Systems, methods, and apparatuses for applying viscous fluids to components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016325307-A1
Application number	US-201514703779-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 4, 2015
Priority date	May 4, 2015
Publication date	Nov 10, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for applying viscous fluid to a component having a primary surface and opposed surfaces perpendicular to the primary surface may include positioning an adjustable nozzle adjacent the primary surface such that first and second contact members of the nozzle, movable relative to each other, contact the opposed surfaces, the first and second contact members being urged toward the opposed surfaces by at least one biasing element of the adjustable nozzle, applying a viscous fluid from a passage in a body of the adjustable nozzle to the primary surface, and moving the adjustable nozzle along the primary surface.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An adjustable nozzle for applying viscous fluid to a component having a primary surface and opposed surfaces perpendicular to the primary surface, the adjustable nozzle comprising:
a body having a passage for receiving a viscous fluid; first and second opposed side members at least partially received in the passage and movably connected to the body; a first contact element attached to the first side member; a second contact element attached to the second side member; and at least one biasing element attached to the side members and configured to urge the side members toward each other.

2 . The adjustable nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the first side member comprises a first shaping wall, the second side member comprises a second shaping wall, and the first shaping wall and the second shaping wall are configured to shape at least a portion of a bead of the viscous fluid applied to the component.

3 . The adjustable nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the first side member includes a first passage wall, the second side member includes a second passage wall, and the first passage wall and the second passage wall are configured to guide the viscous fluid to only the primary surface of the component.

4 . The adjustable nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the first side member comprises a first passage wall, the second side member comprises a second passage wall, and the first passage wall and the second passage wall are configured to guide the viscous fluid to only the primary surface and a portion of the opposed surfaces.

5 . The adjustable nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the body includes first and second opposed body walls at least partially defining the passage therebetween, one of the body walls including an opening configured to shape at least a portion of a bead of the viscous fluid.

6 . The adjustable nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the body includes first and second opposed body walls at least partially defining the passage therebetween, the first and second body walls comprise one of at least one slot or at least one protruding member, the side members comprise another one of the at least one slot or the at least one protruding member, and the at least one protruding member is configured to be slidably received in the at least one slot.

7 . The adjustable nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one contact element is at least one roller.

8 . The adjustable nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises an input port for the viscous fluid, and the passage is connected to the input port.

9 . The adjustable nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises first and second opposed body walls at least partially defining the passage therebetween, the nozzle further comprises a roller attached to the body, and the roller has a rotation axis that is perpendicular to the first and second body walls.

10 . The adjustable nozzle of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second opposed side members includes first and second wing portions and a base portion disposed between the first and second wing portions, the base portion is configured to be slidably received in the passage, and the first and second wing portions are configured to be outside the passage.

11 . The adjustable nozzle of claim 9 , wherein the at least one biasing element includes first and second springs, respective ones of the first and second springs attached to respective ones of the first and second wing portions.

12 . A method of applying a viscous fluid to a component having a primary surface and opposed surfaces perpendicular to the primary surface, the method comprising:
positioning an adjustable nozzle adjacent the primary surface such that first and second contact members of the nozzle, movable relative to each other, contact the opposed surfaces, the first and second contact members being urged toward the opposed surfaces by at least one biasing element of the adjustable nozzle; applying a viscous fluid from a passage in a body of the adjustable nozzle to the primary surface; and moving the adjustable nozzle along the primary surface.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein applying a viscous fluid includes modifying a viscous fluid output opening of the adjustable nozzle responsive to variations in distance between the opposed surfaces of the component along a path defined by the primary surface of the component.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein applying a viscous fluid comprises applying the viscous fluid from the passage in the body of the adjustable nozzle to a portion of the opposed surfaces.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising shaping the viscous fluid applied to the primary surface, to a portion of the opposed surfaces, or to both with one or more shaping walls of the adjustable nozzle.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving viscous fluid through an input port of the adjustable nozzle.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein positioning the adjustable nozzle comprises placing a roller of the adjustable nozzle on the primary surface such that the roller rolls on the primary surface when the adjustable nozzle is moved along the primary surface.

18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising coupling the adjustable nozzle to a robotic arm, wherein moving the adjustable nozzle along the primary surface includes moving the nozzle with the robotic arm.

19 . A system for applying a viscous fluid to a component having a primary surface and oppose surfaces perpendicular to the primary surface, comprising:
a robotic arm; a controller assembly configured to control the robotic arm; and an adjustable nozzle attached to the robotic arm, the adjustable nozzle comprising:
a body including a passage for receiving a viscous fluid and having an output opening for discharging the viscous fluid on the component,
first and second opposed side members at least partially received in the passage and movably connected to the body,
a first contact element attached to the first side member,
a second contact element attached to the second side member, and
at least one biasing element attached to the side members and configured to urge the side members toward each other, wherein the side members are configured to adjust a size of the output opening responsive to variations in distance between the opposed surfaces of the component along a path defined by the primary surface of the component.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the controller assembly is configured to move the nozzle along the primary surface via the robotic arm.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Atsebha Solomon
• Blumenkrantz Mark
• Pringle Iv John Walter

Classifications

• B05C5/0204

  for applying liquid or other fluent material to the edges of essentially flat articles · CPC title

• B05B13/0278

  Arrangement or mounting of spray heads (B05B13/0207 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05C17/00589

  comprising a guiding rotating element, e.g. a wheel · CPC title

• B05C11/10

  Storage, supply or control of liquid or other fluent material; Recovery of excess liquid or other fluent material {(B05C1/0813, B05C5/0225, B05C17/002 and B05C19/06 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B05B13/0207

  the work being an elongated body, e.g. wire or pipe (B05B13/0436, B05B13/0463 take precedence) · CPC title