Methods and systems for marking an airframe skin

Method and system for marking a surface. A writing medium is positioned within a cavity defined in a body extending between a first end and a second end of a wand. The first end is coupleable to a robot. The second end is opposite the first end and has an opening defined therein in fluid communication with the cavity. The second end is positioned adjacent to the surface. A position of at least one of the writing medium and the second end is automatically maintained relative to the surface.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to marking systems and, more particularly, to methods and systems for use in marking an airframe skin.

Known airframe skins are often marked to facilitate assembling an aircraft and/or enable a decal to be positioned on the airframe skin. Marking an airframe skin by hand, however, is generally inconsistent and/or time-consuming. To facilitate speeding up the marking process, known marking systems may be used that automatically mark the airframe skin. The airframe skin, however, is relatively delicate and at least some known marking systems are not suitably sensitive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, a method is provided for marking a surface. The method includes positioning a writing medium within a body extending between a first end and a second end of a wand. The first end is coupleable to a robot. The second has an opening that is in fluid communication with the cavity. The second end is positioned adjacent to the surface. A position of at least one of the writing medium and the second end is automatically maintained relative to the surface.

In another aspect, a wand is provided for use in marking a surface. The wand includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end and including an opening defined therein, and a body extending between the first end and the second end. The body includes a cavity defined therein sized to receive a writing medium therein. The cavity is in fluid communication with the opening. An adjusting mechanism is configured to facilitate maintaining a position of at least one of the writing medium and the second end relative to the surface.

A system is provided for use in marking a surface. The system includes a robot, a writing medium, and a wand. The wand includes a first end coupled to the robot, a second end opposite the first end and including an opening, and a body extending between the first end and the second end. The body includes a cavity defined therein sized to receive the writing medium therein. The cavity is in fluid communication with the opening. An adjusting mechanism is configured to facilitate maintaining a position of at least one of the writing medium and the second end relative to the surface.

The features, functions, and advantages described herein may be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present disclosure or may be combined in yet other embodiments, further details of which may be seen with reference to the following description and drawings.

Although specific features of various embodiments may be shown in some drawings and not in others, such illustrations are for convenience only. Any feature of a drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter described herein relates generally to a marking system and, more particularly, to methods and systems for use in accurately and/or precisely marking, for example, an airframe skin. In one embodiment, a wand includes a discharging mechanism that selectively discharges a writing medium from the wand towards a target surface. An adjusting mechanism is selectively operable to facilitate maintaining a position of at least one of the writing medium and the wand relative to the surface. As such, the adjusting mechanism enables the target surface to be marked with a desired amount of pressure applied to the target surface.

An element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural elements or steps unless such exclusion is explicitly recited. Moreover, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention and/or the “exemplary embodiment” are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of an exemplary marking system or wand100.FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view of wand100. In the exemplary embodiment, wand100includes a first end110that is coupleable to a robot (not shown), a second end120that includes an opening130formed therein, and a body140that extends therebetween. In the exemplary embodiment, the robot may be programmed to automatically control movement of wand100.

In the exemplary embodiment, first end110includes a safety mechanism150that enables first end110to automatically break-away from the robot should an undesired force be applied to the robot and/or to wand100. That is, in the exemplary embodiment, safety mechanism150enables wand100to be quickly uncoupled from the robot. For example, in the exemplary embodiment, safety mechanism150includes a plurality of neodymium magnets spaced radially about body140at first end110. Alternatively, safety mechanism150may be any suitable safety mechanism that enables wand100to function as described herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, body140is selectively actuatable between an expanded configuration, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, and a contracted configuration (shown inFIG. 4). For example, in the exemplary embodiment, body140is a telescoping body. Alternatively, body140may have any suitable configuration that enables wand100to function as described herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, body140has a cavity160defined therein. Cavity160is sized to receive a writing medium170therein. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, a cartridge, shown inFIG. 3, houses writing medium170. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, writing medium170includes a water-soluble material that is substantially free of contaminants. For example, writing medium170may include graphite. Alternatively, writing medium170may include any suitable writing medium that enables wand100to function as described herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, cavity160is in fluid communication with opening130such that a first discharging mechanism180may selectively discharge writing medium170from cavity160through opening130. In the exemplary embodiment, first discharging mechanism180selectively discharges writing medium170from opening130towards a target surface (not shown). For example, in the exemplary embodiment, first discharging mechanism180is a pneumatic system that includes an air line190coupled to a pneumatically-operated switch200that selectively discharges air to discharge writing medium170from opening130. Alternatively, first discharging mechanism180may be any suitable discharging mechanism that enables wand100to function as described herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, wand100includes an adjusting mechanism210that enables a position of writing medium170and/or second end120to be maintained relative to the target surface. In one embodiment, adjusting mechanism210includes a sensor (not shown) that detects a distance (not shown) between second end120and the target surface. In one embodiment, adjusting mechanism210selectively maintains the position of writing medium170and/or second end120relative to the target surface based on the detected distance.

In one embodiment, a computing system including a memory device (not shown) and a processor (not shown) coupled to the memory device may be used to enable the position of writing medium170and/or second end120to be selectively maintained. In such an embodiment, the computing system is configurable to perform one or more operations described herein by programming the memory device and/or processor. As used herein, the term “processor” is not limited to integrated circuits referred to in the art as a computer, but rather broadly refers to a controller, a microcontroller, a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), an application specific integrated circuit, and other programmable circuits. Moreover, the term “memory device” refers to a device that enables information such as executable instructions and/or other data to be selectively stored and retrieved.

In the exemplary embodiment, adjusting mechanism210includes a second discharging mechanism220that is also coupled to air line190. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, second discharging mechanism220selectively discharges an airstream (not shown) from second end120towards the target surface. In the exemplary embodiment, the airstream discharged from second end120provides a buffer or a cushion of air between second end120and the target surface that facilitates second end120gliding smoothly across the target surface.

Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, adjusting mechanism210includes a first biasing mechanism230and/or a second biasing mechanism240. In the exemplary embodiment, first biasing mechanism230is positioned to bias second end120towards the target surface. That is, in the exemplary embodiment, second end120is magnetically attracted to and/or forced towards the target surface. In the exemplary embodiment, first biasing mechanism230provides a force that is opposite the force induced by second discharging mechanism220. For example, in the exemplary embodiment, first biasing mechanism230includes a plurality of magnets spaced radially about opening130at second end120. Alternatively, first biasing mechanism230may be any suitable biasing mechanism that enables wand100to function as described herein.

Additionally, in the exemplary embodiment, second biasing mechanism240dampens a force applied to writing medium170. That is, in the exemplary embodiment, when writing medium170is applied to the target surface, an opposing force pushes writing medium170towards first end110. In such an application, second biasing mechanism240mechanically pushes and/or forces writing medium170towards second end120with a force that is in proportion to the opposing force. As such, in the exemplary embodiment, second biasing mechanism240facilitates decreasing the pressure applied against the target surface interface such that writing medium170is maintained in relatively light contact with the target surface. For example, in the exemplary embodiment, second biasing mechanism240is a clock spring. Alternatively, second biasing mechanism240may be any suitable biasing mechanism that enables wand100to function as described herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, an end cap250is threadably coupled to second end120to enable writing medium170to be loaded into and/or unloaded from cavity160. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, end cap250is selectively removable from second end120to enable writing medium170to be loaded into and/or unloaded from cavity160, and is coupled to second end120to facilitate retaining at least a portion of writing medium170within cavity160.

In the exemplary embodiment, end cap250is substantially frustoconical in shape to facilitate reducing damage to the target surface in the event that second end120contacts the target surface. Additionally, or alternatively, end cap250is rotatable and/or pivotable along a plurality of axes to facilitate reducing damage to the target surface in the event that second end120contacts the target surface. As such, end cap250has a wide degree of freedom to facilitate maintaining a position of end cap250relative to the target surface. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, end cap250is fabricated at least from a material having a low coefficient of friction that enables second end120to slide or “glide” about the target surface. For example, in one embodiment, end cap250is fabricated from polytetrafluoroethylene. Alternatively, end cap250may have any suitable shape and/or may be fabricated from any suitable medium that enables wand100to function as described herein.

In one embodiment, a humidifying mechanism260is used to selectively humidify at least a portion of writing medium170. That is, in the exemplary embodiment, writing medium170is humidified to facilitate preventing writing medium170from drying out such that writing medium170is continuously able to mark on the target surface.

FIG. 3is a perspective view of an exemplary writing medium extracting system300that may be used to extract writing medium170and/or to position writing medium170within a cartridge310that is suitable for use with wand100. In the exemplary embodiment, a pencil320including writing medium170disposed therein is loaded into extracting system300, and a handle330is used to force pencil320towards cartridge310. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, handle330forces pencil320towards a cutting blade340that selectively extracts writing medium170from pencil320and into cartridge310. As such, in the exemplary embodiment, cutting blade340enables cartridge310to be loaded without breaking writing medium170and/or selectively gauges writing medium170to a desired diameter. In the exemplary embodiment, waste material removed from pencil320is ejected towards a waste ejection area350.

During operation, in the exemplary embodiment, extracting system300extracts writing medium170from pencil320and positions writing medium170within cartridge310. In the exemplary embodiment, end cap250is uncoupled from second end120, and writing medium170and/or cartridge310is loaded into cavity160as needed. End cap250is coupled to second end120to secure writing medium170in position within cavity160.

In the exemplary embodiment, second end120is positioned adjacent to the target surface, and writing medium170is selectively discharged from opening130and is positioned to selectively mark the target surface. In the exemplary embodiment, adjusting mechanism210automatically maintains a position of writing medium170and/or second end120relative to the target surface. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, first biasing mechanism230biases second end120towards the target surface, and second discharging mechanism220provides a cushion between second end120and the target surface. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, second biasing mechanism240facilitates controlling the force applied by writing medium170to the target surface.

The above-described embodiments enable a writing medium to be loaded within a cartridge, and the writing medium to be applied to a surface. The embodiments described herein facilitate automatically controlling a pressure applied to the surface. That is, the embodiments described herein include a plurality of mechanisms that enable the writing medium to delicately contact the surface. Accordingly, the measurement system described herein facilitates accurately and/or efficiently marking a surface.

Exemplary embodiments of systems and methods for marking an airframe skin are described above in detail. The systems and methods are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of systems and/or steps of the method may be utilized independently and separately from other components and/or steps described herein. Each component and each method step may also be used in combination with other components and/or method steps. Although specific features of various embodiments may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. Any feature of a drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.