Systems and methods for assembling stiffened composite structures

US9199417B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Daniel M. Rotter · Lake Forest Park, US
• Jennifer Sue Noel · Kent, US
• Brian G. Robins · Renton, US
• Kimberlee Madden · Redmond, US
• Henry Macias · Auburn, US
• Brad Andrew Coxon · Everett, US
• Stephen Keith Kirchmeier · Bothell, US
• Joseph D. Anderson · Union City, US
• Kurtis S. Willden · Kent, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 2, 2013
• Grant date: Dec 1, 2015
• Expiry date: Jan 25, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B29C70/32
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Methods of assembling a stiffened composite structure include loading, with a stiffener loading tool, a respective stiffener from a supply of stiffeners onto an inner mold line layup mandrel; repeating the loading to load a plurality of stiffeners onto the inner mold line layup mandrel; and following the repeating, affixing a respective skin segment from a supply of skin segments to the plurality of stiffeners loaded on the inner mold line layup mandrel to form at least a portion of the stiffened composite structure. Systems for assembling stiffened composite structures include a supply of stiffeners; an inner mold line layup mandrel; and a stiffener loading tool configured to load the respective stiffener onto the inner mold line layup mandrel.