The Boeing Company

Samuel Roderick Dobbs

John Walter Hall

Clayton Lynn Munk

Philip W Boyd

Barry A Lewis

Gary E Mansell

James C Roberts

Michael J Fant

Richard D Fiedler

Branko Sarh

Arthur C Day

Kyle Paul Larson

A single piece pulsed flow wing assembly method providing for horizontal wing manufacture is accomplished using synchronized automated vehicles guided in a predetermined manner to move and, locate wing structure in a plurality of assembly positions. Multi-axis assembly positioning systems (MAPS) are used at each assembly position to support and index components in the wing structure and determinant assembly techniques are used for indexing of the components. Modular automated manufacturing processes employing magnetic assembly clamping, drilling, fastener insertion, and sealant application are employed.

High rate pulsing wing assembly line

An apparatus comprises a housing, a core located in the housing, a coil unit associated with the core and located in the housing, and a backing plate made of a high-permeability material. The apparatus may be used for generating high clamping forces between materials that are interposed between the core and the backing plate such that manufacturing operations can be carried out. The core has a cross section with an elongate shape. The coil unit is configured to generate magnetic fields and has the elongate shape.

Electromagnetic clamping system for manufacturing large structures

Growing community of inventors

Issaquah, WA, United States of America

Samuel Roderick Dobbs