Abstract:
An aircraft control surface actuation system including a wing member and an aircraft control surface hingedly connected to the wing member along a pivot axis, wherein the aircraft control surface is configured to axially move along the pivot axis when the aircraft control surface pivots relative to the wing member about the pivot axis.
Abstract:
Tooling apparatus for forming a composite charge into a contoured composite blade stringer includes an elongate punch and an elongate die flexible along their lengths. The charge is press formed by using the punch to drive the charge into the die. The punch and the die are mounted between a pair of flexible plates. A press coupled with the plates contours the charge by bending the plates into a desired contour.
Abstract:
A rotating internal support for a large hollow structure can include a rigid central truss and two or more annular disks coupled to the truss by support arms. The annular disks can be axially spaced along the longitudinal centerline of the truss, and can be coupled to the support arms by guide rollers that allow the annular disks to rotate about a central axis. The internal support can also include support rods with contact pads that extend axially around the annular disks to contact and support the inner surface of the large hollow structure.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for preferably producing a two layer off-axis composite prepreg material in tape form that has fiber direction at angles such as plus or minus five degrees to the longitudinal direction of the backing paper. The use of such off-axis prepreg composite material tape is primarily for fabricating high length-to-width ration parts such as composite wing stringers or spars for aircraft.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for manufacturing large, semi-flexible metal components includes a fixture that holds the component blank in a desired position for manufacturing operations by accurate numerically controlled machine tools using original numerical part definition records, utilizing spatial relationships between key features of detail parts or subassemblies as represented by coordination features machined into the parts and subassemblies, thereby making the parts and subassemblies intrinsically determinant of the dimensions and contour of the part.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for holding a part on a fixture in a precisely known predetermined position includes pressing a surface of the part against a vacuum head and sealing an annular elastomeric sealing ring against the part surface. A valve button of a valve is engaged by the part surface to open the valve and establish communication between a vacuum source. The part is pulled by the vacuum against a hard stop in the vacuum head having a fixed precisely known relationship to said vacuum head reference surface. The hard-stop can be mounted in the base of the vacuum head for pivoting about at least one axis to self-align the hard-stop face with the part face.
Abstract:
A reconfigurable fixture for holding a plurality of workpieces in proper position for manufacturing. The fixture includes an array of interleaved uniformly spaced contoured headers, with a predetermined set of headers corresponding to a predetermined workpiece contour. Each set of contoured headers may be simultaneously laterally displaced from an inactive stored position to a locked, active forward position, wherein the selection and movement of the set of headers is controlled by a computer controller. Each contoured header has a set of vacuum cups, that, when activated, pulls the predetermined workpiece against the contoured edges of the predetermined set of headers.
Abstract:
A forming tool and method for its use with flat pre-preg composite laminate assemblies which incorporates a mandrel segmented into multiple forming blocks, the forming blocks sized to receive a draped composite laminate assembly with all portions of the composite laminate assembly spaced from a shaping surface on each block. A spline plate engages the shaping surface of the forming blocks to provide a neutral axis for maintaining the entire composite laminate assembly in tension during forming. In the exemplary embodiments, the draped composite laminate assembly is formed to the forming blocks from the flat composite laminate assembly and maintained in contact with the forming blocks using a vacuum bag. The mandrel forming blocks arc then displaced to a desired curvature on the spline plate.
Abstract:
The embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for preferably producing a two layer off-axis composite prepreg material in tape form that has fiber direction at angles such as plus or minus five degrees to the longitudinal direction of the backing paper. The use of such off-axis prepreg composite material tape is primarily for fabricating high length-to-width ration parts such as composite wing stringers or spars for aircraft.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods provide for utilizing continuous curved composite stringers to control the loads and corresponding moments within curved regions of an aircraft or other vehicle without delamination or other interlamina failures. According to embodiments described herein, any number of tapered height curved composite stringers may be coupled to continuous skin components to create a curved continuous panel. The tapered height curved composite stringers may have webs that taper to a reduced height within curved regions and corresponding base flanges that widen during web tapering. Reinforcement fittings may be coupled to the base flanges in the curved regions for further strengthening and to provide for the attachment of supplemental panels to the stringers.