The Boeing Company

Scott Fisher

Christopher Gary Harris

Andrew M Hopkins

John R Henry

Anton Troshchenovskyy

Jessica Conaty

A method for use in forming a composite structure that includes dispensing a first sheet of composite material, cutting the first sheet of composite material to form one of a plurality of plies of composite material, and providing the plurality of plies of composite material to a forming tool one at a time in a ply laydown sequence. A first sequential ply in the ply laydown sequence is provided, and then a second sequential ply in the ply laydown sequence is automatically provided after the first sequential ply has been provided.

System, method, and apparatus for use in forming a composite structure

A method for use in ply compaction in forming a composite structure. The method includes positioning a ply of material on a forming tool having a web surface and at least one flange surface extending from the web surface, positioning a flange forming device at the ply of material on the forming tool, the flange forming device including an inflatable contact element pressurized to define a deformable contact surface, applying, by the deformable contact surface, the ply of material onto the forming tool with a predetermined pressure, wherein the deformable contact surface is moved across the forming tool, and wherein the inflatable contact element is configured to maintain the predetermined pressure as the deformable contact surface transitions from the web surface to the at least one flange surface.

System, method, and apparatus for use in ply compaction in forming a composite structure

A method for use in ply compaction in forming a composite structure. The method includes positioning a ply of material on a forming tool having a web surface and at least one flange surface extending from the web surface, positioning a chassis at a first location along a length dimension of the forming tool, selectively rotating a flange forming device, that is coupled to the chassis, about a yaw axis based on a relative orientation of the flange forming device to the at least one flange surface, applying, with the flange forming device, the ply of material onto the forming tool, moving the chassis relative to the forming tool to position the chassis at a second location along the length dimension of the forming tool, and repeating the selective rotation and the application steps at the second location.

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West Jordan, UT, United States of America

Scott Fisher