Mated components and method and system therefore

Abstract

A component pair is provided. The component pairs includes a first component comprising a first mating surface defining a first geometry associated with a geometric key, and a second component comprising a second mating surface defining a second geometry, the second geometry being determined using the geometric key and being complementary to the first geometry. The first component and the second component may be properly mated together only when the first geometry is received by the second geometry.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A component pair comprising:
 a first component comprising a first mating surface defining a first geometry associated with a geometric key; and   a second component comprising a second mating surface defining a second geometry, the second geometry being determined using the geometric key and being complementary to the first geometry, wherein the first component and the second component may be properly mated together only when the first geometry is received by the second geometry.   
     
     
         2 . The component pair of  claim 1 , wherein the first geometry of the first mating surface comprises a male feature and wherein the second geometry of the second mating surface comprises a female feature, wherein the male feature and the female feature form an interlocking assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The component pair of  claim 2 , wherein one of the first geometry and the second geometry is recessed, and the other one of the first geometry and the second geometry is protruded to form the interlocking assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The component pair of  claim 1 , wherein the first geometry of the first mating surface comprises a plurality of bolt holes spaced in a non-uniform pattern about the first mating surface, and wherein the second geometry of the second mating surface comprises a plurality of bolt studs spaced in the non-uniform pattern around the second mating surface, and wherein the non-uniform pattern comprises the plurality of bolt holes not being equidistant about a circumferential direction and varying in position along a radial direction. 
     
     
         5 . The component pair of  claim 1 , wherein the first mating surface and the second mating surface are mounting flanges. 
     
     
         6 . The component pair of  claim 5 , wherein the mounting flanges include a plurality of pins and a plurality of tails received within the pins when interlocked. 
     
     
         7 . The component pair of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a triggering feature positioned proximate the first mating surface of the first component; and   a trigger positioned proximate the second mating surface of the second component, wherein the trigger engages the triggering feature only when the component pair is properly mated.   
     
     
         8 . The component pair of  claim 7 , wherein a controller performs an action in response to the triggering feature being engaged. 
     
     
         9 . The component pair of  claim 1 , wherein the first geometry comprises a first dovetail mating feature on the first mating surface and wherein the second geometry comprises a second dovetail mating feature on the second mating surface, wherein the second dovetail mating feature is configured to mate with the first dovetail mating feature. 
     
     
         10 . The component pair of  claim 1 , wherein the first component is a first pipe having a non-circular cross sectional profile and wherein the second component is a second pipe to be received within the first pipe having a complementary non-circular cross sectional profile. 
     
     
         11 . The component pair of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the second component is additively manufactured. 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a component pair, the method comprising:
 assigning the component pair a geometric key;   determining a first geometry using the geometric key;   forming the first geometry on a first mating surface of a first component of the component pair;   determining a second geometry using the geometric key; and   forming the second geometry on a second mating surface of a second component of the component pair.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 assigning the component pair a component identifier associated with the geometric key; and   labeling the first component and the second component with the component identifier.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 recording the geometric key and the component identifier in a database for later recall.   
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a component pair, the method comprising:
 obtaining a geometric key associated with a component identifier of a first component, the first component defining a first mating surface having a first geometry;   determining a second geometry using the geometric key, the second geometry being complementary to the first geometry; and   forming the second geometry on a second mating surface of a second component of the component pair, wherein determining the second geometry using the geometric key comprises:
 generating, using the geometric key and a mathematical algorithm, data indicative of the second geometry. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 mating the first component and the second component by joining the second geometry of the second mating surface with the first geometry of the first mating surface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the geometric key is encrypted. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 recording the geometric key and the component identifier in a database for later recall.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 assigning the component pair at least one component identifier and the geometric key;   determining a first geometry using the geometric key; and   forming the first geometry on the first mating surface of the first component of the component pair.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first mating surface further defines a triggering feature and the second mating surface defines a trigger, wherein the trigger engages the triggering feature only when the component pair is properly mated, the method further comprising:
 performing an action in response to the triggering feature being engaged by the trigger.