Patent Application
20210402538
The technical field relates generally to an apparatus for holding and/or using a tool, and more particularly, relates to an apparatus for holding a tool and that is configured to ergonomically assist in using the tool to perform a task, such as, for example, assembling wire harnesses, or other components, subassemblies, assemblies or the like, and a method for using a tool to perform such a task.
Aircraft and other vehicles include various components, subassemblies, and/or assemblies. For instance, aircraft employ wire harnesses that include a plurality of wires for providing electrical communication between the various electronic components, vehicle devices and/or the like.
Assembling wire harnesses can be a labor-intensive process requiring relatively long cycle times for fabricating the wire harness. As such, it is important that a process for assembling wire harnesses be relatively efficient and ergonomically friendly. Mechanics or production personnel who are assembling wire harnesses typically need to cut wires, crimp contacts and connectors, and/or the like. Advantageously, these worker often use pneumatic tools to assist in performing such tasks to reduce time and improve economics versus manually cutting and crimping. Unfortunately, many such tools are relatively heavy and using these tools for an extended period of time, for example up to 2 hours or more continuously, including the mechanic manually holding the pneumatic tool in one hand and a wire(s) that needs to be cut and/or crimped in the other hand, can create an ergonomic risk to the worker.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide apparatuses that address one or more of the foregoing issues, and methods for using such apparatuses. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the various embodiments described herein will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.
Various non-limiting embodiments of an apparatus for holding a tool used for performing a task, and various non-limiting embodiments of a method for using a tool to perform a task, are provided herein.
In a first non-limiting embodiment, the apparatus includes, but is not limited to, a movable base that is configured to move along a floor surface. The apparatus further includes, but is not limited to, a multi-axis arm that is coupled to the movable base. The multi-axis arm is configured to pivotally move in multiple directions. The apparatus further includes, but is not limited to, a holding member that is coupled to the multi-axis arm. The holding member is configured to hold the tool in a position and while moving the tool by at least one of moving the movable base and pivotally moving the multi-axis arm.
In another non-limiting embodiment, the method includes, but is not limited to, holding the tool in a first position with a holding member of an apparatus. The apparatus includes, but is not limited to, a movable base, a multi-axis arm that is coupled to the movable base, and the holding member that is coupled to the multi-axis arm. The method further includes, but is not limited to, moving the tool by at least one of moving the movable base along a floor surface and pivotally moving the multi-axis arm in at least one direction.
The various embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
The following Detailed Description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the various embodiments or the application and uses thereof. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description.
Various embodiments contemplated herein relate to apparatuses for holding a tool used for performing a task, and methods for using a tool to perform a task. The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein provide an apparatus that includes a movable base configured to move along a floor surface. A multi-axis arm is coupled to the movable base and is configured to pivotally move in multiple directions.
A holding member is coupled to the multi-axis arm. The holding member, supported by the multi-axis arm, is configured to hold the tool in a position and to hold the tool while moving the tool by moving the movable base along the floor and/or pivotally moving one or more arm sections of the multi-axis arm to readjust the position of the tool, for example to perform a task.
In an exemplary embodiment, advantageously the apparatus supports the weight of the tool as a tool is held in a position by the holding member. Further, advantageously when the tool is needed to be repositioned by a worker, the worker can easily move the tool with the weight of the tool being supported by the apparatus, for example, by moving the movable base along the floor to a desired assembly workspace area, and/or moving the tool by manually guiding the holding member with the tool to a desired position for performing the task. The latter thereby causing the multi-axis arm to pivotally move in response to the manually applied guiding force from the worker. Thus, even relatively heavy tools, such as pneumatic tools or the like, can be used with the assistance of the apparatus by workers for an extended period of time, for example up to 2 hours or more continuously, with minimal effort and without creating a significant ergonomic risk to the worker.
The apparatus 10 includes a movable base 20, a multi-axis arm 22 coupled to and supported by the movable base 20, and a holding member 24 coupled to the multi-axis arm 22. The movable base 20 is configured to move along a floor surface 26. In an exemplary embodiment, the movable base 20 includes a base structure 28 and a plurality of wheels 30 attached to the base structure 28 to facilitate moving along the floor surface 26. The base structure 28 may be configured as a plate as illustrated in
In an exemplary embodiment, the movable base 20 includes a platform 32 that supports the multi-axis arm 22 and that is coupled to and extends upright from the base structure 28. The platform 32 includes a support structure 34 having an end 36 coupled to the base structure 28. The support structure 34 extends substantially upright from the end 36 to an end 38 that is coupled to a platform plate 40. As illustrated, the multi-axis arm 22 is disposed on the upper surface of the platform plate 40 and is mounted thereon by a plurality of bolts 42 or other threaded fasteners.
In one example, the support structure 34 is configured as an elongated body (e.g., rod, post, pole, or the like) that extends between the ends 36 and 38. An angled brace 44 extends from the base structure 28 (e.g., at about 30° to about 60° angle, for example about 45° angle) to an intermediate section of the support structure 34 to stabilize and secure the support structure 34 in the substantially upright position. The platform plate 40 is positioned at the end 38 substantially horizontally and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the support structure 34.
In an exemplary embodiment, the support structure 34 is a telescopically adjustable support structure that allows for vertical displacement of the multi-axis arm 22. As illustrated, the support structure 34 includes a lower support section 46 and an upper support section 48 that is movably disposed in a channel of the lower support section 46 to move vertically relative to the lower support section 46 to vary the distance between the ends 36 and 38. As such, the support structure 34 can be vertically expanded or contracted to position and/or reposition the height of the platform plate 40 and the multi-axis arm 22 relative to the floor surface 26. In an exemplary embodiment, the support structure 34 includes a spring loaded member 50 (e.g., knob, lever, or the like) that when pulled or otherwise actuated allows the upper support section 48 to be moved relative to the lower support section 46 so that the height of the platform plate 40 can be adjusted. Once at a desired height, the spring loaded member 50 may be released thereby selectively fixing the position of the upper support structure 48 to the lower support structure 46 to secure the platform plate 40 in position at the desired height.
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Further, the holding member 24 includes fasteners 84 and 86 (e.g., bolt and nut, or the like) that are correspondingly coupled to end portions of the sections 80 and 82. The fasteners 84 and 86 are configured to adjustably engage each other to reduce the size of the opening 78 to press the inner surfaces of the sections 80 and 82 against the outer surface(s) of the tool 12, thereby holding the tool 12 securely in the holding member 24. Further, the fasteners 84 and 86 can be disengaged from each other to increase the size of the opening 78 for removing the tool 12.
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The tool is moved (STEP 104) by moving the movable base along a floor surface and/or pivotally moving the multi-axis arm in at least one direction. In an exemplary embodiment, moving the tool includes moving the tool to a second position. The method 100 further includes operating (STEP 106) the tool in the second position to perform the task. In an exemplary embodiment, the tool is a pneumatic tool and compressed air is provided to the pneumatic tool. Operating the tool includes actuating the pneumatic tool powered by the compressed air while in the second position to perform the task. In an exemplary embodiment, the tool performs the task of cutting wires, crimping electrical contacts to the wires, and/or crimping an electrical connector to the wires.
While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the disclosure, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.
