Apparatus and method for abrading a composite material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11413719-B2
Application number	US-201916361904-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2019
Priority date	Mar 22, 2019
Publication date	Aug 16, 2022
Grant date	Aug 16, 2022

Abstract

Abrading apparatus and methods for treating opposing web surfaces of an elongate part include engaging the surfaces with first and second abrasion devices coupled to a frame. A drive assembly advances the frame along the part while the abrasion devices are operated to treat the surfaces. A guard assembly is coupled to the frame and includes first and second guards positioned to block portions of the contact areas of the first and second abrasion devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An abrading apparatus for use with an elongate part, the elongate part having a base and a web with a root end joined to the base and a free end opposite the root end, the web further defining opposed first and second web surfaces, the abrading apparatus comprising:
a frame;
a drive assembly coupled to the frame and configured to drive the abrading apparatus along a longitudinal length of the elongate part;
an abrasion assembly including:
a first abrasion device coupled to the frame and including a first abrasion element defining a first abrasion device effective contact area engageable with the first web surface; and
a second abrasion device coupled to the frame and including a second abrasion element defining a second abrasion device effective contact area engageable with the second web surface;

a guard assembly coupled to the frame and including:
a first guard disposed between the frame and the first abrasion element, wherein the first guard extends over a portion of the first abrasion device effective contact area, the first guard being between the first web surface and a portion of the first abrasion device effective contact area associated with the first abrasion device; and
a second guard disposed between the frame and the second abrasion element, wherein the second guard extends over a portion of the second abrasion device effective contact area, the second guard being between the second web surface and a portion of a second abrasion device effective contact area associated with the second abrasion device; and

a controller for controlling operation of the drive assembly, the first abrasion device, and the second abrasion device.

2. The abrading apparatus of claim 1 , in which the guard assembly further comprises:
a first guard bracket coupled to the frame;
a first guard actuator disposed between the first guard bracket and the first guard, wherein the first guard actuator has an adjustable length to permit relative movement between the first guard bracket and the first guard, the first guard actuator further being configured to apply a first guard actuator force biasing the first guard toward the frame;
a second guard bracket coupled to the frame; and
a second guard actuator disposed between the second guard bracket and the second guard, wherein the second guard actuator has an adjustable length to permit relative movement between the second guard bracket and the second guard, the second guard actuator further being configured to apply a second guard actuator force biasing the second guard toward the frame.

3. The abrading apparatus of claim 2 , in which:
the adjustable length of the first guard actuator is along a first guard actuator axis, wherein the first guard actuator axis extends laterally outward and at a 45° incline angle relative to the frame; and
the adjustable length of the second guard actuator is along a second guard actuator axis, wherein the second guard actuator axis extends laterally outward and at a 45° incline angle relative to the frame.

4. The abrading apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first set of guard cam followers coupled to the first guard bracket and configured to engage the first web surface; and
a second set of guard cam followers coupled to the second guard bracket and configured to engage the second web surface.

5. The abrading apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first power operated slide coupled between the frame and the first abrasion device and movable to adjust a position of the first abrasion device in a lateral direction; and
a second power operated slide coupled between the frame and the second abrasion device, the second power operated slide movable to adjust a position of the second abrasion device in the lateral direction; and
wherein the controller is operably coupled to the first and second power operated slides.

6. The abrading apparatus of claim 5 , in which the first abrasion device is coupled to the first power operated slide with a first gimbal joint, and the second abrasion device is coupled to the second power operated slide with a second gimbal joint.

7. The abrading apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:
a first pair of abrasion device cam followers coupled to the first abrasion device and configured to engage the first web surface, wherein the first pair of abrasion device cam followers are positioned on opposite sides of the first abrasion device; and
a second pair of abrasion device cam followers coupled to the second abrasion device and configured to engage the second web surface, wherein the second pair of abrasion device cam followers are positioned on opposite sides of the second abrasion device.

8. The abrading apparatus of claim 7 , in which a first lateral spacing between the first pair of abrasion device cam followers and the first abrasion device defines a first cutting depth at which the first abrasion device abrades the first web surface, and a second lateral spacing between the second pair of abrasion device cam followers and the second abrasion device defines a second cutting depth at which the second abrasion device abrades the second web surface.

9. The abrading apparatus of claim 8 , in which:
a first cam force, generated by engagement of the first pair of abrasion device cam followers with the first web surface and directed away from the frame, is greater than a first bias force, applied by the first power operated slide on the first abrasion device and directed toward the frame, thereby to move the first abrasion device away from the frame; and
a second cam force, generated by engagement of the second pair of abrasion device cam followers with the second web surface and directed away from the frame, is greater than a second bias force, applied by the second power operated slide on the second abrasion device and directed toward the frame, thereby to move the second abrasion device away from the frame.

10. The abrading apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a movable lift arm coupled to the frame and configured support the abrading apparatus independent of the elongate part.

11. The abrading apparatus of claim 1 , in which the drive assembly comprises:
a first drive motor operably coupled to a first wheel and responsive to a first drive signal to rotate the first wheel at a first rotational speed;
a second drive motor operably coupled to a second wheel and responsive to a second drive signal to rotate the second wheel at a second rotational speed; and
an encoder coupled to the frame and configured to determine an actual traverse distance of the frame along the elongate part;
wherein the controller is operably coupled to the first drive motor, the second drive motor, and the encoder, and is programmed to:
generate the first and second drive signals;
calculate a command traverse distance based on the first and second drive signals; compare the command traverse distance with the actual traverse distance from the encoder; and
generate a slip signal when the command traverse distance exceeds the actual traverse distance by a threshold slip distance.

12. An abrading apparatus for use with a stringer, the stringer having a base and a web having a root end joined to the base and a free end opposite the root end, the web further defining opposed first and second web surfaces, the abrading apparatus comprising:
a frame;
a drive assembly coupled to the frame and configured to drive the abrading apparatus along a longitudinal length of the stringer;
an abrasion assembly including:
a first carriage coupled to the frame by a first power operated slide;
a first rotary sander coupled to the first carriage and includi

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Miller Ii Richard Allen
• Gautam Narinder Kumar

Classifications

• B24B19/004

  for grinding rails, T, I, H or other similar profiles · CPC title

• B24B23/08 Primary

  Portable grinding machines designed for fastening on workpieces or other parts of particular section, e.g. for grinding commutators · CPC title

• B23Q9/0014

  Portable machines provided with or cooperating with guide means supported directly by the workpiece during action · CPC title

• B24B19/14 Primary

  for grinding turbine blades, propeller blades or the like (using grinding belts B24B21/16) · CPC title

• E01B31/17

  by grinding · CPC title