The Boeing Company

University of Delaware

Christopher J Felker

David Thomas Misciagna

Michael D Nevinsky

Sofya A Suntsova

Michael Vincent D'olio

Jonathan Wayne Gabrys

John W Gillespie, Jr

Erik Thostenson

Dirk Heider

Michael Joseph DeLuca

Gina M Miller

Gaurav Pandey

Ahmad Abu-Obaid

Jon W Gabrys

A tool for forming a composite part and a method of making the tool and the composite part are disclosed. The tool includes a top surface that supports the composite part during forming, the top surface comprising a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion arranged on either side of a central part contacting surface; a first integrated heat sink arranged on an opposite surface of the top surface, wherein a shape of the first integrated heat sink is based on a thermal topology optimization process of the tool; a first vacuum port arranged at a first location on the first lateral portion; and a second vacuum port arranged at a second location on the first lateral portion, wherein the first vacuum port and the second vacuum port provide access to a vacuum pump to provide at least a partial vacuum to the top surface during composite part formation.

Thermal management for composite tooling

A molding tool and method for making the molding tool by additive manufacturing is provided. The molding tool includes a tool body having a tooling surface for molding a part, the tool body comprising a eutectic alloy. The method for making the molding tool by additive manufacturing includes forming a first layer of eutectic alloy, the forming comprising depositing the eutectic alloy in liquid form and then cooling for form a solid eutectic alloy; forming an additional layer of the eutectic alloy on the first layer, the forming of the additional layer comprising depositing the eutectic alloy in liquid form and then cooling to form the solid eutectic alloy; and repeating forming an additional layer of the eutectic alloy on the first layer, the forming of the additional layer comprising depositing the eutectic alloy in liquid form and then cooling to form the solid eutectic alloy, and repeating one or more times to form a structure comprising a tool body having a tooling surface.

Tool comprising eutectic material, method of making the tool and method of using the tool

A system for modifying a stiffness of a structure of a vehicle using vibrational energy of the vehicle includes a variable-stiffness layer, having a selectively controllable Young's modulus, attached to the structure, and a conversion layer, coupled to the variable-stiffness layer, the conversion layer configured to convert vibrational energy from the structure into electrical energy, and to supply the electrical energy to the variable-stiffness layer to adjust a stiffness of the variable-stiffness layer.

Vibration-harvesting, variable-stiffness system and method

Methods, systems and apparatuses are disclosed comprising a tunable multilayered array reinforcement system having a supramolecular adhesive embedded with nanoparticles that are reoriented on-demand in response to or in advance of vibrational effects in a moving or stationary structure.

Multilayer system having reconfigurable dynamic structure reinforcement using nanoparticle embedded supramolecular adhesive and method

A system for use in monitoring a structure is provided. The system includes a strip of piezoresistive material including nano-elements, electrodes coupled to the strip, and a resistance detector configured to measure a resistance of the strip.

System and methods for use in monitoring a structure

A containment device for use in retaining debris material traveling radially outward in a rotary device is provided as is a turbine having a containment device. The containment device includes an outer ring that extends generally circumferentially and defines an inner surface directed radially inward. A plurality of energy absorption elements are disposed on the inner surface of the outer ring. Each absorption element extends both radially inward and circumferentially so that each absorption element is configured to be plastically deformed radially outward by debris material impacting the absorption element. Each absorption element can include a base and a cap, the base extending in a generally radial direction and the cap being connected to the radially inward end of the respective base and defining an angle therewith.

Growing community of inventors

Downingtown, PA, United States of America

Christopher J Felker