Patents by Inventor Alan S. Draper

Alan S. Draper 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).

  • Autonomous Flexible Manufacturing System for Building a Fuselage
    Publication number: 20230364669
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for building a fuselage assembly for an aircraft. A number of fixtures may be drive across a floor to an assembly area to form an assembly fixture. The fuselage assembly may be built on the assembly fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Branko Sarh, Melissa Ann Findlay, Alan S. Draper, Jorge Alberto Arriaga, Richard Griffith Reese, IV, Alfredo Jose Gerosa, Kevin Marion Barrick, Michael J. Kozak, Quang T. Do, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller, Yuanxin Charles Hu
  • Autonomous flexible manufacturing system for building a fuselage
    Patent number: 11724305
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for building a fuselage assembly for an aircraft. A number of fixtures may be drive across a floor to an assembly area to form an assembly fixture. The fuselage assembly may be built on the assembly fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Branko Sarh, Melissa Ann Findlay, Alan S. Draper, Jorge Alberto Arriaga, Richard Griffith Reese, IV, Alfredo Jose Gerosa, Kevin Marion Barrick, Michael J. Kozak, Quang T. Do, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller, Yuanxin Charles Hu
  • Towers for accessing an interior of a fuselage assembly
    Patent number: 11548057
    Abstract: An apparatus for accessing an interior of a fuselage assembly. A tower having a number of platform levels may be driven into a selected tower position within an assembly area. The interior of the fuselage assembly may be accessed using the number of platform levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Richard Griffith Reese, IV, Kevin Marion Barrick, Quang T. Do, Alan S. Draper, Yuanxin Charles Hu, Alfredo Jose Gerosa, Michael J. Kozak, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller
  • Dual-interface coupler
    Patent number: 11235375
    Abstract: A dual-interface coupler includes a utilities unit, a number of utility cables configured to provide a number of utilities to the utilities unit, a first coupling unit associated with the utilities unit, and a second coupling unit associated with the utilities unit. The first coupling unit is configured to mechanically couple the utilities unit to a first corresponding coupling unit and comprises a utility interface. The number of utilities are configured to flow from the utilities unit through the utilities interface. The second coupling unit is configured to mechanically couple the second coupling unit to a second corresponding coupling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Richard Griffith Reese, IV, Quang T. Do, Alan S. Draper, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller, Michael J. Kozak, Vanco Stojanoski
  • Clamping feet for an end effector
    Patent number: 11203054
    Abstract: An attachment for an end effector. The attachment may include a clamp and a foot adhesively bonded to an edge of the clamp and having a set of interlocking features that form a mechanical interlock with the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Melissa Ann Findlay, Jorge Alberto Arriaga, Branko Sarh, Alan S. Draper, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller
  • Mobile platforms for performing operations inside a fuselage assembly
    Patent number: 10960458
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing an assembly operation. A tool may be macro-positioned within an interior of a fuselage assembly. The tool may be micro-positioned relative to a particular location on a panel of the fuselage assembly. An assembly operation may be performed at the particular location on the panel using the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Richard Griffith Reese, IV, Kevin Marion Barrick, Quang T. Do, Alan S. Draper, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller, Gregory Gudzinski
  • Method for building an assembly fixture for supporting a fuselage assembly
    Patent number: 10835947
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for building an assembly fixture for holding a fuselage assembly. A number of cradle fixtures may be driven across a floor to an assembly area. The number of cradle fixtures may be configured to form the assembly fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Richard Griffith Reese, IV, Kevin Marion Barrick, Quang T. Do, Alan S. Draper, Alfredo Jose Gerosa, Branko Sarh, Gregory Gudzinski, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller
  • Two-stage fastener installation
    Patent number: 10792728
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing a fastener. A reactive structural force is generated in a first direction during installation of the fastener. A new reactive structural force is generated in a second direction opposite to the first direction during the installation of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Melissa Ann Findlay, Branko Sarh, Alan S. Draper, Jorge Alberto Arriago, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller
  • Dual-Interface Coupler
    Publication number: 20200180011
    Abstract: A dual-interface coupler includes a utilities unit, a number of utility cables configured to provide a number of utilities to the utilities unit, a first coupling unit associated with the utilities unit, and a second coupling unit associated with the utilities unit. The first coupling unit is configured to mechanically couple the utilities unit to a first corresponding coupling unit and comprises a utility interface. The number of utilities are configured to flow from the utilities unit through the utilities interface. The second coupling unit is configured to mechanically couple the second coupling unit to a second corresponding coupling unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Richard Griffith Reese, IV, Quang T. Do, Alan S. Draper, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller, Michael J. Kozak, Vanco Stojanoski
  • Dual-interface coupler
    Patent number: 10525524
    Abstract: A method for coupling a number of utilities between a first system and a second system is provided. A first interface that couples the number of utilities between the first system and the second system is created between the first system and a utilities unit. The first interface is activated. A second interface between the second system and the utilities unit is deactivated, while the first interface remains activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Richard Griffith Reese, IV, Quang T. Do, Alan S. Draper, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller, Michael J. Kozak, Vanco Stojanoski
  • Towers for Accessing an Interior of a Fuselage Assembly
    Publication number: 20190388959
    Abstract: An apparatus for accessing an interior of a fuselage assembly. A tower having a number of platform levels may be driven into a selected tower position within an assembly area. The interior of the fuselage assembly may be accessed using the number of platform levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Richard Griffith Reese, IV, Kevin Marion Barrick, Quang T. Do, Alan S. Draper, Yuanxin Charles Hu, Alfredo Jose Gerosa, Michael J. Kozak, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller
  • Method of using a tower for accessing an interior of a fuselage assembly
    Patent number: 10406593
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing an interior of a fuselage assembly. A tower having a number of platform levels may be driven into a selected tower position within an assembly area. The interior of the fuselage assembly may be accessed using the number of platform levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Richard Griffith Reese, IV, Kevin Marion Barrick, Quang T. Do, Alan S. Draper, Yuanxin Charles Hu, Alfredo Jose Gerosa, Michael J. Kozak, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller
  • AUTONOMOUS FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM FOR BUILDING A FUSELAGE
    Publication number: 20190184447
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for building a fuselage assembly for an aircraft. A number of fixtures may be drive across a floor to an assembly area to form an assembly fixture. The fuselage assembly may be built on the assembly fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Branko Sarh, Melissa Ann Findlay, Alan S. Draper, Jorge Alberto Arriaga, Richard Griffith Reese, IV, Alfredo Jose Gerosa, Kevin Marion Barrick, Michael J. Kozak, Quang T. Do, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller, Yuanxin Charles Hu
  • Clamping Feet for an End Effector
    Publication number: 20190176213
    Abstract: An attachment for an end effector. The attachment may include a clamp and a foot adhesively bonded to an edge of the clamp and having a set of interlocking features that form a mechanical interlock with the clamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Melissa Ann Findlay, Jorge Alberto Arriaga, Branko Sarh, Alan S. Draper
  • Autonomous flexible manufacturing system for building a fuselage
    Patent number: 10213823
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for building a fuselage assembly for an aircraft. A number of fixtures may be drive across a floor to an assembly area to form an assembly fixture. The fuselage assembly may be built on the assembly fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Branko Sarh, Melissa Ann Findlay, Alan S. Draper, Jorge Alberto Arriaga, Richard Griffith Reese, IV, Alfredo Jose Gerosa, Kevin Marion Barrick, Michael J. Kozak, Quang T. Do, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller, Yuanxin Charles Hu
  • Clamping feet for an end effector
    Patent number: 10201847
    Abstract: An attachment for an end effector. The attachment may include a clamp and a foot adhesively bonded to an edge of the clamp and having a set of interlocking features that form a mechanical interlock with the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Melissa Ann Findlay, Jorge Alberto Arriaga, Branko Sarh, Alan S. Draper
  • Two-Stage Riveting
    Publication number: 20180207712
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing a fastener. A reactive structural force is generated in a first direction during installation of the fastener. A new reactive structural force is generated in a second direction opposite to the first direction during the installation of the fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Melissa Ann Findlay, Branko Sarh, Alan S. Draper, Jorge Alberto Arriaga
  • Two-stage riveting
    Patent number: 9937549
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for fastening two parts together. An initial interference fit may be created between a fastener and at least a portion of a hole extending through the two parts while maintaining a force equilibrium. A final interference fit may be created between the fastener and the hole, while maintaining a new force equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Melissa Ann Findlay, Branko Sarh, Alan S. Draper, Jorge Alberto Arriaga
  • Dual-Interface Coupler
    Publication number: 20160009417
    Abstract: A method for coupling a number of utilities between a first system and a second system is provided. A first interface that couples the number of utilities between the first system and the second system is created between the first system and a utilities unit. The first interface is activated. A second interface between the second system and the utilities unit is deactivated, while the first interface remains activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Richard Griffith Reese, IV, Quang T. Do, Alan S. Draper, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller, Michael J. Kozak, Vanco Stojanoski
  • Two-Stage Riveting
    Publication number: 20160008869
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for fastening two parts together. An initial interference fit may be created between a fastener and at least a portion of a hole extending through the two parts while maintaining a force equilibrium. A final interference fit may be created between the fastener and the hole, while maintaining a new force equilibrium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Melissa Ann Findlay, Branko Sarh, Alan S. Draper, Jorge Alberto Arriaga