Patents Assigned to McDonnell Douglas
  • Patent number: 6344242
    Abstract: A sol-gel catalyst composition for electroless plating includes a metal alkoxide in a polar organic solvent, an acid, a chloride salt or acid chloride, and a catalytic metallic salt. The sol-gel catalyst adheres to smooth surfaces without the preconditioning normally associated with other sol-gel smooth surface catalyst, as well as a method for coating a substrate with the sol-gel catalyst composition, and then a metallic platting solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Stolk, Mark R. Rahe
  • Patent number: 6341261
    Abstract: A knowledge driven composite design optimization process for designing a laminate part includes steps for generating a globally optimized 3-D ply definition for a laminate part, and modifying the 3-D ply definition to include features of the laminate part, where the generating and modifying steps are parametrically linked to one another and are performed in the recited order. Preferably, the generating step includes substeps for determining connectivity between a plurality of regions defining the laminate part, subsequently generating ramp features detailing interconnection of the regions defining the laminate part, and displaying views and corresponding tabular data describing the laminate part and illustrating both inter-region connectivity and the ramp features as specified by a user. A knowledge driven composite design optimization system and associated computer memory for operating a general purpose computer as a knowledge driven composite design optimization system are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corp.
    Inventors: Virginia M. Vasey-Glandon, Richard D. Hale, Jeffrey J. Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20010053432
    Abstract: A composite member having increased resistance to delamination includes a reinforcing wrap of fiber-matrix composite material which is encircled about the member so that the edge surfaces of the member are covered by the wrap. The wrap includes fibers which are oriented from about −60° to about +60° relative to the direction along which the reinforcing wrap is wrapped about the member. The fibers of the reinforcing wrap impart increased third-axis or Z-direction strength at the edges of the member where interlaminar tensile stresses are greatest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Koorosh Hamilton, Stephen L. Guymon
  • Patent number: 6331357
    Abstract: An article is coated with a mixture of a high absorptance pigment, a low absorptance pigment, a low emittance material, and a high emittance binder. Each of the components of the coating are stable when exposed to a space environment. The amounts of the high absorptance pigment and the low absorptance pigment are selected to produce an absorptance of the coating of from about 0.20 to about 0.90, and the amount of the low emittance material is selected to produce an emittance of the coating of from about 0.25 to about 0.90. The low absorptance pigment is preferably a white pigment such as zinc oxide. The high absorptance pigment is preferably a black pigment such as cupric oxide, cobalt oxide, or manganese dioxide. The low emittance material is preferably a metal such as aluminum. The binder is preferably a ceramic such as potassium silicate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Mark M. Hasegawa, Steven A. Daneman, Ronaldo R. DeJesus, Henry W. Babel
  • Patent number: 6328874
    Abstract: A method for forming a coating on aluminum by contacting the aluminum with water, at least one multifunctional polymeric organic acid, a monomer of an intrinsically conductive polymer (ICP) and polymerizing the ICP monomer and forming aluminum oxide by imposing an electrical potential between the aluminum surface as the anode and a cathode. The intrinsically conductive polymer salt and aluminum oxide coating that is formed resists corrosion and is resistant to de-doping during immersion in hot water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Kinlen, Lawrence M. Lawless, Vinod P. Menon
  • Patent number: 6314978
    Abstract: To produce a high pressure stream of fluid, such as propellant, the fluid is transfered from a low pressure reservoir into a plurality of intermediate storage tanks, in which the fluid is pressurized. The fluid is drained from the storage tanks to an outlet in sequence. While one pressurized storage tank in a three pressurized tank system is being drained, the most recently drained one of the storage tanks is being vented, and still another of the storage tanks is being filled or replenished with fluid, as the case may be, from the low pressure reservior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Eric Lanning, James B. Blackmon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6305203
    Abstract: The forming time necessary to superplastically form an object from a metal sheet is estimated by empirical analysis. The required rate of gas mass flow into a forming cavity is then determined using either a nomograph composed of four interrelated graphs, or a single graph which requires the input of fewer variables than the nomograph. The present invention may also be used to form cells of multiple sheet panels from a stack of sheets. In the latter application, forming time necessary to complete forming of the cells from an interim point where the core sheet forming pressure and the die temperature are increased from interim levels to their final values is estimated by empirical analysis. A nomograph or single graph of the present invention then determines the gas mass flow rate necessary to safely and efficiently complete forming of the cells from the foregoing interim point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: Ken K. Yasui
  • Patent number: 6302593
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector and an associated fabrication method where the connector has a connector housing having a base side, a and pair of sidewalls upstanding from the base side that are spaced apart in relation to each other, and each of the housing sidewalls define at least one aperture through which optical signals can be transmitted into and out of the housing by an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber, respectively, located in fixed positions outside the housing, and a pair of optical lens elements are contained within the housing which collimate optical signals transmitted via the respective optical fibers. The lens elements are precisely aligned with respective optical fibers within submicron tolerances using internally-housed micro-aligners. As a result, the fiber optic connector of the present invention can provide efficient coupling between optical fibers, such as optical fibers in two spliced composite parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Haake
  • Patent number: 6298765
    Abstract: A hypervelocity impact shield assembly for protecting a spacecraft surface from hypervelocity impactors. The shield assembly includes at least one sacrificial impactor disrupting/shocking layer of hypervelocity impactor disrupting/shocking material. A primary spacing element, including space-rated open cell foam material, is positioned between the at least one sacrificial impactor disrupting/shocking layer and a spacecraft surface. A cover member is arranged and disposed relative to the sacrificial impactor disrupting/shocking layer and the primary spacing element to maintain the integrity of the hypervelocity impact shield assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce D. Dvorak
  • Patent number: 6296426
    Abstract: A tool fixture 10 includes a body 12 and a plurality of attachment devices 14 connected to the body 12. A passageway 22 is connected to the body 12 and in communication with at least two of the attachment devices 14. A connector is in communication with the passageway 22 and the body 12 and is for attachment to a vacuum system such that when the vacuum system draws a vacuum the attachment devices 14 are urged against a work surface to hold the tool fixture 10 in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. King, Thomas O. Blankenship
  • Patent number: 6291071
    Abstract: A composite structure is made by first furnishing a skin layer made of a composite material of quartz fibers embedded in an uncured cyanate ester-resin matrix. A transition layer of a first epoxy resin is applied to the skin layer. The skin structure including the skin layer and transition layer is cured at a first temperature and post cured at a second temperature greater than the first temperature. A bonding layer of a second epoxy resin is thereafter applied to the bonding surface of the transition layer, and a substrate is contacted to the exposed face of the bonding layer. The second epoxy resin is cured at a third temperature no greater than the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co.
    Inventors: Paul C. Kuhl, Rudy Cesena, Don J. Bridges, Edward S. Harrison, James L. Melquist
  • Patent number: 6285183
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the direct measurement and quantification of the material volume loss on the surface of a substrate and thus provides an accurate depiction of the surface profile of the surface. The method of the invention comprises inducing eddy currents in a test substrate, measuring the magnitude of the eddy current produced within the substrate at a plurality of locations on the surface of the substrate, and converting the measured eddy current magnitudes at the locations to corresponding volume losses on the test surface using the eddy current magnitude measurements of a reference substrate having defects of predetermined volume loss. Typically, the measurements of the eddy current magnitude on the test surface are converted to actual volume losses by multiplying the measured eddy current magnitude for a sector of the test substrate by the area of the sector and a calibration factor (Cf) representing the volume per unit area eddy current magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Collingwood, Steven G. Keener
  • Patent number: 6280100
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector and an associated fabrication method where the connector has a connector housing having a base side, a and pair of sidewalls upstanding from the base side that are spaced apart in relation to each other, and each of the housing sidewalls define at least one aperture through which optical signals can be transmitted into and out of the housing by an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber, respectively, located in fixed positions outside the housing, a pair of optical lens elements are contained within the housing which collimate optical signals transmitted via the respective optical fibers, and a micro-alignable sensing fiber is arranged between the lens elements. The sensing fiber is precisely aligned with respective lens elements within submicron tolerances using internally-housed micro-aligners. As a result, the fiber optic connector of the present invention can provide efficient coupling between optical fibers, such as optical fibers in two spliced composite parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Haake
  • Patent number: 6277463
    Abstract: A composite member having increased resistance to delamination includes a reinforcing wrap of fiber-matrix composite material which is encircled about the member so that the edge surfaces of the member are covered by the wrap. The wrap includes fibers which are oriented from about −60° to about +60° relative to the direction along which the reinforcing wrap is wrapped about the member. The fibers of the reinforcing wrap impart increased third-axis or Z-direction strength at the edges of the member where interlaminar tensile stresses are greatest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Koorosh Hamilton, Stephen L. Guymon
  • Patent number: 6269319
    Abstract: An integration test station for aircraft is provided in which the system is operable with multiple aircraft configurations. The integration test station permits aircraft component designs to be tested and verified in a simulated environment representing integration of the component into the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: The McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan C. Neisch, Donald E. Turner
  • Patent number: 6264141
    Abstract: A frangible aircraft floor includes a floor support having at least one opening formed therethrough. A thin film is positioned with respect to the opening and is provided with a frangible seam which ruptures when a predetermined pressure difference exists on opposing sides of the film to allow increased airflow through the opening to equalize pressure between the compartments in the event of a sudden loss in pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Hyo S. Shim, Steve A. Wiles
  • Patent number: 6266427
    Abstract: A damped structural panel includes a panel having bending modes including demanding bending modes. The demanding bending modes have subsonic bending waves along at least one axis, and require damping treatment based on sound radiation properties of the panel. A viscoelastic material is applied within a limited area adjacent to the panel edges based on the demanding bending modes. The viscoelastic material damps sound radiation caused by bending waves during use of the structural panel, such as use as a body panel on an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: Gopal P. Mathur
  • Patent number: 6252541
    Abstract: Novel test mounts are defined for a radar cross section testing apparatus that allows a supported object to be tested without interference from the test mount. This includes prescribing a diameter of about 0.61 wavelegths for a cylindrical test mount; maintaining a ratio for the test mount's characteristic dielectric constant and magnetic permeability of about one; and/or installing a frequency transposing apparatus to convert the frequency of radar pulses directed toward the test mount to off-frequency echoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: Jesse Clopton James
  • Patent number: 6253011
    Abstract: A micro-aligner for precisely aligning an optical fiber with an optical device, and methods of making and using same. The micro-aligner includes a carrier having a surface plane and holds an optical fiber to be positioned in alignment with an optical device. Spring biased first and second microactuators are provided on the carrier for effecting in-plane movement and alignment of the optical fiber with an optical device in either or both of two orthogonal in-plane directions when either or both of said in-plane microactuators is activated. Backstops are located on the carrier in respective association with each of the first and second microactuators, respectively, such that the first and second backstops delimit the amount of return in-plane movement of the respective beam after either of the respective first or second microactuator is de-activated. A third microactuator also is provided on the carrier which, when activated, effectively deflects the carrier upward in a direction away from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Haake
  • Patent number: 6247118
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transient error recovery in pipelined reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processors prevent state changes based on the execution of an instruction until the execution of the instruction is validated. If a transient fault occurs causing an error to appear in an instruction execution, the instruction is retrieved using an instruction fetch address associated with that instruction and is stored in a pipeline history cache. The RISC processor pipeline is then restarted with that instruction. The validation of the execution of an instruction may take place in the execution stage, though processors with high clock frequencies may include a separate validate stage in the pipeline so that there is adequate time to validate the execution of the instruction without having to decrease the clock frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignees: McDonnell Douglas Corporation, TRW, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Zumkehr, Amir A. Abouelnaga