Stretching and deployment of a sensor network for large structure monitoring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020215744-A1
Application number	US-201916240282-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2019
Priority date	Jan 4, 2019
Publication date	Jul 9, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A tool comprises a first rod that extends along a first axis and moves perpendicular to the first axis along a second axis. A first sliding guide moves along the first rod. A second rod extends parallel to the second axis and moves perpendicular to the second axis and parallel to the first axis, and a second sliding guide moves along the second rod. A third rod extends along a third axis and moves perpendicular to the third axis and parallel to the second axis, and a third sliding guide moves along the third rod. A fourth rod extends along a fourth axis and moves perpendicular to the fourth axis and parallel to the first axis, and a fourth sliding guide moves along the fourth rod. The periphery of the sensor network film is secured to the rods, and the rods and guides move simultaneously to stretch the film.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A tool for stretching a sensor network film, comprising:
a first rod that extends along a first axis and at a first distal end is secured to a first drive motor that is slidingly secured to a base surface to move perpendicular to the first axis and parallel to a second axis; a first idler pulley that is connected to a first proximate end of the first rod; a first sliding guide that moves along the first axis on the first rod, where the first drive motor drives a first drive pulley that is drivingly connected to the first idler pulley to move the first sliding guide along the first axis on the first rod; a second rod that extends along the second axis and at a second distal end is secured to a second drive motor that is slidingly secured to the base surface to move perpendicular to the second axis and parallel to the first axis; a second idler pulley that is connected to a second proximate end of the second rod; a second sliding guide that moves along the second axis on the second rod, where the second drive motor drives a second drive pulley that is drivingly connected to the second idler pulley to move the second idler pulley and the second sliding guide along the second axis on the second rod, where the first idler pulley is secured to and moves with the second slide guide; a third rod that extends along a third axis and at a third distal end is secured to a third drive motor that is slidingly secured to the base surface to move perpendicular to the third axis and parallel to the second axis; a third idler pulley that is secured to a proximate end of the third rod; a third sliding guide that moves along the third axis on the third rod, where the third drive motor drives a third drive pulley that is drivingly connected to the third idler pulley to move the third idler pulley and the third sliding guide along the third axis on the third rod, where the second idler pulley is secured to and moves with the third sliding guide; a fourth rod that extends along a fourth axis and at a fourth distal end is secured to a fourth drive motor that is slidingly secured to the base surface to move perpendicular to the fourth axis and parallel to the first axis; a fourth idler pulley that is secured to a proximate end of the fourth rod and that is secured to and moves with the first sliding guide; and a fourth sliding guide that moves along the fourth axis on the fourth rod, where the fourth drive motor drives a fourth drive pulley that is drivingly connected to the fourth idler pulley to move the fourth idler pulley and the fourth sliding guide along the fourth axis on the fourth rod, where the third idler pulley is secured to and moves with the fourth sliding guide; where the first axis and the third axis are parallel, and the second axis and the fourth axis are parallel; where a plurality of clips are mounted to each of the first, second, third and fourth rods to hold the sensor network film at its periphery.

2 . The tool of claim 1 , where each of the first, second, third and fourth drive motors comprises a stepper motor.

3 . The tool of claim 1 , where each of the first, second, third, fourth rods is positioned in a common plane to stretch the sensor network film in the common plane.

4 . The tool of claim 3 , where a first drive belt is coupled between the first drive motor and the first idler pulley to move the first sliding guide along the first rod.

5 . The tool of claim 4 , where a second drive belt is coupled between the second drive motor and the second idler pulley to move the second sliding guide along the second rod.

6 . The tool of claim 1 , further comprising an associated spacing spring located between immediately adjacent ones of the clips on the same of the first, second, third and fourth rods to spread the clips out on its associated on the first, second, third and fourth rods as the sensor film is stretched by moving each of the first, second, third and fourth sliding guides in the direction of its associated one of the first, second, third, fourth distal ends.

7 . A tool for stretching a sensor network film, comprising:
a first rod that extends along a first axis and moves perpendicular to the first axis and along a second axis; a first sliding guide that moves along the first axis on the first rod; a second rod that extends parallel to the second axis and moves perpendicular to the second axis and parallel to the first axis; a second sliding guide that moves along the second axis on the second rod; a third rod that extends along a third axis and moves perpendicular to the third axis and parallel to the second axis; a third sliding guide that moves along the third axis on the third rod; a fourth rod that extends along a fourth axis and moves perpendicular to the fourth axis and parallel to the first axis; and a fourth sliding guide that moves along the fourth axis on the fourth rod; where the first axis and the third axis are parallel, and the second axis and the fourth axis are parallel; where the sensor network film is attached at its periphery to each of the first, second, third and fourth rods, and the first, second, third and fourth rods and the first, second, third and fourth sliding guides move simultaneously to stretch the sensor network film.

8 . The tool of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of clips mounted to each of the first, second, third and fourth rods to hold the sensor network film at its periphery, and a plurality of spacing springs each uniquely located between adjacent ones of the clips on the same of the first, second, third and fourth rods to spread the clips out on its associated one of the first, second, third and fourth rods as the sensor film is stretched by moving each of the first, second, third and fourth sliding guides and the first, second, third and fourth rods to stretch the sensor network film.

9 . The tool of claim 7 , further comprising a motor that simultaneously moves each of the first, second, third and fourth rods and the first, second, third and fourth sliding guides to stretch the sensor network film.

10 . The tool of claim 7 , further comprising a controller that provides command signals to a plurality of motors that simultaneously move each of the first, second, third and fourth rods and the first, second, third and fourth sliding guides to stretch the sensor network film.

11 . The tool of claim 10 , where each of the plurality motors comprises one of a stepper motor and a torque motor.

12 . The tool of claim 7 , where each of the first, second, third, fourth rods is positioned in a common plane to stretch the sensor network film in the common plane.

13 . The tool of claim 9 , where the motor comprises at least one of a stepper motor and torque motor.

14 . The tool of claim 7 , where each of the first, second, third and fourth sliding guides includes their own guide movement motor in order to control movement of the first, second, third and fourth sliding guides along its associated rod.

15 . The tool of claim 7 , where each of the first, second, third and fourth rods includes their own rod movement motor in order to control movement of the first, second, third and fourth rods.

16 . A method of stretching a sensor network film, comprising:
providing a first rod that extends along a first axis and moves perpendicular to the first axis and along a second axis; providing a first sliding guide that moves along the first axis on the first rod; providing a second rod that extends parallel to the second axis and moves perpendicular to the second axis and parallel to th

Assignees

• Rohr Inc

Inventors

• Dardona Sameh
• Caldwell Dustin D

Classifications

• B29C55/16

  simultaneously · CPC title

• G01M5/00 Primary

  Investigating the elasticity of structures, e.g. deflection of bridges or air-craft wings (G01M9/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29L2031/34

  Electrical apparatus, e.g. sparking plugs or parts thereof · CPC title

• B29C55/165 Primary

  Apparatus therefor · CPC title

• B64F5/10

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title