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US 11,447,228 B2Granted
Methods of manufacture for aircraft substructure
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJared L. Bolin, Christopher Tyler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method includes providing a frame sheet. The method also includes elevating a temperature of the frame sheet to at or above an elevated target temperature. Further the method includes, at or above the elevated target temperature, forming the frame sheet to provide a frame defining a web and at least one flange. Also, the method includes machining at least one of the web or the at least one flange to reduce a thickness of the at least one of the web or the at least on flange.
Claims21
A method comprising:
- providing a frame sheet including an interior portion located around a first periphery surrounding a central opening, an exterior portion located along a second periphery surrounding an exterior of the frame sheet, and a middle portion interposed between the interior portion and the exterior portion;
- elevating a temperature of the frame sheet to at or above an elevated target temperature;
- at or above the elevated target temperature, forming the frame sheet to provide a frame defining a web, a first flange extending from a first end of the web, and a second flange extending from a second end of the web, wherein the first end is opposite from the second end, wherein said forming comprises bending the interior portion upward to form the first flange, bending the exterior portion upward to form the second flange, and forming the web from the middle portion;
- and after said forming, machining at least one of the web, the first flange, or the second flange to reduce a thickness of the at least one of the web, the first flange, or the second flange;
- wherein the machining comprises machining along both sides of the first flange and the second flange.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a plurality of frames, wherein providing each frame comprises:
- providing a frame sheet including an interior portion located around a first periphery surrounding a central opening, an exterior portion located along a second periphery surrounding an exterior of the frame sheet, and a middle portion interposed between the interior portion and the exterior portion;
- elevating a temperature of the frame sheet to at or above an elevated target temperature;
- forming, at or above the elevated target temperature, the frame sheet to provide a frame defining a web, a first flange extending from a first end of the web, and a second flange extending from a second end of the web, wherein the first end is opposite from the second end, wherein said forming comprises bending the interior portion upward to form the first flange, bending the exterior portion upward to form the second flange, and forming the web from the middle portion;
- and after said forming, machining at least one of the web, the first flange, or the second flange to reduce a thickness of the at least one of the web, the first flange, or the second flange;
- and joining the plurality of frames to form an aircraft substructure of an aircraft;
- wherein the machining comprises machining along both sides of the first flange and the second flange.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a frame sheet including an interior portion located around a first periphery surrounding a central opening, an exterior portion located along a second periphery surrounding an exterior of the frame sheet, and a middle portion interposed between the interior portion and the exterior portion;
- elevating a temperature of the frame sheet to at or above an elevated target temperature;
- at or above the elevated target temperature, forming the frame sheet to provide a frame defining a web, a first flange extending from a first end of the web, and a second flange extending from a second end of the web, wherein the first end is opposite from the second end, wherein said forming comprises bending the interior portion upward to form the first flange, bending the exterior portion upward to form the second flange, and forming the web from the middle portion;
- and after said forming, machining at least one of the web, the first flange, or the second flange to reduce a thickness of the at least one of the web, the first flange, or the second flange;
- wherein said forming the frame sheet to provide the frame comprises placing the frame sheet in a die at the elevated target temperature, and retaining the frame sheet in the die while the frame is cooled;
- wherein said machining the at least one of the web, the first flange, or the second flange comprises machining at least one of the web, the first flange, or the second flange along an entire length of the at least one of the web, the first flange, or the second flange;
- and wherein the machining comprises machining along both sides of the first flange and the second flange.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.