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

Claim 0:
1. 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 stomp foot movably connected to the carriage;
a first end effector movably connected to the carriage, said first end effector controlled by an actuator;
a second end effector movably connected to the carriage, said second end effector is laterally opposed from said first end effector relative to the longitudinal axis;
a second stomp foot movably connected to the carriage, said second stomp foot located laterally between the first stomp foot and the second end effector, wherein the first stomp foot is laterally adjacent to the first end effector; 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, and the second jacking screw manipulates the second inflatable bladder;
wherein a first radius of the first inflatable bladder and a second radius of the second inflatable bladder are independently manipulated by the first jacking screw and the second jacking screw.