MODULAR AND RECONFIGURABLE SUPPORT SYSTEM

• Main Authors: REID, ERIC M, BUTTRICK, JAMES N, DESJARDIEN, MATTHEW R, JONES, DARRELL DARWIN, DAY, DAN DRESSKELL, STONE, PAUL REED
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 08.09.2020
• Subjects: AEROPLANES; AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COMBINED OPERATIONS; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; CONVEYING; COSMONAUTICS; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HAULING; HELICOPTERS; HOISTING; HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCEDIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD; LIFTING; MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; OTHER WORKING OF METAL; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; REGULATING; STORING; TRANSPORTING; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS

An apparatus and method for supporting an object. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a support structure, a positioning system, and a retention system. The positioning system may be associated with the support structure and configured to position the support structure with respect to a number of linear axes. The retention system may be associated with the support structure. The retention system may be configured to retain a portion of an object and move the portion of the object towards a platform such that the portion of the object substantially conforms to a shape of the platform. L'invention concerne un appareil et un procédé de support d'objet. Dans un mode de réalisation illustré, l'appareil peut comprendre une structure de support, un système de positionnement et un système de retenue. Le système de positionnement peut être associé à la structure de support et configuré pour placer ladite structure par rapport à plusieurs axes linéaires. Le système de retenue peut être associé à la structure de support et configuré pour retenir une partie d'un objet et déplacer ladite partie vers une plate-forme, de sorte que cette partie de l'objet adopte sensiblement la forme de la plate-forme.