The Boeing Company

Pradip K Saha

Mark E Bice

Luis R Leon

Matthew J Berden

Ricole Allison Johnson

Carol S Oliver

Gary Robert Weber

Mark Robert Meyer

Michael Nill

Vaughn Lawrence Brady

Don E Norris

Luis Leon

Methods are disclosed for forming metal workpieces made from a heat-treatable metal that has been shaped and tempered according to specified protocols that facilitate formation of large contoured unitary metal structures having welds that are retained in the finished structure, and finished metal structures made according to such methods.

Single-piece extended laminar flow inlet lipskin

A method, system, and apparatus for a part forming system. The part forming system comprises a field shaper having a cavity configured to receive a workpiece and a die. The field shaper has a number of dimensions based on being inserted into a main coil. The workpiece is bent to form a part with a desired shape when an electromagnetic field from the main coil is applied to the field shaper while the field shaper is located within the main coil.

Electromagnetic field shaping system and method

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an apparatus comprising a first end fitting. The first end fitting comprises a tube engagement portion. The tube engagement portion comprises an outer coupling surface. The outer coupling surface comprises a first virtual cross-section. The first virtual cross-section comprises a first transverse inflection point. Each point along the first virtual cross-section has a first virtual tangent line coplanar with the first virtual cross-section.

Torque tube manufacturing methods

An electromagnetically formed fluid circuit joint () includes a tubular conduit () that has an outer surface () with a groove (). A hollow fitting () is mechanically separate from and received over the tubular conduit (). The hollow fitting () includes an electromagnetic field formed wall deformation () that extends into the groove ().

Electromagnetic mechanical pulse forming of fluid joints for high-pressure applications

A method of forming a torque-transmitting coupling () includes forming at least one fitting () having a tube conforming area (). The forming area () includes a material overflow groove () and multiple flat surfaces (). The forming area () has an associated tube arc length that is approximately equal in length to a formed area length of the flat surfaces () with the elongated overflow groove (). An elongated tube () is procured. The elongated tube () is formed onto the tube conforming area () to form the torque-transmitting coupling ().

Low chamfer angled torque tube end fitting with elongated overflow groove

A method of forming a torque tube () is provided. The method includes forming a fitting () having an elongated tube conforming area (). The conforming area () includes chamfer areas () having upper surfaces (), lower surfaces (), and chamfer surfaces () that transition between the upper surfaces () and the lower surfaces () and have chamfer angles () of approximately 20 relative to the lower surfaces (). An elongated tube () is procured and an end portion () of the elongated tube () is formed onto the conforming area () to form a torque-transmitting coupling (). The torque tube () is also provided and formed according to the above-stated method.

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Pradip K Saha