Systems and methods for assembling a skin of a composite structure

US9511548B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Daniel M. Rotter · Lake Forest Park, US
• Arvid J. Berg · Seattle, US
• Joseph D. Anderson · Union City, US
• Kurtis S. Willden · Kent, US
• Richard V. Phillips · Enumclaw, US
• Stephen Lee Metschan · Black Diamond, US
• Brad Andrew Coxon · Everett, US
• Joseph J. Pruss · Redmond, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 16, 2013
• Grant date: Dec 6, 2016
• Expiry date: Aug 26, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B32B38/0012
• WIPO field: Surface technology, coating
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Systems and methods for assembling a skin of a composite structure are disclosed herein. The methods include operatively attaching a charge of composite material to a flexible substrate to define an initial conformation for a composite-substrate assembly and locating the composite-substrate assembly and a layup mandrel proximal to one another. The methods further include pressing the composite-substrate assembly against an outer surface of the layup mandrel to deform the composite-substrate assembly to a final conformation. The methods also include affixing the charge of composite material to the outer surface of the layup mandrel and releasing the charge of composite material from the flexible substrate while retaining the charge of composite material on the outer surface of the layup mandrel. The systems include the flexible substrate, the layup mandrel, and an assembly deformation structure that is configured to press the composite-substrate assembly against the outer surface of the layup mandrel.