The Boeing Company

George V Neilson

William Thomas Kline

Robert F Mittelstadt

Mark Michael Walker

Danny Lee Beaman

George R Stumpf, Jr

Edwin T Baker

An apparatus and method for testing a spindle are provided. The apparatus includes a rotational load device and a linear load device. The rotational load device is connected to the spindle via a shaft and configured to rotationally load the spindle. The linear load device is configured to apply a predetermined linear load on the shaft, so that the linear load is at least partially transmitted to the spindle. The spindle can be subjected to various linear and rotational loads to determine the effectiveness of the spindle, and the performance of the spindle can be measured.

Spindle test apparatus and method

A hand assisted lamination apparatus (1) for use in making a laminated composite article, the apparatus (1) including:

Hand assisted lamination system

A web (102) of backing material to which a web (104) of composite material is adhered is tensioned between two reels (12). A mold (100) is brought into position relative to the webs (102, 104) and located in an oriented closely spaced position relative to a ply (106) cut from the web (104). Localized downward forces are applied to the backing material (102) opposite the ply (106) by extending vacuum cups (40) or ejecting streams of air from nozzles (72). The downward forces move the ply (106) toward the mold (100) and into contact with portions of the mold (100). The ply (106) adheres to the portions of the mold (100) which it contacts. The vacuum cups (40) are moved along the web (102) and then retracted. The suction of the vacuum cups (40) and the tensioning of the web (102) cause separation of the web (102) from the adhered ply (106). When streams of air provide the downward force, the tensioning of the web (102) causes the separation.

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Powell, WY, United States of America

George V Neilson