Lockheed Martin Corporation

David A Hooke

Walter McRae Franklin, Iii

John A Klostermann

Matthew Grant Swain

Matt Swain

One leg of a connector connector is embedded inside a slot cut in a base panel structure. Adjacent laterally extensive legs overlap and are bonded to the face sheet of the base panel structure. Structural members can be attached to the remaining leg(s) of the connector. The legs bonded to the base panel structure enable loads to be transferred to or from the panel structure, and enable peel-off loads to be distributed through the base panel structure.

Embedded connector attached to a base panel

An apparatus for performing machining operations on an object includes a carriage, a movable head configurable with an operating attachment to perform the machining operations on the object, and a position determination system operable to determine the spatial relationship of the carriage and the object and provide a first signal representative thereof. The position determination system periodically determines the spatial relationship of the head to the object during machining operations on the object and provides a second signal representative thereof. The second signal is used to re-position the head to a desired position during the machining operations.

Apparatus and methods for performing operations on an object

A machine for performing machining operations on a work-piece is disclosed that includes a carriage with a robotic arm mounted thereon. The arm includes a movable head containing a tool for performing the machining operations on the work-piece. A laser position determination system is included for determining the actual spatial relationship position the carriage and the work-piece and providing a first signal representative thereof and further determining the spatial relationship of the head to the work-piece during actual machining operations on the work-piece and providing a second signal representative thereof. A computer having a computer program provides a third signal to the robotic arm for machining the work-piece based on a predetermined spatial relationship between the carriage and the work-piece and for receiving the first and second signals and adjusting the third signal based on the actual spatial relationship between the carriage and the work-piece and the head and the work-piece.

Machine for performing machining operations on a workpiece and method of controlling same

Improved joints for cryogenic liquid-containing tanks are disclosed. The joints include a support plate, a lower arm mounted on the support plate, an upper arm mounted on the support plate spaced from the lower arm, and tank skins extending into the space between the lower and upper arms. Sealing layers are provided between the tank skins and the joint arms. The joints are particularly useful for space launch vehicle cryogenic liquid propellant tanks which must be lightweight, withstand high structural loads and maintain leak-free conditions.

Method for making a cryogenic tank joint

Cryogenic tank joint

Improved joints for cryogenic liquid-containing tanks are disclosed. The joints include a support plate, a lower arm mounted on the support plate, an upper arm mounted on the support plate spaced from the lower arm, and tank skins extending into the space between the lower and upper arms. Sealing layers are provided between the tank skins and the joint arms. The joints are particularly useful for space launch vehicle cryogenic liquid propellant tanks, which must be lightweight, withstand high structural loads and maintain leak-free conditions.

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Palmdale, CA, United States of America

David A Hooke