The Boeing Company

Antonio Carlos Rufin

Tanni Sisco

John Richard Porter

Jeffrey A Wilkerson

Richard Bruce Tanner

Joe Heeter

Dale Winter

Willard N Westre

Jeffrey Alan Wilkerson

Systems and methods are provided for braiding Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) tape. One method includes drawing multiple lanes of MMC tape, comprising a matrix of metal reinforced by fibers, from bobbins arranged around a mandrel. The method also includes braiding the multiple lanes to form a preform at the mandrel for an MMC part and consolidating the preform via application of heat and pressure.

Metal matrix composite tape fabrication, braiding, and consolidation to form metal matrix composite parts

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating fasteners. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a fastener. The fastener includes a head, a cylindrical shank that extends from the head and is dimensioned to engage in a fit with a corresponding hole, and a coating that is discontinuously speckled around a circumference of the shank and extends axially along the shank, leaving irregular portions of a surface of the shank exposed. The coating exhibits a higher lubricity than the surface, and the coating exhibits a higher dielectric withstand voltage than the surface.

Fasteners having enhanced electrical energy dispersion properties

According to a preferred embodiment, a multi-piece fastener with self-indexing nut is disclosed. The multi-piece fastener is designed for use in low clearance areas such as aircraft wing side-of-body joint locations. The multi-piece fastener comprises a stud comprising an elongated part extending between a first end face and a second end face, a threaded head fastener, a threaded tail fastener, and a wrenching feature. A self-indexing feature is provided on the stud and head fastener which allows automatic orientation of the head fastener with respect to the stud.

Multi-piece fastener with self-indexing nut

The minimum tensile elongation specification of a manufactured part, such as metal castings, forgings and premium mill products, is verified in-situ using a simple, inexpensive, nondestructive apparatus and method in which a through-hole is formed in the part to be tested. A disposable mandrel having a diameter adapted to expand the hole to the minimum elongation required in the part's specification is pressed into the hole. The presence of radial cracks in the part adjacent to the hole after the mandrel has been pressed in indicates that the part does not meet the specification, and the absence of such cracks indicates that it does. Since the test is performed on the part itself, the cost of the manufacture and testing of tensile test coupons is eliminated, and different areas of the part may be sampled easily, thereby enabling a closer, more thorough evaluation of part's material bulk properties.

Nondestructive verification of minimum tensile elongation of manufactured parts

A high-temperature, low-thermal expansion fastener for joining low thermal expansion refractory materials includes a pin with an inset portion on the shank of the pin that forms a head-facing shoulder, at least one shell insert which is seatable about the inset portion, and an internally threaded member which can be screwed onto the threaded outer surface of the shell inserts to maintain the inserts in abutting relationship with the inset portion. Forces within the fastener are transferred from the internally threaded member to the shell inserts which in turn press against the head-facing shoulder on the pin shank to place the shank in tension. The fastener parts, including a spacer, may be selected to compensate for thermal expansion or contraction of the fastened elements.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Antonio Carlos Rufin