The Boeing Company

Brian Dodgson

Daniel M Rotter

Brad Andrew Coxon

John Dempsey Morris

Stephen Lee Metschan

Khanh Mai Pham

Gabriel Zane Forston

Jake Adam Reeves

Patrick J Shephard

Steven Philip Hansen

Patrick Shephard

Systems and methods for assembling elongate composite structures are disclosed. The systems include a first rigid elongate cure tool defining a first elongate support surface for supporting a first elongate charge of composite material (FEC), a second rigid elongate cure tool defining a second elongate support surface for supporting a second elongate charge of composite material (SEC), and a flexible elongate caul plate. The systems further include a vacuum compaction film, a translation structure, and a vacuum source. Methods according to the present disclosure include positioning a vacuum compaction film, positioning a flexible elongate caul plate, and positioning an FEC. The methods further include positioning an SEC, contacting a region of the FEC with a region of the SEC, sealing the vacuum compaction film, evacuating the enclosed volume to generate an elongate composite assembly, and heating the elongate composite assembly to define the elongate composite structure.

Systems and methods for assembling elongate composite structures

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Brian Dodgson