The Boeing Company

Richard J Buckwitz

Donald W Spencer

Alfred E Walter, Jr

Peter D McCowin

Hugh R Schlosstein

Leslie A Anderson

Mark R Weber

Techniques for cleaning the inside of complexly-bent tubing are disclosed using a combination of minimal amounts of solvent and pneumatically propelled foam pellets. In order to increase device efficiency, an escapement apparatus employs a vacuum-assisted loading mechanism and retaining pin to reliably load one pellet at a time.

Pneumatic cleaning methods and systems

A reel assembly includes a reel having a magnet rim, turntable, magnetic key, and a wire feed tube. The reel is self starting and holds the feed wire upon the completion of winding.

Wire segment reel assembly and method

A system for automatically coiling, cutting, and tying wires. The system (50) includes a plurality of wire reels (52) from which a measured length of a selected wire (114) is coiled at a coiling assembly (60). Each of the plurality of wires (54) are arranged in spaced-apart planar array across a wire select assembly (56). A control (82) selects one of the wires for coiling based upon a programmed work schedule. The end selected wire is drawn from a sensor assembly (88) on the wire select assembly by a wire feed assembly (58) and transferred to the coiling assembly. The coiling assembly winds the selected wire into a coil (402), at either a seven- or ten-inch (inside) diameter. Pinch marks previously applied to the wire or a length sensor (122) determine when a required length of the wire has been coiled. The coiled wire is then lifted from the coiling assembly by a pick and place assembly (66) and moved to one of two wire tying machines (61/62), where a tie is applied to the coiled wire so that it can be stacked on a pallet (400). A conveyor (70) conveys the pallets to an operator workstation (72) where the coiled wires are assembled into wire groups needed to make wire bundles.

Automatic wire cut, coil, and tie system

Apparatus for applying a pinch mark to a wire (10) at a selected target position along the length of the wire. The apparatus operates in response to a first signal (MARK) indicating that the target position is at a known upstream location. The apparatus includes pinch means (44) including dies (54,56) mounted for movement to and from a pinch station along the wire path. The apparatus includes coupling means responsive to the first signal for causing the dies to move to the pinch station when the target position is at the pinch station. The coupling means may comprise a servo motor (60), control means (70) for driving the servo motor at a selected speed with respect to the wire speed, and engagement means (62,64) responsive to the first signal for coupling the dies to the servo motor such that the dies and the target position arrive at the pinch station at the same time and traveling at the same speed. The dies thereby exert a minimum lengthwise force on the wire. A reset system(66) is provided for returning the dies to a predetermined reset position after each pinch mark is applied. The engagement means may comprise a single revolution clutch.

Wire pinch mark applicator

A method and apparatus for creating an identification sleeve on a thin, elongate object (35, 67, 113), such as a wire, pipe or ring, is disclosed. A printer (15, 65, 91) prints identification indicia on a strip of ultrasonically weldable heat shrinkable material (13, 63, 93). The strip is cut into flat pieces (13A, 63A, 93A), each of which contain identification indicia in a predetermined location, preferably at the center of the piece. The pieces are wrapped around the elongate object to be identified such that the indicia overlies the object and the longitudinal axis of the indicia lies generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the object. The pieces (13A, 63A, 93A) are wrapped around the object such that the pieces take on a U-shaped configuration. The outwardly extending legs of the U-shaped pieces are ultrasonically welded together adjacent to the object and the excess portion of the legs are cut away. Then the thusly formed sleeve is positioned by sliding it along the object. After being positioned, the sleeve is heated, resulting in the sleeve material shrinking until it tightly grips the object.

Method of making a welded sleeve identification

A contact which is attached to a wire is fitted in a hole of a connector by first identifying the wire to which the contact is attached. The location of the hole that is to receive the contact is determined automatically from an electronic data lookup table, and a signal is provided which positions an end portion of a fiber optic rod in line with the correct hole of the connector. The opposite end of the fiber optic rod is optically coupled to a source of light. The fiber optic rod is advanced so that it enters the hole and projects from the opposite side of the connector identifying the correct hole. Light emitted from the fiber optic rod facilitates visual identification of the hole from which the rod is projecting. Therafter, the fiber optic rod is retracted, and the contact is inserted into the hole.

Growing community of inventors

Issaquah, WA, United States of America

Richard J Buckwitz