The Boeing Company

Tyler Emerson Berkey

Daniel Thomas

Nicholas R Page

Dennis Ray Mathis

Andrew J Maass

Gary E Georgeson

John Eric Miller

Rachel M Chow

Alexander J Coco

James Alan Aske

Daniel B Freeman

Charles Daniel Peyton

Emnet T Gemechu

Kyshalee Vazquez

Daniel B Freemand

Matthew L Scott

Daniel S Thomas

Systems and methods for automated swapping of a charged replacement battery for a depleted battery onboard an electric vehicle using a battery delivery vehicle (BDV). The BDV may be configured to operate autonomously or under remote control. The electric vehicle which receives the replacement battery from a BDV may be configured to operate autonomously (e.g., an AGV) or non-autonomously (e.g., an electric passenger car). The BDV is loaded with a fully (or partially) charged battery, and then moved to a rendezvous place at which the BDV is underneath and aligned with the electric vehicle. The battery is uploaded to the electric vehicle while the aligned BDV moves in tandem with the electric vehicle. After the replacement battery has been installed, the power distribution system onboard the electric vehicle switches over to draw DC power from the replacement battery (instead of from a depleted battery) without interrupting vehicle operation.

Systems and methods for automated in-situ swapping of batteries for electric vehicles

A system, device and method to facilitate tying a knot are provided. In the context of a device, the device includes a fixture defining an internal passage therethrough. The fixture defines a circumferential groove opening through an interior surface of the fixture and into the internal passage. The groove includes first and second groove portions that cross one another. Opposite ends of the groove are coincident and open through an exterior surface of the fixture. With relation to a system, the system includes a fixture and a lead member supply mechanism configured to alternately feed a lead member through the groove and to withdraw the lead member from the groove once the tie member is connected thereto.

System, device and method to facilitate tying a knot

A lockbolt swage end effector incorporates a swage tool releasably engaged by a connector assembly to hydraulic operator carried in a frame. A two piece core-bolt operably connects the swage tool and the hydraulic operator through the connector assembly. A connection flange attaches the frame to a mating flange on a robotic manipulator.

Swage end effector with automated fastener size change capability

A lockbolt swage end effector incorporates a swage tool engaged by a connector assembly to a frame. The frame is attached to a robotic manipulator. A jaw assembly is supported on a mounting assembly, the jaw assembly having opposing articulating jaws forming a recess to engage a collar in a closed position in alignment with a swage puller and die in the swage tool. The articulating jaws release the collar in an open position for operation of the swage tool.

Compact lockbolt swage end effector with collar pickup and retention jaws

An acoustic panel including a first face sheet having a plurality of openings; a core attached to the face sheet, the core comprising a plurality of cells each having cell walls; and a plurality of noise attenuating features each comprising at least one of the openings in combination with one of the cells, wherein the openings are disposed away from the cell walls so that the noise attenuating features suppress the transmission of acoustic waves in acoustic communication with the openings.

Method for using contour correct thermoplastic core in bonded acoustic panel assembly

A seal assembly configured to seal against a surface of a seal depressor includes a body member configured to elastically deform in at least a first direction of motion from an original state into a compressed state in response to experiencing a load. The body member exerts a sealing pressure against the surface of the seal depressor when in the compressed state. The seal assembly also includes one or more shape memory stiffening members constructed from a shape memory material having a high energy state and a low energy state. The one or more shape memory stiffening members are oriented perpendicular to the first direction of motion of the seal assembly and configured to stiffen the body member of the seal assembly when the shape memory material is in the high energy state.

Seal assembly including shape memory stiffening members

A seal assembly configured to seal against a surface of a seal depressor is disclosed. The seal assembly includes a body member configured to elastically expand from an original state into an expanded state. The body member exerts a sealing pressure against the surface of the seal depressor when in the expanded state. The seal assembly also includes one or more actuation members constructed from a shape memory material having a high energy state and a low energy state. The one or more actuation members are configured to urge the body member of the seal assembly from the original state into the expanded state when the shape memory material transitions from the low energy state to the high energy state.

Seal assembly with actuation members constructed of shape memory material

A labyrinth barrier is disclosed and comprises two or more members each defining respective vertical axes. One or more of the members are constructed at least in part of a shape memory material having a first energy state and a second energy state. The members are oriented relative to one another by their respective vertical axes in an original state to create a flow pathway that restricts fluid flow in a direction transverse to the respective vertical axes. The members are urged towards one another to further restrict the flow pathway when the shape memory material transitions from the first energy state to the second energy state.

Labyrinth barrier with members constructed of a shape memory material

A shear tie connector system for securing a frame component to a composite fuselage skin, which includes a shear tie connector and a fuselage mandrel, which defines a slot within which the shear tie connector is positioned.

Fastener-less frame installation in a composite structure

Rotary electric engines, aircraft including the same, and associated methods. A rotary electric engine includes a nacelle, a fan configured to generate thrust, a stator operatively coupled to the nacelle, and a rotor operatively coupled to the fan. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades. The rotor includes a plurality of rotor magnets operatively coupled to respective blade tips of the fan blades. The stator includes a plurality of field coils configured to produce a magnetic interaction between the field coils and the rotor magnets to rotate the fan. In examples, the stator is configured to rotate each field coil relative to the nacelle. In examples, an aircraft includes one or more rotary electric engines pivotally mounted within engine mount regions. In examples, a method of operating an aircraft includes operating one or more rotary electric engines in a vertical lift configuration and in a forward flight configuration.

Rotary electric engines, aircraft including the same, and associated methods

Systems, methods and computer program products for laser etching and robotic machining of large workpieces are disclosed. An example system includes a first ring of lasers configured to etch longitudinal gridlines on a workpiece, a second ring of lasers configured to etch circumferential gridlines on the workpiece, where the longitudinal gridlines and the circumferential gridlines define a working grid on the workpiece, and a machine vision system to scan the working grid and compare the working grid to a reference grid in a computer model of the workpiece and to determine offsets between the working grid and the reference grid for positioning a robotic machining tool.

Laser-etching and machine-vision positioning system

Systems and methods for leak detection of aircraft doors. One embodiment is an apparatus for leak testing a seal between an aircraft door and a fuselage of an aircraft. The apparatus includes a structural frame that includes a suction cup configured to suction an outer surface of the aircraft door. The structural frame further includes legs to extend in length to push the structural frame away from the fuselage and cause the suction cup to pull the aircraft door toward an outside of the aircraft to tighten the seal between the aircraft door and the fuselage of the aircraft.

Enhanced rig check and leak detection of aircraft doors

Hybrid turbine engines, aircraft including the same, and associated methods. A hybrid turbine engine includes a gas turbine engine mechanically and/or electrically coupled to a rotary electric engine. The rotary electric engine includes a nacelle, a fan with fan blades, a stator operatively coupled to the nacelle, and a rotor with a plurality of rotor magnets coupled to the fan blades. The stator includes a plurality of field coils. In examples, the stator is configured to rotate each field coil relative to the nacelle. In examples, an aircraft includes a hybrid turbine engine such that the gas turbine engine is substantially enclosed within the nacelle or is supported by a fuselage of the aircraft. In examples, a method of operating an aircraft with a hybrid turbine engine includes generating a gas turbine thrust with the gas turbine engine and generating an electric engine thrust with the rotary electric engine.

Hybrid turbine engines, aircraft including the same, and associated methods

A method for managing passenger comfort. A passenger mobile device is connected with a vehicle computer system in a vehicle using a near-field communications reader for a passenger seat. Passenger comfort preferences associated with the passenger seat are identified by the vehicle computer system based on changes made to an environment in the vehicle by a passenger. Passenger comfort preferences made to the environment by the passenger are sent from the vehicle computer system to the passenger mobile device, which are associated with different current states. New comfort preferences are received by the vehicle computer system from the passenger mobile device when the passenger mobile device detects a change in a current state of the passenger. Signals are sent by the vehicle computer system to a number of vehicle systems to change the environment using the new comfort preferences, enabling an increase in the passenger comfort in the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Charleston, SC, United States of America

Tyler Emerson Berkey