公开(公告)号：US11110631B2

公开(公告)日：2021-09-07

申请号：US16459819

申请日：2019-07-02

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Keith D. Humfeld ,  Joseph A. Bolton

IPC: B29C35/00 ,  B29C70/28 ,  B29C35/02

Abstract: An example method for curing a composite part includes placing the composite part onto a topside of a cure tool, and a bottom surface of the composite part contacts the topside of the cure tool and a top surface of the composite part is opposite the bottom surface of the composite part. The method also includes placing the cure tool and the composite part into an autoclave, using the autoclave to apply external heat to the cure tool and the composite part so that air flows over the top surface of the composite part to heat the top surface, and applying additional heat to a backside of the cure tool via radiation provided by at least one heating source of the cure tool, so as to reduce a temperature difference between the backside of the cure tool and the top surface of the composite part being cured.

公开(公告)号：US20210047049A1

公开(公告)日：2021-02-18

申请号：US16539486

申请日：2019-08-13

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Joseph A. Bolton ,  Keith D. Humfeld

IPC: B64D45/02 ,  H05K9/00

Abstract: An electrically conductive patch for a sheet that is part of a skin of an aircraft is disclosed. The sheet includes an outermost surface constructed of an electrically conductive material and one or more electrical discharge points that are conductively coupled to the outermost surface of the sheet. The electrically conductive patch is disposed along the outermost surface of the sheet and is conductively coupled to the outermost surface of the sheet. The electrically conductive patch is constructed of a voltage responsive film configured to change from a first coloration and into a second coloration in response to experiencing a threshold voltage difference, where the first coloration substantially matches a coloration of the skin of the aircraft.

公开(公告)号：US10882608B2

公开(公告)日：2021-01-05

申请号：US15933334

申请日：2018-03-22

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Joseph A. Bolton ,  Keith D. Humfeld

IPC: B64C25/44 ,  B60T8/17 ,  B60K7/00 ,  B60T1/087 ,  B64C25/34 ,  B64C25/40 ,  F16D57/06 ,  F16H61/4148 ,  F16H61/4157 ,  B60T8/32

Abstract: There is provided a hydraulic system for a vehicle. The hydraulic system has a hydraulic rotary actuator assembly rotationally coupled to a road wheel of the vehicle. The hydraulic rotary actuator assembly has a first operating mode, wherein a rotation of the road wheel causes the hydraulic rotary actuator assembly to pump a fluid from a fluid supply system. The hydraulic system further has a variable restrictor assembly coupled to the hydraulic rotary actuator assembly in the vehicle. The variable restrictor assembly controls a flow of the fluid flowing from the hydraulic rotary actuator assembly, to brake the rotation of the road wheel on a ground surface. The hydraulic system further has a variable restrictor controller coupled to the variable restrictor assembly. The variable restrictor controller controls the variable restrictor assembly, so as to enable a variation of a rate of braking of the road wheel on the ground surface.

公开(公告)号：US10752336B2

公开(公告)日：2020-08-25

申请号：US15647475

申请日：2017-07-12

Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY

Inventor： Keith D. Humfeld ,  Scott D. Hartshorn

IPC: B29C70/06 ,  B64C3/20 ,  B64C3/26 ,  B29C70/30 ,  B32B5/26 ,  B29D24/00 ,  B29D99/00 ,  B29L31/30

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first composite support structure and a second composite support structure. The first and second composite support structures are in a predetermined position relative to one another. The apparatus further includes an uncured pre-preg ply, wherein: the uncured pre-preg ply overlies at least a portion of the first composite support structure; the uncured pre-preg ply overlies at least a portion of the second composite support structure; and the first and second composite support structures are each stiffer than the uncured pre-preg ply.

公开(公告)号：US20200036405A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-30

申请号：US16045507

申请日：2018-07-25

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Joseph A. Bolton ,  Keith D. Humfeld

IPC: H04B1/08 ,  B29C70/30 ,  B29C70/54 ,  H01Q1/52 ,  H04B1/10 ,  H01Q1/28

Abstract: A method of making a part comprising stacking a plurality of uncured composite sheets to form an uncured composite stack. The method also comprises interposing a resistor wire between an adjacent two of the uncured composite sheets of the uncured composite stack. The method further comprises applying heat to the uncured composite stack externally of the uncured composite stack to at least partially cure the plurality of uncured composite sheets. The method additionally comprises transmitting an electric current through the resistor wire to generate heat, from the resistor wire, internally within the uncured composite stack to at least partially cure the plurality of uncured composite sheets. Applying heat to the uncured composite stack externally and generating heat internally converts the plurality of uncured composite sheets into a plurality of cured composite sheets and converts the uncured composite stack into a cured composite stack.

公开(公告)号：US20200016850A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-16

申请号：US16036503

申请日：2018-07-16

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Keith D. Humfeld ,  Adam B. Lubchansky

IPC: B29C70/38 ,  B32B1/00 ,  B32B27/18 ,  B32B37/20 ,  B25J11/00

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a composite structure includes a tape placement machine including a delivery head configured to dispose a composite tape and a backing plate coupled to the tape placement machine and selectively located relative to the delivery head to react to a placement force applied by the tape placement machine as the composite tape is being disposed.

公开(公告)号：US20200006623A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-02

申请号：US16567286

申请日：2019-09-11

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Keith D. Humfeld ,  Morteza Safai

IPC: H01L41/193 ,  H01L41/316

Abstract: A micro electromechanical (mem) device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a shaped carbon nanotube with a first end and a second end. The first end of the shaped carbon nanotube is conductively connected to the first electrode and the second end is conductively connected to the second electrode. A system for making the device includes a plurality of electrodes placed outside the growth region of a furnace to produce a controlled, time-varying electric field. A controller for the system is connected to a power supply to deliver controlled voltages to the electrodes to produce the electric field. A mixture of gases is passed through the furnace with the temperature raised to cause chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of carbon on a catalyst. The sequentially time-varying electric field parameterizes a growing nanotube into a predetermined shape.

公开(公告)号：US20180356215A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-13

申请号：US15621900

申请日：2017-06-13

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Keith D. Humfeld ,  Morteza Safai

IPC: G01B17/02 ,  G01N29/07 ,  C08J5/04 ,  B29C70/38 ,  G01N29/06

CPC classification number: G01B17/02 ,  B29C70/025 ,  B29C70/30 ,  B29C70/38 ,  B29C70/386 ,  B29C70/54 ,  B29K2995/0046 ,  B29K2995/0082 ,  C08J5/04 ,  C08J5/042 ,  C08K2201/011 ,  G01N29/04 ,  G01N29/0654 ,  G01N29/07 ,  G01N29/11 ,  G01N2291/011 ,  G01N2291/015 ,  G01N2291/0231 ,  G01N2291/0235 ,  G01N2291/02854

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for ultrasonic imaging of composite parts. One embodiment is a method that includes providing an object having multiple layers of fibers and resin, inducing ultrasonic waves at locations along the object, and attenuating the ultrasonic waves at the regions due to regions interspersed among the layers that each exhibit an elastic modulus distinct from an elastic modulus of the fibers and distinct from an elastic modulus of the matrix. The method further includes receiving the attenuated ultrasonic waves, and analyzing the attenuated ultrasonic waves to determine depths of the regions.

公开(公告)号：US20180274387A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-27

申请号：US15465995

申请日：2017-03-22

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Scott D. Hartshorn ,  Keith D. Humfeld

IPC: F01D25/08 ,  F01D5/12 ,  F01D25/24 ,  C23C4/134

CPC classification number: C23C28/042 ,  C23C28/046 ,  C23C28/322 ,  C23C28/3455 ,  F01D5/02 ,  F01D5/08 ,  F01D25/12 ,  F01D25/26 ,  F05D2300/20 ,  F05D2300/2102 ,  F05D2300/2118 ,  F05D2300/5024 ,  Y02T50/673 ,  Y02T50/676

Abstract: An engine shaft assembly for an engine is provided. The engine shaft assembly includes a shaft and a thermal distribution layer. The thermal distribution layer is provided on the shaft, and is configured to minimize the effect of distortion of the shaft caused by asymmetric cooling on shutdown of the engine.

公开(公告)号：US20180209938A1

公开(公告)日：2018-07-26

申请号：US15415492

申请日：2017-01-25

Applicant: The Boeing Company

Inventor： Morteza Safai ,  Keith D. Humfeld

IPC: G01N27/90

Abstract: Described herein is a method of inspecting a part for defects. The method includes applying an electromagnetic field to the part using a defect detection coil and one or more noise cancelation coils. The method also includes detecting feedback received in response to applying the electromagnetic field. The method includes adjusting settings corresponding to the one or more noise cancelation coils, in response to the feedback, to reduce electromagnetic noise.