The Boeing Company

Spirit Aerosystems, Inc.

Kevin Lyle Obrachta

Mark Anthony Wadsworth

Rahbar Nasserrafi

Gerald E Hicks

Blaise F Bergmann

David E Jakstis

LaVerne L Waalkes

Richard J Meusborn

Robert Nelson

An abrasive stream perforation (ASP) system and method for forming a plurality of perforations through a composite part. The ASP system may include a compressed air source, a particulate source, a valve, nozzles, and a positioning device. The valve is actuatable between an open state and a closed state. The compressed air and particulate are simultaneously forced through the valve in its open state and then forced through the nozzles and against the surface of the composite part, forming the perforations through the composite part. The support frame maintains the nozzles in a spaced relationship to each other and a selected distance away from the composite part. The positioning device is fixed to the support frame and actuates the support frame relative to the surface of the composite part for proper positioning of the nozzles and the resulting perforations.

Method and apparatus for abrasive stream perforation

Aluminum-based alloys for casting or wrought processing having improved combinations of properties, including improved high temperature strength, are provided. The alloys generally comprise copper, magnesium, silver, and titanium, along with scandium and/or cobalt. Zirconium, zinc, and/or vanadium may also optionally be present in the alloy. When cobalt is present in the alloy, nickel may also optionally be present. Cast and wrought products, as well as methods of making the same using the alloys, are also disclosed.

Wrought and cast aluminum alloy with improved resistance to mechanical property degradation

Methods and apparatus for filling form gaps are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a heating and pressurizing dispenser for thermoplastic, heating and pressurizing a thermoplastic in the dispenser, discharging the thermoplastic through a nozzle attached to the dispenser and filling the gap in a form with the discharging thermoplastic from the nozzle. In other aspects of the invention, the thermoplastic includes polypropylene with talc. In another aspect of the invention, a composite product is produced by providing a form, and filling the gaps in the form with thermoplastic, and forming the composite product against the form. In yet another aspect to the invention, a high temperature and high pressure dispenser for filling gaps in forms is provided.

Pinmat gap filler

Methods and systems are provided for protecting an acoustic liner having a perforated facesheet from water leakage during a through-transmission ultrasonic (TTU) inspection using an ultrasonic squirter system. The testing method utilizes a repositionable mask that covers the openings in the perforated facesheet. The repositionable mask utilizes a pressure sensitive adhesive that adheres to the surface of the perforated facesheet. The repositionable mask can be removed after completing a TTU inspection and can be reused for subsequent TTU tests with minimal adverse effects on the mask or on the facesheet. For ease in handling, the repositionable mask may be configured with a semi-rigid backing carrier.

Through-transmission ultrasonic inspection system and testing methods

A method and system () having a flowable pressure pad () for consolidating an uncured laminate sheet () during a cure cycle is provided. The system () includes an autoclave machine () for utilizing a pinmat () for to perforate and consolidate the sheet (). This pinmat () has a mat portion () and a plurality of pins () extending from the mat portion (). These pins () are intended to penetrate the uncured laminate sheet () during a perforation cycle that occurs prior to the cure cycle. During the cure cycle, the autoclave machine () applies a predetermined amount of and pressure heat to the pressure pad () for a predetermined amount of time so as to cause the pressure pad () to flow around the protruding pins (). This feature allows the pressure pad () to transfer a substantial portion of the applied pressure to the uncured laminate sheet () so as to improve consolidation of the sheet (). In this regard, less pressure is unintentionally transferred to the protruding pins (). The pressure pad () is fabricated from a flowable or malleable material that allows the pressure pad () to flow around the protruding pins ().

Method and system having a flowable pressure pad for consolidating an uncured laminate sheet in a cure process

Methods and apparatus are provided for protecting an acoustic liner having a perforated facesheet from water leakage during a through-transmission ultrasonic (TTU) inspection using an ultrasonic squirter system. The apparatus comprises a repositionable mask that covers the openings in the perforated facesheet. The repositionable mask is comprised of a pressure sensitive adhesive that adheres to the surface of the perforated facesheet. The repositionable mask can be removed after completing a TTU inspection and can be reused for subsequent TTU tests with minimal adverse effects on the mask or on the facesheet. For ease in handling, the repositionable mask may be configured with a semi-rigid backing carrier.

Repositionable mask for ultrasonic inspection

A surface compensating shaving apparatus () has been provided for removing a plurality of pins () from a surface of a pinmat (). The apparatus () includes a rotary member () and a surface compensating member () that is fixedly coupled to the rotary member () in a rotational direction and slidably coupled to the rotary member () in an axial direction. The surface compensating member () has a plurality of cutting members () extending therefrom for cutting the pins (). The surface compensating member () and the cutting members () are intended to move in the axial direction in response to the contour of the surface () of the pinmat (). In this regard, the cutting members () can shear the pins () at the surface () of the pinmat ().

Surface compensating shaving apparatus

A method and a gauge for measuring the sharpness of the tip of an object is provided. The method includes receiving the tip of the measured object in the end of a tube. The object deflects a plunger inside the tube a finite distance proportional to the sharpness of the object inserted in the tube. A measurement of sharpness of the tip of the object is derived by measuring the deflection distance of the plunger. The measuring method may be used to measure the sharpness of a number of objects in sequence by displaying the sharpness of the object, such as where the objects being measured are pins arranged in a matrix pattern.

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Wichita, KS, United States of America

Kevin Lyle Obrachta