Patents by Inventor Alan Frank Stewart
Alan Frank Stewart 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: 9804127Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a bond interface is provided. The method comprises directing laser energy at a first surface of a first material connected to a second material by an adhesive at a bond interface. The first surface is opposite the bond interface. A first acoustic impedance of the first material is greater than a second acoustic impedance of the second material. The method also determines whether an inconsistency is present in the bond interface after directing the laser energy.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2014Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Richard Henry Bossi, Alan Frank Stewart, Marc Joel Piehl
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Patent number: 9625423Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a composite structure. A pulsed laser beam having a number of properties is generated. Each of the number of properties is within a selected range. The pulsed laser beam generated by the generation laser system is directed towards a composite structure comprised of a number of composite materials. A number of ultrasonic waves are formed in the composite structure when the pulsed laser beam contacts the composite structure without causing any undesired inconsistencies in the composite structure outside of selected tolerances.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2012Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Richard H. Bossi, Gary Ernest Georgeson, Jeffrey Reyner Kollgaard, Alan Frank Stewart, William P. Motzer, Clarence Lavere Gordon, III, Matthew O'Donnell, Jinjun Xia, Ivan Pelivanov, Chen-wei Wei
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Patent number: 9625425Abstract: A bond inspection system may include a material that reacts to applied activation energy by creating a compression wave, the material positioned adjacent a surface of a structure having a bond to be inspected and shaped in a predetermined pattern, such that reaction of the material causes compression waves to travel through the surface and structure; a source of activation energy capable of directing the activation energy at the material; and a controller programmed to actuate the source of activation energy to direct the activation energy at discrete portions of the predetermined pattern of material in a predetermined sequence selected to create a plurality of the compression waves so that the compression waves reflect from an opposite side of the structure as a plurality of tension waves that combine at substantially the same time at a bondline of the structure to be inspected.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Alan Frank Stewart, Marc Joel Piehl, Douglas Allen Frisch, Kevin R. Housen, William J. Sweet
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Publication number: 20160320350Abstract: A bond inspection system may include a material that reacts to applied activation energy by creating a compression wave, the material positioned adjacent a surface of a structure having a bond to be inspected and shaped in a predetermined pattern, such that reaction of the material causes compression waves to travel through the surface and structure; a source of activation energy capable of directing the activation energy at the material; and a controller programmed to actuate the source of activation energy to direct the activation energy at discrete portions of the predetermined pattern of material in a predetermined sequence selected to create a plurality of the compression waves so that the compression waves reflect from an opposite side of the structure as a plurality of tension waves that combine at substantially the same time at a bondline of the structure to be inspected.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2015Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Alan Frank Stewart, Marc Joel Piehl, Douglas Allen Frisch, Kevin R. Housen, William J. Sweet
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Patent number: 9404898Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting a structure. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus comprises a laser system located outside of an area that includes a region of a structure to be inspected, a mobile platform located within the area to be inspected, and a projection system associated with the mobile platform. The laser system is configured to generate a laser beam. The projection system receives the laser beam and projects the laser beam onto a surface of the region of the structure. The laser beam causes a number of ultrasonic waves to form within the structure.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Gary Ernest Georgeson, Alan Frank Stewart, William P. Motzer, Steven Kenneth Brady, Richard H. Bossi, Clarence Lavere Gordon, III
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Patent number: 9383342Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting a test object with a non-planar feature. A pattern of light is transmitted from a first array of optical fibers associated with a sensor structure onto a surface of the test object at a location of the non-planar feature. The pattern of light is configured to cause sound waves in the test object when the pattern of light encounters the test object. A response to the sound waves is detected using a second array of optical fibers associated with the sensor structure. A determination is made as to whether an inconsistency is present in the test object at the location of the non-planar feature from the response to the sound waves detected using the second array of optical fibers.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2012Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Richard H. Bossi, Gary E. Georgeson, Clarence L. Gordon, III, Jeffrey R. Kollgaard, William P. Motzer, Alan Frank Stewart
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Publication number: 20160109343Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a bond interface is provided. The method comprises directing laser energy at a first surface of a first material connected to a second material by an adhesive at a bond interface. The first surface is opposite the bond interface. A first acoustic impedance of the first material is greater than a second acoustic impedance of the second material. The method also determines whether an inconsistency is present in the bond interface after directing the laser energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2014Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Richard Henry Bossi, Alan Frank Stewart, Marc Joel Piehl
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Patent number: 9250213Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting a test object. The apparatus comprises an inspection vehicle, a sensor structure, a first array of optical fibers, and a second array of optical fibers. The inspection vehicle is configured to move on a surface of the test object. The sensor structure is associated with the inspection vehicle. The first array of optical fibers is associated with the sensor structure. The first array of optical fibers is configured to transmit a pattern of light towards the surface of the test object and the pattern of light is configured to cause sound waves in the test object when the pattern of light encounters the test object. The second array of optical fibers is associated with the sensor structure. The second array of optical fibers is configured to detect a response to the sound waves.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2012Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Richard H. Bossi, Gary E. Georgeson, Clarence L. Gordon, III, Jeffrey R. Kollgaard, William P. Motzer, Alan Frank Stewart
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Patent number: 9188566Abstract: A method for and apparatus for inspecting a location on a test object with a number of obstructions to reaching the location. An elongate optical fiber carrier holding a number of optical fibers is moved to the location on the test object with the number of obstructions to reaching the location. A pattern of light is transmitted from the number of optical fibers onto a surface of the test object at the location. The pattern of the light is configured to cause sound waves in the test object when the pattern of the light encounters the surface of the test object. A response is detected to the sound waves using the number of optical fibers.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2012Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Richard H. Bossi, Clarence L. Gordon, III, Jeffrey R. Kollgaard, William P. Motzer, Alan Frank Stewart
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Patent number: 9164066Abstract: A method and apparatus comprises a sensor structure, a first array of optical fibers, and a second array of optical fibers. The first array of optical fibers is associated with the sensor structure. The first array of optical fibers is configured to transmit a pattern of light towards a test object and the pattern of light is configured to cause sound waves in the test object when the pattern of light encounters the test object. The second array of optical fibers is associated with the sensor structure. The second array of optical fibers is configured to detect a response to the sound waves.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2012Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Richard H. Bossi, Gary E. Georgeson, Clarence L. Gordon, III, Jeffrey R. Kollgaard, William P. Motzer, Alan Frank Stewart
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Patent number: 8714016Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a tension wave. A beam of coherent light is directed to an absorber surface of a transducer structure. A compression wave is generated within the transducer structure. The compression wave is reflected on a reflecting surface of the transducer structure to form the tension wave. The tension wave is directed through a test object in a desired direction using a configuration of the reflecting surface relative to the test object.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Alan Frank Stewart, Richard H. Bossi, Clarence L. Gordon, III
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Publication number: 20130333472Abstract: A method for and apparatus for inspecting a location on a test object with a number of obstructions to reaching the location. An elongate optical fiber carrier holding a number of optical fibers is moved to the location on the test object with the number of obstructions to reaching the location. A pattern of light is transmitted from the number of optical fibers onto a surface of the test object at the location. The pattern of the light is configured to cause sound waves in the test object when the pattern of the light encounters the surface of the test object. A response is detected to the sound waves using the number of optical fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2012Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Richard H. Bossi, Clarence L. Gordon, III, Jeffrey R. Kollgaard, William P. Motzer, Alan Frank Stewart
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Publication number: 20130192373Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a tension wave. A beam of coherent light is directed to an absorber surface of a transducer structure. A compression wave is generated within the transducer structure. The compression wave is reflected on a reflecting surface of the transducer structure to form the tension wave. The tension wave is directed through a test object in a desired direction using a configuration of the reflecting surface relative to the test object.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Alan Frank Stewart, Richard H. Bossi, Clarence L. Gordon, III