The Boeing Company

Raul Tomuta

Angelica Davancens

Martin Hanna Guirguis

John Walter Pringle, Iv

Richard Philip Topf

Jake Boyce Weinmann

Don David Trend

Chris J Erickson

Frederick B Frontiera

John W Pringle-Iv

John Joseph Brown

Martin Edward Lozano

Marcos Robert Vaughn Espinosa

Branko Sarh

Nicholas Ryan Farrell

Thomas C Hanson

Steve Esparza

Steven E Drenth

Tony Di Carlo

Ilya Sedler

Cris Howard Garcia

Ted Khong

John J Brown

Chris Erickson

Don D Trend

Jake B Weinmann

John W Pringle Iv

Frederick Brian Frontiera

John W Iv Pringle

Thomas Carsten Hanson

Fred Frontiera

John Josef Brown

Iv Pringle John W

Richard P Topf

John W Pringle

A method of cleaning a surface includes steps of (1) positioning a brush in contact with the surface; (2) rotating the brush relative to a drum about a second axis; and (3) rotating the drum relative to a bracket, supporting the drum, about a first axis, parallel to the second axis, such that the brush orbitally revolves about the first axis.

Methods for cleaning a surface

A method of cleaning a surface includes steps of: urging brushes of a cleaning device against the surface; providing solvent to the surface via a solvent supply that passes through a housing of the cleaning device; rotating a drive gear about a drive-gear rotational axis to drive driven gears about corresponding driven-gear rotational axes inside the housing to rotate the brushes; and evacuating material from the surface via a vacuum tube, passing through the housing.

Methods for cleaning surfaces with brushes

A method of cleaning a surface includes positioning a brush in contact with the surface. The method further includes rotating the brush about a second axis relative to a drum. The method also includes rotating the drum about a first axis relative to a bracket, connected to a handle and rotatably supporting the drum, such that the brush orbitally revolves about the first axis. The first axis is parallel to the second axis.

A method and apparatus for cleaning surfaces of an object. A platform may be moved along a path relative to the object using a robotic device. A liquid may be applied onto the plurality of surfaces of the object using an applicator associated with the platform. The liquid may be worked into the plurality of surfaces using a plurality of cleaning elements associated with the platform to dislodge undesired material from the plurality of surfaces. A plurality of flexible members may be moved along the plurality of surfaces to dry the plurality of surfaces and remove the undesired material from the plurality of surfaces. An airflow may be generated that moves the undesired material into a vacuum duct in a vacuum system.

End effector for cleaning objects having multiple surfaces

A passive lockable strut is presented. The passive lockable strut comprises a first end; a second end; a fluid chamber between and connected to the first end and the second end; and a fluid within the fluid chamber, wherein the fluid is configured to activate the passive lockable strut to place the passive lockable strut in a locked condition in response to a change in an operating condition applied to the passive lockable strut.

Passive lockable strut

A method of depositing an extrudable substance comprises, with a cartridge positioned inside a sleeve between an inner tubular sleeve wall and an outer tubular sleeve wall, circumscribing the inner tubular sleeve wall, and also positioned between a twist-lock pressure cap, hermetically coupled with the cartridge, and a valve, communicatively coupled with the cartridge, linearly moving an annular plunger, received between an inner tubular cartridge wall and an outer tubular cartridge wall, circumscribing the inner tubular cartridge wall, toward the valve along a first axis to urge the extrudable substance from the cartridge, through the valve, and out of a nozzle that is communicatively coupled with the valve. The method also comprises controlling flow of the extrudable substance from the valve to the nozzle.

Methods for depositing an extrudable substance onto a surface

A method of depositing an extrudable substance onto a surface comprises (1) with a cartridge positioned inside a sleeve between an inner tubular sleeve wall and an outer tubular sleeve wall, circumscribing the inner tubular sleeve wall, and also positioned between a push-lock pressure cap, hermetically coupled with the cartridge, and a valve, communicatively coupled with the cartridge, linearly moving an annular plunger, received between an inner tubular cartridge wall and an outer tubular cartridge wall, circumscribing the inner tubular cartridge wall, toward the valve along a first axis to urge the extrudable substance from the cartridge, through the valve, and out of a nozzle that is communicatively coupled with the valve; and (2) controlling flow of the extrudable substance from the valve to the nozzle.

A method of dispensing a brushable substance onto a surface comprises (1) with a cartridge positioned inside a sleeve between an inner tubular sleeve wall and an outer tubular sleeve wall, circumscribing the inner tubular sleeve wall, and also positioned between a push-lock pressure cap, hermetically coupled with the cartridge, and a valve, communicatively coupled with the cartridge, linearly moving an annular plunger, received between an inner tubular cartridge wall and an outer tubular cartridge wall, circumscribing the inner tubular cartridge wall, toward the valve along a first axis to urge the brushable substance from the cartridge, through the valve, and to a brush that is communicatively coupled to the valve; and (2) controlling flow of the brushable substance from the valve to the brush.

Methods for dispensing a brushable substance onto a surface

A method of dispensing a brushable substance onto a surface comprises (1) with a cartridge positioned inside a sleeve between an inner tubular sleeve wall and an outer tubular sleeve wall, circumscribing the inner tubular sleeve wall, and also positioned between a twist-lock pressure cap, hermetically coupled with the cartridge, and a valve, communicatively coupled with the cartridge, linearly moving an annular plunger, received between an inner tubular cartridge wall and an outer tubular cartridge wall, circumscribing the inner tubular cartridge wall, toward the valve along a first axis to urge the brushable substance from the cartridge, through the valve, and to a brush that is communicatively coupled to the valve; and (2) controlling flow of the brushable substance from the valve to the brush.

A method and apparatus for applying a viscous fluid onto a surface. An applicator associated with an extension member may be positioned over the surface using a robotic operator. The extension member may be configured to maintain a selected distance between the applicator and a fluid source for the viscous fluid. The viscous fluid may be dispensed from the fluid source to the applicator. The viscous fluid may be applied onto the surface using the applicator.

Fluid application device

A brush () for delivering a glutinous substance () to a workpiece () from an end-effector () is disclosed. The brush () comprises a body (), having a rotational axis () and comprising a first channel () that comprises an inlet () and a first outlet (). The inlet () is coaxial with the rotational axis () and the first outlet () is offset from the rotational axis (). The brush () also comprises tufts (), extending from the body () and each comprising at least one bristle () and a tip (). The brush () further comprises a first tube (), communicatively coupled with the first outlet () of the first channel () of the body ().

Brushes for delivering glutinous substance to workpiece from end-effector and methods for using the same

A method of manipulating a brush relative to a brush-arm assembly of an end-effector comprises locating a carriage in one of a first position or a second position relative to a stationary component. The method also comprises, with the carriage in one of the first position or the second position, different from the first position, relative to the stationary component, locating the brush-arm assembly of the end-effector with respect to the stationary component so that the brush-arm assembly is in contact with the stationary component. The method further comprises moving the carriage in a second direction toward the stationary component, from the first position to a third position, to load the brush onto the brush-arm assembly, or moving the carriage in a first direction away from the stationary component from the second position to the first position to unload the brush from the brush-arm assembly.

Methods for loading and unloading brushes to and from end-effector

A method of delivering a glutinous substance from a cartridge to an applicator comprises receiving the cartridge inside a sleeve through an inlet of the sleeve when a pressure cap, coupled to the sleeve proximate the inlet, is in an open position. The method additionally comprises moving the pressure cap into a closed position to sealingly couple the pressure cap with a trailing end of the cartridge. The method also comprises selectively causing an automated coupler to automatically sealingly couple the applicator with a leading end of the cartridge when the cartridge is inside the sleeve and the pressure cap is in the closed position. The method further comprises applying pressure to the glutinous substance in the cartridge through a first pressure input of the pressure cap to urge the glutinous substance from the cartridge into the applicator.

methods for applying glutinous substances

A cleaning device comprises a housing. The cleaning device also comprises a drive gear that rotates about a drive-gear rotational axis. The cleaning device further comprises driven gears, driven by a drive gear and rotatable about corresponding driven-gear rotational axes inside the housing. The cleaning device further comprises brushes, located outside the housing and each rotatable together with a corresponding one of the driven gears. The cleaning device also comprises a vacuum tube, passing through the drive gear. The cleaning device additionally comprises a solvent supply, passing through the housing.

Growing community of inventors

Stanton, CA, United States of America

Raul Tomuta