The Boeing Company

Theboeing Company

Dhananjay B Vasa

Shane Edward Arthur

Matthew H Mellin

Bennett M Moriarty

Raymond C Eng

Kyle Steven Biondich

Justin T Hoehn

John Eric Miller

John F Spalding

Ryan M Trumbo

Caitlin Elizabeth Kerr

Jeffrey Hayden Olberg

Silas Lawton Studley

George P Halamandaris

A surface treatment support structure assembly for treating a contoured surface includes a support structure array formed from a plurality of base structures, each base structure being operably coupled with respect to one another and configured to slide along a longitudinal axis and rotate about a laterally translating axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The support structure array further includes at least one applicator head coupled to each base structure of the support structure array, each of the at least one applicator head being configured to treat the contoured surface. Additionally, a base structure actuator is operatively coupled to and configured to manipulate each base structure along the longitudinal axis and the laterally translating axis such that the support structure array is adjusted relative to the contoured surface.

Variable cross-section compliance mechanism

A method of applying a surface treatment on a contoured surface includes attaching a surface treatment repair assembly to the contoured surface that includes a robotic unit and an array of applicator heads, each applicator head being configured to apply a repair treatment to the contoured surface. A location of the surface treatment relative to the surface treatment repair assembly is determined using an optical sensor configured to scan the contoured surface and generate an image data set of the contoured surface. A damaged portion of the surface treatment is identified and a target area for surface treatment repair is defined based on comparing the image data set generated by the optical sensor and a pristine image data set. The surface treatment repair assembly is positioned with the array of applicator heads adjacent to the surface treatment, and each applicator head is selectively operated to repair the surface treatment.

Adaptable surface treatment repair system

A surface treatment repair assembly for applying a surface treatment to a contoured surface includes an attachment device configured to removably attach to the contoured surface and a robotic unit is coupled to the attachment device. Furthermore, a treating unit is operably mounted on the robotic unit and including a plurality of applicator heads forming a treatment array and each applicator head is configured to apply a surface repair treatment. At least one sensor is mounted on the treating unit and configured to identify a target area for the surface repair treatment and a controller is operably coupled to the robotic unit and the treating unit. The controller is programmed to control a movement of the robotic unit to position the treatment array adjacent to the target area and to selectively operate the treatment array to apply the surface repair treatment on the target area of the contoured surface.

A surface treatment assembly for treating a contoured surface includes an adjustable base having at least a first contour shape and a second contour shape. The surface treatment assembly further includes a plurality of applicator heads that are coupled to the adjustable base. Moreover, each applicator head is configured to apply a surface treatment to the contoured surface. Furthermore, the surface treatment assembly includes an actuator which is operatively coupled to the adjustable base and the actuator is configured to manipulate the adjustable base between the first contour shape and the second contour shape.

Variable radius print head end effector

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Columbus, OH, United States of America

Dhananjay B Vasa