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).

  • Patent number: 11117332
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20200368977
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 10800111
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 10294720
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David G. Nguyen, Florante M. Halili, Benjamin Bowen Lee, Jesse A. Webb, John F. Jenkins
  • Publication number: 20180371835
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: David G. Nguyen, Florante M. Halili, Benjamin Bowen Lee, Jesse A. Webb, John F. Jenkins
  • Publication number: 20160368226
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: 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