The Boeing Company

Other

John R Henry

Andrew M Hopkins

Christopher Gary Harris

James M Kestner

Thomas Dean Wilson

Joshua P Carlsen

Kari P Larkin

Scott Fisher

Isaac K Jacob

Bianca M Moran

Robert D Dennis

Jeff D Eastin

Taylor M Williamson

Benjamin Jeffrey Stephenson

William Stahl Hollensteiner

Timothy David Aquino

William Henry Ingram, Jr

Anton Troshchenovskyy

Jessica Conaty

Jordan McHale Edginton

Cody Allan Beagley

Todd S Trujillo

A method for use in forming a composite structure that includes dispensing a first sheet of composite material, cutting the first sheet of composite material to form one of a plurality of plies of composite material, and providing the plurality of plies of composite material to a forming tool one at a time in a ply laydown sequence. A first sequential ply in the ply laydown sequence is provided, and then a second sequential ply in the ply laydown sequence is automatically provided after the first sequential ply has been provided.

System, method, and apparatus for use in forming a composite structure

A method for use in ply compaction in forming a composite structure. The method includes positioning a ply of material on a forming tool having a web surface and at least one flange surface extending from the web surface, positioning a chassis at a first location along a length dimension of the forming tool, selectively rotating a flange forming device, that is coupled to the chassis, about a yaw axis based on a relative orientation of the flange forming device to the at least one flange surface, applying, with the flange forming device, the ply of material onto the forming tool, moving the chassis relative to the forming tool to position the chassis at a second location along the length dimension of the forming tool, and repeating the selective rotation and the application steps at the second location.

System, method, and apparatus for use in ply compaction in forming a composite structure

A processing apparatus such as a heating and/or debulking apparatus that may be used to debulk a plurality of uncured composite layers to form an article such as an aircraft component may include a plurality of interconnected smart susceptor heater blankets. The plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets may be connected in series or in parallel, and may be controlled to uniformly heat the component during formation. The plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets may be supported by a deployment system that lowers the plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets toward, and raises the plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets away from, a working surface.

Integrated smart susceptor heater blanket and vacuum bag deployment system for large composite skin laminate debulk

A tensioning system that can be used with a heater blanket and a vacuum bag for heating a workpiece can include a tensioner including at least one flexible rod. The tensioner can further include an end cap positioned on one or both ends of the flexible rod. The tensioner can be inserted through one or more sleeves attached to the vacuum bag, and each end of the flexible rod can be positioned within a pocket and thereby attached to the vacuum bag. In one implementation, the flexible rod can be rotated relative to the one or more end caps to decrease or increase a length of the tensioner, and the length of the tensioner is thereby adjustable. The tension applied to the vacuum bag can mitigate sealing of a seal of the vacuum bag with a layup mandrel.

Semi-rigid frame for large vacuum bag deployment in composite manufacturing

A vacuum port base comprises an upper face, a lower face, a first channel, and a second channel. The upper face is configured to interface with a vacuum port. The lower face is configured to interface with a surface of a tool. The first channel formed in the lower face is configured to receive an edge breather. The second channel formed within the vacuum port base is configured to receive the vacuum port such that the vacuum port is in fluid communication with the first channel and the edge breather to remove gases from a composite structure.

Vacuum port base

A mixing container wherein two or more chamber members each contain a material to be mixed. A first chamber member has a threaded port. A second chamber member has a threaded neck which is threadedly receivable in the port to threadedly connect the chamber members. The neck has a terminal opening. A sealing member covers the opening. The first chamber member has a frangible portion which sealingly closes an inner end of the port and which is broken is as the neck bears there against as the neck is threadedly received in the port. A blade on the first chamber member punctures the neck sealing member as the neck sealing member bears against the blade as the neck is threadedly received in the port. This allows the materials in the chamber members to flow between the chamber members to be mixed. The container may also have an opening for dispensing the substance mixed therein.

Multi-chamber container for mixing ingredients at time of use

Growing community of inventors

Sandy, UT, United States of America

John R Henry