Patent · US Expired

Method of building fatigue life enhanced structures

US7024747B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
6References
31Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 19, 2003
Grant dateApr 11, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 10, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/53365
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a fatigue life enhanced product from a plurality of workpiece parts. At least one fatigue enhancing operation is performed on a first workpiece at a first work station. At least one fatigue enhancing operation is performed on a second workpiece at a second work station. The first and second workpieces are transferred to a first assembly station, where the workpieces are joined to form a fatigue life enhanced product. Aerostructures manufactured according to the method may include components fabricated at different locations to have fatigue life enhancing properties, especially in bounding material adjacent to holes designed to accommodate fasteners. By use of the method, the final assembly step can thus avoid the necessity to include the processing of holes to enhance fatigue life, since this step has been performed prior to bringing components into position to be joined in the final shape or assembly of the airframe.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.