The Boeing Company

August West McKenna

Robert Steven Wright

Jack William Mauldin

James Tane Iwamoto

Bruce Allen Biskup

Richard Kevin Wilson

James Robert Schnelz

Luke D Torjesen

Daniel W Stewart

Reed Daniel Wilson

Peter Albert Madakson

Richard Eugene Noble

Scott Thomas Olson

Raymond Helgeson

Frederick Zimmer

Guide systems for installing aircraft structures are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first guide structured to be supported by a first hinge component of a first aircraft structure and a second guide structured to be supported by a second hinge component of a second aircraft structure. The first guide is to receive the second guide when the second structure is at an installation angle relative to the first structure. Engagement between the first guide and the second guide to enable rotational movement of the first hinge component and the second hinge component when the second aircraft structure moves to an installed position.

Guide systems for installing aircraft structures

Guide systems for installing aircraft structures are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first guide system structured to removably couple to a first aircraft structure having a first hinge component. A second guide system is structured to removably couple to a second aircraft structure having a second hinge component. The first guide system is to engage the second guide system to enable alignment between the first hinge component and the second hinge component during assembly of the first aircraft structure and the second aircraft structure.

Apparatus, devices, and methods relating to a mechanical proximity sensor for a slidable extension. An illustrative apparatus may comprise an elevated platform and an extension slidably extendable from the elevated platform toward a workpiece. The apparatus also may comprise a probe coupled movably to the extension. The apparatus further may comprise an indicator connected to the probe and configured to rotate from a first orientation to a second orientation in response to engagement between the probe and the workpiece as the extension approaches the workpiece. The indicator may be configured to complete rotation from the first orientation to the second orientation when a leading edge of the extension is located at a predetermined distance from the workpiece.

Mechanical proximity sensor for a slidable extension of a worker support apparatus

Systems and methods for moving a vehicle component relative to the vehicle, the system including first and second upwardly-extending supports; a lift frame between the first and second supports including a crossbeam, and a pair of cambered truss assemblies secured to the crossbeam and configured to be attached to the vehicle component; movable first and second crossbeam support assemblies on the first and second supports to support the rotation of the crossbeam; a first lift mechanism configured to move the first crossbeam support assembly along the first support in response to a first control signal; a rotational drive mechanism configured to rotate the crossbeam relative to the first and second crossbeam support assemblies in response to a second control signal; and an electronic controller configured to generate the first and second control signals to change the position of the vehicle component relative to the vehicle.

Systems and methods for moving a vehicle component relative to the vehicle structure

Positioning system and method for positioning engine components on an aircraft, the system including a moveable support for the engine component, a laser assembly, and a system controller. First and second lasers of the laser assembly align their respective beams with an engine target position on the aircraft and provide an indication of a first angle of the first laser beam to a reference line, and an indication of a second angle of the second laser beam to the reference line; and the system controller is configured to rotate the moveable support to rotationally position the engine component, determine the vertical distance between the engine component and the target position based at least in part on the first and second angles, and to control a lift mechanism to reduce the vertical distance between the engine component and the engine.

Systems and methods for positioning aircraft engine components

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Everett, WA, United States of America

August West McKenna