The Boeing Company

Other

David L Banks

David Mitchell Anderson

Douglas Alan McCarville

Gerald F Herndon

Robert L Avery

Aydin Akdeniz

Simon D Senibi

Joseph A Marshall, Iv

Robert G Vos

Joseph Lawrence Hafenrichter

Joseph A Marshall

Mark A Curry

William J Renton

Gary E Georgeson

Robert James Miller

Chris K Carrell

Isaac R Bakker

Paul B Mori

David M Anderson

Mostafa Rassain

Mostafa Rassaian

Jeffrey Lynn Duce

James Johnathan Childress

Manny S Urcia

Charles W Manry, Jr

Otis Franklin Layton

Manny Salazar Urcia, Jr

Daniel Joseph Sego

Isaac Ron Bekker

Charles W Manry Jr

Douglas A Mccarville

Charles W Manry

Gary Earnest Georgeson

Adhesive bondlines in a cell-based structural array are thermally cured using tooling blocks inserted into the cells. The tooling blocks have embedded susceptors that are inductively heated by an alternating electromagnetic field generated by an electromagnet.

Induction curing of cell-based structural arrays

A structural wideband multifunctional aperture and methods are presented. A ground plane grounds radio frequency (RF) and direct current (DC) electrical fields. A structural egg crate circuit board comprises a grid of circuit board planes coupled to the ground plane and perpendicular to the ground plane around open boxes. A signal feed-line is coupled to the structural egg crate circuit board and couple-able to a signal transmission line. A driven feed layer parallel to the ground plane is coupled to the signal feed-line and to a side of the structural egg crate circuit board opposite to the ground plane.

Structural wideband multifunctional apertures

A method and apparatus for reworking an antenna aperture. A plurality of antenna cells comprise walls and antenna elements on the walls. Replacement antenna cells are placed adjacent to the plurality of antenna cells. The replacement antenna cells comprise a replacement wall and a replacement antenna element on the replacement wall. A conductive splice is attached to the replacement antenna element and to a one of the antenna elements on a one of the walls.

Reworking array structures

A method and apparatus for detecting a vehicle. An apparatus comprises a proximity detection system, a vehicle management system, and a notification system. The proximity detection system is associated with an aircraft and operably connected to a transducer. The proximity detection system is configured to determine a distance of a vehicle from a surface of the aircraft and a velocity of the vehicle relative to the aircraft. The vehicle management system operably connected to the proximity detection system. The vehicle management system is configured to determine a time the vehicle will be a threshold distance from the surface of the aircraft and an threshold amount of time to bring the vehicle to a predetermined velocity. The notification system is associated with the proximity detection system and configured to generate a notification signal in response to a determination that the time is less than the threshold amount of time.

Ground vehicle collision prevention systems and methods

The present invention comprises systems and methods for preventing collisions between aircraft and ground vehicles. In one embodiment, a system includes a proximity detection unit and a transducer proximate to a selected structural portion of an aircraft, the proximity detection unit being operable to emit ranging signals through the transducer and to receive reflected signals through the transducer to determine the position of an object within a ranging area adjacent to the structural portion. The system further includes an alarm device coupled to the proximity detection unit that is responsive to a signal generated by the proximity detection unit. In another embodiment, a method includes determining a distance between the ground service vehicle and a selected structural portion of the aircraft when the vehicle is positioned in a ranging area about the aircraft. The method further includes generating a proximity alarm based upon the distance.

A mobile platform is provided which has at least one component having an array of distributed piezoelectric transmitters and an associated array of distributed receivers. The receivers are configured to receive ultrasonic transmissions from the transmitters. Data from the receivers is stored in memory and processed through an algebraic reconstruction tomography algorithm which forms an image of the defect within the component. An algorithm is used to determine the position and size of the defect.

3D acoustic imaging using sensor array, longitudinal wave and algebraic reconstruction

Manufacturing process or in service defects acoustic imaging using sensor array

A system and method for detecting damage to a structure is provided. The system includes a voltage source and at least one capacitor formed as a layer within the structure and responsive to the voltage source. The system also includes at least one sensor responsive to the capacitor to sense a voltage of the capacitor. A controller responsive to the sensor determines if damage to the structure has occurred based on the variance of the voltage of the capacitor from a known reference value. A method for sensing damage to a structure involves providing a plurality of capacitors and a controller, and coupling the capacitors to at least one surface of the structure. A voltage of the capacitors is sensed using the controller, and the controller calculates a change in the voltage of the capacitors. The method can include signaling a display system if a change in the voltage occurs.

Three-dimensional structural damage localization system and method using layered two-dimensional array of capacitance sensors

Radar based ground vehicle collision prevention

A conformal, load bearing, phased array antenna system having a plurality of adjacently positioned antenna aperture sections that collectively form a single, enlarged antenna aperture. The aperture sections are each formed by intersecting wall panels that form a honeycomb-like core having a plurality of electromagnetic radiating elements embedded in the wall panels that form the core. The aperture wall panels are assembled onto a single, multi-faceted back skin, bonded thereto, and then machined to produce a desired surface contour. A radome formed by a single piece of composite material is then bonded to the contoured surface. Antenna electronics printed wiring boards are also bonded to an opposite side of the back skin. The contour is selected to match a mold line of a surface into which the antenna system is installed. The antenna is able to form an integral, load bearing portion of the structure into which it is installed.

Design and fabrication methodology for a phased array antenna with integrated feed structure-conformal load-bearing concept

A phased array antenna aperture able to form a structural, load bearing portion of another structure, for example, a portion of a mobile platform. The antenna aperture is formed with a plurality of radiating elements sandwiched between prepreg fabric plies to form independent wall sections having a plurality of electromagnetic radiating elements embedded therein. The wall sections are secured in a honeycomb arrangement to form an array of cells of radiating elements. The manufacturing methods described herein enable arrays of widely varying sizes and shapes to be created and used as structural, load bearing portions of a wing, fuselage, door panel or other area of a mobile platform. The antenna aperture is lightweight because it does not include the weight of parasitic support components typically required in the construction of phased array antenna apertures.

Structurally integrated antenna aperture and fabrication method

An antenna aperture and method of assembling same. The antenna aperture forms a honeycomb-like core structure with dipole radiating elements integrally formed into structural wall portions of the honeycomb-like core. The antenna aperture has sufficient structural strength to form a structural portion of a mobile platform, while still being sufficiently light in weight for weight-critical applications such as with airborne mobile platforms.

Structurally integrated phased array antenna aperture design and fabrication method

A antenna aperture having electromagnetic radiating elements embedded in structural wall portions of a honeycomb-like core. Independent wall sections each having a plurality electromagnetic radiating elements are formed into the honeycomb-like core. Feed portions of each radiating element form teeth that are copper plated before being assembled onto a back skin panel. Each of the teeth are then generally machined flush with a surface of the back skin to present electrical contact pads which enable electrical coupling to each of the radiating elements by an external antenna electronics board.

Design and fabrication methodology for a phased array antenna with shielded/integrated feed structure

Growing community of inventors

Bellevue, WA, United States of America

David L Banks