The Boeing Company

Other

Michael K Louie

Kenneth Marvin Dull

Jordan Seth Erickson

Timothy David Aquino

Gordon M Cox

Gagandeep Saini

Darrell Darwin Jones

Douglas Alan McCarville

Daniel R Smith

Luis A Perla

Robert L Anderson

Richard A Miller

Jeron D Moore

Christopher Wayne Fay

Robert G Meyer

Venkiteswaran Subramanian

Austin T McAnelly

Jace J Jerome

Loren Miles

Phillip Keller Lathrop

Timothy D Aquino

Kenneth M Dull

Philip Keller Lathrop

Timothy Aquino

Douglas A Mccarville

A method for depositing composite material onto a tool using an automated machine. The method includes coupling a first mobile platform with a second mobile platform to form a coupled system, the first mobile platform supporting the automated machine and the second mobile platform supporting the tool. The method further includes indexing the automated machine relative to the tool. The method further includes depositing composite material from the automated machine onto the tool while the coupled system moves along a production line.

Continuous-line manufacturing system and method for composite parts

A continuous flow manufacturing system includes a tool, configured to hold a part. The system also includes a machine-readable identifier, associated with the tool and encoded with a tool-identification. The system further includes a plurality of workstations. Each one of the plurality of workstations includes a production machine, configured to perform a manufacturing operation on a part, and a reader, configured to read the machine-readable identifier. The system also includes a computing device, configured to retrieve process-data, associated with the tool-identification and a corresponding one of the plurality of workstations, and configured to update the process-data, subsequent to performing the manufacturing operation associated with the corresponding one of the plurality of workstations.

Continuous flow manufacturing system and apparatus and method for controlling process data of a continuous flow manufacturing process

An indexing apparatus includes a fixture tool, movable relative to an operation cell and an indexing feature, fixed relative to the fixture tool. The indexing apparatus also includes a gripper, configured to engage the indexing feature. The indexing apparatus further includes a controller, in communication with the gripper. The controller is configured to locate the fixture tool relative to the operation cell from a gripper location of the gripper, engaged with the indexing feature.

Indexing apparatus and method of indexing

Composite laminate parts are made in a continuously moving line in which manufacturing operations are performed in individual work zones along the line.

Continuously moving line for making composite laminate parts

An indexing apparatus includes a fixture tool, movable relative to an operation cell, and an indexing feature, fixed relative to the fixture tool. The indexing apparatus also includes a sensor, configured to detect the indexing feature. The indexing apparatus further includes a controller, in communication with the sensor. The controller is configured to locate the fixture tool relative to the operation cell from an indexing-feature location of the indexing feature, identified by the sensor.

A method for employing a plurality of automated machines to deposit composite material includes a first tool located in a first station and a second tool located in a second station. The first station and the second station are located on a production line. The first station includes at least one automated machine of the plurality of automated machines and the second station includes at least two automated machines of the plurality of automated machines. At least one of the automated machines is movable from the second station to the first station. The method includes monitoring machine capacity and workload requirements of the plurality of automated machines. The method further includes determining an efficiency threshold based upon the machine capacity and workload requirements. The method further includes reallocating at least one of the automated machines from the second station to the first station once the efficiency threshold is met.

Continuous-line manufacturing system and method for automated machine allocation

An indexing apparatus includes a fixture tool, movable relative to an operation cell, and an indexing feature, fixed relative to the fixture tool. The indexing apparatus also includes a plurality of probes, configured to engage the indexing feature. The indexing apparatus further includes a controller, in communication with the plurality of probes, wherein the controller is configured to locate the fixture tool relative to the operation cell from a plurality of probe locations of the plurality of probes, engaged with the indexing feature.

A method for analyzing a surface quality of a laminate part including the steps of creating a planned dimensioned representation of a laminate part desired to be built which includes a first surface having a first topography; placing fibers into locations for the laminate part desired to be built; and curing a resin associated with the placed fibers fabricating an as-built laminate part which includes a second surface having a second topography which corresponds to the first surface having the first topography. The method also includes aligning the first surface, the second surface and the locations of the fibers; determining a first elevation of a first point on the first surface and a second elevation of a second point on the second surface; and observing the first surface, the second surface and the locations of the fibers in alignment and the first elevation relative to the second elevation in analyzing the surface quality of the laminate part.

Method for analyzing the surface quality of composite laminates

An assembly for debulking an uncured stack of plies of fiber reinforced composite material positioned on a forming tool, including a force application element and a heat source, associated with the force application element. The heat source is positioned in at least one of the following positions: spaced apart from a top ply to directionally heat the uncured stack of plies from the top ply through a bottom ply of the uncured stack of plies; with the forming tool positioned between the heat source and the uncured stack of plies, the heat source to heat the forming tool, to directionally heat the uncured stack of plies in a direction from the bottom ply through the top ply; or between the uncured stack of plies and the forming tool, to directionally heat the uncured stack of plies in the direction from the bottom ply through the top ply.

Composite automated debulk machine for large scale parts

A vacuum probe comprises a sharpened body that is displaceable downward and toward a vacuum bag during vacuum hose quick connection. The sharpened body and a valve element inside the vacuum probe move in tandem until the sharpened body projects outside the vacuum probe. A vacuum pressure applied via the vacuum hose pulls the vacuum bag upwards and towards the projecting sharpened body, which then punctures the vacuum bag, thereby enabling air under the vacuum bag to be evacuated via the vacuum probe as vacuum pressure continues to be applied.

Systems and methods for applying vacuum pressure to composite parts

A method for vacuum bag sealing a composite part including: using a composite bagging sheet including a first sealing surface and a first interlocking strip coupled to the first sealing surface of the composite bagging sheet; joining the first interlocking strip with a second interlocking strip coupled to a second sealing surface; and forming a sealed vacuum bag around an uncured composite part positioned between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface.

Vacuum bag sealing system and method for composite parts

A tool for curing a composite layup comprises a tool body having a surface adapted to support a composite layup thereon. The tool includes an integrated breather for allowing removal of air from the layup during curing.

Cure tool with integrated edge breather and method of making the same

Method and apparatus for use in curing of a composite charge having an internal cavity. Apparatus includes a flexible bladder adapted to be placed in the cavity for applying pressure on the composite charge during curing. An end fitting is operatively coupled to the flexible bladder. The end fitting defining a bolt bore and a horizontal bore. When a vent bolt is operatively coupled to the bolt bore of the end fitting, the vent bolt and the horizontal bore define a pressure passageway that allows an interior of the bladder to become subjected to external pressure.

Bladder system for curing composite parts

A vacuum bag sealing system may include a composite bagging sheet, and at least one interlocking strip connected to a surface of the composite bagging sheet, wherein the interlocking strip is configured to join a first section of the composite bagging sheet to a second section of the composite bagging sheet to form a sealed vacuum bag.

A vacuum bag assembly is used to process the composite part. The vacuum bag assembly includes a stretchable vacuum bag attached to a stretchable breather.

Growing community of inventors

Renton, WA, United States of America

Michael K Louie