The Boeing Company

Jacob E Koopmans

Darrell Darwin Jones

Kurtis Shuldberg Willden

Daniel R Smith

Scott Edward Krajca

Jonathan Y Ahn

Christopher R Loesche

James P Dobberfuhl

Steven Kuan-chi Wu

Gregory R Klempel

Marcus C Hart

Carlos Walker

Hiteshkumar M Patel

Justin K Alfred

Steven Kuan-Chi Wu

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating multiple segment spars for an aircraft. In one example the method includes fabricating preforms of fiber reinforced material for spar segments, hardening the preforms to form the spar segments, and bonding the spar segments together to form a completed spar detail. In addition to bonding, other examples include co-curing and fastening the spar segments. In additional examples, the spar segments include kinks or sub-kinks as described.

Fabrication of multi-segment spars

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for removing material from a surface of a carrier. The apparatus comprises a buckling mechanism that comprises a gripper configured to engage the material. When engaged with the material, the gripper is movable relative to the surface of the carrier to move the material relative to the surface of the carrier and to form a buckle in the material. The apparatus also comprises a separation mechanism that is coupled to the buckling mechanism and comprises a wedge that is movable relative to the surface of the carrier to be insertable into the buckle formed in the material.

Material removal apparatus, system, and method

Growing community of inventors

Everett, WA, United States of America

Jacob E Koopmans