The Boeing Company

University of Washington

Harry E. Townsend

Paul E. Nelson

Bobby C., Jr. Philpott

Laurance N. Haszelhurst

Kostandinos D. Papanikolaou

James N. Buttrick

Ronald W. Outous

Charles H. Glaisyer

Mark C. Boberg

Terrence J. Rowe

Darrell D. Jones

David P. Banks

John R. Porter

Terrence J Rowe

Darrell Darwin Jones

James Niemann Buttrick

Paul Elfes Nelson

David Paul Banks

Ronald W Outous

Charles H Glaisyer

Mark C Boberg

Laurance N Hazlehurst

Harry E Townsend

Bobby C Philpott, Jr

Kostadinos D Papanikolaou

John Richard Porter

Peter D McCowin

James N Buttrick, Jr

Joseph Daniel Brennan

Matthew K Lum

Hugh R Schlosstein

George D Hempstead

David P Banks

James N Buttrick

Paul E Nelson

Laurance N Haszelhurst

John R Porter

Jr Philpott Bobby C

Kostandinos D Papanikolaou

Matthew Ray DesJardien

Silas Lawton Studley

Gary Alan Davis

Daniel Mark McDonagh

Tracy Edward Zimmerman

Lance O McCann

Daniel Martin Sherick

John R Aubin

Alexander H De Marne

Kenneth W Latimer, Iii

Cameron Devine

Tony Piaskowy

Bobby C Philpott

Laurence N Hazelhurst

A system for sanding a surface includes a sanding tool, a robotic manipulator to move the sanding tool relative to the surface, and a control unit operatively coupled with the sanding tool and the robotic manipulator. The control unit is operable to: (1) move the sanding tool to a sanding position relative to the surface in which an abrasive surface is in contact with the surface and a sanding force is approximately normal to the surface; (2) set one or more sanding parameters corresponding to a model material removal rate; (3) monitor one or more of the sanding parameters; (4) determine an actual material removal rate, based on one or more of the sanding parameters being monitored; and (5) modify one or more of the sanding parameters until the actual material removal rate is approximately equal to the model material removal rate.

Systems and methods for sanding a surface of a structure

A lockbolt collar feeder employing a resilient holder coupled to a linear actuator via a positioning arm, where the resilient holder can receive a lockbolt collar from a collar dispensing mechanism while disposed in a first position, and then when the linear actuator is extended the positioning arm extends and rotates the resilient holder to a second position in which the resilient holder can facilitate positioning the lockbolt collar onto a lockbolt for subsequent swaging. The linear actuator of the lockbolt collar feeder is configured to be coupled to a swaging tool, and thereby facilitates a method of positioning a lockbolt collar onto a lockbolt using the swaging tool.

Lockbolt collar feeder for swaging tool

Method and apparatus for layup placement on a layup structure is provided. The method includes iteratively loading a layup for the layup structure on a support frame of a saddle module; aligning the saddle module with a pre-selected registration position corresponding to a predetermined application path on the layup structure; and impressing the layup into forced contact with the layup structure along the predetermined application path using a predetermined application force. The apparatus includes a plurality of saddle modules configured to operate in unison, wherein the plurality of saddle modules is configured to receive a pre-selected composite material layup.

Apparatus for layup placement

A mobile vehicle is used to place, compact and inspect composite plies at selected locations on a tool. The vehicle includes an on-board supply of composite plies, a transfer platen for transferring plies to the tool, a compactor for compacting plies on the tool, and an inspection device for inspecting plies on the tool, each operated and manipulated by an on-board manipulator such as a robot.

Mobile system for automated layup and compaction of composite laminates

Method and apparatus for layup placement

A production system for manufacturing a workpiece comprises an index system including a plurality of index devices removably mounted on the workpiece at known longitudinally spaced locations therealong, and a longitudinally extending index member releasably engaged with at least two of the index devices such that a position and orientation of the index member are fixed relative to the workpiece by the index devices, the index member having position-indicating features distributed therealong. The production system further comprises a machine module mounted for longitudinal movement along the index member and operable to perform an operation, the machine module being operable to detect the position-indicating features on the index member and thereby determine a position of the machine module relative to the workpiece.

Production system and an associated index device for use as a reference feature

A pre-patterned layup kit with layup patterned to accommodate an airframe topological feature, trimmed to fit a preselected target region of a layup structure, and conformed to the target region contour. The kit can be fabricated in advance of airframe manufacture and stored until use. The kit includes a flexible carrier upon which the layup is laid, and a release layer between the layup and the carrier. The layup has multiple laminae oriented to an carrier indexing element, and indexed to the target region thereby. A kit manufacturing method includes preparing the laminae constituent of the layup, preparing the carrier, and laying down the laminae on the carrier to make the kit. The kit can be compacted, inspected, and prepared for storage. The layup can be fabricated of a pre-patterned lamina or multiple laminae that are shaped and trimmed to accommodate an airframe topological feature.

Pre-patterned layup kit and method of manufacture

Indexing device for manufacturing system for aircraft structures and other large structures

Manufacturing system for aircraft structures and other large structures

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Terrence J Rowe