Patents by Inventor Benjamin Bowen Lee
Benjamin Bowen Lee 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: 11117332Abstract: Composite structure fabrication systems and methods. The systems include a plurality of ply carriers, each of which is configured to support at least one ply segment, and an elongate forming mandrel, which defines an elongate ply forming surface that is shaped to define a surface contour of the composite structure. The systems further include a carrier transfer device, which is configured to selectively convey a selected ply carrier from a ply kitting area to an intermediate location, and a forming machine, which is configured to deform the selected ply carrier and a respective ply segment over a selected portion of the elongate ply forming surface. The forming machine further is configured to separate the selected ply carrier from the respective ply segment and return the selected ply carrier to the carrier transfer device. The methods include methods of operating the systems.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2020Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jose L. Encinosa, Samuel F. Zambrana, Daniel M. Rotter, Michael Robert Chapman, Stephen K. Halladin, Benjamin Bowen Lee, Joshua Dee Little, Douglas Alan McCarville, Jason A. Medenciy, Russell D. Chiupka, Marcin Artur Rabiega, Andrey F. Yurchik, Martin W. Hansen, Thomas P. Harper
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Publication number: 20200368977Abstract: Composite structure fabrication systems and methods. The systems include a plurality of ply carriers, each of which is configured to support at least one ply segment, and an elongate forming mandrel, which defines an elongate ply forming surface that is shaped to define a surface contour of the composite structure. The systems further include a carrier transfer device, which is configured to selectively convey a selected ply carrier from a ply kitting area to an intermediate location, and a forming machine, which is configured to deform the selected ply carrier and a respective ply segment over a selected portion of the elongate ply forming surface. The forming machine further is configured to separate the selected ply carrier from the respective ply segment and return the selected ply carrier to the carrier transfer device. The methods include methods of operating the systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Inventors: Jose L. Encinosa, Samuel F. Zambrana, Daniel M. Rotter, Michael Robert Chapman, Stephen K. Halladin, Benjamin Bowen Lee, Joshua Dee Little, Douglas Alan McCarville, Jason A. Medenciy, Russell D. Chiupka, Marcin Artur Rabiega, Andrey F. Yurchik, Martin W. Hansen, Thomas P. Harper
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Patent number: 10800111Abstract: Composite structure fabrication systems and methods. The systems include a plurality of ply carriers, each of which is configured to support at least one ply segment, and an elongate forming mandrel, which defines an elongate ply forming surface that is shaped to define a surface contour of the composite structure. The systems further include a carrier transfer device, which is configured to selectively convey a selected ply carrier from a ply kitting area to an intermediate location, and a forming machine, which is configured to deform the selected ply carrier and a respective ply segment over a selected portion of the elongate ply forming surface. The forming machine further is configured to separate the selected ply carrier from the respective ply segment and return the selected ply carrier to the carrier transfer device. The methods include methods of operating the systems.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2015Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jose L. Encinosa, Samuel F. Zambrana, Daniel M. Rotter, Michael Robert Chapman, Stephen K. Halladin, Benjamin Bowen Lee, Joshua Dee Little, Douglas Alan McCarville, Jason A. Medenciy, Russell D. Chiupka, Marcin Artur Rabiega, Andrey F. Yurchik, Martin W. Hansen, Thomas P. Harper
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Patent number: 10294720Abstract: A ladder includes a pair of generally curved side rails arranged in a spaced apart manner, a plurality of fixed rungs disposed between the side rails, a plurality of pairs of rung supports, and a plurality of hinged rungs. Each of the pairs of rung supports is horizontally aligned with each other and disposed on respective inner sides of the side rails. The rung supports are spaced apart from the fixed rungs along lengths of the side rails. Each rung support includes a flanged end portion having an aperture therein. Each hinged rung is associated with a respective pair of rung supports. Each hinged rung has a first end pivotally coupled to the flanged end portion of a first rung support in the respective pair of rung supports such that each hinged rung is pivotal between a secured position between the rung supports and a retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: David G. Nguyen, Florante M. Halili, Benjamin Bowen Lee, Jesse A. Webb, John F. Jenkins
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Publication number: 20180371835Abstract: A ladder includes a pair of generally curved side rails arranged in a spaced apart manner, a plurality of fixed rungs disposed between the side rails, a plurality of pairs of rung supports, and a plurality of hinged rungs. Each of the pairs of rung supports is horizontally aligned with each other and disposed on respective inner sides of the side rails. The rung supports are spaced apart from the fixed rungs along lengths of the side rails. Each rung support includes a flanged end portion having an aperture therein. Each hinged rung is associated with a respective pair of rung supports. Each hinged rung has a first end pivotally coupled to the flanged end portion of a first rung support in the respective pair of rung supports such that each hinged rung is pivotal between a secured position between the rung supports and a retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2017Publication date: December 27, 2018Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: David G. Nguyen, Florante M. Halili, Benjamin Bowen Lee, Jesse A. Webb, John F. Jenkins
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Publication number: 20160368226Abstract: Composite structure fabrication systems and methods. The systems include a plurality of ply carriers, each of which is configured to support at least one ply segment, and an elongate forming mandrel, which defines an elongate ply forming surface that is shaped to define a surface contour of the composite structure. The systems further include a carrier transfer device, which is configured to selectively convey a selected ply carrier from a ply kitting area to an intermediate location, and a forming machine, which is configured to deform the selected ply carrier and a respective ply segment over a selected portion of the elongate ply forming surface. The forming machine further is configured to separate the selected ply carrier from the respective ply segment and return the selected ply carrier to the carrier transfer device. The methods include methods of operating the systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2015Publication date: December 22, 2016Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jose L. Encinosa, Samuel F. Zambrana, Daniel M. Rotter, Michael Robert Chapman, Stephen K. Halladin, Benjamin Bowen Lee, Joshua Dee Little, Douglas Alan McCarville, Jason A. Medenciy, Russell D. Chiupka, Marcin Artur Rabiega, Andrey F. Yurchik, Martin W. Hansen, Thomas P. Harper