Mandrel configuration monitoring system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9933247-B2
Application number	US-201414153529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2014
Priority date	Jan 13, 2014
Publication date	Apr 3, 2018
Grant date	Apr 3, 2018

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring a mandrel. A first plurality of transmitting devices is positioned with respect to the mandrel. Signals from a portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices are received at a receiving device. The signals are processed to determine a configuration of the mandrel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for monitoring a mandrel, the method comprising:
positioning a first plurality of transmitting devices on the mandrel, each transmitting device of the first plurality of transmitting devices being configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the transmitting device;
receiving, at a receiving device, the signals indicative of the positions of the transmitting devices from a portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices;
processing the signals indicative of the positions of the transmitting devices from the portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices to determine a current configuration of the mandrel;
identifying a desired configuration for the mandrel;
comparing the current configuration to the desired configuration; and
when the current configuration does not match the desired configuration, modifying the mandrel such that the mandrel has the desired configuration, wherein the current configuration does not match the desired configuration when the mandrel has deformed such that a current position of one of the transmitting devices in the current configuration does not match a desired position of the one of the transmitting devices in the desired configuration.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the first plurality of transmitting devices comprises:
embedding at least one of the first plurality of transmitting devices within the mandrel.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
positioning a second plurality of transmitting devices with respect to a tool;
identifying a current position of the tool with respect to the mandrel using the signals received from the portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices and signals received from the second plurality of transmitting devices; and
moving the tool to a desired position for the tool from the current position of the tool.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:
performing an operation on a part disposed on the mandrel with the tool based on the current position of the tool relative to the mandrel.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein performing the operation comprises performing one of a composite layup operation, a drilling operation, a fastener installation operation, a sealing operation, an inspection operation, a painting operation, a milling operation, a material application operation, and a sensing operation.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
locating the receiving device in a reference location with respect to the mandrel.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein processing the signals from the portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices comprises:
determining an orientation of the mandrel.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein processing the signals comprises:
determining a shape of the mandrel.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
determining, based on at least one of the orientation, a position, or the shape of the mandrel, whether to replace the mandrel.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
positioning alignment structures on the mandrel configured to connect to the mandrel using attachment structures associated with the mandrel such that the alignment structures maintain a desired orientation for the mandrel.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the current configuration does not match the desired configuration when the mandrel has deformed such that the current position does not match the desired position by more than a selected tolerance specified for the mandrel.

12. A system comprising:
a mandrel;
a first plurality of transmitting devices physically associated with the mandrel, each transmitting device of the first plurality of transmitting devices being configured to generate a signal indicative of position of the transmitting device; and
a receiving device configured to receive the signals indicative of the positions of the transmitting devices from a portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices; and
a controller operatively coupled to the receiving device and configured to process the signals indicative of the positions of the transmitting devices from the portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices to determine a current configuration of the mandrel, to identify a desired configuration for the mandrel, to compare the current configuration to the desired configuration, and, when the current configuration does not match the desired configuration, to modify the mandrel such that the mandrel has the desired configuration, wherein the current configuration does not match the desired configuration when the mandrel has deformed such that a current position of one of the transmitting devices in the current configuration does not match a desired position of the one of the transmitting devices in the desired configuration.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein a transmitting device in the first plurality of transmitting devices comprises at least one of a transceiver, a transmitter, a radio-frequency identification tag, a light-emitting diode, a transponder, or a laser.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising:
a second plurality of transmitting devices physically associated with a tool; and
wherein the controller is further configured to identify a current position of the tool using signals received from a portion of the second plurality of transmitting devices and move the tool from the current position to a desired position to perform an operation on a part associated with the mandrel.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the tool is selected from one of a composite layup device, a drill, a camera, an ultrasonic array, a fastener installer, a sealant applicator, a painting device, a mill, a marking device, a laser, a probe, a material applicator, and a sensor.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the signals from the portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices provide data from which information about at least one of a shape, an orientation, and a position of the mandrel can be generated.

17. The system of claim 12 further comprising:
attachment structures associated with the mandrel; and
alignment structures positioned along a surface of the mandrel and configured to connect to the mandrel using the attachment structures such that the alignment structures maintain a desired configuration, wherein each transmitting device in the first plurality of transmitting devices is associated with one of the alignment structures.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein each transmitting device in the first plurality of transmitting devices comprises a transceiver configured to communicate with other transceivers associated with the mandrel.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the receiving device is mounted on a tool.

20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the current configuration does not match the desired configuration when the mandrel has deformed such that the current position does not match the desired position by more than a selected tolerance specified for the mandrel.

21. A method for monitoring a current configuration of a mandrel, the method comprising:
attaching a plurality of transceivers to the mandrel, each transceiver of the plurality of transceivers being configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the transceiver;
receiving, at a receiving device, the signals indicative of the positions of the transmitting devices from a portion of the plurality of transceivers;
processing the signals indicative of the positions of the

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Clark Don Michael
• Cangelosi Austin Michael
• Chang Li Chun
• Errazo Deborah E

Classifications

• G05B2219/31058

  Determination of assembly tooling, fixture · CPC title

• G01S13/00

  Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified · CPC title

• G05B2219/50132

  Jig, fixture · CPC title

• Y02P90/22

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• G05B19/402 Primary

  characterised by control arrangements for positioning, e.g. centring a tool relative to a hole in the workpiece, additional detection means to correct position (G05B19/19 takes precedence) · CPC title