Patents by Inventor Bruce N. Gilbert

Bruce N. Gilbert 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).

  • Patent number: 8104320
    Abstract: An apparatus for bending sheet metal comprises a housing, a first shaft and a second shaft mounted in the housing, a motor, a first gear mounted on the first shaft, and a second gear mounted on the second shaft. The motor rotates both the first gear and the second gear. The first gear comprises a first plurality of components and the second gear comprises a second plurality of components. The first gear and the second gear are capable of engaging sheet metal passed between the gears while they are moving. The first and second plurality of components are capable of being configured to change a bend radius, a wavelength of waves formed in the sheet metal, and a distance between the first shaft and the second shaft can be adjusted to change an amplitude of waves formed in the sheet metal engaged by the first and second gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Bruce N. Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20090205395
    Abstract: An apparatus for bending sheet metal comprises a housing, a first shaft and second mounted in the housing, a motor, a first gear mounted on the first shaft, and a second gear mounted on the second shaft. The motor rotates both the first gear and the second gear. The first gear and comprises a first plurality of components and the second gear comprises a second plurality of components. The first gear and the second gear are capable of engaging sheet metal passed between the gears while they are moving. The first and second plurality of components are capable of being configured to change a bend radius, a wavelength of waves formed in the sheet metal, and a distance between the first shaft and the second shaft can be adjusted to change an amplitude of waves formed in the sheet metal engaged by the first and second gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventor: Bruce N. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 7534297
    Abstract: In a system for coating a plurality of items, a tank unit prepares the plurality of items for painting, a painting unit paints the plurality of items, a drying unit dries the plurality, and an item conveyer conveys the plurality of items through the system as a flow of single items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hagman, Bruce N. Gilbert, Kenneth P. Zaballos