The Boeing Company

Eric Eldon Deck

Steven J Burpo

David J Sundquist

Trevor Lee Howard

Kurtis Shuldberg Willden

Brett Ian Lyons

Michael Palmore Matlack

Daniel Joseph Braley

Ken Nguyen

Jonathan Blake Vance

Zachary Benjamin Renwick

Andrew Joseph Martignoni, Iii

Andrew Lawrence Bauer

Charles A Rhodes

Trevor E Tucker

Thomas Joseph Gonze

Nicole Renee Williams

Garrett B Peters

William Beaver

Travis Grimes

Amon Alan Chambers

Carl Dekker

Allyson Antonio

Janet Mary Wick

Jeffry K Berner

Charles Alan Rhodes

David John Sundquist

Andrew J Martignoni

Nicole R Williams

Janet M Wick

Thomas J Gonze

Andrew J Martignoni Iii

A drape forming apparatus for use in forming a composite structure. The apparatus includes a forming tool including an upper forming surface and at least one side forming surface that extends from the upper forming surface. The forming tool receives at least one layer of composite material over the upper forming surface. The apparatus also includes a flange forming device including a tray coplanarly aligned with the upper forming surface when in a first operating position. The tray is configured to receive a flange portion of the at least one layer of composite material. A pressurized bladder extends over the forming tool and the tray. The pressurized bladder is configured to induce a first force against the tray such that the tray rotates about a pivot line, and such that the flange portion is withdrawn from the tray and draped over the at least one side forming surface.

Apparatus and method of forming a composite structure

A closed-angle composite airfoil spar is provided for an airfoil assembly. The composite airfoil spar comprises a web portion having a thickness. The composite airfoil spar also comprises a flange portion having a thickness. The flange portion extends transverse to the web portion. The composite airfoil spar further comprises a radius portion interconnecting the web and flange portions. The radius portion is an acceptable amount thinner relative to thickness of the web portion and thickness of the flange portion based on design requirements and material properties.

Closed-angle composite airfoil spar and method of fabricating the same

Core structures () for composite panels () of an aircraft (), composite panels () and aircraft () including the core structures (), and methods () of manufacturing the composite panels () are disclosed herein. The core structures () include a first side (), a second side (), and a connecting region () that interconnects an upper portion () of the first side () with an upper portion () of the second side (). The first side (), the second side (), and the connecting region () at least partially define an antenna housing (), which defines a housing volume () configured to contain an aircraft antenna () of the aircraft (), and an electromagnetic wave transmission region () configured to permit electromagnetic waves to pass therethrough. The electromagnetic wave transmission region () defines a plurality of kite-shaped voids () arranged in a repeating pattern and bounded by a corresponding plurality of walls (), at least 10% of which extends at least substantially perpendicular to a surface () that bounds the electromagnetic wave transmission region ().

Core structures for composite panels of an aircraft, composite panels and aircraft including the core structures, and methods of manufacturing the composite panels

A tool assembly includes a support frame including support beams and support mounts supporting the support beams. The support frame is rigid and used to transport the tool assembly. A support tool is supported by the support frame and includes a faceplate and a supporting grid structure formed with the faceplate as a monolithic structure defined by a series of AM layers. The faceplate has a supporting surface at a top of the support tool for supporting a working component. The supporting grid structure engages the support beams such that loads are transferred between the support tool and the support frame through the support beams. The support frame maintains dimensional stability of the support tool during transport and when resting within an allowable tolerance of the support tool.

Additive manufactured tool assembly

A system includes a bladder configured to deform to at least partially surround a draping tool. The bladder has a pattern configured to distort as the bladder deforms. The system also includes an imaging device configured to generate image data of a sequence of images of the pattern of the bladder as the bladder deforms about the draping tool.

System and method associated with drape forming

A drape forming apparatus for that includes a forming tool including an upper forming surface and a side forming surface extending from the upper forming surface. The forming tool receives a layer of composite material over the upper forming surface. The apparatus includes a flange forming device including an upper plate, a lower plate, and a receiving slot defined therebetween. The receiving slot receives a flange portion of the layer of composite material, and the flange forming device is translatable relative to the forming tool such that the flange portion of the layer of composite material is withdrawn from the receiving slot and draped over the side forming surface. The apparatus includes a pressurized bladder that extends over the forming tool and the upper plate. The pressurized bladder forces the flange portion against the side forming surface as the flange forming device translates relative to the forming tool.

A method of communicating a gauge measurement may include receiving from a gauge a measurement signal representative of a measurement output by the gauge. The method may further include producing a communication signal including the received measurement. The method may further include wirelessly transmitting the communication signal according to a wireless network protocol. In some examples, a wireless metrology assembly may comprise an input/output controller operatively coupled to a first wireless network controller. The input/output controller may be configured to receive from a gauge a measurement signal representative of a measurement output by the gauge. The input/output controller may be configured to receive the measurement signal from the gauge when the wireless metrology assembly is operatively coupled to the gauge, and to produce a communication signal including the received measurement. The first wireless network controller may be configured to wirelessly transmit the communication signal according to a wireless network protocol.

Wireless metrology communication

Described herein is an apparatus that includes a surface. The apparatus also includes a stop, deformable lock, first retainer, and second retainer coupled to the surface. The deformable lock is spaced apart from the stop in a first direction. The first retainer includes a first overhang. The second retainer includes a second overhang, and the second retainer is spaced apart from the first retainer in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Apparatus, system, and method for retaining a nut element to a part

A masking plug may including a retainer having a longitudinal axis, the retainer including a central portion and an axially aligned anchor portion, the anchor portion being outwardly biased relative to the longitudinal axis, and a plug body disposed around the central portion, wherein the anchor portion is configured to exert an axial force upon the plug body when inserted within an opening.

Masking plug

Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for retaining a fastening element in a retention tool. The retention tool may include a housing that includes a socket configured to receive fastening elements. The retention tool may further include a torque restrictor that is coupled to the housing, and is configured to transfer a rotational force to the fastening elements. The retention tool further includes a retention plate coupled to the housing and configured to retain the fastening elements in the socket. The retention plate may have a first resistance configured to enable the insertion of the fastening elements into the socket in a first direction in response to a first application of a first force. The retention plate may also have a second resistance configured to enable the removal of the fastening elements from the socket in a second direction in response to a second application of a second force.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for a retention tool

Growing community of inventors

Ladue, MO, United States of America

Eric Eldon Deck