Patent ID: 11964442
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 17:
18. A forming apparatus comprising:
a frame defining a vertical axis, a horizontal axis, and a longitudinal axis;
a carriage movably connected to the frame;
a first end effector movably connected to the carriage;
a first stomp foot movably connected to the carriage and laterally adjacent to the first end effector relative to the longitudinal axis;
a second stomp foot movably connected to the carriage and laterally adjacent to the first stomp foot relative to the longitudinal axis;
a second end effector movably connected to the carriage and laterally adjacent to the second stomp foot relative to the longitudinal axis; and
a ply support feature located below the first stomp foot and the second stomp foot;
wherein the first end effector comprises a first inflatable bladder and a first jacking screw and the second end effector comprises a second inflatable bladder and a second jacking screw;
wherein the first jacking screw manipulates the first inflatable bladder to conform to concave or convex profiles and to control a first radius of the first inflatable bladder and the second jacking screw manipulates the second inflatable bladder to conform to concave or convex profiles and to control a second radius of the second inflatable bladder;
wherein the first radius of the first inflatable bladder and the second radius of the second inflatable bladder are independently manipulated.