Patents by Inventor James R. Fox
James R. Fox 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).
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Patent number: 11929839Abstract: Machine-learning-based determination of event stability is provided to facilitate loose coupling of event coordination systems. The method includes training a machine learning model to determine stability of events of an event coordination system based on a plurality of attributes of the events, and using the machine learning model to determine an event stability for an event of the event coordination system. Further, the method includes comparing the determined event stability for the event to a stability threshold, and determining that the event is a stable event based on the event stability extending the stability threshold. Based on determining that the event is the stable event, the stable event is propagated from the event coordination system to another event coordination system.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: James Edward Regan, Mauro Marzorati, Arif Basha, Jeremy R. Fox
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Patent number: 11524471Abstract: A system and method for forming a composite part. The apparatus comprises a sleeve that molds a composite material. The sleeve has a first face and a second face. The second face has features to mold the composite material. The first face comprises a first inclined surface having an angle less than about 90 degrees and greater than about 0 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2019Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Charles R. Prebil, James R. Fox
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Patent number: 10821653Abstract: An elongate thermoplastic composite member is fabricated by a continuous molding process. A pre-consolidated thermoplastic laminate is softened by heating it to a temperature below its melting layup, and is fed substantially continuously through multiple sets of tool dies. The tool dies incrementally mold portions of softened laminate over a mandrel to form the laminate into a shape having a closed cross section.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2010Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Inventors: Alexander M. Rubin, James R. Fox, Randall D. Wilkerson
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Publication number: 20200047434Abstract: A system and method for forming a composite part. The apparatus comprises a sleeve that molds a composite material. The sleeve has a first face and a second face. The second face has features to mold the composite material. The first face comprises a first inclined surface having an angle less than about 90 degrees and greater than about 0 degrees.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventors: Charles R. Prebil, James R. Fox
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Patent number: 10449736Abstract: A system and method for forming a composite part. The apparatus comprises a sleeve that molds a composite material. The sleeve has a first face and a second face. The second face has features to mold the composite material. The first face comprises a first inclined surface having an angle less than about 90 degrees and greater than about 0 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2014Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Charles R. Prebil, James R. Fox
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Patent number: 10434726Abstract: Thermoplastic composite parts are produced by automated fiber placement followed by stamp forming a layup having tailored fiber orientations. The tailored fiber orientations are achieved by tow steering and result in a layup that does not wrinkle during forming.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2015Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Gregory James Schoepen Hickman, James R. Fox, Charles R. Prebil, Randall Dow Wilkerson
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Patent number: 10414107Abstract: Thermoplastic laminates are fabricated in a continuous compression molding production line. A lay-up of laminate plies is placed in a recess on a carrying tool, and the tool is moved through successive forming operations on the line, including preforming and consolidation operations. The tool is separated from the fully formed part at the end of the line and may be reused. Use of the carrying tool reduces material scrap.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2017Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Randall D. Wilkerson, James R. Fox, Alexander M. Rubin
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Patent number: 10232571Abstract: A system and method for forming an item from a material, which may include elongated fibers and/or stretched broken fibers. The material is placed on a first clamping portion, which is placed on a fixture. A second clamping portion is placed against the material and the first clamping portion and secured together, forming a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly is removed from the fixture and placed on a first die portion, having a first profile. A second die portion is also provided, having a second profile. In forming the item, at least one of the first die portion and the second die portion are moved toward each other such that a second surface of the first die portion and a first surface of the second die portion contact and form the material into the item generally replicating the first profile and the second profile.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2015Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: the boeing companyInventors: Mike P. Matlack, Stephen J. Morgan, Thomas K. Tsotsis, James R. Fox, Randall D. Wilkerson
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Patent number: 10232532Abstract: Consolidation tooling is used in a continuous compression molding machine to produce a fiber reinforced thermoplastic part having a varying height. The tooling includes first and second tool dies adapted to compress and form a multi-ply stack of thermoplastic prepreg into a part, and at least a first tooling sleeve movable through the first and second tool dies. The tooling sleeve has at least a first tapered portion engageable with the multi-ply stack.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2012Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Charles R. Prebil, James R. Fox, Randall Dow Wilkerson, Sharon Sher Ying Wong
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Patent number: 10226905Abstract: A system and method for forming an item from a material, which may include elongated fibers and/or stretched broken fibers. The material is placed on a first clamping portion, which is placed on a fixture. A second clamping portion is placed against the material and the first clamping portion and secured together, forming a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly is removed from the fixture and placed on a first die portion, having a first profile. A second die portion is also provided, having a second profile. In forming the item, at least one of the first die portion and the second die portion are moved toward each other such that a second surface of the first die portion and a first surface of the second die portion contact and form the material into the item generally replicating the first profile and the second profile.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2015Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: the boeing companyInventors: Mike P. Matlack, Stephen J. Morgan, Thomas K. Tsotsis, James R. Fox, Randall D. Wilkerson
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Patent number: 10076883Abstract: An off-axis prepreg material manufacturing machine may include a robot configured to position a prepreg piece adjacent to an end of a prepreg layer. The machine may additionally include an alignment system configured to sense a position of the prepreg piece relative to the prepreg layer and generate a position signal representative thereof. The machine may also include a controller configured to receive the position signal and cause the robot to adjust the position of the prepreg piece such that an end edge of the prepreg piece and an end edge of the prepreg layer are in substantially abutting contact.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2015Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Charles R. Prebil, James R. Fox, Randall D. Wilkerson
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Patent number: 10029398Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a stiffened thermoplastic panel is presented. The method may comprise placing a number of forming tools within a number of concave areas of a thermoplastic preform. The method may also place the thermoplastic preform with the number of forming tools within the number of concave areas on a thermoplastic lay-up to form a workpiece. The method may also position the workpiece within a tool. The tool may have a number of die liners configured to generate heat in response to a magnetic field. The method may also consolidate the workpiece to form the stiffened thermoplastic panel. Consolidating may comprise applying a magnetic field to the number of die liners to heat the workpiece to a consolidation temperature.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2015Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Marc Rollo Matsen, Jeffery Lee Marcoe, Gregory James Schoepen Hickman, Alexander M. Rubin, Lee Charles Firth, Randall Dow Wilkerson, James R. Fox, Charles Richard Prebil
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Publication number: 20180154596Abstract: Thermoplastic laminates are fabricated in a continuous compression molding production line. A lay-up of laminate plies is placed in a recess on a carrying tool, and the tool is moved through successive forming operations on the line, including preforming and consolidation operations. The tool is separated from the fully formed part at the end of the line and may be reused. Use of the carrying tool reduces material scrap.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Randall D. Wilkerson, James R. Fox, Alexander M. Rubin
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Publication number: 20170080650Abstract: A system and method for forming an item from a material, which may include elongated fibers and/or stretched broken fibers. The material is placed on a first clamping portion, which is placed on a fixture. A second clamping portion is placed against the material and the first clamping portion and secured together, forming a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly is removed from the fixture and placed on a first die portion, having a first profile. A second die portion is also provided, having a second profile. In forming the item, at least one of the first die portion and the second die portion are moved toward each other such that a second surface of the first die portion and a first surface of the second die portion contact and form the material into the item generally replicating the first profile and the second profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2015Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Mike P. Matlack, Stephen J. Morgan, Thomas K. Tsotsis, James R. Fox, Randall D. Wilkerson
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Publication number: 20170080651Abstract: A system and method for forming an item from a material, which may include elongated fibers and/or stretched broken fibers. The material is placed on a first clamping portion, which is placed on a fixture. A second clamping portion is placed against the material and the first clamping portion and secured together, forming a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly is removed from the fixture and placed on a first die portion, having a first profile. A second die portion is also provided, having a second profile. In forming the item, at least one of the first die portion and the second die portion are moved toward each other such that a second surface of the first die portion and a first surface of the second die portion contact and form the material into the item generally replicating the first profile and the second profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2015Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Mike P. Matlack, Stephen J. Morgan, Thomas K. Tsotsis, James R. Fox, Randall D. Wilkerson
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Patent number: 9590477Abstract: An electric machine having a rectifier assembly placed within a rotating shaft of the electric machine to convert the AC output of the electric machine to the DC input prior to transmission of the electricity from the electric machine.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Bijan Chitsaz, James R. Fox
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Patent number: 9545761Abstract: A device changes the shape of a die used to compression mold a part. The device includes a sleeve placed between the die and a charge to be molded. The sleeve has an inner face generally conforming to a face of the die, and a outer face for molding a part.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Charles R. Prebil, James R. Fox, Alexander M. Rubin, Randall D. Wilkerson
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Patent number: 9545778Abstract: A mechanical pressure application system for applying a tailored pressure distribution to a plurality of structural components is provided. Each structural component has a first surface, and each first surface is configured to interface with the first surface of another of the structural components at a contact area. A base and at least one tooling block are configured to removably couple to the structural components. Each at least one tooling block includes a first surface configured to be positioned proximate at least one of the plurality of structural components. A second surface of each tooling block is configured to receive at least one forcing member. At least one biasing mechanism is configured to apply a predetermined load to the at least one forcing member, such that a force is transmitted from the at least one forcing member through the tooling block to a corresponding portion of the contact area.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Ryan Joseph Merriman, James R. Fox, Charles Richard Prebil, Steven J. Burpo
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Patent number: 9511538Abstract: A fabrication method of forming thermoplastic composite laminate parts with tailored and varying thickness in a continuous process. Automated equipment or hand lay-up are used to collate parts or components into a multi-layer stack. Each stack contains all plies, including ply build-up areas, tacked in the proper location to maintain orientation and location. Ply consolidation tooling contains all necessary part features and is coordinated to the customized multiple ply stacks to form a single integrated thermoplastic composite laminate potentially having areas of differing thickness from the multiple ply stacks.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2012Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Alexander M. Rubin, James R. Fox, Randall D. Wilkerson
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Publication number: 20160325509Abstract: An off-axis prepreg material manufacturing machine may include a robot configured to position a prepreg piece adjacent to an end of a prepreg layer. The machine may additionally include an alignment system configured to sense a position of the prepreg piece relative to the prepreg layer and generate a position signal representative thereof. The machine may also include a controller configured to receive the position signal and cause the robot to adjust the position of the prepreg piece such that an end edge of the prepreg piece and an end edge of the prepreg layer are in substantially abutting contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2015Publication date: November 10, 2016Inventors: Charles R. Prebil, James R. Fox, Randall D. Wilkerson