The Boeing Company

Mark David Higgins

Michael Strasik

Arthur C Day

John A Mittleider

Kevin Earl McCrary

Carlos Angelo Fracchia

Karen M Jost

Philip E Johnson

John Edwards

Colleen M Harper

Richard A Hawkins

James R Schindler

David Miltenberger

Gas turbine engine fan blade containment systems are disclosed. An example fan blade containment system includes a shield to be coupled to an aircraft structure and to at least partially surround a circumference of an aircraft engine. The shield is to be spaced from an outer surface the aircraft engine when the shield is coupled to the aircraft structure. A shield termination fitting is to couple a terminating end of the shield to the aircraft structure.

Gas turbine engine fan blade containment systems

Gas turbine engine fan blade containment systems are disclosed. An example fan blade containment system includes a shield to be coupled to an aircraft structure and to at least partially surround a circumference of an aircraft engine. The shield is to be spaced from an outer surface the aircraft engine when the shield is coupled to the aircraft structure. The shield is to form a laminated clevis at an end of the shield. A retention rod is to be positioned in the laminated clevis of the shield. The retention rod is to engage a lug hook of the aircraft structure to anchor the shield to the aircraft structure.

A method of operating a production line comprises the steps of supporting equipment in the production line on a plurality of crawlers comprising at least one rolling track and a structural support for supporting the equipment. A first plurality of lifting magnets coupled to an interior surface of said at least one rolling track is configured to oppose a second plurality of lifting magnets coupled to an exterior surface of said structure support to lift the structural support, such that the structural support floats between and within said at least one rolling track. The magnetic fields experienced by the first and second plurality of lift magnets are adjusted to translate the at least one rolling track, such that the crawlers move along the production line.

Method of operating a production line

An equipment-carrying crawler () includes a rolling track () and a structural support (). The structural support () supports equipment (). Lifting magnets () are coupled to the rolling track () and to the structural support (). The lifting magnets () are configured to oppose each other, lift the structural support (), and aid in the translation of the rolling track ().

Superconducting crawler system for a production line

Growing community of inventors

Woodinville, WA, United States of America

Mark David Higgins