The Boeing Company

Benjamin Bowen Lee

Douglas Alan McCarville

Daniel M Rotter

Michael Robert Chapman

Marcin Artur Rabiega

Martin Wayne Hansen

Jason A Medenciy

Jose L Encinosa

Stephen K Halladin

Russell D Chiupka

Samuel F Zambrana

Andrey F Yurchik

Thomas P Harper

Joshua Dee Little

John Dempsey Morris

Garrett C Hanson

Silas Lawton Studley

Erik Lund

Bruce S Howard

Mark C Boberg

Mark S Bunker

Matthew R Desjardien

Derek J Flolid

Stephen Glade Holley

Michael Karas

Florante M Halili

David G Nguyen

Derek Willis

Jesse A Webb

John F Jenkins

Blake Rafferty

John D O'Connell

Eric J Walker

Douglas Alan Mccarville

John D O'CONNELL

Composite structure fabrication systems and methods. The systems include a plurality of ply carriers, each of which is configured to support at least one ply segment, and an elongate forming mandrel, which defines an elongate ply forming surface that is shaped to define a surface contour of the composite structure. The systems further include a carrier transfer device, which is configured to selectively convey a selected ply carrier from a ply kitting area to an intermediate location, and a forming machine, which is configured to deform the selected ply carrier and a respective ply segment over a selected portion of the elongate ply forming surface. The forming machine further is configured to separate the selected ply carrier from the respective ply segment and return the selected ply carrier to the carrier transfer device. The methods include methods of operating the systems.

Composite structure fabrication systems and methods

A ladder includes a pair of generally curved side rails arranged in a spaced apart manner, a plurality of fixed rungs disposed between the side rails, a plurality of pairs of rung supports, and a plurality of hinged rungs. Each of the pairs of rung supports is horizontally aligned with each other and disposed on respective inner sides of the side rails. The rung supports are spaced apart from the fixed rungs along lengths of the side rails. Each rung support includes a flanged end portion having an aperture therein. Each hinged rung is associated with a respective pair of rung supports. Each hinged rung has a first end pivotally coupled to the flanged end portion of a first rung support in the respective pair of rung supports such that each hinged rung is pivotal between a secured position between the rung supports and a retracted position.

Ergonomic ladder

An apparatus for forming a material layer onto a form tool may include at least one nosepiece configured to laterally sweep a ply carrier onto a form tool contour. The apparatus may include a pair of tension arms configured to support opposing lateral sides of a ply carrier having a material layer mounted to a lower surface thereof. The apparatus may include one or more actuators configured to position the tension arms during forming of the ply carrier to the form tool contour. The one or more actuators may be configured to sense and control lateral tension in the ply carrier during forming of the ply carrier to the form tool contour.

Apparatus and method for automated layup of composite structures

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Tacoma, WA, United States of America

Benjamin Bowen Lee