Patents by Inventor Brad L. Kirkwood

Brad L. Kirkwood 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: 6653608
    Abstract: A single or multilayer smart susceptor for temperature control of part fabrication in an induction processing system generally consists of single layer or laminated layers of ferromagnetic material susceptible to heating by induction. The use of the susceptors in fabrication at elevated temperatures causes oxidation damage to the surface. The susceptor may be coated with a nickel aluminide surface coating to minimize oxidation of the susceptor outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Brad L. Kirkwood, Ronald W. Brown
  • Publication number: 20030106890
    Abstract: A die liner for use in a die having a die body wherein the die body is configured to form a workpiece. The die liner is a discrete structure that is configured to be used in conjunction with the die body. The die liner defines a forming surface for forming the workpiece and is configured to have at least one characteristic that is different than a corresponding characteristic of the die body such that the die liner increases the durability of the die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Ronald W. Brown, John R. Fischer, Brad L. Kirkwood
  • Patent number: 5829716
    Abstract: A hybrid metal webbed composite beam includes a metal I or T web section and a composite cap formed over and adhered to the I or T web. The beam incorporates the advantages of metals and composites in modern aerospace construction allowing thermoplastic welding of the beam to skins while having the strength of metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brad L. Kirkwood, Michael M. Stepan, Paul J. Patt
  • Patent number: 5756973
    Abstract: Thermoplastic welding is an emerging technology targeted at significantly reducing the manufacture of aerospace structure by eliminating fasteners and the touch labor associated with fasteners to prepare, install, and inspect the assemblies. Thermoplastic welds, however, suffer from low pulloff strength because the metal foil susceptor used to heat the bondline is essentially a foreign substance in the weld that is unreinforced. The susceptor of the present invention provides Z-direction barbs on the susceptor to increase the pulloff strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brad L. Kirkwood, Paul J. Patt
  • Patent number: 5688426
    Abstract: A hybrid metal webbed composite beam includes a metal I or T web section and a composite cap formed over and adhered to the I or T web. The beam incorporates advantages of metals and composites in modern aerospace construction allowing thermoplastic welding of the beam to skins while having the strength of metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brad L. Kirkwood, Michael M. Stepan, Paul J. Patt
  • Patent number: 5556565
    Abstract: A hybrid metal webbed composite beam includes a metal I or T web section and a composite cap formed over and adhered to the I or T web. The beam incorporates the advantages of metals and composites in modern aerospace construction allowing thermoplastic welding of the beam to skins while having the strength of metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brad L. Kirkwood, Michael M. Stepan, Paul J. Patt
  • Patent number: 5431961
    Abstract: Coatings which protect the skin of hypersonic flight vehicles are disclosed. Silicide coatings, such as R512E, is used to minimize catalytic recombination of dissociated species, such as atomic oxygen and atomic nitrogen, thus, decreasing thermal and oxidative degradation. Also, disclosed is a method for maintaining the silicon content of protective coatings for the skin of hypersonic flight vehicles, including the steps of applying a prehydrated, polymerized sol of tetraethylorthosilicate to a coating, and firing, to produce an integral protective coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brad L. Kirkwood, Elizabeth M. W. Pincha
  • Patent number: 5405706
    Abstract: Coatings which protect the skin of hypersonic flight vehicles are disclosed. Silicide coatings, such as R512E, is used to minimize catalytic recombination of dissociated species, such as atomic oxygen and atomic nitrogen, thus, decreasing thermal and oxidative degradation. Prehydrated, polymerized sol of tetraethylorthosilicate is applied to a coating, and is fired, to produce an integral protective coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Brad L. Kirkwood, Elizabeth M. W. Pincha
  • Patent number: 5130194
    Abstract: Coated ceramic fibers useful in resin matrix/reinforced composites are disclosed wherein the ceramic fibers have been heat treated at a temperature in excess of 900.degree.C. to form a microcrystalline structure. The heat treatment eliminates hydroxyl coupling sites required for coupling to a resin. The ceramic fibers are coated with silanol groups that re-establish hydroxyl sites to enable a difunctional organic coupling agent to bond a resin to the ceramic fibers more effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Anna L. Baker, David G. Jensen, Brad L. Kirkwood
  • Patent number: 5124374
    Abstract: A high temperature resistant structural composite composed of ceramic fibers and an organic resin is disclosed in which improved structural performance is obtained through modification of the surface of the ceramic fibers to improve the fiber to resin bond. The ceramic fibers are coated with silanol groups that re-establish hydroxyl sites to enable a difunctional organic coupling agent to bond a resin to the ceramic fibers more effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Inventors: Anna L. Baker, David G. Jensen, Brad L. Kirkwood