The Boeing Company

Richard Allen Miller, Ii

Marcus Anthony Belcher

Darrell Darwin Jones

Daniel R Smith

Kay Youngdahl Blohowiak

Benjamin Jeffrey Stephenson

Jordan Seth Erickson

Michael Kenneth-Que Louie

Eileen Olga Kutscha

America Olsen Schaaf

Brian Henry Korenaga

Kieran Patrick Davis

Tyler Jacob Zimmerman

Mark Charles Iden

Stephen Howard Williams

Steven Jay McAllister

Kevin L Braun

Narinder Kumar Gautam

Scott Telford O'Farrell

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating composite parts. The method includes subdividing a laminate into zones, laying up tows of fiber reinforced material for the laminate over a layup mandrel via multiple laminations such that each lamination head applies tows in a different zone, and splicing the zones together to form the laminate during the laying up of the tows while moving the layup mandrel in a process direction during fabrication of the composite parts.

Zonal lamination for composite parts in a moving line

Abrading apparatus and methods for treating opposing web surfaces of an elongate part include engaging the surfaces with first and second abrasion devices coupled to a frame. A drive assembly advances the frame along the part while the abrasion devices are operated to treat the surfaces. A guard assembly is coupled to the frame and includes first and second guards positioned to block portions of the contact areas of the first and second abrasion devices.

Apparatus and method for abrading a composite material

There is provided a method for determining a quality of an abrasive surface preparation of a composite surface, prior to the composite surface undergoing a post-processing operation. The method includes fabricating levels of abrasive surface preparation standards for a reference composite surface; using a surface analysis tool in the form of an ohm meter, to create target values for quantifying the levels; and measuring, with the surface analysis tool, one or more abrasive surface preparation locations on the composite surface of a test composite structure, to measure one or more of, electrical resistance and surface resistivity, of the composite surface, to obtain test result measurement(s). The method further includes comparing the test result measurement(s) to the levels, to obtain test result level(s); determining if the test result level(s) meet the target value(s); and determining whether the composite surface is acceptable to proceed with the post-processing operation.

Method and system for determining a quality of an abrasive surface preparation of a composite surface using electrical resistance and surface resistivity

Systems and methods are provided for paying out material. One embodiment is a method for dispensing film onto a surface. the method includes operating vacuum ports at a suction table, adhering a leading edge of a web of film to the suction table, driving the payout system across the suction table while the vacuum ports are being operated and while unrolling the web of film, unrolling a web of film from a roll of a payout system that is mounted for traversal across the upper surface of the suction table, and enforcing tension at the web of film between the suction table and the roll while payout system is drawn across the suction table.

Payout of film at composite fabrication systems

An apparatus automatically places, forms and compacts an adhesive strip on an edge of a structure in a single pass.

Method and apparatus for applying a strip of material over an edge on a structure

A system for treating a surface and applying adhesive to an already treated portion of the surface concurrently is presented. The system comprises surface treatment equipment, adhesive application equipment, and a common feed system. The surface treatment equipment is configured to treat the surface of an elongated member. The adhesive application equipment is configured to apply adhesive to the already treated portion of the surface. The common feed system feeds the elongated member beneath the surface treatment equipment and the adhesive application equipment concurrently.

Common feed system for surface treatment and adhesive application

An automated rover device removes material from opposite surfaces of an elongate part, such as a composite stiffener. The device includes a pair of material removal tools along with a vacuum assembly for vacuuming away material removed by the tools.

Method and automated rover device for surface treatment

A gas containment apparatus for use with an end effector including at least one plasma head includes at least one enclosing structure coupled to the end effector. The enclosing structure is configured to capture a gas produced by the at least one plasma head. The gas containment apparatus also includes a duct coupled to the at least one enclosing structure and configured to channel the gas from within the enclosing structure.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Richard Allen Miller, Ii