Patents by Inventor Bruce J. Hanninen

Bruce J. Hanninen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Laser ablation system having a moveable carriage with clamping system configured to clamp and seal against a workpiece
    Patent number: 10751766
    Abstract: A laser ablation system comprises a volume configured to contain a workpiece and a carriage configured to move within the volume relative to a workpiece. The carriage comprises a clamping system, a laser enclosure, and a laser ablation work head within the laser enclosure. The clamping system is configured to clamp the workpiece and seal against a portion of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Matthew C. Johnson, Bruce J. Hanninen
  • LASER ABLATION SYSTEM HAVING A MOVEABLE CARRIAGE WITH CLAMPING SYSTEM CONFIGURED TO CLAMP AND SEAL AGAINST A WORKPIECE
    Publication number: 20190143382
    Abstract: A laser ablation system comprises a volume configured to contain a workpiece and a carriage configured to move within the volume relative to a workpiece. The carriage comprises a clamping system, a laser enclosure, and a laser ablation work head within the laser enclosure. The clamping system is configured to clamp the workpiece and seal against a portion of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew C. Johnson, Bruce J. Hanninen
  • Fastening system with vacuum alignment tool and methods of operating same
    Patent number: 10052770
    Abstract: In one aspect, a vacuum alignment tool for holding and aligning a first fastener with a second fastener is provided. The vacuum alignment tool includes a main body including an end wall having an aperture disposed therein configured to receive at least a portion of the first fastener. The vacuum alignment tool also includes a vacuum receiving portion coupled to the main body. The vacuum receiving portion including a vacuum bore disposed therein, wherein a vacuum channel extends within the main body and within the vacuum receiving portion between the aperture and the vacuum bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John Richard Porter, Daniel Thomas Long, Raymond C. Eng, Bruce J. Hanninen, Kevin Michael Bell
  • Systems and methods for assembling aircraft wing skins
    Patent number: 9879704
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a first end effector configured to press a selected area of an aircraft wing skin panel against a corresponding area of an underlying wing support structure with a downward force, drill a hole within the selected area, the hole extending through the skin panel and the support structure, and insert an elongated shaft of a fastener into the hole. The system includes a mechanism configured to locate the first end effector relative to the selected area. The system can further include a second end effector configured to press the corresponding area of the support structure against the selected area of the skin panel with an upward force that is opposite in direction to the downward force, and a mechanism configured to locate the second end effector relative to the corresponding area of the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bruce J. Hanninen, Daniel T. Long
  • FASTENING SYSTEM WITH VACUUM ALIGNMENT TOOL AND METHODS OF OPERATING SAME
    Publication number: 20170036350
    Abstract: In one aspect, a vacuum alignment tool for holding and aligning a first fastener with a second fastener is provided. The vacuum alignment tool includes a main body including an end wall having an aperture disposed therein configured to receive at least a portion of the first fastener. The vacuum alignment tool also includes a vacuum receiving portion coupled to the main body. The vacuum receiving portion including a vacuum bore disposed therein, wherein a vacuum channel extends within the main body and within the vacuum receiving portion between the aperture and the vacuum bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: John Richard Porter, Daniel Thomas Long, Raymond C. Eng, Bruce J. Hanninen, Kevin Michael Bell
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSEMBLING AIRCRAFT WING SKINS
    Publication number: 20160296994
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a first end effector configured to press a selected area of an aircraft wing skin panel against a corresponding area of an underlying wing support structure with a downward force, drill a hole within the selected area, the hole extending through the skin panel and the support structure, and insert an elongated shaft of a fastener into the hole. The system includes a mechanism configured to locate the first end effector relative to the selected area. The system can further include a second end effector configured to press the corresponding area of the support structure against the selected area of the skin panel with an upward force that is opposite in direction to the downward force, and a mechanism configured to locate the second end effector relative to the corresponding area of the support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Bruce J. Hanninen, Daniel T. Long