Tool having rotatable member for machining an object and sensor to sense object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10345785-B2
Application number	US-201615051844-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2016
Priority date	Mar 5, 2015
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

A tool for machining an object comprising: a first part including a rotatable member, the rotatable member being rotatable to cause rotation of a machine tool; a second part; a joint coupling the first part and the second part to enable relative movement between the first part and the second part; and a sensor to sense an object to be machined.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tool for machining an object, the tool comprising:
a first part including a rotatable member, the rotatable member being rotatable to cause rotation of a machine tool;
a second part including:
a cover having an aperture and forming a fluid flow passage having an arcuate cross-section and extending longitudinally through the cover; and
a sensor positioned within the cover and adjacent to the aperture and the fluid flow passage, the sensor being configured to sense the object to be machined; and a joint coupling the first part and the second part to enable relative movement between the first part and the second part.

2. The tool as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to provide image data and/or measurement data of the object to be machined.

3. The tool as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an energy transmission member extending between the first part and the second part and across the joint, the energy transmission member being arranged to provide energy to the rotatable member to cause rotation of the rotatable member.

4. The tool as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the energy transmission member includes a conduit to provide fluid to the rotatable member.

5. The tool as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rotatable member includes a turbine.

6. The tool as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the joint includes one or more cables coupled to the first part, the one or more cables being moveable relative to the second part to enable the first part to be moved relative to the second part.

7. The tool as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the machine tool is coupled to the rotatable member and receives torque from the rotatable member.

8. The tool as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the machine tool includes a blending tool.

9. An apparatus for controlling machining, the apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to:
receive data from the sensor of the tool as claimed in claim 1 ;
determine control of the tool using the received data; and
provide a control signal to cause control of the tool.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether relative movement between the tool and the object is required to enable machining of the object by the tool.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to determine control of the tool by:
determining whether the object has a shape that differs from a predetermined shape above a threshold level; and
determining a machining path for the tool to bring the shape of the object at least towards conformity with the predetermined shape.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to:
determine whether the object has a shape after machining that differs from the predetermined shape above the threshold level; and
determine a further machining path for the tool to bring the shape of the object further towards conformity with the predetermined shape.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to operate without user intervention.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the controller includes a first controller and a second controller, the first controller determines the control of the tool, and the second controller provides the control signal to the tool to control the apparatus.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the second controller is located in closer proximity to the tool than the first controller.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein:
the first controller is configured to:
receive data from the sensor, and
provide the data to the second controller, and

the second controller is configured to determine a machining path for the tool.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the second controller is configured to:
receive the machining path from the first controller, and
convert the machining path into control signals to control the tool.

18. A method of controlling machining, the method comprising:
receiving data from the sensor of the tool as claimed in claim 1 ;
determining control of the tool using the received data; and
providing a control signal to cause control of the tool.

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Plc

Inventors

• Kell James
• Danvers Thomas Frederick
• Nagy Adam
• Axinte Dragos Aurelian
• Raffles Mark Hugh
• Rabani Amir
• Cobos-Guzman Salvador

Classifications

• G05B2219/37205

  Compare measured, vision data with computer model, cad data · CPC title

• G05B2219/36281

  Machining parameter is technology: surface roughness, corner, contour tolerance · CPC title

• G05B19/19 Primary

  characterised by positioning or contouring control systems, e.g. to control position from one programmed point to another or to control movement along a programmed continuous path · CPC title

• B23Q17/2233

  for adjusting the tool relative to the workpiece · CPC title

• F01D5/005

  Repairing methods or devices · CPC title