Patents by Inventor William H. Ingram, JR.
William H. Ingram, JR. 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: 10695990Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing edge breathers for composite manufacturing. One exemplary embodiment is an apparatus that includes an edge breather to facilitate manufacturing of a composite part. The edge breather includes a body, ridges disposed along a length of the body that each define an arc which is perpendicular to a lengthwise axis of the body, and openings disposed along the body that enable air to enter a hollow interior that runs along the length of the body. The arcs defined by the ridges resist compressive loads applied to the edge breather and prevent the hollow interior from collapsing under pressure applied to the edge breather by a vacuum bag during manufacturing of the composite part.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2019Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Benjamin Jeffrey Stephenson, Jake Adam Reeves, William H. Ingram, Jr., Charles W. Thomas, Karl M Nelson, Cameron Bunch
-
Publication number: 20190291361Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing edge breathers for composite manufacturing. One exemplary embodiment is an apparatus that includes an edge breather to facilitate manufacturing of a composite part. The edge breather includes a body, ridges disposed along a length of the body that each define an arc which is perpendicular to a lengthwise axis of the body, and openings disposed along the body that enable air to enter a hollow interior that runs along the length of the body. The arcs defined by the ridges resist compressive loads applied to the edge breather and prevent the hollow interior from collapsing under pressure applied to the edge breather by a vacuum bag during manufacturing of the composite part.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Benjamin Jeffrey Stephenson, Jake Adam Reeves, William H. Ingram, JR., Charles W. Thomas, Karl M. Nelson, Cameron Bunch
-
Patent number: 10357922Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing edge breathers for composite manufacturing. One exemplary embodiment is an apparatus that includes an edge breather to facilitate manufacturing of a composite part. The edge breather includes a body, ridges disposed along a length of the body that each define an arc which is perpendicular to a lengthwise axis of the body, and openings disposed along the body that enable air to enter a hollow interior that runs along the length of the body. The arcs defined by the ridges resist compressive loads applied to the edge breather and prevent the hollow interior from collapsing under pressure applied to the edge breather by a vacuum bag during manufacturing of the composite part.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Benjamin Jeffrey Stephenson, Jake Adam Reeves, William H. Ingram, Jr., Charles W. Thomas, Karl M Nelson, Cameron Bunch
-
Patent number: 10293519Abstract: A mandrel bladder end fitting includes a compression housing defining a circumferential interior wall; the interior wall constitutes a first clamping surface. An expansion assembly, axially received within the interior wall, includes a plurality of wedges that collectively define a second clamping surface. The expansion assembly also includes a central core and a threaded member received within a threaded aperture of the central core. A radially extending flat washer, seated within the interior wall, prevents axial movement of the expansion wedges in one direction. Thus, upon rotation of the threaded member, the central core will move axially toward the washer, forcing the second clamping surface to move only radially outwardly toward the first clamping surface. As such, because the flat washer restricts axial movement of the expansion wedges, relative motion between first and second clamping surfaces; i.e., between the collective wedges and interior wall, is limited to radial movement, only.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: William H. Ingram, Jr., Jesse M. Havens, Megan E. Bliss, Amy E. Bahe, Craig A. Cramer
-
Patent number: 10144185Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses are disclosed for making and post-processing a 3-D printed object for laminate-forming tooling, and components made using post-processed 3-D printed laminate-forming tooling.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2015Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Benjamin J. Stephenson, Scott K Frankenbery, William H Ingram, Jr., William S. Hollensteiner
-
Patent number: 10040221Abstract: A mandrel configured to facilitate release of an elastomeric part cured thereon may comprise an elongated body having an outer surface, an internal cavity formed in the elongated body, and a passage providing fluid communication between the internal cavity and the outer surface of the body. The passage may be dimensioned so as to permit a flow of a fluid from the internal cavity to the outer surface of the body and to preclude a flow of an uncured elastomer into the passage. The flow of the fluid from the internal cavity to the outer surface may cause the fluid to intervene between the outer surface of the mandrel and the elastomeric part to facilitate the release of the elastomeric part from the mandrel.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2015Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: William H. Ingram, Jr., Jesse M. Havens, Megan Elizabeth Bliss
-
Publication number: 20170197370Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancing edge breathers for composite manufacturing. One exemplary embodiment is an apparatus that includes an edge breather to facilitate manufacturing of a composite part. The edge breather includes a body, ridges disposed along a length of the body that each define an arc which is perpendicular to a lengthwise axis of the body, and openings disposed along the body that enable air to enter a hollow interior that runs along the length of the body. The arcs defined by the ridges resist compressive loads applied to the edge breather and prevent the hollow interior from collapsing under pressure applied to the edge breather by a vacuum bag during manufacturing of the composite part.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2016Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventors: Benjamin Jeffrey Stephenson, Jake Adam Reeves, William H. Ingram, JR., Charles W. Thomas, Karl M. Nelson, Cameron Bunch
-
Publication number: 20170120481Abstract: A mandrel bladder end fitting includes a compression housing defining a circumferential interior wall; the interior wall constitutes a first clamping surface. An expansion assembly, axially received within the interior wall, includes a plurality of wedges that collectively define a second clamping surface. The expansion assembly also includes a central core and a threaded member received within a threaded aperture of the central core. A radially extending flat washer, seated within the interior wall, prevents axial movement of the expansion wedges in one direction. Thus, upon rotation of the threaded member, the central core will move axially toward the washer, forcing the second clamping surface to move only radially outwardly toward the first clamping surface. As such, because the flat washer restricts axial movement of the expansion wedges, relative motion between first and second clamping surfaces; i.e., between the collective wedges and interior wall, is limited to radial movement, only.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2015Publication date: May 4, 2017Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: William H. Ingram, JR., Jesse M. Havens, Megan E. Bliss, Amy E. Bahe, Craig A. Cramer
-
Publication number: 20170106569Abstract: A mandrel configured to facilitate release of an elastomeric part cured thereon may comprise an elongated body having an outer surface, an internal cavity formed in the elongated body, and a passage providing fluid communication between the internal cavity and the outer surface of the body. The passage may be dimensioned so as to permit a flow of a fluid from the internal cavity to the outer surface of the body and to preclude a flow of an uncured elastomer into the passage. The flow of the fluid from the internal cavity to the outer surface may cause the fluid to intervene between the outer surface of the mandrel and the elastomeric part to facilitate the release of the elastomeric part from the mandrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2015Publication date: April 20, 2017Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: William H. Ingram, JR., Jesse M. Havens, Megan Elizabeth Bliss
-
Publication number: 20160288433Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses are disclosed for making and post-processing a 3-D printed object for laminate-forming tooling, and components made using post-processed 3-D printed laminate-forming tooling.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: BENJAMIN J. STEPHENSON, Scott K. Frankenbery, William H. Ingram, JR., William S. Hollensteiner
-
Patent number: 8691037Abstract: A method for fabricating a one-piece composite fuselage section that minimizes out-of-plane fiber distortion. This is accomplished by fabricating a mandrel having a coefficient of thermal expansion in the hoopwise direction that is sufficiently greater than that of the laid-up composite ply assembly. As a result of this differential in the coefficients of thermal expansion in the hoopwise direction, the laid-up composite ply assembly is stretched circumferentially as the mandrel expands radially during cure, thereby eliminating or reducing out-of-plane fiber distortion. At the same time, the mandrel and part being fabricated should have substantially the same coefficient of thermal expansion in the lengthwise direction. As the outer surface of the mandrel increases in circumference, the circumferentially oriented reinforcing fibers of the inner plies are stretched, while the circumferentially oriented reinforcing fibers of the outer plies do not reduce in circumference and thus do not form waves or wrinkles.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2006Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: William H. Ingram, Jr., Kenneth M. Dull, Robert Biornstad
-
Publication number: 20100024964Abstract: A method for fabricating a one-piece composite fuselage section that minimizes out-of-plane fiber distortion. This is accomplished by fabricating a mandrel having a coefficient of thermal expansion in the hoopwise direction that is sufficiently greater than that of the laid-up composite ply assembly. As a result of this differential in the coefficients of thermal expansion in the hoopwise direction, the laid-up composite ply assembly is stretched circumferentially as the mandrel expands radially during cure, thereby eliminating or reducing out-of-plane fiber distortion. At the same time, the mandrel and part being fabricated should have substantially the same coefficient of thermal expansion in the lengthwise direction. As the outer surface of the mandrel increases in circumference, the circumferentially oriented reinforcing fibers of the inner plies are stretched, while the circumferentially oriented reinforcing fibers of the outer plies do not reduce in circumference and thus do not form waves or wrinkles.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2006Publication date: February 4, 2010Inventors: William H. Ingram, JR., Kenneth M. Dull, Robert Biornstad