Composite assembly for unhardened fuselage components

US11597044B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Daniel R. Smith · Woodinville, US
• Darrell D. Jones · Mill Creek, US
• Paul T. Pritchard · Renton, US
• Jason A. Medenciy · Seattle, US
• Stephen Keith Kirchmeier · Bothell, US
• Kurtis S. Willden · Kent, US
• Robert William Whiting · Chesterfield, US
• Michael Beerman · Bellevue, US
• Raviendra S. Suriyaarachchi · Kirkland, US
• Jeremy Evan Justice · Mill Creek, US
• Paul Chace Wilcoxson · Kent, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 10, 2021
• Grant date: Mar 7, 2023
• Expiry date: Nov 10, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T50/40
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating a preform for a fuselage section of an aircraft. The method includes advancing a series of arcuate mandrel sections in a process direction through an assembly line, laying up fiber reinforced material onto the arcuate mandrel sections via layup stations, uniting the series of arcuate mandrel sections into a combined mandrel; and splicing the fiber reinforced material laid-up onto the arcuate mandrel sections.