The Boeing Company

Joseph A Marshall

Joseph Lawrence Hafenrichter

Jeffrey Lynn Duce

Otis Franklin Layton

Manny S Urcia

David Mitchell Anderson

David L Banks

Manny Salazar Urcia, Jr

Gary E Georgeson

Douglas Alan McCarville

Robert James Miller

Charles W Manry, Jr

Adrian Viisoreanu

Richard Bussom

Paul Chih-Yung Chang

Paul B Mori

Douglas B Weems

Bradley James Mitchell

John Lyle Vian

Tai Anh Lam

Gerald F Herndon

Robert Steven Wright

Matthew A Moser

Mark John Gardner

Jason Turner

Kevin O'Brien Gaw

Gregory John Clark

Clete Mark Boldrin

Robert Marshall Burgess

Daniel Joseph Sego

Matthew A Stoneback

Isaac Ron Bekker

Ashley LaGwyn House

Robert G Vos

Kathryn A Masiello

Victoria L Garcia

Mohammad-Nasar M Adeeyo

Douglas A Mccarville

Jeffrey L Duce

Gary Earnest Georgeson

Adhesive bondlines in a cell-based structural array are thermally cured using tooling blocks inserted into the cells. The tooling blocks have embedded susceptors that are inductively heated by an alternating electromagnetic field generated by an electromagnet.

Induction curing of cell-based structural arrays

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an antenna assembly that includes a plurality of separate and distinct antenna modules that are interconnected together to form an antenna layer. Each of the antenna modules may include a support structure including a core frame connected to a core support, and a backskin connected to one or both of the core frame and the core support. The antenna assembly may also include an alignment grid configured to receive and align each of the antenna modules, and/or a matching layer configured to receive and align each of the antenna modules.

Modular antenna assembly

Cells of a composite cell array are cured by placing tool blocks in the cells and inserting thermally conductive elements in each of the tool blocks. The thermally conductive elements are convectively heated by a flow of hot air. The heated conductive elements conduct heat to the tooling blocks, which then conduct heat to the cells to cure the composite and adhesive.

Thermal curing of cell-based structural arrays

The disclosure provides in one embodiment an electrical conductor pathway system for diverting an electric charge. The electrical conductor pathway system includes a substrate having a first surface to be printed on and having one or more grounding points. The electrical conductor pathway system further includes a direct write conductive material pattern printed directly onto the first surface via a direct write printing process. The direct write conductive material pattern forms one or more electrical pathways interconnected with the one or more grounding points. The one or more electrical pathways interconnected with the one or more grounding points divert the electric charge from the first surface to the one or more grounding points.

Electrical conductor pathway system and method of making the same

Described herein is a composite panel that includes a first layer made from an electrically non-conductive material. The composite panel also includes a resistance heater printed onto the first layer. Further, the composite panel includes a second layer adjacent the resistance heater, the resistance heater being positioned between the first layer and the second layer. The second layer is made from an electrically non-conductive material.

Composite panel with integrated heater and associated methods for manufacturing

An electromagnetic energy protection system and method disclosed herein that includes a plurality of conductive sheets ohmically connected by conductive interconnects. The conductive interconnects can be metal formed by a metal deposition process. The metal deposition process can include a plasma deposition process. The conductive interconnects can help prevent the formation of surface deformities such as bumps that may be caused when connecting, either physically or electrically, adjacent conductive sheets.

Electromagnetic energy surface protection

Systems and methods according to the present disclosure for assembling conformal arrays utilize an outer tool for insertion into an open cell of a conformal array, an inner tool for insertion into the outer tool, and an adhesive source for delivering adhesive to the edges of the open cell via the inner tool and the outer tool. An assembled conformal array includes adhesive extending along the edges of the open cell.

Systems and methods for assembling conformal arrays

An antenna electronics attachment system is disclosed. The antenna electronics attachment system includes a structural honeycomb panel having an array of cells. The antenna electronics attachment system further includes a nutplate coupled to a mounting plate via a plurality of embedded fastening structures. The mounting plate is shaped to fit substantially precisely to a cell of the structural honeycomb panel. The antenna electronics attachment system also includes an electronic component coupled to the nutplate. And, the antenna electronics attachment system further includes mechanical-electronic coupling means operable for change-out while in-service of the electronic component.

Structurally integrated antenna aperture electronics attachment design

A method and apparatus comprising a resin layer, a number of conductive elements, and a number of layers of reinforcement material. The number of conductive elements is on the resin layer. The number of conductive elements has a configuration that forms an antenna system. The number of layers of reinforcement material forms a reinforcement for a composite structure, and at least a portion of the resin layer forms a matrix for the composite structure.

Integrated antenna system

A structural wideband aperture assembly and methods are presented. A non-conductive structural backsheet comprises electrical vias. A structural egg-crate core comprises a grid of core strips coupled to the non-conductive structural backsheet and is configured substantially perpendicular to the non-conductive structural backsheet around open boxes. A non-structural grid of antenna feed cards is configured substantially perpendicular to the non-conductive structural backsheet and crosses the core strips. A non-structural grid of antenna feed cards comprises intersections configured within the open boxes, and electronic feed-lines aligned with the electrical vias. Antenna array unit cells comprising antenna cards coupled to the non-structural grid of antenna feed cards and configured to fit within the open boxes.

Structural wideband multifunctional aperture manufacturing

Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for a sensor system for detecting, characterizing, monitoring, and analyzing data. According to some embodiments disclosed herein, a monitoring system is configured to obtain data from a sensor system. The sensor system includes two or more sensors and can indicate an operating state detected at a monitored structure by the sensors. The monitoring system also obtains operational data including a threshold value for the sensors and an expected value for the sensors. The monitoring system is configured to adjust the thresholds based, at least partially, upon the operational data to obtain an adjusted threshold value, and to compare the data value to the adjusted threshold. The monitoring system can determine if the monitored structure is operating in an alarm condition.

Sensor system

A method and apparatus for reworking an antenna aperture. A plurality of antenna cells comprise walls and antenna elements on the walls. Replacement antenna cells are placed adjacent to the plurality of antenna cells. The replacement antenna cells comprise a replacement wall and a replacement antenna element on the replacement wall. A conductive splice is attached to the replacement antenna element and to a one of the antenna elements on a one of the walls.

Reworking array structures

Growing community of inventors

Kent, WA, United States of America

Joseph A Marshall