US 11,794,303 B2
Systems and methods for polishing component surfaces using polishing tool mounted on motorized apparatus
Huan Tan, Clifton Park, NY (US); Yakov Polishchuk, Niskayuna, NY (US); Shaopeng Liu, Clifton Park, NY (US); Li Zhang, Clifton Park, NY (US); and Douglas Forman, Niskayuna, NY (US)
Assigned to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Jan. 8, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/242,591.
Prior Publication US 2020/0215660 A1, Jul. 9, 2020
Int. Cl. B24B 37/04 (2012.01); B24B 27/00 (2006.01); B25J 5/00 (2006.01); B25J 19/02 (2006.01); B25J 15/00 (2006.01); B25J 9/16 (2006.01); G05B 19/00 (2006.01)
CPC B24B 37/042 (2013.01) [B24B 27/0076 (2013.01); B25J 5/007 (2013.01); B25J 9/16 (2013.01); B25J 15/0019 (2013.01); B25J 19/022 (2013.01); B25J 19/023 (2013.01); B25J 19/026 (2013.01); G05B 19/00 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for polishing a surface of a component, said system comprising:
a motorized apparatus comprising:
a body;
a drive system coupled to said body and configured to move said body relative to the component, said drive system comprising a motor;
an arm comprising a proximal end coupled to said body and a distal end opposite said proximal end, wherein at least a portion of said arm is configured to move relative to said body;
a tool coupled to said distal end of said arm, wherein said tool is configured to polish the surface of the component; and
an actuator coupled to said arm and configured to position said arm relative to the component such that said tool reaches a target area on the component; and
a controller communicatively coupled to said motorized apparatus, wherein said controller is configured to:
determine an estimated power consumption of said motorized apparatus during a polishing operation,
determine a threshold distance that is less than a full reach of said arm and that prevents vibrations of said tool and said arm from exceeding a predefined level;
determine a movement of at least one of said body and said arm relative to the component that enables said tool to reach the target area on the component while maintaining i) a distance between said tool and said body that is less than the determined threshold distance, and ii) the estimated power consumption less than a threshold power consumption,
position at least one of said body and said arm in accordance with the determined movement; and
control operation of said tool to polish the surface of the component and to maintain the estimated power consumption less than the threshold power consumption during the polishing operation.