The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 23, 2021
Filed:
Jan. 24, 2018
Spirit Aerosystems, Inc., Wichita, KS (US);
William Tod Ross, Wichita, KS (US);
Steven R. Blencoe, Wichita, KS (US);
Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., Wichita, KS (US);
Abstract
A roller device for use in an automated fiber placement process for creating composite parts on a contoured tool. A helical spring provides a bendable axle, and a roller cover fits over the spring axle. A tension mechanism is arranged through the spring axle along a centerline axis, and is adjustable to control a bendability of the spring axle so as to more closely conform to particular contours of the tool. The tension mechanism may include a cable extending through the spring axle, a threaded portion at an end of the cable, and a screw received within the threaded portion and turnable to adjust a length of the tension mechanism and thereby adjust the bendability of the spring axle. The tension mechanism may be adjustable manually, semi-manually with a motor controlled by a user, or automatically with a motor controlled by an electronic controller.