Methods and apparatus for molding and joining composite parts
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorMark A. Schmier, II
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for molding and joining composite parts are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a tool base and a base mandrel removably coupled to the tool base, where the tool base and the base mandrel form a support structure base for a first radar assembly or a second radar assembly. A first part mandrel interchangeable with the base mandrel is removably coupled to the tool base, where the first part mandrel has first features to support a first antenna module during assembly of the first radar assembly. A second part mandrel interchangeable with the base mandrel is removably coupled to the tool base, where the second part mandrel having second features to support a second antenna module during assembly of the second radar assembly.
Claims22
An apparatus comprising:
- a tool base;
- a base mandrel removably coupled to the tool base, the tool base and the base mandrel to provide tooling to form a support structure base for use with a first radar assembly or a second radar assembly;
- a first part mandrel interchangeable with the base mandrel and to be removably coupled to the tool base, the first part mandrel having first features to support a first antenna module during assembly of the first radar assembly;
- and
- a second part mandrel interchangeable with the base mandrel and to be removably coupled to the tool base, the second part mandrel having second features to support a second antenna module during assembly of the second radar assembly, the first features being different than the second features.
An apparatus comprising:
- a tool base;
- a base mandrel to removably couple to the tool base and used to form a support structure of a radome, the support structure to include a flange and a cylindrical body protruding from the flange;
- at least one of a first mandrel or a second mandrel to removably couple to the tool base after formation of the support structure, the first mandrel to be interchanged with the base mandrel and used to form a first feature to a bottom surface of a protruding wall of the support structure, the second mandrel to be interchanged with the base mandrel and used to form a second feature to the bottom surface of the protruding wall of the support structure, the first feature being different than the second feature.
An apparatus comprising:
- a tool base and a base mandrel to removably couple to the tool base, the tool base and the base mandrel provide tooling to form a support structure base of a first radome or a second radome;
- and
- a first assembly jig to be interchanged with the base mandrel to support the support structure base during assembly of the first radome;
- or
- a second assembly jig to be interchanged with the base mandrel to support the support structure base during assembly of the second radome.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.