Methods and apparatus for tube fabrication
US10870200B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 2019 |
| Grant date | Dec 22, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 27, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29C2035/0827
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A team of robots may fabricate a tubular structure. Each robot may fabricate a tube by winding resin-covered fiber around an inflated, cylindrical mandrel of the robot. The resin may cure, resulting in a hardened tube segment The robot may extend the tube by fabricating additional segments of the tube, one segment at a time. After a first segment cures, the mandrel may deflate, then the robot may move up inside the tube, then the mandrel may inflate, and the robot may begin fabricating another tube segment. After completing a tube segment, the robot may tilt relative to that segment, before starting the next segment. By doing so, the robot may cause the tube to be curved. A computer may guide the team of robots during fabrication of the tubes, by executing a flocking algorithm. The algorithm may prevent collisions with already fabricated tube segments.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.