Rotatable Tool Assembly for Fastener Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual coating of fasteners on large machines, such as aircraft, is slow, labor-intensive, and expensive, and spraying methods are often regulated, making them costly.

Innovation Solution

A rotatable tool assembly with an epicyclic gear system, powered by a motor, that includes disposable tools and a shroud for efficient application of paint or primer to fasteners, allowing for quick and cost-effective coating by rotating rollers around the fasteners.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If hand painting or priming is used to coat fasteners, then the coating can be applied, but the process is slow and requires a large workforce

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating speedVSAvoidworkforce requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual hand painting with an automated mechanical system featuring an electric motor that rotates the coating tool around the fastener. The motor-driven rotation mechanism automatically applies coating material through rollers or brushes, eliminating the need for manual labor while significantly increasing coating speed and consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The coating tool is designed to rotate around the fastener automatically, with the coating material being dispensed and applied through the rotation motion itself. The system serves itself by using the rotational movement to both position the coating tool and apply the coating uniformly, reducing the need for complex control mechanisms and large workforces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If spraying device is used to prime and paint fasteners, then coating can be applied faster, but regulations make it more expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating speedVSAvoidregulatory compliance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a disposable coating tool assembly that can be quickly replaced rather than cleaned and maintained. This disposable approach eliminates the need for complex spray booth infrastructure and regulatory compliance measures associated with spraying, while still achieving fast coating application through the motor-driven rotation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the harmful spraying process and replaces it with a dry or minimal-solvent coating application method. By removing the spray mechanism entirely and using direct contact rollers or brushes driven by motor rotation, the system achieves fast coating without the environmental and regulatory issues associated with aerosol spraying.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If manual coating method is used, then equipment complexity is low, but labor costs are high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment simplicityVSAvoidlabor cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The coating system is segmented into modular components: a motor unit, a tool assembly with coating applicators, and a support structure. This segmentation allows for simple, inexpensive manufacturing of individual parts while automating the coating process to reduce labor costs. The modular design maintains equipment simplicity while eliminating manual labor requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10843221B2System and method for a coating device

Publication Date: 2020.11.24 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A rotatable tool assembly including a motor and a tool assembly operatively coupled to the motor. The tool assembly includes an epicyclic gear system rotatably coupled to the motor and one or more tools rotatably coupled to the epicyclic gear system. The motor is configured to rotate the epicyclic gear system, and the epicyclic gear system is configured to rotate the tool.