2275/02 ,  Y02E60/145

Abstract: A method and system for fabricating a part includes sectionalizing a computer-generated representation of a part into strata having an order, forming layers corresponding to the strata from sheet material, stacking at least two of the layers in the order, and joining the layers together. The method and system are suitable for producing a phase-change material container for a thermal energy harvesting device, for example.

公开(公告)号：US20160377555A1

公开(公告)日：2016-12-29

申请号：US14750447

申请日：2015-06-25

Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY

Inventor： Gary Alan Ray ,  Bentley Edwin Northon ,  Bradley J. Mitchell ,  James Ridgeway Gillis

IPC: G01N21/952 ,  H01R43/05 ,  G01N21/88

CPC classification number: G01N21/952 ,  G01N21/8806 ,  G01N2021/8848 ,  H01R43/05

Abstract: A wire inspection system is provided. The wire inspection system includes a mirror assembly including an odd number of sides arranged to form a pyramid structure configured to surround a wire segment, wherein a plurality of the sides include a mirror, a light source configured to illuminate the wire segment, and at least one camera configured to acquire a plurality of images of the wire segment that are reflected by the plurality of mirrors, wherein each image of the plurality of images shows a different side of the wire segment.

Abstract translation: 提供线检测系统。 线检查系统包括反射镜组件，其包括奇数个侧面，其被布置成形成构造成围绕线段的金字塔结构，其中多个侧面包括反射镜，被配置为照亮线段的光源，并且至少 一个摄像机被配置为获取由多个反射镜反射的线段的多个图像，其中多个图像中的每个图像示出了线段的不同侧。

公开(公告)号：US20140320302A1

公开(公告)日：2014-10-30

申请号：US14328325

申请日：2014-07-10

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Brian J. Tillotson ,  Bradley J. Mitchell ,  Peter E. Herley ,  Brenda K. Carlson ,  Kevin Y. Ung ,  Tamaira E. Ross ,  Steven C. Venema ,  James T. Farricker ,  Daniel A. Hendricks ,  Richard R. Rocks ,  Charles B. Spinelli ,  David B. Blackwell

IPC: G08C17/02

CPC classification number: H04Q9/14 ,  F16B31/02 ,  F16B37/14 ,  G08C17/02 ,  H04Q9/00 ,  H04Q2209/40 ,  H04Q2209/50 ,  H04Q2209/886

Abstract: Data is remotely collected from a plurality of fasteners in response to a query signal wirelessly transmitted by a reader. Each of the fasteners includes a sensor for measuring a parameter related to the stress on the fastener. A device adapted to be attached to each of the fasteners receives the query signal, activates the sensor to measure the parameter and wirelessly transmits the data including the parameter to the reader.

Abstract translation: 响应于由读取器无线传送的查询信号，从多个紧固件远程收集数据。 每个紧固件包括用于测量与紧固件上的应力相关的参数的传感器。 适于附接到每个紧固件的装置接收查询信号，激活传感器以测量参数，并将包括参数的数据无线传输到读取器。