University of Lowell

G Dudley Shepard

Stephen R Christensen

I Stuart Smith

Marc D Sandefur

Xiaochuan R Lu

Richard Lu

A compliant device holding the work-piece part in an assembly, grinding, sanding or polishing process has a rotational compliance which matches the rotational compliance of a compliant device holding the work tool part or part to be assembled with the receiving part. A contact force between the two parts thus causes each part to rotate the same amount about any axis perpendicular to the direction of relative motion between the two compliant devices, thereby preserving the relative orientation of the two parts.

Compliance-matching assembly device

An apparatus and method is described for inserting pins in holes wherein either the pin or the hole is chamfered or beveled. One part is vibrated with respect to the other in a plane orthogonal to the direction of insertion. One part is incrementarlly moved in the direction of insertion. When interference caused by the contact is sensed, the magnitude of the interference is determined and used to reposition the center-line of the one part in the orthogonal plane until the pin is fully inserted.

Vibratory interference sensor

An apparatus and method is described for inserting pins in holes wherein either the pin or the hole is chamfered or beveled. One part is vibrated with respect to the other in a plane orthogonal to the direction of insertion. One part is incrementally moved in the direction of insertion. When interference caused by the contact is sensed, the magnitude of the interference is determined and used to reposition the center-line of the one part in the orthogonal plane until the pin is fully inserted.

Growing community of inventors

Exeter, NH, United States of America

G Dudley Shepard