Patents by Inventor David L. Fritsche

David L. Fritsche 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).

  • Publication number: 20230339086
    Abstract: An example system includes: an apparatus comprising: a temporary fastener having a stem configured to be inserted through as assembly and be retained to the assembly, and a spring mounted about the stem. The system also includes a linear actuator configured to apply a force on the spring, thereby causing the spring to be compressed against the assembly and apply a predetermined clamping force to the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Evan M. King, Ike C. Schevers, David L. Fritsche
  • Patent number: 11148246
    Abstract: A material removal device for removing material from a substrate includes a holder extending between first and second sides and a grinding wheel supported by the holder and being operable to remove the material from the substrate. The holder has a guide frame at the first side and a support frame at the second side. The guide frame has a first bottom surface and the support frame has a second bottom surface. The first and second bottom surfaces are vertically offset from each other. The grinding wheel has an axle supported by the guide frame and the support frame. The grinding wheel has a grinding surface located below the first bottom surface and above the second bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel L. Toberman, David L. Fritsche, Michael R. Miller, Robert M. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20190193229
    Abstract: A material removal device for removing material from a substrate includes a holder extending between first and second sides and a grinding wheel supported by the holder and being operable to remove the material from the substrate. The holder has a guide frame at the first side and a support frame at the second side. The guide frame has a first bottom surface and the support frame has a second bottom surface. The first and second bottom surfaces are vertically offset from each other. The grinding wheel has an axle supported by the guide frame and the support frame. The grinding wheel has a grinding surface located below the first bottom surface and above the second bottom surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel L. Toberman, David L. Fritsche, Michael R. Miller, Robert M. Wolf
  • Patent number: 10259094
    Abstract: A material removal device for removing material from a substrate includes a holder extending between first and second sides and a grinding wheel supported by the holder and being operable to remove the material from the substrate. The holder has a guide frame at the first side and a support frame at the second side. The guide frame has a first bottom surface and the support frame has a second bottom surface. The first and second bottom surfaces are vertically offset from each other. The grinding wheel has an axle supported by the guide frame and the support frame. The grinding wheel has a grinding surface located below the first bottom surface and above the second bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel L. Toberman, David L. Fritsche, Michael R. Miller, Robert M. Wolf
  • Patent number: 10123671
    Abstract: A portable pneumatic vacuum cleaner is disclosed that includes a venturi vacuum generator disposed downstream of a primary filter. The primary filter is disposed in filter chamber that is disposed downstream of a collection chamber. Both chambers are disposed in a canister and the collection chamber is separated from the filter chamber by a partition filter. A vacuum conduit extends through a wall of the canister and into the collection chamber and has a collection end positioned tangentially to the wall of the canister for generating cyclonic flow in the collection chamber. The filter chamber is connected to the vacuum generator by an outlet conduit. The vacuum generator also connects to a pressurized air source and an exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: David L. Fritsche
  • Publication number: 20180185976
    Abstract: A material removal device for removing material from a substrate includes a holder extending between first and second sides and a grinding wheel supported by the holder and being operable to remove the material from the substrate. The holder has a guide frame at the first side and a support frame at the second side. The guide frame has a first bottom surface and the support frame has a second bottom surface. The first and second bottom surfaces are vertically offset from each other. The grinding wheel has an axle supported by the guide frame and the support frame. The grinding wheel has a grinding surface located below the first bottom surface and above the second bottom surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel L. Toberman, David L. Fritsche, Michael R. Miller, Robert M. Wolf
  • Patent number: 9302356
    Abstract: A guide assembly comprises a frame assembly, a plurality of clamping assemblies, and a head assembly. The clamping assemblies may be mountable to the frame assembly for attaching the frame assembly to a structure. The head assembly may be mountable to the frame assembly and may include a tool coupled to the head assembly. The tool assembly may be axially movable relative to the head assembly to cause the tool to exert a down force on the structure when the frame assembly is attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Katzenberger, Ike C. Schevers, Anthony P. Slade, David L. Fritsche, James A. Hammond, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150335217
    Abstract: A portable pneumatic vacuum cleaner is disclosed that includes a venturi vacuum generator disposed downstream of a primary filter. The primary filter is disposed in filter chamber that is disposed downstream of a collection chamber. Both chambers are disposed in a canister and the collection chamber is separated from the filter chamber by a partition filter. A vacuum conduit extends through a wall of the canister and into the collection chamber and has a collection end positioned tangentially to the wall of the canister for generating cyclonic flow in the collection chamber. The filter chamber is connected to the vacuum generator by an outlet conduit. The vacuum generator also connects to a pressurized air source and an exhaust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: David L. Fritsche
  • Patent number: 8668410
    Abstract: In an advantageous embodiment, an apparatus comprises a housing associated with a machine, a shaft, a sleeve, and a biasing system. The shaft is associated with the housing, and the shaft has an end configured to receive a tool. The shaft is configured to be rotated by the machine about an axis of rotation extending through the shaft. The sleeve is associated with the housing, and the sleeve has a channel that is configured to receive the shaft. The biasing system is associated with the housing and configured to move the sleeve along the axis of rotation against a workpiece on which a drilling operation is performed during which a sleeve end presses against the workpiece with a force while the shaft with the tool is rotated by the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steve L. Arana, Ike C. Schevers, David L. Fritsche
  • Patent number: 8425162
    Abstract: A servo drill spindle includes a spindle body, an air motor slidably carried by the spindle body, a spindle extension drivingly engaged by the air motor, a cutting tool drivingly engaged by the spindle extension and a servo motor engaging the air motor and operable to advance the air motor along the spindle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Isaac C. Schevers, Dennis R. Mathis, David L. Fritsche
  • Patent number: 8413307
    Abstract: A method of engaging a fastener may include attaching a guide assembly to a structure. The guide assembly may include a first arm, a second arm, and a head assembly mounted to an end of the first arm. The method may further include threadably engaging a tool sleeve to the head assembly, coupling a tool to the tool sleeve, and adjusting and clamping the angular orientation of the second arm relative to the first arm using a swivel mechanism. The method may additionally include engaging the tool to a fastener, rotating the tool sleeve relative to the head assembly, and applying a down force to the fastener in response to rotating the tool sleeve to move the tool axially relative to the head assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Katzenberger, Ike C. Schevers, Anthony P. Slade, David L. Fritsche, James A. Hammond, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8171642
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a mobile platform component that may involve attaching only a single rail to the mobile platform component, and positioning a carriage system having a main carriage and a secondary carriage on the rail. The main carriage may be positioned along a first axis of movement on the rail. The secondary carriage may be positioned along a second axis of movement perpendicular to the first axis of movement on the main carriage. The main carriage may be releasably secured to the secondary carriage, and the carriage system may be releasably secured to the mobile platform component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David L. Fritsche, Thomas P. Von Minden
  • Patent number: 8167518
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a power feed drill. The power feed drill comprises a servo motor, a roller screw, a ball spline shaft, an air motor, and a collet chuck. The roller screw is rotatably mounted to the servo motor. The ball spline shaft has a first end connected to the roller screw, wherein rotation of the roller screw in a first direction moves the ball spline shaft in the first direction and wherein rotation of the roller screw in a second direction moves the ball spline shaft in an opposite direction to the first direction along an axis. The air motor is capable of transmitting rotation motion to the ball spline shaft to rotate around the axis. The collet chuck is fixably attached to a second end of the ball spline shaft, wherein the collet chuck is adapted to receive a tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Dennis Mathis, Mike Matlack, Scott Anthony Martin, David L. Fritsche
  • Patent number: 7934892
    Abstract: A collet clamping nosepiece for a power feed drill is described which includes at least one clamping piston located along a centerline of the nosepiece, an expansion mandrel comprising a frusto-conical exterior surface, and an expandable collet. The expandable collet is configured to substantially surround the expansion mandrel and operatively connect to the at least one clamping piston. Operation of the at least one clamping piston causes the mandrel to move along the exterior surface of the expansion mandrel for engagement and disengagement of the collet with a bore configured for insertion of the collet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David L. Fritsche, Michael P. Matlack, Dennis R. Mathis
  • Publication number: 20110002751
    Abstract: A guide assembly comprises a frame assembly, a plurality of clamping assemblies, and a head assembly. The clamping assemblies may be mountable to the frame assembly for attaching the frame assembly to a structure. The head assembly may be mountable to the frame assembly and may include a tool coupled to the head assembly. The tool assembly may be axially movable relative to the head assembly to cause the tool to exert a down force on the structure when the frame assembly is attached thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Katzenberger, Ike C. Schevers, Anthony P. Slade, David L. Fritsche, James A. Hammond, JR.
  • Patent number: 7614832
    Abstract: A portable, air powered drill has an automated feed system and an adjustable dwell for producing countersunk holes in a workpiece. The feed system uses hydraulic cylinders and pneumatic control logic to control the feed rate, and the dwell time of a countersink drill bit at the end of the drill stroke. A movable mechanical stop permits an operator user to adjust countersink depth. The control logic provides fully automatic feed of the drill bit, and adjustment of the dwell time to consistently produce identical countersunk holes in a variety of workpiece materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David N. Nappier, Dorothy A. Nappier, legal representative, James L. Morrison, David L. Fritsche
  • Publication number: 20090269153
    Abstract: A servo drill spindle includes a spindle body, an air motor slidably carried by the spindle body, a spindle extension drivingly engaged by the air motor, a cutting tool drivingly engaged by the spindle extension and a servo motor engaging the air motor and operable to advance the air motor along the spindle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Isaac C. Schevers, Dennis R. Mathis, David L. Fritsche
  • Publication number: 20090257836
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a power feed drill. The power feed drill comprises a servo motor, a roller screw, a ball spline shaft, an air motor, and a collet chuck. The roller screw is rotatably mounted to the servo motor. The ball spline shaft has a first end connected to the roller screw, wherein rotation of the roller screw in a first direction moves the ball spline shaft in the first direction and wherein rotation of the roller screw in a second direction moves the ball spline shaft in an opposite direction to the first direction along an axis. The air motor is capable of transmitting rotation motion to the ball spline shaft to rotate around the axis. The collet chuck is fixably attached to a second end of the ball spline shaft, wherein the collet chuck is adapted to receive a tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Dennis Mathis, Mike Matlack, Scott Anthony Martin, David L. Fritsche
  • Publication number: 20090235528
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a mobile platform component that may involve attaching only a single rail to the mobile platform component, and positioning a carriage system having a main carriage and a secondary carriage on the rail. The main carriage may be positioned along a first axis of movement on the rail. The secondary carriage may be positioned along a second axis of movement perpendicular to the first axis of movement on the main carriage. The main carriage may be releasably secured to the secondary carriage, and the carriage system may be releasably secured to the mobile platform component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David L. Fritsche, Thomas P. Von Minden
  • Patent number: 7578642
    Abstract: An apparatus having a single, elongated flexible rail with a plurality of attachment devices connected to the rail and spaced at intervals therealong for releasably affixing the rail to a surface of a work piece by vacuum. The rail bends and twists as needed to substantially follow the surface of the work piece. An X-axis carriage is coupled to the rail and adapted to traverse the rail along an X-axis, wherein the X-axis is parallel to a length of the rail. A Y-axis carriage is coupled to the X-axis and adapted to traverse the X-axis carriage along a Y-axis, wherein the Y-axis is perpendicular to the X-axis. A fastening device clamps the X-axis carriage to the Y-axis carriage. A laser associated with the X-axis carriage facilitates precise locating of a drill carried by the apparatus relative to a spot where a hole is to be drilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Fritsche, Thomas P. Von Minden