Adjustable interior mockup

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11014690-B2
Application number	US-201816048947-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2018
Priority date	Oct 8, 2014
Publication date	May 25, 2021
Grant date	May 25, 2021

Abstract

A system and method for simulating a structure is disclosed. An adjustable interior mockup for simulating a structure has a base with a first elongated side and a second elongated side, the first elongated side being nonadjacent the second elongated side; and an adjustable frame secured to the base. The adjustable frame includes a plurality of girder members secured along the first and second elongated sides to form an arc; a plurality of brackets; a plurality of arms having a latch attached to one end; and a sheet of fabric. The girders are securely fastened along the first elongated side of the base at predetermined intervals; the brackets are secured to the girders; the arms are received by the brackets and adjustably anchored to the girders via a fastener; and the latches engage the sheet of fabric, thus pulling the fabric into a shape that resembles the structure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An automated adjustable interior mockup for simulating a three-dimensional structure, comprising:
an adjustable frame adapted for supporting a flexible panel of elastic fabric material via a plurality of arms, such that the flexible panel forms an interior surface of a mockup configured to simulate a three-dimensional structure;
wherein each of the plurality of arms comprises:
an inner end having either:
a) a latch adapted for grasping the flexible panel of elastic fabric material; or
b) a shaped end adapted for pressing the flexible panel of elastic fabric material;

a plurality of motors mounted onto the adjustable frame, each of the plurality of motors adapted to translate a respective one of the plurality of arms inwardly or outwardly;
a controller having a non-transitory memory for storing software and a processor for executing instructions of the software, the controller being communicatively coupled with each of the plurality of motors, wherein the software includes instructions for automatically translating each of the plurality of arms outwardly or inwardly to a predetermined position, thereby adjusting an interior configuration of the mockup;
wherein when arm of the plurality of arms having the latch is translated outwardly, the flexible panel is pulled via the arm's respective latch, thereby manipulating the interior shape of the mockup; and
wherein when arm of the plurality of arms having the shaped end is translated inwardly, the flexible panel is pressed to form a shape according to the shaped end of the respective arm, thereby manipulating the interior shape of the mockup.

2. The automated adjustable interior mockup of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable frame includes a plurality of girders for supporting the plurality of motors, and a plurality of struts for interconnecting the plurality of girders.

3. The automated adjustable interior mockup of claim 2 , wherein the adjustable frame includes one or more modules comprising a subset of the plurality of girders, wherein the controller provides coordinated control of the plurality of motors within each module.

4. The automated adjustable interior mockup of claim 1 , each of the plurality of motors having a gear adapted to mesh with a series of repetitive grooves in each respective arm, thereby translating the arm as the motor turns the gear.

5. The automated adjustable interior mockup of claim 1 , a microswitch adapted to determine a maximum position value of an arm to prevent a corresponding motor from overshooting the maximum position value.

6. The automated adjustable interior mockup of claim 5 , wherein the controller determines a current position of each of the plurality of arms based on a respective maximum position value.

7. The automated adjustable interior mockup of claim 1 , wherein the shaped end is configured to be pressed into an outside surface of the flexible panel to form interior protrusions in the flexible panel that simulate a portion of an aircraft interior design.

8. The automated adjustable interior mockup of claim 1 , further comprising a rod sewn into the flexible panel of elastic fabric material, wherein the rod is configured to be grasped by the latch of an arm of the plurality of arms, wherein the rod forms a physical feature in the interior surface of the mockup that is adjustable outwardly or inwardly via at least one of the plurality of motors.

9. An automated method for simulating a three-dimensional structure using an adjustable interior mockup, comprising:
providing an adjustable frame adapted for supporting a flexible panel of elastic fabric material via a plurality of arms;
providing a plurality of latches, each of the plurality of latches mechanically coupled to a first end of one of the plurality of arms;
grasping, with the plurality of latches, the flexible panel such that the flexible panel forms an interior surface of the mockup;
translating the plurality of arms, using a respective plurality of motors, to respective first positions, each of the plurality of motors being mounted onto the adjustable frame, thereby forming a first interior configuration of the mockup; and
automatically adjusting the interior configuration of the mockup using a controller, the controller having a non-transitory memory for storing software and a processor for executing instructions of the software, the controller being communicatively coupled with each of the plurality of motors, wherein the software includes instructions for automatically translating each of the plurality of arms to a second position, thereby readily forming a second interior configuration of the mockup.

10. The automated method of claim 9 , further comprising coordinating, using the controller, translation of the plurality of arms via the plurality of motors based on one or more modules within the adjustable frame.

11. The automated method of claim 9 , further comprising determining, using the controller, a maximum position value of an arm using a microswitch to prevent a corresponding motor from overshooting the maximum position value.

12. The automated method of claim 11 , wherein determining, using the controller, a current position of each of the plurality of arms is based on a respective maximum position value.

13. The automated method of claim 9 , translating a shaped end attached to an inside end of at least one of the plurality of arms via a respective motor, thereby pressing the shaped end into an outside surface of the flexible panel for forming interior protrusions in the flexible panel that simulate a portion of an aircraft interior design.

14. The automated method of claim 9 , further comprising providing a computer-aided design (CAD) model of the adjustable interior mockup, and automatically adjusting the interior configuration of the mockup based on the computer-aided design (CAD) model.

15. An automated adjustable interior mockup for simulating a three-dimensional structure, comprising: an adjustable frame adapted for supporting a flexible panel of elastic fabric material via a plurality of arms, such that the flexible panel forms an interior surface of a mockup configured to simulate a three-dimensional structure; wherein each of the plurality of arms comprises an inner end having either a latch adapted for grasping the flexible panel or a shaped end adapted for pressing the flexible panel; a plurality of motors mounted onto the adjustable frame, each of the plurality of motors adapted to translate a respective one of the plurality of arms inwardly or outwardly for pushing or pulling the flexible panel, respectively; wherein when an arm of the plurality of arms having the latch is translated outwardly, the flexible panel is pulled via the arm's respectively latch, thereby manipulating the interior surface of the mockup; and wherein when an arm of the plurality of the mockup; a controller having a non-transitory memory for storing software and a processor for executing instructions of the software, the controller being communicatively coupled with each of the plurality of motors, wherein the software includes instructions for translating each of the plurality of arms outwardly or inwardly to a predetermined position, thereby readily adjusting an interior configuration of the mockup; and a computer model of a three-dimensional structure to be simulated, wherein the instructions are used to automatically translate each of the plurality of arms outwardly or inwardly according to the computer model.

Assignees

• Textron Aviation Inc
• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Davis David Wayne
• Thisius Todd Alan
• Trask Chris
• Pinkerton Chris
• Willford Alec Charles

Classifications

• G09B25/02 Primary

  of industrial processes; of machinery · CPC title

• B64F5/10

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title

• B64F5/00 Primary

  Designing, manufacturing, assembling, cleaning, maintaining or repairing aircraft, not otherwise provided for; Handling, transporting, testing or inspecting aircraft components, not otherwise provided for · CPC title