Patents by Inventor Brett D. Whitmer
Brett D. Whitmer 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: 11325691Abstract: An assembly that comprises a first part and a second part. The second part comprises a non-faying surface facing the base surface, a plurality of faying surfaces manifested at bosses that are shimmed if and as required, and a plurality of second through-holes. A width of each one of the plurality of bosses is equal to or greater than 2(r+T tan ?), where r is a maximum radial dimension of an outermost peripheral portion of a fastener in contact with the first part or the second part, T is the distance from the point of contact, between a fastener and the first part or the second part, and a faying surface of a corresponding boss, and ? is an angle between a central axis of the corresponding second through-hole and an outermost load vector initiating at the point of contact between the fastener and the first part or the second part.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Brett D. Whitmer, William H. Graham, Evelyne Van Ingelghem
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Patent number: 11260954Abstract: Examples include an apparatus configured for attaching a rib of an aircraft wing to a panel of the aircraft wing, the apparatus including: an insert that is configured to be attached, via an interference fit, to a hole in the rib; a shear tie including a socket at a first end of the shear tie, where the shear tie is configured to be attached to the panel at a second end of the shear tie; a ball stud including a shaft and a ball that is opposite the shaft, where the shaft is configured to be attached to the insert and the ball is configured to be positioned within the socket; and a fastener that is configured to secure the ball within the socket, thereby attaching the ball stud to the shear tie.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Brett D. Whitmer, Kristopher Talcott, Tyler W. Downey, Dan D. Day, Jean R. Paillant, Thanh Quach, Ian E. Schroeder, Jason H. Inouye, William H. Graham
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Publication number: 20210245861Abstract: An assembly that comprises a first part and a second part. The second part comprises a non-faying surface facing the base surface, a plurality of faying surfaces manifested at bosses that are shimmed if and as required, and a plurality of second through-holes. A width of each one of the plurality of bosses is equal to or greater than 2(r+T tan ?), where r is a maximum radial dimension of an outermost peripheral portion of a fastener in contact with the first part or the second part, T is the distance from the point of contact, between a fastener and the first part or the second part, and a faying surface of a corresponding boss, and ? is an angle between a central axis of the corresponding second through-hole and an outermost load vector initiating at the point of contact between the fastener and the first part or the second part.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2020Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Brett D. Whitmer, William H. Graham, Evelyne Van Ingelghem
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Publication number: 20210107621Abstract: Examples include an apparatus configured for attaching a rib of an aircraft wing to a panel of the aircraft wing, the apparatus including: an insert that is configured to be attached, via an interference fit, to a hole in the rib; a shear tie including a socket at a first end of the shear tie, where the shear tie is configured to be attached to the panel at a second end of the shear tie; a ball stud including a shaft and a ball that is opposite the shaft, where the shaft is configured to be attached to the insert and the ball is configured to be positioned within the socket; and a fastener that is configured to secure the ball within the socket, thereby attaching the ball stud to the shear tie.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2019Publication date: April 15, 2021Inventors: Brett D. Whitmer, Kristopher Talcott, Tyler W. Downey, Dan D. Day, Jean R. Paillant, Thanh Quach, Ian E. Schroeder, Jason H. Inouye, William H. Graham
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Patent number: 7827012Abstract: A system and methodology for controlling structural type integration to major fittings requires creating a geometrical set of objects identified here as basic starting geometry which consist of external references and relationships to a main component structure. Structural interface detail characteristics and hardware components are identified that make up a major fitting integration connection between the main component structure and a second component structure. Parametric sets and associated geometrical sets containing sketches and geometry objects are identified and created, the parametric sets and associated geometrical sets being associated to a particular hardware component used in the integration connection between the main component structure and the second component structure and used to defined and control the integration connection between the main component structure and the second component structure with respect to fit, form and function.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2006Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Brett D. Whitmer
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Publication number: 20080140242Abstract: A system and methodology for controlling structural type integration to major fittings requires creating a geometrical set of objects identified here as basic starting geometry which consist of external references and relationships to a main component structure. Structural interface detail characteristics and hardware components are identified that make up a major fitting integration connection between the main component structure and a second component structure. Parametric sets and associated geometrical sets containing sketches and geometry objects are identified and created, the parametric sets and associated geometrical sets being associated to a particular hardware component used in the integration connection between the main component structure and the second component structure and used to defined and control the integration connection between the main component structure and the second component structure with respect to fit, form and function.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2006Publication date: June 12, 2008Inventor: Brett D. Whitmer
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Patent number: 7083143Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for attaching jet engines and other external structures to aircraft wings are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an aircraft system includes a wing and a unitary fitting fixedly attached to the wing. The unitary fitting can include a first portion having at least a first attach feature and a second portion having at least a second attach feature. The aircraft system can further include an engine or other external structure positioned proximate to the wing and coupled to the unitary fitting. The unitary fitting can be configured to transfer at least approximately all of the flight loads from the external structure to the wing.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2003Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Brett D. Whitmer, Glen C. Rockwell, Richard B. Tanner
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Patent number: 6758439Abstract: Aircraft engine nacelles and methods for structurally attaching them to aircraft structures, such as aircraft wings. In one embodiment, an aircraft engine nacelle is attached to a wing between a trailing edge region of the wing and an aft deck region of the wing. In one aspect of this embodiment, the engine nacelle includes a forward portion having first and second structural attach points offset from each other in a first direction at least generally perpendicular to a central axis of the engine nacelle. The first and second structural attach points can be configured to fixedly attach the engine nacelle to the wing at least proximate to the trailing edge region. In another aspect of this embodiment, the engine nacelle includes a side portion having at least a third structural attach point offset from the first and second structural attach points in a second direction at least generally parallel to the central axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Kenneth M. Harrison, Donald T. Powell, James R. Schnelz, Brett D. Whitmer
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Publication number: 20040094664Abstract: Aircraft engine nacelles and methods for structurally attaching them to aircraft structures, such as aircraft wings. In one embodiment, an aircraft engine nacelle is attached to a wing between a trailing edge region of the wing and an aft deck region of the wing. In one aspect of this embodiment, the engine nacelle includes a forward portion having first and second structural attach points offset from each other in a first direction at least generally perpendicular to a central axis of the engine nacelle. The first and second structural attach points can be configured to fixedly attach the engine nacelle to the wing at least proximate to the trailing edge region. In another aspect of this embodiment, the engine nacelle includes a side portion having at least a third structural attach point offset from the first and second structural attach points in a second direction at least generally parallel to the central axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2002Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Kenneth M. Harrison, Donald T. Powell, James R. Schnelz, Brett D. Whitmer
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Patent number: 6679452Abstract: Landing gear support assemblies and associated methods of installation. In one embodiment, a landing gear support assembly usable with an aircraft wing includes an aft trunnion support beam having a base portion, an aft trunnion support spaced apart from the base portion, and a shear center axis extending from the base portion toward the aft trunnion support. The aft trunnion support can be at least approximately vertically aligned with the shear center axis. The base portion can be configured to be attached at least proximate to the rear wing spar with a plurality of fuse pins configured to fail and release the aft trunnion support beam from the rear wing spar when the landing gear exerts a preselected force against the aft trunnion support.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2002Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Justin D. Cottet, Michael J. Meneghetti, Brett D. Whitmer