The Boeing Company

Harry E Townsend

John Richard Porter

Darrell Darwin Jones

Paul Elfes Nelson

James Niemann Buttrick

Ronald W Outous

Charles H Glaisyer

Mark C Boberg

Terrence J Rowe

Laurance N Hazlehurst

Daniel R Smith

James N Buttrick, Jr

David Paul Banks

Bobby C Philpott, Jr

Kostadinos D Papanikolaou

Darrin Michael Hansen

Russell Joe Heeter

Kevin Darrell Pate

Thu A Nguyen

Jeffrey Denys Morgan

Dale Winter

Steven C Steckmyer

Clayton Lynn Munk

Dan Dresskell Day

Paul Joseph Shemeta

Luis A Perla

Avinoam Zafir

Kostandinos D Papanikolaou

Bobby C Philpott

Luis A Peria

Laurence N Hazelhurst

A production system for manufacturing a workpiece comprises an index system including a plurality of index devices removably mounted on the workpiece at known longitudinally spaced locations therealong, and a longitudinally extending index member releasably engaged with at least two of the index devices such that a position and orientation of the index member are fixed relative to the workpiece by the index devices, the index member having position-indicating features distributed therealong. The production system further comprises a machine module mounted for longitudinal movement along the index member and operable to perform an operation, the machine module being operable to detect the position-indicating features on the index member and thereby determine a position of the machine module relative to the workpiece.

Production system and an associated index device for use as a reference feature

A lightning-protected conductive composite fuel tank includes a conductive material arrayed on an outer surface to at least partially cover a fastener centerline. Through holes extend along the fastener centerline through the conductive material and the underlying fuel tank shell. These through holes are countersunk into the fuel tank shell to a depth such that a fastener in a through hole will avoid electrical continuity or communication with the conductive material on the fuel tank outer surface. The gap in the countersunk through holes, between the fastener heads and the coextensive outer surface of the fuel tank, is filled with a dielectric or nonconductive material.

Lightning protection system for aircraft composite structure

Indexing device for manufacturing system for aircraft structures and other large structures

Manufacturing system for aircraft structures and other large structures

A method for assembling wings includes supporting a pair of wing spars, which include a plurality of coordination features, upon a pair of stanchions in a generally horizontal position. A plurality of ribs and wing panels are accurately fastened to the pair of wing spars at a first workstation using the coordination features to position accurately the parts. The combination is transferred to downstream workstations via a ground transport vehicle for further processing and assembly to define a pulsed flow wing assembly system.

Single piece flow based wing assembly system

An applicator for applying a fluid substance to a drilled hole as part of an automatic fastening machine. The fastener machine drills the hole in the workpiece, such as an aircraft wing panel, and then the substance applicator applies the substance to the hole, prior to subsequent installation of the fastener within the hole. The substance applicator, which is connected to a movable pressure foot, is pneumatically operated so that a head portion of the applicator is extended laterally over the hole, and a tip assembly in the head is extended vertically downward toward the hole. This operational sequence is accomplished by means of variable rate springs which bias the tip assembly and base to retracted positions. The substance is delivered to the tip assembly from a storage reservoir by means of a peristaltic pump. Positive shutoff of the substance to the tip assembly is achieved by a pivotally mounted shutoff arm assembly. When one end of the shutoff arm is engaged and elevated by the retracted head, the opposite end of the arm is depressed against the compressible tube to pinch off the sealant flow therethrough.

Sealant applicator and method for an automatic fastener machine

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Harry E Townsend