US 11,911,978 B2
Methods and associated systems for manufacturing composite barrel structures
Matthew B. Moore, Salem, OR (US); and Patrick B. Stone, Monroe, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Apr. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/714,274.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/185,443, filed on May 7, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0355553 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 70/38 (2006.01); B29C 70/54 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 70/382 (2013.01) [B29C 70/54 (2013.01); B29C 70/545 (2013.01); B29L 2031/7154 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for manufacturing a composite barrel structure, the method comprising:
fabricating a first plurality of composite panels that are assemblable into a first partial composite barrel section, the fabricating the first plurality of composite panels comprising:
assembling a first layup of composite material;
concurrently with the assembling the first layup of composite material, assembling at least one additional layup of composite material; and
heating the first layup of composite material together with the at least one additional layup of composite material,
wherein the assembling the first layup, the assembling the at least one additional layup, and the heating are performed at a first workstation;
concurrently with the fabricating the first plurality of composite panels, fabricating a second plurality of composite panels that are assemblable into a second partial composite barrel section at a second workstation; and
assembling the first partial composite barrel section and the second partial composite barrel section at a full joining station to yield the composite barrel structure.