Patents by Inventor Bradley J. Mitchell
Bradley J. Mitchell 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).
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Patent number: 12191619Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for automated insertion of a wire contact into an insertion hole of a connector. Methods include: controlling a robot having an end-effector to position a wire contact proximate to a connector using a wire gripper and a separator device of the end-effector; controlling the robot to advance the separator device between two or more wires previously connected to the connector; controlling the robot to align the wire contact with a insertion hole of the connector; controlling the robot to advance the wire contact toward the insertion hole of the connector and at least partially insert the wire contact into the insertion hole; controlling the robot to release the wire contact from the wire gripper; and controlling the robot to withdraw the wire gripper and the separator device from between the two or more wires previously connected to the connector.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2022Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Lars E. Blacken, Heiko Hoffmann, Damien O. Martin, Jeffrey McCaskey, Bradley J. Mitchell
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Patent number: 12145280Abstract: Systems and methods for automated wire pickup using image-based robot guidance. The machine vision-based system includes: a robot arm; a tool head coupled to the distal end of the robot arm and including a wire gripper motor; a wire gripper movably coupled to the tool head and operatively coupled to the wire gripper motor; a wire holder configured for clamping a wire; cameras mounted to the distal end of the robot arm and having first and second fields of view which intersect in a volume of space that includes the tip of the wire gripper and the wire holder; and a computer system configured to control operation of the robot arm motors and wire gripper motor. More specifically, the computer system is configured for visually estimating the position and orientation of a contact-equipped wire being held by the wire holder and then generating robot guidance to enable automated pickup of the end section of the wire by the wire gripper.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2021Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Heiko Hoffman, Jeffrey A. McCaskey, Lars E. Blacken, Bradley J. Mitchell, Damien O. Martin
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Publication number: 20240291249Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automated routing of wires of a wire harness on a form board. A wire harness comprising a wire end connector and a multiplicity of groups of wires is supported and carried by a carrier end effector mounted to an end of a first robotic arm. The wire groups are accessed and then routed on the form board by a routing end effector mounted to an end of a second robotic arm. Initially a wire gripper of the routing end effector is opened. The second robotic arm is then controlled to move the routing end effector so that respective first portions of all wire groups are accessible for gripping by the wire gripper. Then the wire gripper is closed to grip the first portions of wires. Then the second robotic arm is controlled to move the routing end effector to place second portions of the wires of all wire groups in a first elastic retainer wire routing device attached to the form board.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2023Publication date: August 29, 2024Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Ty A. Larsen, Bradley J. Mitchell, Damien O. Martin, Cindy X. Li, Jeffrey A. McCaskey, Grace L. Duncan, Lars E. Blacken
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Publication number: 20240291250Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automated routing of wires of a wire harness on a form board. A wire harness comprising a wire end connector and a multiplicity of groups of wires is supported and carried by a carrier end effector mounted to an end of a first robotic arm. The wire groups are accessed and then routed on the form board by a routing end effector mounted to an end of a second robotic arm. Initially a wire gripper of the routing end effector is opened. The second robotic arm is then controlled to move the routing end effector so that respective first portions of all wire groups are accessible for gripping by the wire gripper. Then the wire gripper is closed to grip the first portions of wires. Then the second robotic arm is controlled to move the routing end effector to place second portions of the wires of all wire groups in a first elastic retainer wire routing device attached to the form board.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2023Publication date: August 29, 2024Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Ty A. Larsen, Bradley J. Mitchell, Damien O. Martin, Cindy X. Li, Jeffrey A. McCaskey, Grace L. Duncan, Lars E. Blacken
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Publication number: 20240286864Abstract: A system for processing a cable end of a cable. The system includes: a pallet delivery system; a cable processing module; a pallet supported by the pallet delivery system; an on-pallet dual-belt cable feed mechanism configured for linear feeding of the cable end into the cable processing module; and an off-pallet electric motor operatively coupled for driving circulation of a pair of belts of the dual-belt cable feed mechanism. The cable processing module includes cable processing equipment configured to perform an operation on the cable end and a computer.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2023Publication date: August 29, 2024Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Grace L. Duncan, Bradley J. Mitchell, Scott M. Beute, Mary Fundenberger, David J. TerHaar
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Publication number: 20240266795Abstract: An electrical contact system includes a contact having a barrel with a wire entry portion having a first diameter, a clip portion having a second diameter, and a cam portion having a second diameter at a first end that tapers to a third diameter at a second end near the wire entry portion. The system also includes a clip positioned in the clip portion of the barrel, wherein ends of inwardly directed tines of the clip are configured to engage the conductor to enable the clip to be drawn onto the cam portion in response to a user pulling the wire after insertion of the conductor through the clip.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2023Publication date: August 8, 2024Inventors: Robert Arthur Nye, Shawn David Mohlman, Matthew B. Knuth, Joel Douglas Johnson, Bradley J. Mitchell, Eduardo Montero-Valdez, Ryan Cole, Ty Aaby Larsen
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Patent number: 11919647Abstract: Thermal control system for aircraft main landing gear wheel wells and related methods are disclosed. An example thermal control system includes a conduit defining a fluid passageway between an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the conduit positioned in fluid communication with a landing gear wheel well and the outlet of the conduit positioned in fluid communication with the atmosphere. The conduit generates a pressure differential through the fluid passageway between the inlet and the outlet to exhaust heat from the landing gear wheel well to the atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2020Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Andrew David Clark, Thamir Rauf Al-Alusi, David William Kirkbride, Frederick T. Calkins, Bradley J. Mitchell
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Publication number: 20230344185Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for automated insertion of a wire contact into an insertion hole of a connector. Methods include: controlling a robot having an end-effector to position a wire contact proximate to a connector using a wire gripper and a separator device of the end-effector; controlling the robot to advance the separator device between two or more wires previously connected to the connector; controlling the robot to align the wire contact with a insertion hole of the connector; controlling the robot to advance the wire contact toward the insertion hole of the connector and at least partially insert the wire contact into the insertion hole; controlling the robot to release the wire contact from the wire gripper; and controlling the robot to withdraw the wire gripper and the separator device from between the two or more wires previously connected to the connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2022Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Lars E. BLACKEN, Heiko HOFFMANN, Damien O. MARTIN, Jeffrey MCCASKEY, Bradley J. MITCHELL
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Publication number: 20230344186Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for determining wire contact insertion based on image analysis. Methods include: acquiring at least one image of a connector having a plurality of wire contact insertion holes; identifying a wire contact within a wire contact insertion hole of the plurality of wire contact insertion holes; determining that the wire contact insertion hole is a correct wire contact insertion hole; determining that the wire contact has been fully inserted into the correct wire contact insertion hole; and providing feedback indicating that the wire contact is fully inserted into the correct wire contact insertion hole. The feedback includes in some cases a first indicator indicating that the wire contact is in the correct wire contact insertion hole and a second indicator indicating that the wire contact is fully inserted into the correct wire contact insertion hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2022Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Michael CUI, Heiko HOFFMANN, Bradley J. MITCHELL
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Patent number: 11742113Abstract: Systems and methods for designing and assembling form boards with attached wire routing devices for use in wire bundle assembly. The assembly method comprises: (a) establishing a coordinate system of a form board having a multiplicity of holes; (b) using a computer system to determine locations of form board devices of different types with reference to the coordinate system of the form board based on engineering data specifying a wire bundle configuration; and (c) fastening the form board devices of different types to respective holes of the form board having centers closest to respective locations determined in step (b). The form board devices may be inserted robotically or manually.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2019Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Damien O. Martin, Lars E. Blacken, Bradley J. Mitchell, Grace L. Duncan, Eerik J. Helmick
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Patent number: 11662713Abstract: An automated wire insertion machine for inserting wires into grommet cavity locations of an electrical connector includes a controllable wire insertion robot and a processor to generate pre-generated plug maps based upon an original plug map of the grommet cavity locations and to control the wire insertion robot based upon one pre-generated plug map to insert the wires into the grommet cavity locations. The pre-generated plug maps are generated by defining a range of potential error of the grommet cavity locations that includes at least one of a potential rotational error and a potential translational error, defining an acceptable tolerance of the grommet cavity locations that includes at least one of an acceptable rotational tolerance and an acceptable translational tolerance, and calculating offset values of the grommet cavity locations based on the range of potential error and the acceptable tolerance, thereby generating the plurality of pre-generated plug maps.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eerik J. Helmick, Bradley J. Mitchell, Nick S. Evans
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Patent number: 11640862Abstract: A method utilizes a funnel system and robotic end effector grippers to feed an unjacketed portion of a shielded cable through a sleeve. The funnel is designed with one or more thin extensions (hereinafter “prongs”) on which a sleeve is placed prior to a cable entering the funnel. Preferably two or more prongs are employed, although a single prong may be used if properly configured to both guide a cable and fit between the sleeve and cable. The prongs close off the uneven surface internal to a sleeve and provide a smooth surface for the cable to slide along and through the sleeve, preventing any damage to the exposed shielding. The sleeve is picked up and held on the prongs using a robotic end effector. If the sleeve is a solder sleeve, the robotic end effector has grippers designed to make contact with the portions of the solder sleeve that are between the insulating rings and the central solder ring.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2021Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Grace L. Duncan, Lars E. Blacken, Keith M. Cutler, Bradley J. Mitchell
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Patent number: 11610702Abstract: Methods and apparatus for temporarily holding one end of a wire on a harness form board during automated transfer from one robot to another robot. The apparatus includes a wire holding device which is designed to facilitate the transfer of a wire end from a first end effector of a first robot to a second end effector of a second robot. The wire holding devices have different structures, but share the common feature that opening of the wire holding device (to enable wire insertion) involves applying a contact force which overcomes a spring force that urges the wire holding device to be closed. The end effectors are designed and their movements are controlled in a manner such that the moving end effector applies the contact force necessary to overcome the closure-inducing spring force being exerted.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2019Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Bradley J. Mitchell, Damien O. Martin, Lars E. Blacken, Jeffrey A. McCaskey
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Patent number: 11489309Abstract: Systems and methods for designing and assembling form boards with attached wire routing devices for use in wire bundle assembly. The assembly method comprises: (a) establishing a coordinate system of a form board having a multiplicity of holes; (b) using a computer system to determine locations of form board devices of different types with reference to the coordinate system of the form board based on engineering data specifying a wire bundle configuration; and (c) fastening the form board devices of different types to respective holes of the form board having centers closest to respective locations determined in step (b). The form board devices may be inserted robotically or manually.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2019Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Damien O. Martin, Lars E. Blacken, Bradley J. Mitchell, Grace L. Duncan, Eerik J. Helmick, Keith M. Cutler, Randall V. Fraker, Alexey S. Meerov, John R. Porter
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Patent number: 11446768Abstract: A wire guide and a laser wire-processing device that includes a wire guide are provided. The laser wire-processing device includes a housing and an aperture in a side of the housing, wherein the aperture defines a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the aperture. The laser wire-processing device also includes a backstop arranged in the housing and aligned with the longitudinal axis, the backstop defining a wire-contact surface in a facing relationship with the aperture. The laser wire-processing device also includes a wire guide arranged in the housing to manipulate a wire inserted through the aperture into a desired position relative to the longitudinal axis between the aperture and the backstop. The laser wire-processing device also includes a laser operable to direct a laser beam toward an insulation layer of the wire. The wire guide could be a tube arranged in the device or a backstop guide.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Nick S. Evans, Bradley J. Mitchell, Mark Blumenkrantz
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Patent number: 11404183Abstract: Apparatus for robot motion control and wire dispensing during automated routing of wires onto harness form boards. The robot includes a manipulator arm and a wire-routing end effector mounted to a distal end of the manipulator arm. The wire-routing end effector is configured for dispensing and routing a wire along a path through form board devices mounted to a harness form board. The wire-routing end effector is moved along a planned path under the control of a robot controller. An end effector path is provided with a set of processes that enable rapid, even fully automatic, development of robot motion controls for routing wires on harness form boards. The system uses a measurement encoder on the end effector that is routing individual wires on a wire harness form board to learn the length of each wire and its length variation.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Bradley J. Mitchell, Lars E. Blacken, Damien O. Martin
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Publication number: 20220234208Abstract: Systems and methods for automated wire pickup using image-based robot guidance. The machine vision-based system includes: a robot arm; a tool head coupled to the distal end of the robot arm and including a wire gripper motor; a wire gripper movably coupled to the tool head and operatively coupled to the wire gripper motor; a wire holder configured for clamping a wire; camera means mounted to the distal end of the robot arm and having first and second fields of view which intersect in a volume of space that includes the tip of the wire gripper and the wire holder; and a computer system configured to control operation of the robot arm motors and wire gripper motor. More specifically, the computer system is configured for visually estimating the position and orientation of a contact-equipped wire being held by the wire holder and then generating robot guidance to enable automated pickup of the end section of the wire by the wire gripper.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2021Publication date: July 28, 2022Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Heiko Hoffman, Jeffrey A. McCaskey, Lars E. Blacken, Bradley J. Mitchell, Damien O. Martin
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Patent number: 11340575Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for wire processing. In certain examples, a wire processing system is disclosed. The wire processing system includes an electrical wire and solder sleeve joining system. The electrical wire and solder sleeve joining system includes an end effector configured to hold a solder sleeve and a split funnel configured to guide insertion of wire into the solder sleeve, allow movement of the solder sleeve through the split funnel in a second position, and prevent movement of the solder sleeve through the split funnel in a first position. The end effector can additionally be configured to remove a slug from the wire.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2017Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eerik J. Helmick, Bradley J. Mitchell
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Patent number: D955924Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Thor Tech, Inc.Inventors: James Jack Owen Devine, Dale Beever, Raymond McKay Featherstone, Bryan M. Fox, Dana Kim Gehman, Bradley J. Mitchell, Robert Owen Sanford, Bryan Thompson
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Patent number: D993087Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2022Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Thor Tech, Inc.Inventors: James Jack Owen Devine, Dale Beever, Raymond McKay Featherstone, Bryan M. Fox, Dana Kim Gehman, Bradley J. Mitchell, Robert Owen Sanford, Bryan Thompson