Patents by Inventor Blake Rafferty

Blake Rafferty 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).

  • Apparatus and method for automated layup of composite structures
    Patent number: 10086596
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a material layer onto a form tool may include at least one nosepiece configured to laterally sweep a ply carrier onto a form tool contour. The apparatus may include a pair of tension arms configured to support opposing lateral sides of a ply carrier having a material layer mounted to a lower surface thereof. The apparatus may include one or more actuators configured to position the tension arms during forming of the ply carrier to the form tool contour. The one or more actuators may be configured to sense and control lateral tension in the ply carrier during forming of the ply carrier to the form tool contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Matthew R. Desjardien, Blake Rafferty, Michael Karas, Mark S. Bunker, Erik Lund, Garrett C. Hanson, Stephen G. Holley, Benjamin B. Lee, John D. O'Connell, John D. Morris, Derek J. Flolid, Bruce S. Howard, Mark C. Boberg, Eric J. Walker, Silas L. Studley, Derek Willis
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED LAYUP OF COMPOSITE STRUCTURES
    Publication number: 20160263879
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a material layer onto a form tool may include at least one nosepiece configured to laterally sweep a ply carrier onto a form tool contour. The apparatus may include a pair of tension arms configured to support opposing lateral sides of a ply carrier having a material layer mounted to a lower surface thereof. The apparatus may include one or more actuators configured to position the tension arms during forming of the ply carrier to the form tool contour. The one or more actuators may be configured to sense and control lateral tension in the ply carrier during forming of the ply carrier to the form tool contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew R. Desjardien, Blake Rafferty, Michael Karas, Mark S. Bunker, Erik Lund, Garrett C. Hanson, Stephen G. Holley, Benjamin B. Lee, John D. O'Connell, John D. Morris, Derek J. Flolid, Bruce S. Howard, Mark C. Boberg, Eric J. Walker, Silas L. Studley, Derek Willis