Patent ID: 11912437
Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 11:
12. A method of using a universal tool for rotational manipulation of a payload, the method comprising:
mounting a payload onto a universal tool comprising first and second telescoping cradle assemblies positioned fore and aft of a lifting beam, each said telescoping cradle assembly comprising a lower ring segment captured in a telescoping cradle rotationally coupled to the lift beam and a payload mount on the lower ring segment;
to perform a task on the payload,
attaching an upper ring segment to the lower ring segment to form a complete ring; and
rotating the payload to a desired position over a range of rotation of 360 degrees; and

to unload the payload from the universal tool,
detaching the upper ring segment; and
rotating the telescoping cradle and rotating and extending the lower ring segment from the telescoping cradle to a specified angle over a combined range of rotation.