David M Strand

US Patent:

6502808, Jan 7, 2003

Filed:

Sep 25, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/669322

Inventors:

Paul R. Stone - Federal Way WA
David E. Strand - Newcastle WA
Paul E. Nelson - University Place WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B23B 3130

US Classification:

269 21, 269 75, 269 71, 269266, 269296

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.

US Patent:

6625866, Sep 30, 2003

Filed:

Jan 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/757680

Inventors:

Paul R. Stone - Federal Way WA
David E. Strand - Newcastle WA
Paul E. Nelson - University Place WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B23P 1100

US Classification:

29559, 292813, 292815, 29464, 269 21, 269266

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.

US Patent:

6718614, Apr 13, 2004

Filed:

Jan 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/338568

Inventors:

Paul R. Stone - Federal Way WA
David E. Strand - Newcastle WA
Paul E. Nelson - University Place WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B23Q 700

US Classification:

29559

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.

US Patent:

6808143, Oct 26, 2004

Filed:

Nov 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/001536

Inventors:

Clayton L. Munk - Maple Valley WA
Paul E. Nelson - University Place WA
David E. Strand - Newcastle WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B64C 326

US Classification:

244123, 244131

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for manufacturing wings includes a fixture that holds wing panels for drilling and edge trimming 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 wing. Spars are attached to the wing panel using the coordination holes to locate the spars accurately on the panel in accordance with the original engineering design, and in-spar ribs are attached to rib posts on the spar using accurately drilled coordination holes in the ends of the rib and in the rib post. The wing contour is determined by the configuration of the spars and ribs rather than by any conventional hard tooling which determines the wing contour in conventional processes.

US Patent:

7509740, Mar 31, 2009

Filed:

Jun 14, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/867398

Inventors:

Clayton L. Munk - Maple Valley WA, US
Paul E. Nelson - University Place WA, US
David E. Strand - Newcastle WA, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B21D 53/92

US Classification:

298972, 2940709, 294071, 29464, 29559

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for manufacturing wings includes a fixture that holds wing panels for drilling and edge trimming 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 wing. Spars are attached to the wing panel using the coordination holes to locate the spars accurately on the panel in accordance with the original engineering design, and in-spar ribs are attached to rib posts on the spar using accurately drilled coordination holes in the ends of the rib and in the rib post. The wing contour is determined by the configuration of the spars and ribs rather than by any conventional hard tooling which determines the wing contour in conventional processes.

US Patent:

20090228134, Sep 10, 2009

Filed:

Mar 31, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/416024

Inventors:

Clayton L. Munk - Maple Valley WA, US
Paul E. Nelson - University Place WA, US
David E. Strand - Newcastle WA, US

Assignee:

THE BOEING COMPANY - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

700167, 700186, 700 97

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for manufacturing wings includes a fixture that holds wing panels for drilling and edge trimming 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 wing. Spars are attached to the wing panel using the coordination holes to locate the spars accurately on the panel in accordance with the original engineering design, and in-spar ribs are attached to rib posts on the spar using accurately drilled coordination holes in the ends of the rib and in the rib post. The wing contour is determined by the configuration of the spars and ribs rather than by any conventional hard tooling which determines the wing contour in conventional processes.

US Patent:

56498888, Jul 22, 1997

Filed:

Jun 6, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/468587

Inventors:

Antonio C. Micale - Seattle WA
David E. Strand - Renton WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B23Q 3157

US Classification:

483 11

Abstract:

A system for assembling parts on a sheet to form a panel includes a fixture for holding the sheet and presenting the sheet broadside to a robot. A rack within the reach of the robot holds a plurality of end effectors, each having an interconnect which can be gripped and centered by the robot when it picks up by the end effector. The end effectors include, 1) a drilling end effector having a drill for drilling holes in the sheet on centers determined by movement of the robot; 2) a routing end effector having a router for routing peripheral edge portions of the sheet along lines determined by movement of the router; 3) a probe end effector having a probe for sensing contact with surfaces on an index device mounted on the fixture at a known location to serve as a reference monument. A part program constituting a data set having complete panel assembly detail design information obtained directly from original digital engineering part definition records, including locations on the sheet of all fastener holes for fastening the parts needed to make up the panel, and the position on the sheet of the peripheral edge portions thereof relative to the holes, the part program also including machine instructions for directing the movement of the robot to carry the end effectors to the locations on the sheet at which machining operations are needed to fasten the parts in the correct locations and to produce peripheral routed edge portions of the correct configuration. A control computer controls the motion of the robot in accordance with the instructions contained in the part program and automatically performs absolute coordination probing to verify the accuracy of the robot and fixture positioning.

US Patent:

60038128, Dec 21, 1999

Filed:

Jun 6, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/471664

Inventors:

Antonio C. Micale - Seattle WA
David E. Strand - Renton WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B64C 106

US Classification:

244117R

Abstract:

An airplane fuselage panel including a sheet having peripheral edges routed on routing surfaces, while the sheet is held immobile on a fixture, using a routing end effector carried by a precision computer controlled robot that is directed to the routing surfaces using a digital dataset taken directly from digital engineering part definition records. The sheet has coordination holes drilled while on the fixture using a drilling end effector carried by the precision computer controlled robot that is directed to drilling locations using the digital dataset taken directly from the digital engineering part definition records to accurately locate the hole locations relative to the peripheral edges. The airplane fuselage panel also includes parts, including stringers, stringer clips and shear ties, each having coordination holes drilled by computer controlled drills at locations that will match with corresponding coordination holes in the sheet, so that the parts will be accurately located in positions called for in the digital engineering part definition records when the coordination holes in the parts and the coordination holes in the sheet are aligned and the parts are riveted to the sheet in the accurately located positions.