Apparatus and method for decoupling an element that is bonded to a surface by adhesive

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11260647-B2
Application number	US-202016946799-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 7, 2020
Priority date	Jul 7, 2020
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for decoupling an element that is bonded to a surface by an adhesive are provided. In one example, the apparatus includes a body, a first spool that is rotationally coupled to the body, and a cable having a first cable end portion that is coupled to the first spool, a second cable end portion that is coupled to the body, and a cable intermediate portion that is disposed between the first cable end portion and the second cable end portion. The apparatus is configured to be positioned adjacent to at least one of the element and the surface with the cable intermediate portion disposed adjacent to the adhesive such that when the first spool is rotated, the cable wraps about the first spool, thereby pulling the cable intermediate portion through the adhesive.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for decoupling an element that is bonded to a surface by adhesive, the apparatus comprising:
a body;
an attachment member that is coupled to the body and that is positionally fixed relative to the body, wherein the attachment member is configured to removably couple to at least one of the element and the surface;
a first spool that is rotationally coupled to the body; and
a cable having a first cable end portion that is coupled to the first spool, a second cable end portion that is coupled to the body, and a cable intermediate portion that is disposed between the first cable end portion and the second cable end portion, wherein the apparatus is configured to be positioned adjacent to at least one of the element and the surface with the cable intermediate portion disposed adjacent to the adhesive such that when the first spool is rotated, the cable wraps about the first spool, thereby pulling the cable intermediate portion through the adhesive, and wherein the apparatus further includes a first pulley that is coupled to the body adjacent to the first spool and that is configured to position the cable intermediate portion substantially level with the adhesive and to guide the cable to the first spool as the first spool rotates.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further includes a first gear that is coupled to the first spool to rotate the first spool as the first gear rotates.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the apparatus further includes a second gear that meshes with the first gear to rotate the first gear.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second gear has a threaded portion that meshes with the first gear and a receiver portion that is configured to receive a driver to rotate the second gear.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first gear and the second gear are cooperatively configured as a worm drive.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a first body side portion and a second body side portion that is disposed opposite the first body side portion, and wherein the first spool is rotationally coupled to the first body side portion, the first pulley is coupled to the first body side portion, and the second cable end portion is coupled to the second body side portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the apparatus further includes a second spool that is coupled to the second body side portion, and wherein the second cable end portion is coupled to the second spool.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second spool is fixedly coupled to the second body side portion to prevent rotation of the second spool.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the apparatus further includes a second pulley that is coupled to the second body side portion adjacent to the second spool to guide the cable to the second spool and that is cooperatively configured with the first pulley to position the cable intermediate portion substantially level with the adhesive.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first pulley and the second pulley are substantially aligned about a common axis.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the cable intermediate portion of the cable extends from the first and second pulleys generally in a first direction to wrap at least partially around the adhesive.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first pulley has a first upper pulley area and a first lower pulley area, and the second pulley has a second upper pulley area and a second lower pulley area, and wherein the cable intermediate portion of the cable extends from the first and second upper pulley areas generally in the first direction to wrap at least partially around the adhesive.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the cable is guided from the first and second lower pulley areas to the first and second spools, respectively, generally in the first direction.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first body side portion includes a first wall and the second body side portion includes a second wall that is spaced apart from the first wall.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first wall has a first surface that faces towards the first spool and the first pulley and a second surface that is disposed opposite the first surface and faces towards the second wall, and wherein the second wall has a third surface that face towards the second spool and the second pulley and a fourth surface that is disposed opposite the third surface and faces towards the first wall.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the body includes a first spacer and a second spacer that are disposed between the second and fourth surfaces of the first and second walls, respectively, and that are spaced apart from each other.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the second surface has a first track formed therein and the fourth surface has a second track formed therein, and wherein the first spacer is disposed in the first track and the second spacer is disposed in the second track.

18. A method for decoupling an element that is bonded to a surface by adhesive, the method comprising the steps of:
positioning an apparatus adjacent to at least one of the element and the surface, the apparatus comprising:
a body;
an attachment member that is coupled to the body and that is positionally fixed relative to the body, wherein the attachment member is configured to removably couple to at least one of the element and the surface;
a spool that is rotationally coupled to the body; and
a cable having a first cable end portion that is coupled to the spool, a second cable end portion that is coupled to the body, and a cable intermediate portion that is disposed between the first cable end portion and the second cable end portion;

disposing the cable intermediate portion adjacent to the adhesive; and
rotating the spool such that the cable wraps around the spool, thereby pulling the cable intermediate portion through the adhesive, and wherein the apparatus further includes a pulley that is coupled to the body adjacent to the spool and that positions the cable intermediate portion substantially level with the adhesive and guides the cable to the spool as the spool rotates.

Assignees

• Gulfstream Aerospace Corp

Inventors

• Biezenbos Kyle
• Edwards Blake
• Gay Christopher A
• Greene Jeremy
• Lee Gerald

Classifications

• F16B11/006 Primary

  by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48) · CPC title

• B65H2701/34

  electric cords or electric power cables · CPC title

• B65H54/44

  in which the package, core, or former is engaged with, or secured to, a driven member rotatable about the axis of the package · CPC title

• B32B43/006 Primary

  Delaminating · CPC title

• Y10T156/1967

  Cutting delaminating means · CPC title