Patents by Inventor Anthony J Douglas

Anthony J Douglas has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Tool positioning system
    Patent number: 7387475
    Abstract: Apparatus for positioning and holding a tool (3) relative to a workpiece (35) comprising a carriage (1) for conveying the tool over the surface of the workpiece (35) and means (7, 9, 11, 13) for holding the carriage (1) onto the surface of the workpiece (35), the holding means being selectively switchable between a low grip state in which the carriage (1) is held against the workpiece surface whilst remaining capable of movement relative thereto and a high grip state in which the carriage (1) is held substantially fixedly to the workpiece surface for the tool (3) in use to operate thereon. Such an arrangement provides a robot capable of “crawling” over a workpiece (35) and carrying out precise manufacturing operations thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Bae Systems plc
    Inventors: Kevin W Beggs, Paul E Jarvis, Anthony J Douglas, Carl J Abbott
  • Tool positioning system
    Publication number: 20030108395
    Abstract: Apparatus for positioning and holding a tool (3) relative to a workpiece (35) comprising a carriage (1) for conveying the tool over the surface of the workpiece (35) and means (7,9, 11, 13) for holding the carriage (1) onto the surface of the workpiece (35), the holding means being selectively switchable between a low grip state in which the carriage (1) is held against the workpiece surface whilst remaining capable of movement relative thereto and a high grip state in which the carriage (1) is held substantially fixedly to the workpiece surface for the tool (3) in use to operate thereon. Such an arrangement provides a robot capable of “crawling” over a workpiece (35) and carrying out precise manufacturing operations thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Anthony J Douglas, Carl J Abbott
  • Micropositioning system
    Patent number: 6472676
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for accurately positioning tools for use in manufacturing or inspection operations whilst reducing the need for costly tooling such as jigs. The method for accurately positioning tools comprises at least the steps of projecting an image onto a surface, detecting the projected image, processing the projected image, calculating at least two dimensional co-ordinates of the projected image relative to a tool, and moving the tool so that it is positioned in a pre-defined spacial relationship with respect to the projected image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventors: Anthony J Douglas, Paul E Jarvis, Kevin W Beggs