Systems and methods for assembling a skin of a composite structure

US8974618B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Daniel M. Rotter · Lake Forest Park, US
• Paul Chih-Yung Chang · Woodinville, US
• Brad Andrew Coxon · Everett, US
• Paul E. Nelson · University Place, US
• Kimberlee Madden · Redmond, US
• Henry Macias · Auburn, US
• Jennifer Sue Noel · Kent, US
• Eugene H. Jeppesen · Kent, US
• Kurtis S. Willden · Kent, US
• Arvid J. Berg · Seattle, US
• Richard V. Phillips · Enumclaw, US
• Stephen Lee Metschan · Black Diamond, US
• Stephen Keith Kirchmeier · Bothell, US
• Joseph D. Anderson · Union City, US
• Scott Allen Boner · North Bend, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 4, 2012
• Grant date: Mar 10, 2015
• Expiry date: Jan 7, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T156/1044
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods for assembling a skin of a composite structure on an outer surface of an inner mold line layup mandrel. The systems and methods include receiving a plurality of ply kits, assembling the plurality of ply kits to form a skin segment that defines a portion of the skin, and affixing the skin segment to the outer surface of the layup mandrel. The assembling includes transferring a respective ply kit of the plurality of ply kits to a non-planar transfer tool, compacting the respective ply kit on the non-planar transfer tool, and repeating the transferring and the compacting for each ply kit in the plurality of ply kits to form the skin segment.