System and method for manufacturing a wing panel

US10363640B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Farahnaz Sisco · Mukilteo, US
• Daniel R. Smith · Woodinville, US
• Jayson J. Aquino · Bothell, US
• Edward John Batt · Bothell, US
• James N. Buttrick · Seattle, US
• Antonio C. Micale · Seattle, US
• Darrell D. Jones · Mill Creek, US
• Clayton L. Munk · Maple Valley, US
• Chris G. Couevas · Bothell, US
• Azita N. Namdaran · Bellevue, US
• Noman S. Noor · Bellevue, US
• Donald A. Mottaz · Issaquah, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 7, 2017
• Grant date: Jul 30, 2019
• Expiry date: Jul 13, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/51
• WIPO field: Machine tools
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A system and method are provided to automate the assembly of a wing panel, such as utilized by commercial aircraft. In the context of a system, a tacking cell is provided that is configured to tack one or more stringers to a skin plank. The system also includes a riveting cell configured to receive a tacked plank from the tacking cell and to rivet the one or more stringers to the skin plank. The system also includes a splicing cell configured to receive a plurality of riveted planks from the riveting cell and to attach one or more splice stringers to the plurality of riveted planks. Further, the system includes a side of body cell configured to receive a spliced panel from the splicing cell and to attach a side of body chord thereto to produce a wing panel.