Patents by Inventor Lee Charles Firth
Lee Charles Firth 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: 11724420Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating precursors for consolidating composite parts. One embodiment is a method for forming a metallic structure. The method includes forming a precursor for a pressure membrane that includes a contour having a linearized length corresponding with a linearized length of a surface of a forming tool. The method also includes affixing a perimeter of the precursor to a perimeter of a base member, leaving a volume between the base member and the precursor, altering a shape of the precursor at a superplastic temperature by forcing the precursor into complementary contact with the surface of the forming tool, and setting the shape of the precursor while the precursor is held in complementary contact.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Marc R. Matsen, Lee Charles Firth, Randall D. Wilkerson, Julie F. Murphy, Ravi Verma
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Patent number: 10968497Abstract: A structure is heated in a tool. The structure is quenched in the tool such that a shape of the structure is maintained, in which quenching is performed by contacting the structure with a quenching medium.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2017Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Marc R. Matsen, Lee Charles Firth, Luis Leon
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Patent number: 10792842Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for molding systems that have a low thermal mass. One embodiment is a first tool that includes a first frame. The first frame includes a first set of plates of magnetically permeable material, and a material disposed between plates of the first set. The first tool also includes a first set of induction coils that are disposed within the first frame and that generate a first electromagnetic field, and a first susceptor that extends from the first set of plates. The first susceptor generates heat in response to the first electromagnetic field. The first tool further includes a mold that extends from the first susceptor and receives heat via conductive heat transfer from the first susceptor. Each plate of the first set is thinner than a skin depth at which the first electromagnetic field would generate an electrical induction current.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2017Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Marc R. Matsen, William C. Dykstra, Lee Charles Firth, Landon K. Henson, Tunde A. Olaniyan, John R. Hull
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Publication number: 20200171711Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating precursors for consolidating composite parts. One embodiment is a method for forming a metallic structure. The method includes forming a precursor for a pressure membrane that includes a contour having a linearized length corresponding with a linearized length of a surface of a forming tool. The method also includes affixing a perimeter of the precursor to a perimeter of a base member, leaving a volume between the base member and the precursor, altering a shape of the precursor at a superplastic temperature by forcing the precursor into complementary contact with the surface of the forming tool, and setting the shape of the precursor while the precursor is held in complementary contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2018Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Lee Charles Firth, Randall D. Wilkerson, Julie F. Murphy, Ravi Verma
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Publication number: 20190185949Abstract: A structure is heated in a tool. The structure is quenched in the tool such that a shape of the structure is maintained, in which quenching is performed by contacting the structure with a quenching medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2017Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Lee Charles Firth, Luis Leon
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Patent number: 10322564Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a sandwich structure is presented. A sandwich structure comprises a metallic core layer and a thermoplastic layer on a first side of the metallic core layer. The thermoplastic layer is consolidated against the first side of the metallic core layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2016Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Marc Rollo Matsen, Jeffery Lee Marcoe, Max U. Kismarton, Paul Stevenson Gregg, Lee Charles Firth
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Publication number: 20190118415Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for molding systems that have a low thermal mass. One embodiment is a first tool that includes a first frame. The first frame includes a first set of plates of magnetically permeable material, and a material disposed between plates of the first set. The first tool also includes a first set of induction coils that are disposed within the first frame and that generate a first electromagnetic field, and a first susceptor that extends from the first set of plates. The first susceptor generates heat in response to the first electromagnetic field. The first tool further includes a mold that extends from the first susceptor and receives heat via conductive heat transfer from the first susceptor. Each plate of the first set is thinner than a skin depth at which the first electromagnetic field would generate an electrical induction current.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2017Publication date: April 25, 2019Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, William C. Dykstra, Lee Charles Firth, Landon K. Henson, Tunde A. Olaniyan, John R. Hull
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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: 20170297305Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a sandwich structure is presented. A sandwich structure comprises a metallic core layer and a thermoplastic layer on a first side of the metallic core layer. The thermoplastic layer is consolidated against the first side of the metallic core layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2016Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Marc Rollo Matsen, Jeffery Lee Marcoe, Max U. Kismarton, Paul Stevenson Gregg, Lee Charles Firth
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Patent number: 9789747Abstract: Methods and systems for duct protection of a vehicle are provided. The methods and systems provided include an apparatus for containing a flow of fluid discharged from a fracture in a duct. The apparatus includes a ballistic containment layer and an insulation sheath coupled to the ballistic containment layer. The insulation sheath includes a first air containment layer, an insulation layer, and a second air containment layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: John Ralph Hull, Michael Strasik, Bret A. Voss, Mark A. Negley, William J. Sweet, Kevin R. Housen, Jason S. Damazo, Michael D. Gonzales, Michael Howard-Edward Ware, Lee Charles Firth
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Publication number: 20160332501Abstract: Methods and systems for duct protection of a vehicle are provided. The methods and systems provided include an apparatus for containing a flow of fluid discharged from a fracture in a duct. The apparatus includes a ballistic containment layer and an insulation sheath coupled to the ballistic containment layer. The insulation sheath includes a first air containment layer, an insulation layer, and a second air containment layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2014Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: John Ralph Hull, Michael Strasik, Bret A. Voss, Mark A. Negley, William J. Sweet, Kevin R. Housen, Jason S. Damazo, Michael D. Gonzales, Michael Howard-Edward Ware, Lee Charles Firth
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Patent number: 9469087Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a sandwich structure is presented. A sandwich structure comprises a metallic core layer and a thermoplastic layer on a first side of the metallic core layer. The thermoplastic layer is consolidated against the first side of the metallic core layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2013Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Marc Rollo Matsen, Jeffery Lee Marcoe, Max U. Kismarton, Paul Stevenson Gregg, Lee Charles Firth
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Publication number: 20160136879Abstract: A susceptor welding tape for use in thermoplastic welding. The susceptor welding tape comprising a thermoplastic film and a plurality of non-continuous susceptor conductors imbedded within the thermoplastic film. The plurality of non-continuous susceptor conductors allow a resulting thermoplastic weld formed by the susceptor weld tape to be tuned to a desired engineering characteristic. For example, the plurality of conductors allow the resulting thermoplastic weld formed by the susceptor weld tape to be tuned to a desired conductivity, a desired residual stress and/or a desired moisture barrier of the resulting thermoplastic weld.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2014Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Marc Rollo Matsen, Robert James Miller, Donald K. Dabelstein, Lee Charles Firth, Flint Matthew Jamison, Patrice K. Ackerman
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Publication number: 20150137427Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2015Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventors: 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: 20150017362Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a sandwich structure is presented. A sandwich structure comprises a metallic core layer and a thermoplastic layer on a first side of the metallic core layer. The thermoplastic layer is consolidated against the first side of the metallic core layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2013Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: Marc Rollo Matsen, Jeffery Lee Marcoe, Max U. Kismarton, Paul Stevenson Gregg, Lee Charles Firth