Electromagnetic field shaping system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10967415-B2
Application number	US-201715602583-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2017
Priority date	May 23, 2017
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for a part forming system. The part forming system comprises a field shaper having a cavity configured to receive a workpiece and a die. The field shaper has a number of dimensions based on being inserted into a main coil. The workpiece is bent to form a part with a desired shape when an electromagnetic field from the main coil is applied to the field shaper while the field shaper is located within the main coil.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A part forming system that comprises:
a die;
a field shaper that comprises a first half and a second half configured to join together and form a cavity configured to receive and retain the die covered by a workpiece, such that each half of the field shaper respectively comprises a relief that comprises a recess from an end of each half toward a center of the field shaper; and
a main coil configured to:
generate a magnetic field;
receive the field shaper; and
bend, relative to a longitudinal axis, the workpiece to form a part that comprises a desired shape.

2. The part forming system of claim 1 further comprising:
the main coil configured to cause a compressive force on the workpiece on the die to form a stringer.

3. The part forming system of claim 1 , wherein the second half comprises a shape that receives the workpiece placed on the die when the first half and the second half are joined to define the cavity.

4. The part forming system of claim 1 , further comprising a number of dimensions of the field shaper being based on a size of the main coil.

5. The part forming system of claim 4 , wherein the number of dimensions is selected from at least one of a height of the field shaper, a length of the field shaper, a length of a forming area, and a height of the forming area.

6. The part forming system of claim 1 , wherein the die is selected from a group of dies consisting of a joggle die, an offset joggle die, and a crush joggle die.

7. The part forming system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field is an electromagnetic field that causes a magnetic pressure that forms joggle bends in the workpiece for the desired shape of the part.

8. The part forming system of claim 1 , wherein the field shaper has a cylindrical shape.

9. The part forming system of claim 1 , wherein the die is a joggle die and the part is a stringer for an aircraft.

10. The part forming system of claim 1 , wherein the part is selected from one of a stringer, a fuselage stringer, an aircraft stringer, an intercostal, a hydraulic reservoir, a cleat, a duct, a shaped frame, and a shear tie.

11. The part forming system of claim 1 , wherein the workpiece comprises at least one of a conductive material, a metal alloy, a nickel alloy, aluminum, steel, carbon steel, copper, brass, silver, iron, or titanium.

12. A part forming system configured to form joggle bends in a workpiece, such that the part forming system comprises:
a joggle die;
a field shaper that comprises a first half and a second half configured to join together and form a cavity configured to receive and retain the joggle die covered by the workpiece, such that each half of the field shaper respectively comprises a relief that comprises a recess from an end of each half toward a center of the field shaper; and
a main coil configured to receive the field shaper, such that the main coil comprises:
a number of dimensions that determine a number of dimensions of the field shaper; and
an electromagnetic field configured to form, relative to a longitudinal axis, the joggle bends in the workpiece to form a part with a desired shape.

13. The part forming system of claim 12 , wherein the second half has a shape that receives the workpiece placed on the joggle die when the first half and the second half are joined to define the cavity.

14. The part forming system of claim 12 , wherein the number of dimensions of the field shaper comprises a cross-section that comprises a shape selected from a group that comprises: a circle, a square, a pentagon, an octagon, or an icosagon is selected based on a size of the main coil.

15. The part forming system of claim 12 , wherein the joggle die is selected from a group of dies consisting of an offset joggle die and a crush joggle die.

16. A method for forming a part, the method comprising:
placing a workpiece on a die;
producing a field shaper comprising: a first half and a second half, exterior dimensions that fit within a main coil, and each half respectively comprising a relief comprising a recess from an end of each half inward toward a slot in a center of each half, via securing the first half and the second half of the field shaper together and thereby forming a cavity around a center of the field shaper;
placing the die covered by the workpiece into the cavity around the center of the field shaper; and
bending, relative to a longitudinal axis, the workpiece onto the die and into a desired shape for the part via a magnetic pressure from applying an electromagnetic field to the field shaper from the main coil located around the field shaper.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
inserting the field shaper with the workpiece in the cavity into the main coil.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the magnetic pressure is a compressive force on the workpiece that bends the workpiece into the desired shape for the part.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the magnetic pressure forms joggle bends in the workpiece to form the part.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the part is selected from one of a stringer, a fuselage stringer, an aircraft stringer, an intercostal, a hydraulic reservoir, a cleat, a duct, a shaped frame, and a shear tie.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Saha Pradip K
• Bice Mark E
• Weber Gary Robert

Classifications

• B21D53/92

  other parts for aircraft · CPC title

• B21D26/14 Primary

  applying magnetic forces · CPC title

• B21D11/18

  Joggling · CPC title