Patents by Inventor Carla G. Smith

Carla G. Smith 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).

  • System and method for laying up a composite laminate having integrally laminated filler elements
    Patent number: 11148373
    Abstract: A manufacturing system for laying up a stringer laminate includes a lamination surface and a plurality of lamination heads including a frame filler outer ply lamination head for laying up (e.g., laminating) frame filler bottom ply at a plurality of frame filler locations. Also included is at least one frame filler inner ply lamination head for laying up one or more frame filler inner plies over a protruding portion of the frame filler bottom ply at each frame filler location. Further included is at least one stringer body lamination head laying up one or more stringer body plies defining a stringer body portion extending along the lamination surface. A frame filler outer ply lamination head is configured to lay up a frame filler top ply at each frame filler location such that the frame filler inner plies are captured between a frame filler bottom ply and a frame filler top ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel J. Knutson, Raviendra S. Suriyaarachchi, Carla G. Smith, Luis F. Velasquez
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LAYING UP A COMPOSITE LAMINATE HAVING INTEGRALLY LAMINATED FILLER ELEMENTS
    Publication number: 20210001573
    Abstract: A manufacturing system for laying up a stringer laminate includes a lamination surface and a plurality of lamination heads including a frame filler outer ply lamination head for laying up (e.g., laminating) frame filler bottom ply at a plurality of frame filler locations. Also included is at least one frame filler inner ply lamination head for laying up one or more frame filler inner plies over a protruding portion of the frame filler bottom ply at each frame filler location. Further included is at least one stringer body lamination head laying up one or more stringer body plies defining a stringer body portion extending along the lamination surface. A frame filler outer ply lamination head is configured to lay up a frame filler top ply at each frame filler location such that the frame filler inner plies are captured between a frame filler bottom ply and a frame filler top ply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Samuel J. Knutson, Raviendra S. Suriyaarachchi, Carla G. Smith, Luis F. Velasquez