Automated production of acoustic structures

US9693166B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Eric Herrera · Coos Bay, US
• Noel Timothy Gerken · Maple Valley, US
• John Scott Bauman · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 24, 2014
• Grant date: Jun 27, 2017
• Expiry date: Mar 24, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T156/12
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A laser cuts overlapping ribbons of acoustic material into acoustic devices. An automatically controlled manipulator includes an end effector having groups of placement tools for simultaneously placing multiple acoustic devices in a cellular core. The placement tools include mandrels provided with vacuum pickups for picking up and holding the acoustic devices during transport to the core. A vision system aligns the placement tools with the cells of the core. The end effector includes a thermal radiation device for bonding the acoustic devices to the core.