Abstract: A welding assembly is disclosed. The welding assembly includes a plurality of separately controllable actuators (e.g., pneumatic, having an axially movable ram) to press a corresponding portion of a first workpiece (e.g., a discrete flange of a first stiffener) against a second workpiece (e.g., an outer skin) for welding operations (e.g., via induction welding).

Abstract: A thrust reverser includes a frame, a track disposed on the frame, a carrier operatively coupled to the track, and a first reverser door operatively coupled to the carrier. The first reverser door is movable relative to the frame. The first reverser door is configured to move to a first position in response to the carrier moving with respect to the track in a first direction, and move to a second position in response to the carrier moving with respect to the track in a second direction.

Abstract: A thrust reverser system is provided that includes a sleeve, a fixed cascade structure and a blocker door. The fixed cascade structure is within a cavity of the sleeve when the sleeve is in a sleeve stowed position. The blocker door is within the cavity of the sleeve when the sleeve is in the sleeve stowed position and the blocker door is in a blocker door stowed position. The blocker door projects in a radial inward direction away from the sleeve towards the centerline when the sleeve is in a sleeve deployed position and when the blocker door is in a blocker door deployed position. The blocker door includes a pivot attachment fixed at an end of the blocker door. The pivot attachment is configured to move in a forward direction from a first location to a second location.

Abstract: A manufacturing method is provided. A preform is arranged over a surface of an inner mold line. The preform is folded over sides of the inner mold line. An end of the preform is pressed into a grip strip coupled to a side of the inner mold line. The grip strip is translated in a first direction to tension the preform into a shaped body.

Abstract: A manufacturing method is disclosed herein. The method includes arranging a preform over a surface of an inner mold line; folding the preform over sides of the inner mold line; pressing an end of the preform into a grip strip coupled to a side of the inner mold line; and applying pressure to the preform to force excess material of the preform into a forming bead of the inner mold line.

Abstract: An induction welding assembly and inductive welding method is disclosed. A tooling block includes a workpiece zone, a conductive heat generation and transfer member, and a heat shield, with the conductive heat generation and transfer member being disposed between the workpiece zone and the heat shield. A first workpiece and a second workpiece may be disposed within the workpiece zone such that the first workpiece is disposed between the conductive heat generation and transfer member and the second workpiece. The heat shield, conductive heat generation and transfer member, first workpiece, and second workpiece may be pressed together. An induction coil may be positioned in spaced relation to the heat shield and may be operated to heat the conductive heat generation and transfer member. Heat is conductively transferred by the conductive heat transfer member to the first workpiece to weld the first workpiece and the second workpiece together.

Abstract: A manufacturing method is disclosed herein. The method includes arranging a preform with a plurality of clamping assemblies, the plurality of clamping assemblies disposed along ends of the preform; and forming the preform into a shaped body, the forming including incrementally tensioning the preform around a surface of an inner mold line using the plurality of clamping assemblies; and drawing the preform into a set of forming beads of the inner mold line.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus' for induction welding a first workpiece to a second workpiece at a welding region may include a metallic strip. The metallic strip may be a mesh. The properties of the metallic strip, such as, for example, pore size, thickness, and density, may be configured to conduct heat uniformly across the welding region and prevent eddy current formation across a workpiece. The metallic strip may be embedded in a workpiece or may be fixed to an induction welding tool that acts on the welding region during induction welding. A removable polymer tape may be disposed between a workpiece and a metallic strip fixed to an induction welding tool. The workpieces may be thermoplastic composite structures and thermoplastic composite stiffeners in aircraft structures.

Abstract: A thrust reverser may include a frame, an actuation arrangement, a reverser door pivotally coupled to the frame, and a deployable fairing pivotally coupled to the frame, wherein the deployable fairing is configured to move away from a central axis of the thrust reverser to provide clearance for one of more thrust reverser pivot doors to rotate into a deployed position.

Abstract: A welding assembly is disclosed. The welding assembly includes a plurality of separately controllable actuators (e.g., pneumatic, having an axially movable ram) to press a corresponding portion of a first workpiece (e.g., a discrete flange of a first stiffener) against a second workpiece (e.g., an outer skin) for welding operations (e.g., via induction welding).

Abstract: An assembly is provided for an aircraft propulsion system. This aircraft propulsion system assembly includes a nacelle. The nacelle includes an inlet structure and a cowl. The inlet structure extends axially in a first direction along a centerline to an inlet structure aft end. The inlet structure includes a clip and a hoist bracket integrated with the clip. The clip is at the inlet structure aft end. The clip includes a locator receptacle. The hoist bracket is configured to provide a structural lift point for the inlet structure during assembly and/or disassembly of the nacelle. The cowl extends axially in a second direction along the centerline to a cowl forward end. The cowl includes a locator at the cowl forward end. The locator includes a protrusion received by the locator receptacle.

Abstract: A method for deploying a thrust reverser includes translating a carrier along a track, transferring a first load between the carrier and a first reverser door in response to the carrier translating along the track, rotating the first reverser door between a closed position and an open position in response to the carrier translating along the track, transferring a second load between the carrier and a deployable fairing in response to the carrier translating along the track, and rotating the deployable fairing between a stowed position and a deployed position in response to the carrier translating along the track.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for an aircraft propulsion system. This apparatus includes a thrust reverser cascade extending longitudinally between a cascade forward end and a cascade aft end. The thrust reverser cascade extends laterally between a cascade first side and a cascade second side. The thrust reverser cascade extends radially between a cascade inner face and a cascade outer face. The thrust reverser cascade includes a plurality of vanes and a wall. The vanes are arranged in a longitudinally extending array along the cascade inner face. The vanes include a first vane and a second vane. The wall is configured to block gas flow radially through the thrust reverser cascade between the first vane and the second vane.

Abstract: An acoustic panel system is provided that includes a perforated first skin, a second skin and a core. The core is connected to the perforated first skin and the second skin. The core includes a plurality of chambers and a first constriction. Each of the chambers extends vertically through the core between the perforated first skin and the second skin. The chambers include a first chamber. The first constriction is configured to divide the first chamber into a plurality of fluidly coupled sub-chambers. The first constriction is configured from or otherwise includes a shape memory material.

Abstract: A variable area nozzle assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a fixed structure including a first fixed ring and a second fixed ring. The second fixed ring is spaced axially aft from the first fixed ring to define a first portion of an ejector passage therebetween. A nozzle defines an inner radial exhaust flow path surface. The nozzle includes a forward ejector door and an aft ejector door. The forward ejector door and the aft ejector door define a first surface portion of the inner radial exhaust flow path surface. Each of the forward ejector door and the aft ejector door are pivotable between respective closed positions and respective open positions. A translating ejector sleeve is mounted within the fixed structure and configured to axially translate within the fixed structure between a first axial position and a second axial position.

Abstract: A structure is provided that includes a perforated first skin, a second skin and a core. The core includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a first baffle and a second baffle. The core forms a plurality of cavities vertically between the perforated first skin and the second skin. The first baffle is connected to the perforated first skin at a first baffle first end. The first baffle is connected to the second skin at a first baffle second end by a first moveable joint. The second baffle is connected to the perforated first skin at a second baffle first end. The second baffle is connected to the second skin at a second baffle second end. A first of the cavities extends laterally between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The first cavity extends longitudinally between the first baffle and the second baffle.

Abstract: During a manufacturing method, an induction welder is provided that includes a concentrator and a coil extending through a receptacle in the concentrator. The receptacle projects into the concentrator from a face surface of the concentrator. A first thermoplastic body arranged with a second thermoplastic body are provided. The first thermoplastic body is located next to the face surface. The first thermoplastic body is induction welded to the second thermoplastic body to provide a weld seam between the first thermoplastic body and the second thermoplastic body. The concentrator extends along a portion of the weld seam. The induction welding includes: generating an electromagnetic field with the coil; and concentrating a portion of the electromagnetic field with the concentrator onto a region of the first thermoplastic body.

Abstract: A first cascade segment of a thrust reverser system has a first cascade segment flow area and is associated with a first lateral sector. A second cascade segment has a second cascade segment flow area and is associated with a second lateral sector. The second cascade segment flow area may be at least 1.2 times the first cascade segment flow area. The first lateral sector has a first leakage flow area and a first total flow area that is equal to a sum of at least the first cascade segment flow area and the first leakage flow area. The second lateral sector has a second leakage flow area and a second total flow area that is equal to a sum of at least the second cascade segment flow area and the second leakage flow area. The second total flow area may be within 10% of the first total flow area.

Abstract: An assembly for an aircraft includes a variable area inlet for an aircraft propulsion system. The variable area inlet extends along a longitudinal centerline. The variable area inlet includes an inlet structure, an inlet door, an inner inlet passage, and an outer inlet passage. The inlet door is configured to axially translate from a closed position to an open position along the longitudinal centerline. The inlet door is configured to close the outer inlet passage when the inlet door is in the closed position. The inlet door is configured to open the outer inlet passage when the inlet door is in the open position. The inner inlet passage extends into the variable area inlet from a leading edge of the inlet structure. The outer inlet passage extends through the inlet structure to the inner inlet passage.

Abstract: A component is provided that includes a multi-layer body configured with a thermoplastic layer, a thermoset layer and a scrim at an interface between the thermoplastic layer and the thermoset layer. The thermoplastic layer includes a plurality of reinforcement particles within a thermoplastic matrix. The thermoset layer is configured from or otherwise includes a thermoset matrix.