Automated structural laser cleaning system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11919052-B2
Application number	US-202117499217-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2021
Priority date	Nov 27, 2019
Publication date	Mar 5, 2024
Grant date	Mar 5, 2024

Abstract

In one embodiment, systems and methods include using an automated laser system to remove a portion of a coating for nutplate installation. An automated laser system comprises a laser scanner and a laser head, wherein the laser head is coupled to the laser scanner. The laser head comprises a containment unit and a vacuum connector wherein the vacuum connector is disposed on a first side of the containment unit. The laser head further comprises a camera system, a light source, a first actuator, and a second actuator all disposed on a top surface of the containment unit. The laser head further comprises an end piece, wherein the second actuator is configured to displace the end piece.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of cleaning a surface area of one or more panels for nutplates installation, comprising:
disposing an automated laser system about a predrilled hole of the one or more panels, wherein the automated laser system is configured to remove:
a coating on the one or more panels with a laser; and
a coating on the predrilled hole on the one or more panels with the laser;

determining a center of the predrilled hole by pre-programmed locations for each of the one or more panels from an external controller;
measuring an offset in the X & Y axes of an actual center of the predrilled hole in relation to the center determined by the pre-programmed information;
when the measured offset in the X & Y axes of the actual center of the predrilled hole in relation to the center determined by the pre-programmed instructions is outside of an allowable tolerance, adjusting the automated laser system so that the automated laser system is within the allowable tolerance; and
actuating the automated laser system to produce a laser to remove a portion of a coating disposed around the predrilled hole on the one or more panels.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising actuating a first actuator to displace an internal mirror from an initial position to a secondary position.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising actuating a means of vacuuming concurrently with actuating the automated laser system.

4. A method of cleaning a surface area of one or more panels, the method comprising:
determining, by an automated laser system from pre-programmed locations for each of the one or more panels, a center of hole of the one or more panels, wherein the automated laser system is configured to remove:
a coating on the one or more panels with a laser; and
a coating on the hole on the one or more panels with the laser;

measuring, by the automated laser system, an offset in the X & Y axes of an actual center of the hole in relation to the center determined from the pre-programmed information;
when the measured offset in the X & Y axes of the actual center of the hole in relation to the center determined by the pre-programmed information is outside of an allowable tolerance, adjusting the automated laser system so that the automated laser system is within the allowable tolerance; and
by the automated laser system, producing a laser to remove a portion of a coating disposed around the hole on the one or more panels.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising vacuuming, by the automated laser system, any particulates generated by removing the portion of the coating disposed on the one or more panels.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the automated laser system so that the automated laser system is within the allowable tolerance comprises sending one or more instructions to a robotic arm.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the offset in the X & Y axes of an actual center of the predrilled hole in relation to the center determined by the pre-programmed information comprises utilizing a camera.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the allowable tolerance is from 0.1 millimeters to 4 millimeters.

9. The method of claim 4 , wherein adjusting the automated laser system so that the automated laser system is within the allowable tolerance comprises sending one or more instructions to a robotic arm.

10. The method of claim 4 , wherein measuring the offset in the X & Y axes of an actual center of the hole in relation to the center determined by the pre-programmed information comprises utilizing a camera.

11. The method of claim 4 , wherein the allowable tolerance is from 0.1 millimeters to 4 millimeters.

Assignees

• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Coleman David Haynes
• Stoddard Michael Bryan
• Langevin Jeffrey P
• Twaddle Steven E
• Arthur Alexandria Zoe

Classifications

• B08B7/0042 Primary

  by laser · CPC title

• B08B5/04

  Cleaning by suction, with or without auxiliary action · CPC title

• B08B7/04

  by a combination of operations · CPC title

• B23K26/36 Primary

  Removing material (B23K26/55, B23K26/57 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01S3/005

  Optical devices external to the laser cavity, specially adapted for lasers, e.g. for homogenisation of the beam or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping (shaping laser beam for working metal or other materials B23K26/06; optical elements, systems or apparatus in general G02B) · CPC title