The Boeing Company

The Beoing Company

Mark Frederick Gabriel

Arnold J Lauder

Claudio Zubin

David Boonstra

Antonio M Ferreira

Mathew J Shewfelt

Geoffrey Gibbings

Damjan Simonovic

John Richard Porter

Frederic P Berg

Lisa Ann Cardon

Robert Charles Larsen

Stephen Thomas Johnson

Jeffrey C Bye

Kevin Michael Bell

Eugene A Jackson

James A Shofner

Zenna J Dunning

Candace Propp

David O Wagner

Daniel J Wells

Walter D Sykes

John D Ferguson

Christopher R Carter

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide an acoustic inlet barrel of an engine. The acoustic inlet barrel may include an inner barrel configured to provide a boundary for directing airflow through the engine. The inner barrel may include an inner face sheet separated from an outer face sheet by an acoustic core. The inner barrel may include a plurality of elongated, non-circular perforations formed through the inner face sheet.

System and method for forming elongated perforations in an inner barrel section of an engine

A drilling system includes a single robotic drilling unit having a drill end effector positioned inside a barrel section configured as a composite sandwich structure having an inner face sheet. The robotic drilling unit is operable to drill a plurality of perforations into the inner face sheet using the drill end effector. The robotic drilling unit is configured to index a hole pattern of the perforations to one or more cell walls of a honeycomb core of the composite sandwich structure. The robotic drilling unit is configured to form the hole pattern in the inner face sheet such that the perforations are located at a spaced distance from the cell walls of the honeycomb core.

Systems and methods for forming perforations in a barrel structure

An apparatus () for processing a metal ribbon () comprising a main portion () and a sacrificial portion () adjoining the main portion () of the metal ribbon (), is disclosed. The apparatus () comprises a heater (), configured to heat the main portion () of the metal ribbon () to a first temperature, a first cooler (), configured to cool the main portion () of the metal ribbon () from the first temperature to a third temperature lower than the first temperature, a second cooler (), configured to cool the main portion () of the metal ribbon () at a first rate from the third temperature to a fourth temperature lower than the third temperature, a drive system (), configured to successively advance the main portion () of the metal ribbon () from the heater () to the second cooler () through the first cooler (), and a guide system () configured to route the metal ribbon () from the heater () to the second cooler () through the first cooler ().

Apparatuses and methods for processing a metal ribbon

A drilling system may include a plurality of robotic drilling units. Each one of the robotic drilling units may include a drill end effector positioned inside a barrel section. The barrel section may be configured as a composite sandwich structure having an inner face sheet. The robotic drilling units maybe operable in synchronized movement with one another to drill a plurality of perforations into the inner face sheet using the drill end effectors in a manner providing a predetermined percent-open-area of the inner face sheet.

System for forming perforations in a barrel section

A drilling system includes a drilling machine, configured to drill a hole in a work piece along a drilling axis, a deployment mechanism, attached to the drilling machine, a measuring probe, attached to the deployment mechanism, and a controller, coupled to the drilling machine, the measuring probe, and the deployment mechanism. The measuring probe is configured to produce a signal indicative of an actual geometric parameter of the hole when inserted therein. The deployment mechanism is configured to selectively align the measuring probe along the drilling axis. The controller is configured to cause insertion of the measuring probe into the hole, and to receive the signal from the measuring probe.

Automated inspection system

System and method for forming perforations in a barrel section

A system for inspecting an aperture is disclosed. The aperture has an axis, a design geometric parameter, an actual geometric parameter, and a depth. The system includes a first measuring probe configured to produce a signal indicative of the actual geometric parameter of the aperture when inserted therein; a deployment mechanism supporting the first measuring probe and attachable to a robotic device, the deployment mechanism configured to selectively orient the first measuring probe along the axis of the aperture; and a controller, couplable to the robotic device, the first measuring probe, and the deployment mechanism. The controller is configured to cause insertion of the first measuring probe into the aperture substantially along the axis and to receive the signal from the probe.

The present application is directed to a spray booth comprising a first enclosure for applying spray material and a second enclosure for drying spray material. An exhaust system is in fluid connection with the first and second enclosures. A fire suppression system is in fluid connection with at least one component chosen from the first enclosure, the second enclosure and the exhaust system. A processor is in data communication with at least one component chosen from the spray enclosure, the drying enclosure, the exhaust system and the fire suppression system.

Spray booth

There is provided an ultrasonic welding apparatus that includes a magnetic source and a ferromagnetic device to apply pressure to at least one component being joined during the ultrasonic welding process. The magnetic source is positioned proximate the ultrasonic transducer, and when the component to be ultrasonically welded is adjacent the ultrasonic transducer, the ferromagnetic device is positioned opposite the component from the magnetic source and the ultrasonic transducer to apply pressure. A magnetic source comprising an electromagnet provides an adjustable pressure to the component. The ferromagnetic device defines a generally spherical surface so that it advantageously remains in position relative to the magnetic source if the component is moved relative to the ferromagnetic device. In addition, the ferromagnetic device may comprise a magnet to increase the magnetic force between the magnetic source and ferromagnetic device, which increases the pressure applied to the component.

Magnetic source and ferromagnetic device for ultrasonic welding

A method and apparatus is provided to simplify sandblasting processes while increasing applied coverage areas in sandblasting operations. The method and apparatus provide a manifold assembly having a plurality of nozzles and that is rigidly attached to an air supply. The manifold is supplied with abrasive material via a plurality of angularly attached sand supply hoses which are coupled to an abrasive material supply. The manifold assembly is pressurized with the supply of air. An article is sandblasted by drawing sand through the hoses and out of the plurality of nozzles using the pressurized air through the manifold assembly.

Multi-port sandblasting manifold and method

An end effector storage station that stores end effectors in a horizontal and cantilevered position, each end effector being stored in a known location in space relative to a robotic manufacturing tool. The storage station comprises a plurality of storage cells, wherein an end effector holder is installed within each of the said storage cells. The storage station further including and end effector transport cell that includes an end effector transport cart and transport cart lift to accurately position the transport cart and attached end effector holder to a known and predetermined location in space.

End effector storage station

An end-effector assembly provides lateral compliance for a cutting tool while counter-sinking a bore in a workpiece. The assembly has a first subassembly which is connected to a gantry. A second subassembly may extend or retract relative to the first, such movement being driven by hydraulic or air cylinders. A third subassembly carries the cutting tool and motor for driving the same. This latter subassembly is connected to the second subassembly by a plurality of compliant members which cause the third subassembly to extend and retract correspondingly with the second, but which permit the third subassembly to shift laterally relative to the second. In this situation, the motor and cutting tool also shift laterally along with the third subassembly.

End-effector assembly for countersinking a predrilled bore

A self-normalizing compliant drive coupling (10) having a constant-velocity joint (12) attached to a unidirectional clutch (14) to accommodate axial misalignment of a drive shaft attached to the body (16) of the joint (12) and a driven shaft grasped by the clutch (14). A housing (26) has a cylindrical top portion (28) with a top axial bore (30) for receiving a stem (18) of the joint (12) and a bottom axial bore (34) for receiving the clutch (14). A resilient sleeve (42) encloses the joint (12) and rests on a shoulder (40) on the housing (26). A collar (44) slides over the joint body (16) to bear against the top surface (43) of the sleeve (42) to place the sleeve (42) under a compressive load that urges the clutch housing (26) into axial alignment with the body (16) of the joint (12).

Growing community of inventors

Renton, WA, United States of America

Mark Frederick Gabriel