The Boeing Company

Thomas Jacob Hagman

Gregory Lowman Branch

Erik Lund

Thomas C Stone

James P Dwyer

Brian Edward Hood

Wade Matthew Morris

Jonathan Richard Schwedhelm

Mark S Bunker

Paul Elfes Nelson

Eric M Reid

Trent Robert Wetherbee

Michael G Case

Ralph Douglas Cope

Alan Ray Merkley

Steven Andrew Cope

Ezra L Merrill

Noel A Spishak

Kenneth Paul Zaballos

Kim Ferrara

James C Murphy

Bruce N Gilbert

Matthew J Masters

Jeffrey D Schwindt

Nanette Gopez

Ross Hutter

Michael G Sanders

Andrew Gregory Beddoe

A method and system for managing tow end placement. A tow is laid up over a tuning surface. A first position of a first tow end of the tow and a second position of a second tow end of the tow are measured. A first error between the first position of the first tow end and an expected position for the first tow end, and a second error between the second position of the second tow end and an expected position for the second tow end, are computed. A determination is made as to whether at least one of the first error or the second error is outside of selected tolerances. A start timing offset of a tow placement system is adjusted if the first error is outside of selected tolerances and a stop timing offset of the tow placement system is adjusted if the second error is outside of selected tolerances.

Method and system for tuning a tow placement system

A method and apparatus for managing tow end placement. A time at which movement of a tow is initiated or stopped during a layup process is detected. A latency between the time and a command time corresponding to a command to begin movement or stop movement of the tow is determined. A determination is made as to whether the latency is within a desired range. A timing offset used by a control system that controls tow layup is adjusted in response to a determination that the latency is not within the desired range.

Method and system for verification of tow end placement

Composite tape is laminated onto a substrate using a gantry to move a tape laminating head along the length of the substrate. The laminating head is mounted for movement along a beam on the gantry that extends across the width of the substrate. The direction of lamination may be altered by changing the angular orientation of the beam.

Apparatus for laminating composites

Methods for laminating composites

An apparatus and method is provided for removing a selected portion of tape material from backing paper. One embodiment of an apparatus may include a supply reel, at least one cutting member, at least one bending member, and first and second vacuum rollers. The apparatus may further include pinch rollers, scraping members, and scrap bins. The apparatus may allow for the removal of scrap tape material from the backing paper.

Tape removal apparatus and process

An apparatus for supplying one or more strands of a relatively wide tape to a high-speed graphite tape laminating machine may include a tape supply reel and a backing paper take-up reel rotatably mounted on the machine, a dancer roller mounted on the machine for lateral movement thereon, and a mechanism for actively controlling the rotation of the tape supply and backing paper take-up reels and the lateral movement of the dancer roller relative to the support frame such that the respective tensions in the tapes are maintained substantially constant during both an on-the-fly tape add operation and an on-the-fly tape cut operation of the laminating machine.

Graphite tape supply and backing paper take-up apparatus

An apparatus for splicing an elongate multi-layered workpiece includes: (a) drives and guides cooperating to drive the workpiece along a working path; (b) a cutter for severing the workpiece; (c) a layer manipulator for separating layers; (d) an applicator for applying adhesive; and (e) a deflector unit for deflecting the workpiece from the working path. The cutter effects the severing to present first and second workpiece segments. The layer manipulator effects inter-layer separation in one segment to present an interlayer zone in the one segment. A drive inserts the other segment in the interlayer zone. The layer manipulator urges the layers together to capture the other segment within the interlayer zone to establish a multi-layer structure. A drive and at least one of the workpiece deflector unit and the applicator situate the multi-layer structure adjacent to the applicator for finishing the splicing by applying adhesive to the multi-layer structure.

Apparatus and method for splicing an elongate multi-layered workpiece

A rotating internal support for a large hollow structure can include a rigid central truss and two or more annular disks coupled to the truss by support arms. The annular disks can be axially spaced along the longitudinal centerline of the truss, and can be coupled to the support arms by guide rollers that allow the annular disks to rotate about a central axis. The internal support can also include support rods with contact pads that extend axially around the annular disks to contact and support the inner surface of the large hollow structure.

Rotating internal support apparatus and method for large hollow structures

In a system for coating a plurality of items, a tank unit prepares the plurality of items for painting, a painting unit paints the plurality of items, a drying unit dries the plurality, and an item conveyer conveys the plurality of items through the system as a flow of single items.

Single item workflow manufacturing system and method

A reciprocating press for forming workpieces includes a tilting table that supports the workpiece and positions it with respect to the press tooling as the press closes, and then is pivoted upward into an inclined orientation as the press opens so that the finished workpiece falls down the table and is automatically discharged from the press. A preferred embodiment has a lifting arm attached to an upper reciprocating press member that carries an upper forming tool such as a punch. The lower end of the lifting arm engages the tilting table such that the table is pivoted about a horizontal axis in concert with the upward and downward movement of the reciprocating press member. The press preferably also includes a safety door that is automatically closed before the press fully closes and is opened again as the press opens such that operator access to the moving press parts is prevented by the door during a press cycle. The safety door is powered by a system employing a pair of pneumatic cylinders between which air is pumped in response to the opening and closing of the press. The press also includes stroke-adjusting variable-length collars mounted on die posts, and one or more shims secured to the reciprocating press member, for varying a stroke distance of the press.

Press for forming workpieces

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Thomas Jacob Hagman