The Boeing Company

Kevin L Salt

Robert Dean Dixon

Paul W Reed

Jeffrey A Zornes

David Arne Haverberg

Craig B Morgan

Jay R Huffington

Bryan K Jobes

Michael D Hinckley

Gary W Anderson

Chris Carlson

A rail fixture that may include a plurality of track sections suspending a plurality of rail sections. The rail fixture may further include a traveler that traverses across one of the track sections, and a trolley that traverses across the plurality of rail sections. The rail fixture may further include a motorized winch assembly that may be used to lift a load to be moved toward the rail sections. The rail fixture may be used to move a load from a first location to a second location, for example, through an enclosed space having little clearance.

Articulating rail for multidirectional movement of suspended load

Systems and methods are provided for identifying a location to perform work (e.g., drilling.). One exemplary method includes acquiring images of a hole in a first object from multiple lighting angles, processing the images to identify shadows cast by a wall of the hole at each of the lighting angles, and analyzing the shadows to determine an orientation of a central axis of the hole in a coordinate system of the first object. The method also includes, at a second object, selecting a location to drill that will be aligned with the central axis of the hole of the first object, and drilling the second object at the location.

Photogrammetric identification of locations for performing work

A support unit for moving an object may include an elongated member, at least one suction device coupled to the elongated member for attaching to an object, a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering the elongated member and an attached object, and a rotating member for moving the support unit and the attached object from a departure location to a destination location.

Moving device

The disclosure provides for a lock stop system and method. In one embodiment there is provided a mechanical lock stop system for locking and controlled movement of a load. The system comprises a modular extruded part having a plurality of spaced openings on at least one side of the modular extruded part. The system further comprises a lock stop apparatus comprising a linear bearing having at least two sides, wherein the modular extruded part moves through the linear bearing; a release element having an attached hinge; a locking element having a first end and a second end; and a compression spring mounted around at least a portion of the locking element. The release element locks and unlocks the first end of the locking element to the modular extruded part.

Mechanical lock stop system and method

Growing community of inventors

Mount Vernon, WA, United States of America

Kevin L Salt