Patents Assigned to Boeing
  • Patent number: 11041518
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for bonding a structural component to a rail. The method includes (a) positioning a bonding agent in a plurality of blind holes defined in a bottom surface of the rail, (b) positioning a spacer in each of the plurality of blind holes, (c) positioning the structural component into the channel such that the structural component rests on each spacer, wherein a first gap is defined between the structural component and the bottom surface of the rail, a second gap is defined between the structural component and a first sidewall of the rail, and a third gap is defined between the structural component and a second sidewall of the rail, and (d) injecting the bonding agent into the channel such that each of the first gap, the second gap, and the third gap includes the bonding agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel L. Buls, Thomas N. Burlis, Christopher A. White
  • Patent number: 11044011
    Abstract: Systems and methods for high-speed non-destructive inspection of a half- or full-barrel-shaped workpiece, such as a barrel-shaped section of an aircraft fuselage. Such workpieces can be scanned externally using a mobile (e.g., translating) arch gantry system comprising a translatable arch frame disposed outside the fuselage section, a carriage that can travel along a curved track carried by the arch frame, a radially inward-extending telescopic arm having a proximal end fixedly coupled to the carriage, and an NDI sensor unit coupled to a distal end of the telescoping arm. The stiffeners of the fuselage sections can be scanned using a mobile scanner platform disposed inside the fuselage section, which platform comprises a radially outward-extending telescopic arm rotatably coupled to a mobile (e.g., holonomic or linear motion) platform and an NDI sensor unit coupled to a distal end of the telescoping arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Barry A. Fetzer, James J. Troy, Scott W. Lea
  • Patent number: 11041501
    Abstract: A method for controlling compressed air sent to pneumatic systems. The method includes acquiring a set of performance demands for each of a plurality of pneumatic systems in a platform, where the performance demands indicate needs for the compressed air supplied to each of the pneumatic systems, identifying a maximum allowable air discharge temperature limit of a variable speed air compressor configured to supply compressed air to the pneumatic systems, and controlling an operation of the compressor to supply the compressed air to the pneumatic systems to meet the acquired performance demands for at least one of the pneumatic systems while operating the compressor below the maximum allowable air discharge temperature limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Warren A. Atkey, Steve G. Mackin, Royal E. Boggs, Hosam E. El-Gabalawy
  • Patent number: 11041251
    Abstract: Provided is a method for sealing an article with a non-chrome corrosion inhibitor seal. The method may include applying an aqueous-based suspension comprising a thiol-containing corrosion inhibitor on a surface of an anodized substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Lawless, Bruce M. Griffin
  • Patent number: 11041586
    Abstract: A snubber includes a head portion, a shank portion, and a threaded portion. The shank portion is attached to the head portion, and the shank portion defines a shank diameter. The threaded portion is attached to the shank portion, and the threaded portion includes an external helical thread wrapped around a central shaft. The external helical thread defines a threaded diameter, and the central shaft defines a central shaft diameter. The shank diameter and the thread diameter are sized such that the shank portion and the threaded portion define at least one fluid flow path when the snubber is installed in a pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Gary M. Lindahl
  • Patent number: 11042361
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for applying design rules in multiple programming languages to sets of multiple designs composed of models of objects representing these product designs. A request is received to apply the design rule to a model of a product. The design rule is written in a source code that is run to apply the design rule to the model. Sections in the source code corresponding to different programming languages identified. The source code for the design rule is run using language processors corresponding to the different programming languages identified in the sections in the source code and using language configuration information that describes parameters for executing the source code using the language processors, wherein a set of operations is performed on the model when the source code is run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher D. Espostio, Jeff Alan Heisserman
  • Patent number: 11043039
    Abstract: A method of aligning reference frames for an augmented reality display is provided. The method comprises receiving three or more target images positioned at predefined physical reference points in a specified physical space, wherein the physical reference points are part of a reference frame of the physical space. Distances between the physical reference points of the target images are calculated and compared with distances between virtual reference points comprising a reference frame of a three-dimensional virtual model to create a number of distance comparisons. The physical reference points are correlated with virtual reference points according to the distance comparisons. The reference frame of the physical space is then aligned with the reference frame of the three-dimensional virtual model according to the correlation of the physical reference points and virtual reference points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David K. Lee, Paul Robert Davies
  • Patent number: 11040825
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a container, including: a floor; a plurality of vertical walls coupled to the floor; a ceiling coupled to the plurality of vertical walls; a first horizontal gate coupled to a first vertical wall of the plurality of vertical walls and comprising a first plurality of foldable portions; a second horizontal gate coupled to a second vertical wall of the plurality of vertical walls and comprising a second plurality of foldable portions; a third horizontal gate coupled to a third vertical wall of the plurality of vertical walls and comprising a third plurality of foldable portions; and a first vertical gate coupled to the ceiling and comprising a fourth plurality of foldable portions, wherein, when extended, the first horizontal gate, the second horizontal gate, the third horizontal gate, and the first vertical gate form a plurality of separate cargo volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Robert Erik Grip
  • Publication number: 20210183541
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for temporarily holding one end of a wire on a harness form board during automated transfer from one robot to another robot. The apparatus includes a wire holding device which is designed to facilitate the transfer of a wire end from a first end effector of a first robot to a second end effector of a second robot. The wire holding devices have different structures, but share the common feature that opening of the wire holding device (to enable wire insertion) involves applying a contact force which overcomes a spring force that urges the wire holding device to be closed. The end effectors are designed and their movements are controlled in a manner such that the moving end effector applies the contact force necessary to overcome the closure-inducing spring force being exerted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bradley J. Mitchell, Damien O. Martin, Lars E. Blacken, Jeffrey A. McCaskey
  • Publication number: 20210183253
    Abstract: An aircraft flight strategy selection system and method determine one or more possible flight strategies for an aircraft at an airport. The aircraft flight strategy selection system and method include a flight strategy analysis control unit that determines the possible flight strategies for the aircraft based on weather forecast data for a selected time period, flight schedule data for the selected time period, historical weather data for a prior time frame, and historical flight schedule data for the prior time frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Marco LaCivita, Miguel Angel Vilaplana Ruiz
  • Publication number: 20210182364
    Abstract: Techniques for securing computer executable software for tracking usage of at least one software application are presented. The computer executable software for tracking usage of at least one software application can include tracking software installed on a client and monitoring software installed on the client, where the monitoring software is hidden from users of the tracking software. The techniques can include tracking, by the tracking software, a usage of the at least one software application by the client; obtaining, by the tracking software, a status of the monitoring software; and restarting the monitoring software, by the tracking software, in response to obtaining a status of the monitoring software indicating that the monitoring software is not executing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Richard J. Dickson
  • Publication number: 20210182249
    Abstract: Techniques for providing analytics regarding software application usage by client computers are presented. The techniques can include providing to at least one of a plurality of client computers at least one license for a usage of at least one of a plurality of software applications; storing transaction information for each usage of the at least one of the plurality of software applications by the at least one of the plurality of client computers, where the transaction information for a particular usage includes a respective chargecode, a respective site name, and a respective indication of license entitlement criteria test results for each of a plurality of license entitlement criteria tests; receiving search criteria at a user interface; searching stored transaction information using the search criteria to obtain search results; and providing the search results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Richard J. Dickson
  • Publication number: 20210182407
    Abstract: Techniques for managing licensing of a software application that includes a plurality of executables are presented. The techniques can include detecting an initiation of the software application on a client computer; obtaining a license for a usage of a first executable of the plurality of executables; detecting an initiation of at least a second executable; obtaining execution type data for the second executable specifying one of: a license for a usage of the second executable is not required if an instance of the second executable is executing on the client computer, or a license for a usage of the second executable is not required if at least one executable of the plurality of executables is executing on the client computer; determining, based on the execution type data, that a license for a usage of the second executable is not required; and executing the second executable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Richard J. Dickson
  • Publication number: 20210179293
    Abstract: Provided are systems and apparatuses for manufacturing aircraft support structures. An example robotic end effector comprises a rotatable reel with a flat strip of material wound around the reel. The end effector further includes a forming shoe including a forming surface contacting the strip of material. A first end of the forming surface corresponds to a start shape and a second end of the forming surface corresponds to an end shape. As the strip of material passes from the first end of the forming surface to the second end of the forming surface, the strip of material transitions from the first shape to the end shape and is deposited as a formed stringer ply onto an application surface. The forming shoe may further include a vacuum system to suction air through a plurality of ports along the forming surface to urge the strip of material against the forming surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jerry D. Chungbin, Narumi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20210183360
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automated communication with Air Traffic Control. The system comprises a processor and memory. The memory stores instructions to execute a method. The method includes receiving audio communication input from an air traffic controller (ATC). The audio communication input is then converted into text input. Next, an aircraft keyword is detected in the text input. The text input is then parsed and one or more data structures are generated from the parsed input. In some examples, the one or more data structures includes command data for controlling the aircraft. Next, the command data in the one or more data structures is verified. The one or more data structures are then transmitted to an onboard flight computer of the aircraft. Last, the one or more data structures are stored in a conversation memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Badi Ebrahimifard, Rohan S. Sharma, Jesse G. Francheshini, Fuzhou Hu
  • Publication number: 20210180636
    Abstract: A mechanical fastener system for EME protection, including at least one plated component, wherein the at least one plated component includes a base material, a bonding layer disposed over the base material, and a metal plating disposed over the bonding layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Darrin M. Hansen, Blake A. Simpson, Richard B. Tanner, Peter K. Augusciak
  • Publication number: 20210182363
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling access to a software application according to at least one software license agreement using a client computer and a server computer are presented. The client computer is configured to detect an initiation of the software application, suspend an execution process of the software application, determine that the software application is subject to a plurality of software license entitlement criteria defined by the at least one software license agreement, and request from the server computer a license for a usage of the software application on the client computer. The server computer is configured to determine that the usage of the software application on the client computer satisfies the plurality of software license entitlement criteria, and provide to the client computer a license for the usage of the software application on the client computer. The client computer is configured to resume the initiation of the software application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Richard J. Dickson
  • Publication number: 20210183255
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a computer system, and a non-transitory computer readable medium is disclosed for following air traffic control (ATC) flight trajectory profile instructions in the form of datalink commands to a flight management system (FMS) of a unmanned aircraft (UA) or a manned aircraft for ATC approved flight through controlled airspace along a mission of a vehicle of the UA or the manned aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Paul A. Van Tulder
  • Publication number: 20210179263
    Abstract: A blade positioning system and method are provided to dynamically measure blade position during flight of a rotorcraft. In the context of a method, a blade of the rotorcraft is repeatedly illuminated by a light source during flight of the rotorcraft while the blade is rotating. The method also includes detecting radiation scattered from the blade in response to illumination of the blade. The method further includes determining at least one of a blade pitch angle, a blade flap angle, a blade leading position or a blade lagging position based upon the radiation that is scattered from the blade and detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Keyvan SAYYAH, Pamela R. PATTERSON, Raymond SARKISSIAN, Oleg M. EFIMOV, Biqin HUANG, David L. HAMMON
  • Publication number: 20210182451
    Abstract: A method, a computing system and a computer program product are provided to efficiently define a guide that includes one or more defined sets of ordered ply orientations. In the context of a method, a plurality of stacking sequence rules are received. The method defines the guide including the one or more defined sets of ordered ply orientations in accordance with a constrained, linear integer optimization formulation. In this regard, the method defines the guide by dividing the guide into a plurality of blocks and determining a plurality of sublaminate stacks that satisfy the stacking sequence rules and that have a size limited by a size of the blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard Joel THOMPSON, Vladimir BALABANOV, Adriana Willempje BLOM-SCHIEBER