Thanh Ai Le

US Patent:

8262969, Sep 11, 2012

Filed:

Oct 9, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/576889

Inventors:

Darrell A. Wade - Wichita KS, US
Thanh A. Le - Wichita KS, US

Assignee:

Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. - Wichita KS

International Classification:

B27N 3/10

US Classification:

264257

Abstract:

An apparatus and method of forming a stringer or an integral stringer and fuselage skin. The apparatus may be a solid bladder made of silicone, urethane, or any similar material or combination thereof. The method may comprise placing composite material onto a surface of a tooling having a channel sized and shaped to correspond to a desired stringer size and shape. Then the solid bladder may be placed onto the composite material relative the channel. The shape of the solid bladder may correspond to the shape of the channel. Composite material may then be placed over the solid bladder, vacuum-sealed against the bladder and the tooling, and cured to harden the composite material, thereby forming a stringer or an integral stringer and fuselage skin.

US Patent:

20110146854, Jun 23, 2011

Filed:

Dec 22, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/644541

Inventors:

Rahbar Nasserrafi - Andover KS, US
Darrell A. Wade - Wichita KS, US
Thanh A. Le - Wichita KS, US
Derek D. Donaldson - Mulvane KS, US
Gary W. Sundquist - Newton KS, US

Assignee:

SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC. - Wichita KS

International Classification:

C22F 1/18
B21D 35/00
B21D 37/16

US Classification:

148670, 723421, 7234294, 7234296

Abstract:

A system and method for shaping a net or near-net titanium part, the method comprising machining a piece of titanium into a titanium part having non-uniform thickness, heating the titanium part to a target temperature within a target temperature range between an auto-relief temperature of the titanium part and a minimum temperature required for super plastic forming of the titanium part, and lowering a die into the titanium part with sufficient force to shape the titanium part. The system for shaping the titanium part may comprise a multiple-axis machine, a die, electrical clamps, sensors, and a control system for adjusting heating temperatures based on information received from the sensors regarding the titanium part.

US Patent:

20160122031, May 5, 2016

Filed:

Nov 2, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/530784

Inventors:

- Wichita KS, US
Darrell A. Wade - Wichita KS, US
Thanh A. Le - Wichita KS, US

International Classification:

B64D 29/02
B23K 31/02

Abstract:

A method of shaping a metallic honeycomb panel using a continuous drive sheet. The metallic honeycomb panel may have a perforated upper sheet, a non-perforated lower sheet, and a metal honeycomb core fixed between the upper and lower sheets. The method may include the steps of designing and manufacturing the drive sheet using finite element analysis (FEA) and criteria regarding shaping of the metallic honeycomb panel, then welding the drive sheet to the lower face of the lower sheet. The drive sheet may cover all of the lower face of the lower sheet and may have varying thicknesses determined based on the criteria and the FEA. The method may also include the steps of heating the drive sheet and metallic honeycomb panel to a creep forming or hot-stretch forming temperature and urging the metallic honeycomb panel and drive sheet into a male or female die mold to be shaped.