The Boeing Company

Austin T McAnelly

Michael K Louie

Lisa Christina Carlson

Scott Edward Krajca

Jonathan Y Ahn

Jordan Seth Erickson

Richard A Miller

Chace Wilcoxson

Gregory R Klempel

Jace J Jerome

Deborah A Fisher

A method for depositing composite material onto a tool using an automated machine. The method includes coupling a first mobile platform with a second mobile platform to form a coupled system, the first mobile platform supporting the automated machine and the second mobile platform supporting the tool. The method further includes indexing the automated machine relative to the tool. The method further includes depositing composite material from the automated machine onto the tool while the coupled system moves along a production line.

Continuous-line manufacturing system and method for composite parts

There is provided an automated removal apparatus for selectively removing one or more trimmed portions of a laminated ply in a ply-by-ply fabrication process. The automated removal apparatus includes a rotatable reel having a plurality of retractable vacuum panels attached around the rotatable reel. Each retractable vacuum panel has one or more retractable vacuum pad assemblies, and each retractable vacuum pad assembly has a vacuum pad with a vacuum port and a self-sealing valve. The automated removal apparatus further includes actuator assemblies attached to the plurality of retractable vacuum panels, friction reducing elements attached around the rotatable reel, a drive assembly attached to the rotatable reel, and a pneumatic system attached to the rotatable reel and including a valve manifold operable to control an air flow to the actuator assemblies and to one or more vacuum generators to generate a vacuum flow.

Automated removal apparatus, system, and method for selectively removing trimmed portions of a laminated ply in a ply-by-ply fabrication process

Growing community of inventors

Tacoma, WA, United States of America

Austin T McAnelly