The Boeing Company

Camille Doristine Carter

Daniel David Bloch

Zachary L Green

Zachary Benjamin Renwick

Eric E Moyes

Nicole Renee Williams

Randall Dow Wilkerson

Samuel Joseph Easley

Scott E Martin

Gregory J S Hickman

Nicole R Williams

Gregory JS Hickman

A fluid applicator for use in a fluid application system includes a base plate comprising at least one rail and a housing slidably coupled to the base plate. The fluid applicator also includes a plurality of fluid permeable pads positioned within the housing and a fluid delivery conduit coupled to the base plate and to the housing. The fluid applicator further includes an actuator configured to selectively move the housing and the plurality of pads along the rails between a first position and a second position. The plurality of fluid permeable pads are in flow communication with the fluid delivery conduit in the first position, and the plurality of fluid permeable pads are prevented from being in flow communication with the fluid delivery conduit in the second position.

Apparatus and methods for use in applying a fluid to a surface

A fluid application system includes a pair of identical, spaced apart, fluid applicators that each include a fluid permeable pad saturated with fluid. In one implementation, each applicator includes a pair of conduits coupled to a base plate, wherein each conduit includes a slot configured to receive an end of the pad. In another embodiment, each applicator defines a reservoir between adjacent plates and channels fluid from the reservoir though openings in the plate to the pad. In another implementation, each of the applicators includes a base plate, a conduit coupled to the base plate, and a housing slidably coupled to the base plate. The housing includes a plurality of pads and is moveable to selectively prevent fluid flow between the conduit and the pads in a first position or to couple the pads in fluid communication with the conduit in the second position.

Multifunction end effector apparatus and methods for assembling thermoplastic composite articles are disclosed. An example apparatus for assembling a thermoplastic composite article includes a robot and an end effector coupled to the robot. The end effector includes a cutting head, a vacuum head, and a welding head.

Multifunction end effector apparatus and methods for assembling thermoplastic composite articles

A vacuum table for securing a sheet of material. The vacuum table includes a top plate that is porous, a perimeter vacuum chamber disposed beneath a perimeter of the top plate, and interior vacuum chambers bound by the perimeter vacuum chamber and disposed beneath a target area of the top plate that is inside the perimeter of the top plate.

Vacuum table with individual vacuum chambers

A device for aligning a robotic arm with an end-effector is provided. The device may include a spherical tool and a receiver. The spherical tool may include a spherical end portion and a distal base portion configured to releasably couple to the end-effector. The receiver may include a plurality of arms and a proximal base portion configured to releasably couple to the robotic arm. Furthermore, the arms may be configured to receive the spherical end portion and include one or more indicators configured to track alignment between the robotic arm and the end-effector.

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Camille Doristine Carter