The Boeing Company

Th Boeing Company

Michael M Stepan

Brad Lee Kirkwood

Paul J Patt

Marc Rollo Matsen

Douglas Alan McCarville

Darrell Darwin Jones

James Niemann Buttrick

Roger A Gage

Dario I Valenzuela

Bruce R Davis

Kenneth Paul Zaballos

Arlen Ray Pumphrey

Paul Gregory Kostenick, Jr

Systems and methods for delivery of device along a transport path are provided. One system includes a transport tube having a feed end and a point of use end and a plurality of device carriers operable to move through the transport tube from the feed end to the point of use end. The plurality of device carriers has a common external surface for operation in the transport tube to allow transport through the transport tube. At least some of the plurality of device carriers has a different internal configuration than at least some of other ones of the plurality of device carriers, wherein the internal configuration is determined based on at least one physical characteristic of a device to be inserted therein.

Systems and methods for delivery of devices along a transport path

A method and apparatus for measuring diameters of holes and countersinks. A tip of a countersink measurement system may be moved to engage a countersink for a hole. A diameter of the countersink may be measured in response to the tip of the countersink measurement system engaging the countersink. A probe may be moved through the tip of the countersink measurement system into a channel for the hole, while the tip is engaged with the countersink. A number of diameters for the channel may be measured as the probe moves in the hole.

Hole and countersink measurement system

A painting apparatus for applying a coating material to a member surface of a member comprises a housing, at least one slide rail, a rack assembly, a cross beam and a spraying device. The slide rail may be mountable within the housing and may have a plurality of rack positions. The rack assembly is mountable within the housing at one of the rack positions. The rack assembly is configured to support the member such that the member surface is exposed. The cross beam may be coupled to the slide rail. The cross beam is movable along the slide rail and is positionable at the rack positions. The spraying device is mountable on the cross beam and is configured to move along the cross beam while spraying the coating material onto the member surface.

Controlled environment chamber for applying a coating material to a surface of a member

Rib and spar webs are joined in a composite wingbox to eliminate fasteners by welding the webs along bondlines defined by overlapping sections of the webs. Heat to produce the weld is generally achieved resistively by connecting a multistrip susceptor positioned along the bond line to a current source, since the geometry makes it difficult to heat these web joints inductively. The wingbox is completed without fasteners by welding skins to the rib-spar wingbox.

Resistance welding of thermoplastics in aerospace structure

A power feed apparatus for applying a thrust force to an output shaft of a motor driven tool to drive the output shaft linearly towards and away from a workpiece without applying off-axis forces to the output shaft that would cause it to move out of perfect perpendicular alignment to the outer surface of the workpiece. The apparatus includes a first tubular member which is fixedly secured to a jig or other like mounting structure associated with the workpiece. A second tubular member is disposed for sliding linear movement along the first tubular member. Spaced apart annular fluid chambers are formed within the apparatus along with associated fluid ports for allowing a pressurized fluid to be used to both extend and retract the output shaft of the tool. The tool itself is supported on the second tubular member and thus moves linearly along with the second tubular member.

Concentric pneumatic/hydraulic power feed apparatus

Rib and spar webs are joined in a composite wingbox to eliminate fasteners by welding the webs along bond lines defined by overlapping sections of the webs. Heat to produce the weld is generally achieved resistively by connecting a multistrip susceptor positioned along the bond line to a current source, since the geometry makes it difficult to heat these web joints inductively. The wingbox is completed without fasteners by welding skins to the rib-spar wingbox.

Fastenerless bonder wingbox

A hybrid metal webbed composite beam includes a metal I or T web section and a composite cap formed over and adhered to the I or T web. The beam incorporates the advantages of metals and composites in modern aerospace construction allowing thermoplastic welding of the beam to skins while having the strength of metal.

Welded aerospace structure using a hybrid metal webbed composite beam

The invention provides a unique approach to solving a peck feeding problem in limited access areas restricting the drilling unit size. It uses a power transmission system which is comprised of a pinion gear driven by a motor source. The pinion gear drives a bevel gear that is free to travel along a polygon quill. A quill had is located on one end of the quill to house the drill. The opposing quill end is attached to a guide bushing assembly. The guide bushing assembly is connected to a bell crank mechanism that is actuated and controlled by a pneumatic piston and hydraulic speed control system. The power transmission system, and the pneumatic power transfer system combined produce a pecking cycle for drilling precision holes within a confined set-up space of 5.5 inches in a preferred embodiment. It preferably has a drill stroke up to 1 inch deep, and is capable of producing a 'pecking' action which is unique for right angle drilling equipment in limited access applications.

Right angle peck drill

A hybrid metal webbed composite beam includes a metal I or T web section and a composite cap formed over and adhered to the I or T web. The beam incorporates advantages of metals and composites in modern aerospace construction allowing thermoplastic welding of the beam to skins while having the strength of metal.

Growing community of inventors

Langley, WA, United States of America

Michael M Stepan