Autonomous robotic thread for repairing structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11759875-B2
Application number	US-202017029932-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2020
Priority date	Sep 23, 2020
Publication date	Sep 19, 2023
Grant date	Sep 19, 2023

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provides an approach for repairing defects in a structure, located in difficult to reach area, by using a self-guiding and self-melting robotic thread. The approach can use an external guidance system to find the target location of the structure and deploy a robotic thread to the defective area. Portion of the robotic thread contains a filler material can have similar materials to the structure. After the system has determined the size, length and volume of the repair, the system calculates the required length of the robotic thread and guides the thread to the defective area. Once the robotic thread is in place, the filler material begins to melt via heat. The filler material, in a melted and pliable state, can flow into the defect area. Once cooled, the filler material can now support the structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A robotic thread comprising:
one or more segments, wherein each segment of the one or more segments further comprises:
an inner core structure, wherein the inner core structure is shaped cylindrically, wherein the inner core structure comprises:
a computer control circuit;

an outer core structure, surrounding the inner core structure, is shape cylindrically; and
an outer coating, surrounding the outer core structure, is shaped cylindrically.

2. The robotic thread of claim 1 , wherein the inner core structure is made from one or more material influenced by magnetic fields and a plurality of conducting wires is disposed within the inner core structure.

3. The robotic thread of claim 1 , wherein the inner core structure is made from nickel-titanium alloy.

4. The robotic thread of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of conducting wires contains, a first wire, wherein the first wire is capability of carrying electric current and a second wire is acting as a ground.

5. The robotic thread of claim 2 , wherein the one or more material influenced by the magnetic fields is a coiled helical wire capable of generating a magnetic field.

6. The robotic thread of claim 2 , wherein the one or more material influenced by the magnetic fields is made of magnetic particles.

7. The robotic thread of claim 1 , wherein the outer core structure comprises of a filler material, wherein the filler material is made from of tin, copper, zin, lead and aluminum.

8. The robotic thread of claim 1 , wherein an outer coating is coated with a lubrication material.

9. The robotic thread of claim 1 , wherein the computer control circuit contains, a computer processor, power supply and a communication component.

10. The robotic thread of claim 4 , wherein the computer control circuit is electrically connected to the first and the second wire.

11. A system of repairing a structure, the system comprising:
a guidance system;
a heating system; and
a robotic thread, further comprising:
one or more segments, wherein each segment of the one or more segments further comprises:
an inner core structure, wherein the inner core structure is shaped cylindrically, wherein the inner core structure comprises:
a computer control circuit;

an outer core structure, surrounding the inner core structure, is shape cylindrically; and
an outer coating, surrounding the outer core structure, is shaped cylindrically.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the guidance system is a drone.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the heating system contains a laser and heat gun.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the outer coating is coated with a lubrication material.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Patnaikuni Subha Kiran
• Rakshit Sarbajit K

Classifications

• B23P6/00 Primary

  Restoring or reconditioning objects (straightening or restoring form of sheet metal, metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles, or specific articles made therefrom B21D1/00, B21D3/00; repairing defective or damaged objects by casting techniques B22D19/10) · CPC title

• B23K26/342 Primary

  Build-up welding · CPC title

• B23G9/009 Primary

  Thread cleaning or repairing · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B22F10/20

  Direct sintering or melting · CPC title