Tool for applying a fluid onto a surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10086402-B2
Application number	US-201615057090-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 29, 2016
Priority date	Sep 3, 2013
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

A method and apparatus for applying a fluid onto a number of surfaces. In one illustrative example, an apparatus may comprises a base having a number of channels, a number of flexible members extending from the base, and an applicator extending from the base on a same side as the number of flexible members. A flexible member in the number of flexible members may have a fluid channel connected to at least one of the number of channels in the base to allow a fluid flowing through the number of channels to flow out of the fluid channel. The applicator may be configured to apply the fluid flowing out of the number of flexible members onto a number of surfaces.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A robotic end effector having a tool attached thereto, the tool comprising:
a rotatable base having a number of channels, wherein the base is rotatable relative to the robotic end effector;
a number of flexible members extending from the base in which a flexible member in the number of flexible members has a fluid channel connected to at least one of the number of channels in the base to allow a fluid flowing through the number of channels to flow out of the fluid channel; and
an applicator extending from the base on a same side as the number of flexible members and configured to apply the fluid flowing out of the number of flexible members onto a number of surfaces.

2. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the applicator comprises:
a plurality of bristles.

3. The end effector of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of bristles is angled relative to the base at an angle different from other bristles in the plurality of bristles.

4. The end effector of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of bristles includes:
a first set of bristles configured to apply the fluid onto a first surface in the number of surfaces;
a second set of bristles configured to apply the fluid onto a second surface in the number of surfaces; and
a third set of bristles configured to apply the fluid onto a third surface in the number of surfaces.

5. The end effector of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of bristles includes:
a first set of bristles extending to a first position located a first distance away from the base; and
a second set of bristles extending to a second position located a second distance away from the base.

6. The end effector of claim 1 further comprising:
a connector associated with the base and having a channel configured to connect the number of channels in the base to an exit of a dispensing device on a side of the base opposite the applicator.

7. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein each flexible member in the number of flexible members has an end that does not extend past the applicator.

8. The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the applicator comprises:
at least one of a number of brushes, a number of sponges, a plurality of bristles, a plurality of wires, or a plurality of filaments.

9. The end effector of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fluid sealant material having a viscosity greater than a selected threshold.

10. The end effector of claim 9 , wherein the fluid sealant flowing out of the number of flexible members is applied onto the number of surfaces by ends of the plurality of bristles.

11. The end effector of claim 10 , wherein lengths of bristles in the plurality of bristles and angles of the bristles in the plurality of bristles relative to the base are varied such that the fluid sealant is applied onto the number of surfaces by the ends of the plurality of bristles.

12. The end effector of claim 9 , wherein the fluid is configured to flow from the exit of the dispensing device, through the channel in the connector, through the number of channels in the base, and into the fluid channel of the flexible member.

13. The end effector of claim 9 , wherein the selected threshold is about 500 centipoise.

14. A robotic end effector having a rotatable tool attached thereto, the tool comprising:
a base having a number of channels, wherein the base is rotatable relative to the robotic end effector;
a number of flexible members extending from the base in which a flexible member in the number of flexible members has a fluid channel connected to at least one of the number of channels in the base to allow a fluid flowing through the number of channels to flow out of the fluid channel; and
a plurality of bristles extending from the base on a same side as the number of flexible members and configured to apply the fluid flowing out of the number of flexible members onto a number of surfaces in which lengths of bristles in the plurality of bristles and angles of the bristles in the plurality of bristles relative to the base are varied such that the fluid is applied onto the number of surfaces by ends of the plurality of bristles.

15. A method for applying a fluid onto a number of surfaces, the method comprising:
receiving the fluid within a number of fluid channels of a number of flexible members extending from a base of a tool attached to a robotic end effector, wherein the base is rotatable relative to the robotic end effector;
moving the fluid out of the number of fluid channels; and
applying the fluid onto the number of surfaces by rotating, via the robotic end effector, an applicator extending from the base on a same side as the number of flexible members.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein applying the fluid onto the number of surfaces using the applicator comprises:
applying the fluid onto the number of surfaces by rotating a plurality of bristles extending from the base on the same side as the number of flexible members.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein applying the fluid onto the number of surfaces using the plurality of bristles comprises:
applying the fluid onto the number of surfaces using ends of the plurality of bristles.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein applying the fluid onto the number of surfaces using the ends of the plurality of bristles comprises:
applying the fluid onto the number of surfaces using the ends of the plurality of bristles, wherein lengths of bristles in the plurality of bristles and angles of the bristles in the plurality of bristles relative to the base are varied such that the fluid is applied onto number of surfaces by the ends of the plurality of bristles.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein applying the fluid onto the number of surfaces using the applicator comprises:
applying the fluid onto the number of surfaces using the plurality of bristles extending from the base on the same side as the number of flexible members, wherein at least one of the plurality of bristles is angled relative to the base at an angle different from other bristles in the plurality of bristles.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein applying the fluid onto the number of surfaces using the applicator comprises:
applying the fluid onto a first surface in the number of surfaces using a first set of bristles in the plurality of bristles;
applying the fluid onto a second surface in the number of surfaces using a second set of bristles in the plurality of bristles; and
applying the fluid onto a third surface in the number of surfaces using a third set of bristles in the plurality of bristles.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
receiving the fluid within a channel in a connector associated with the base from an exit of a dispensing device.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:
receiving the fluid within the number of channels in the base from the channel in the connector in which the connector is associated with a side of the base opposite the applicator.

23. The method of claim 15 , wherein receiving the fluid within the number of fluid channels of the number of flexible members extending from the base comprises:
receiving the fluid within the number of fluid channels of the number of flexible members extending from the base in which the fluid has a viscosity greater than a selected threshold.

24. The method of claim 15 , wherein applying the fluid onto the number of surfaces using the applicator comprises:
applying the fluid onto the n

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Tomuta Raul
• Topf Richard Philip
• Davancens Angelica
• Guirguis Martin Hanna
• Trend Don David
• Sedler Ilya
• Garcia Cris Howard

Classifications

• A46B11/06

  connected to supply pipe {or to other external supply means (A46B11/0003 and A46B11/0006 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B05C1/06

  by rubbing contact, e.g. by brushes, by pads {(brushes in general A46B)} · CPC title

• A46B11/063 Primary

  by means of a supply pipe · CPC title

• A46B9/005

  where the brushing material is not made of bristles, e.g. sponge, rubber or paper · CPC title

• A46B9/025

  the bristles or the tufts being arranged in an angled position relative to each other · CPC title