The Boeing Company

Theboeing Company

David Thomas Misciagna

Michael D Nevinsky

Philipp Andreas Boettcher

Derek R Tuck

Carson Alexander Smith

Douglas Reinhard Ludin

Christopher J Felker

William S Tolotta

Robert S Funk

Jessica J Fuhrer

Michael Vincent D'olio

Robert A DiChiara

Philip G Persaud

Dennis J Landi

Gina M Miller

Marc Daniel Spiccia Karasek

Joseph Orso

Christopher Jay Felker

Michael D Nevinski

A bladder. The bladder includes a bladder wall include first dimensions. The bladder also includes a first port disposed in the bladder wall. The bladder also includes knitted seams stitched into a first pattern in the bladder wall. The first pattern is configured such that when the bladder wall is subjected to a compressive force, the bladder collapses into a first pre-determined shape that has second dimensions less than the first dimensions.

Self-folding bladder

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 and method for mitigating thermal loading between engine exhaust structures having different coefficients of thermal expansion. The engine exhaust structure comprises a metallic duct portion, a ceramic duct portion, and a double bipod fitting joining the metallic duct portion to the ceramic duct portion. The double bipod fitting is capable of flexing and taking up the thermal expansion differences between the joined metallic and ceramic ducts across the full temperature spectrum that an engine exhaust structure will experience in service.

Double bipod fitting to mitigate thermal loading of engine exhaust structures

The embodiments described herein provide for lightning protection in aircrafts constructed with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP). In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) panel, a second CFRP panel that overlaps with the first CFRP panel in a vertical direction, and a fastener to join the first CFRP panel with the second CFRP panel, the fastener extending in the vertical direction in an area where the first CFRP panel and the second CFRP panel overlap. The apparatus further includes a plurality of electrically conductive pins in each of the first CFRP panel and the second CFRP panel, wherein the pins extend in the vertical direction proximate to the fastener to electrically connect the first CFRP panel and the second CFRP panel in the area where the first CFRP panel and the second CFRP panel overlap.

Lightning protection in aircrafts constructed with carbon fiber reinforced plastic

A fuel system for a rotorcraft is provided. The fuel system comprises a housing, a fuel bladder located within the housing, a first fuel reservoir, and a number of pressure relief valves. The first fuel reservoir is in fluid communication with the fuel bladder and stowed within the housing. The number of pressure relief valves are configured to divert fuel from the fuel bladder into the first fuel reservoir at a predetermined pressure such that the first fuel reservoir expands to reduce forces on the housing during a crash event.

Crash force attenuating fuel system

A protective assembly includes a gas bag and a fuel container which includes a first wall. The fuel container is positioned within an aircraft and the gas bag extends along the first wall of the fuel container. A method for assembling a protective assembly includes the step of positioning a gas bag within an aircraft such that the gas bag extends along a first wall of a fuel container.

Fuel bladder mass attenuation system

A fuel tank of an advanced ballistic tolerant fuel containment system is constructed with an inner layer designed to contain fuel, an intermediate layer or layers designed to self-seal any openings or holes made into the fuel tank, and an exterior layer that reinforces the fuel tank and provides the fuel tank with hard points for connection to an aircraft or vehicle. The interior layer, the intermediate layer and the exterior layer are all constructed of thermoplastic materials.

Advanced ballistic tolerant fuel containment tank

An electrical charge is placed on a tool used to cure a composite resin part layup. The charged tool produces an electrostatic force that attracts entrapped gases in the resin to the surface of the tool, thereby reducing porosities in the cured part.

Apparatus for reducing porosities in composite resin parts

Method for reducing porosities in composite resin parts

An assembly and method for manufacturing a composite reinforcement for unitizing a structure are provided. According to one embodiment, the assembly includes a base having a plurality of pins extending outwardly therefrom to define a structure about which a composite fiber is wound to define a composite reinforcement preform. The assembly also includes a plurality of mandrels positioned adjacent to the base and at least a portion of the composite reinforcement preform, and a cap that is positioned over at least a portion of the plurality of mandrels. The cap is configured to engage each of the mandrels to support the mandrels and the composite reinforcement preform during a curing process to form the composite reinforcement.

Composite intersection reinforcement

A ceramic fabric and a resin are combined to form a fire protection sheet capable of being co-cured onto a parent laminate structure. The resulting monolithic composite firewall shows fire protection ability comparable to that of the conventional titanium structure, without the problems associated therewith, such as titanium panel separation and disbonding. The fire protection sheet easily conforms to the shape of the parent laminate and is also useful as a repair material for damaged conventionally protected firewalls.

Growing community of inventors

West Chester, PA, United States of America

David Thomas Misciagna