Tube fixture and system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11400553-B2
Application number	US-201715844287-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2017
Priority date	Dec 15, 2017
Publication date	Aug 2, 2022
Grant date	Aug 2, 2022

Abstract

A fixture for holding a barrel-shaped part, including an interior surface, in a fixed position includes a body configured to fit inside the barrel-shaped part and a support ring coupled to the body. The support ring includes a peripheral channel. The fixture further includes a bladder tube engaged with the peripheral channel of the support ring and inflatable to engage the interior surface of the barrel-shaped part when the body is inside the barrel-shaped part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fixture for holding a hollow barrel-shaped part, comprising an interior surface and an opening on one side, in a fixed position, the fixture comprising:
a body configured to removably fit inside the hollow barrel-shaped part through the opening on the one side of the hollow barrel-shaped part;
a set of support rings coupled to the body, each support ring comprising a respective peripheral channel; and
a bladder tube engaged with the peripheral channel of the support ring and inflatable to directly contact and press against only a portion of the interior surface of the hollow barrel-shaped part to hold the hollow barrel-shaped part in a fixed position when the body is inside the hollow barrel-shaped part and the bladder is inflated, wherein:
the set of support rings comprises a first support ring and a second support ring spaced apart along a central axis;
the first support ring comprises a first plurality of structural supports;
the second support ring comprises a second plurality of structural supports;
the body comprises a plurality of fin-shaped panels coupled between the first support ring and the second support ring; and
each fin-shaped panel extends from a respective first structural support in the first plurality of structural supports to a respective second structural support in the second plurality of structural supports along a length of the central axis.

2. The fixture according to claim 1 , wherein:
the set of support rings comprises a plurality of support rings coupled to the body; and
the fixture further comprises a plurality of bladder tubes each engaged with the peripheral channel of a respective support ring of the plurality of support rings.

3. The fixture according to claim 2 , wherein a shape of one of the plurality of support rings is different than a shape of another one of the plurality of support rings.

4. The fixture according to claim 2 , wherein
the plurality of support rings are spaced apart along the central axis.

5. The fixture according to claim 1 , wherein the bladder tube comprises a non-circular cross-sectional profile.

6. The fixture according to claim 5 , wherein the bladder tube comprises a lens-shaped cross-sectional profile.

7. The fixture according to claim 1 , wherein a support ring in the set of support rings includes a non-circular shape.

8. The fixture according to claim 1 , wherein a support ring in the set of support rings includes a circular shape.

9. The fixture according to claim 1 , wherein the bladder tube is made of a flexible elastomeric material.

10. The fixture according to claim 1 , wherein a peripheral channel of a support ring in the set of support rings includes a continuous ring surrounding the body.

11. The fixture according to claim 1 , wherein a peripheral channel of a support ring in the set of support rings includes a U-shaped cross-sectional profile.

12. A system comprising:
a gas reservoir configured to store a gas; and
a fixture for holding a hollow barrel-shaped part, comprising an interior surface and an opening on one side, in a fixed position, the fixture comprising:
a body configured to removably fit inside the hollow barrel-shaped part through the opening on the one side of the hollow barrel-shaped part;
a set of support rings coupled to the body, each support ring comprising a respective peripheral channel; and
a bladder tube engaged with the peripheral channel of the support ring and inflatable with the gas from the gas reservoir to directly contact and press against only a portion of the interior surface of the hollow barrel-shaped part to hold the hollow barrel-shaped part in a fixed position when the body is inside the hollow barrel-shaped part and the bladder tube is inflated, wherein:
the set of support rings comprises a first support ring and a second support ring spaced apart along a central axis;
the first support ring comprises a first plurality of structural supports;
the second support ring comprises a second plurality of structural supports;
the body comprises a plurality of fin-shaped panels coupled between the first support ring and the second support ring; and
each fin-shaped panel extends from a respective first structural support in the first plurality of structural supports to a respective second structural support in the second plurality of structural supports along a length of the central axis.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein:
the set of support rings comprises a plurality of support rings coupled to the body;
the plurality of support rings are spaced apart along the body; and
the fixture further comprises a plurality of bladder tubes each engaged with the peripheral channel of a respective support ring of the plurality of support rings and each inflatable with the gas from the gas reservoir.

14. The system according to claim 13 , further comprising a pressure regulator configured to equalize pressure of gas within the plurality of bladder tubes.

15. The system according to claim 12 , wherein a peripheral channel of a support ring in the set of support rings comprises an aperture through which gas from the gas reservoir flows into the bladder tube.

16. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the bladder tube comprises one of a non-circular cross-sectional profile and a lens-shaped cross-sectional profile.

17. The system according to claim 12 , wherein a support ring in the set of support rings includes one of a circular shape and a non-circular shape.

18. The system according to claim 12 , wherein a peripheral channel of a support ring in the set of support rings includes one of a continuous ring surrounding the body and a U-shaped cross-sectional profile.

19. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the bladder tube is made of a flexible elastomeric material.

20. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of fin-shaped panels includes six fin-shaped panels.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Zhang Hongda
• Qi Gang
• Chung Yee-Ying
• Cook Garth

Classifications

• B23Q3/065 Primary

  for holding workpieces being specially deformable, e.g. made from thin-walled or elastic material · CPC title

• B23Q3/082

  hydraulically actuated · CPC title

• B25B1/241

  characterised by surface features or material · CPC title

• B23Q3/106

  extendable members, e.g. extension members · CPC title

• B25B13/04

  of ring jaw type · CPC title