Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Hottes
Christopher J. Hottes 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: 11541575Abstract: A first tooling die and a second tooling die are movable with respect to each other. The first tooling die and the second tooling die form a die cavity. The first tooling die and the second tooling die comprise a plurality of stacked metal sheets. A plurality of air gaps is defined between adjacent stacked metal sheets. A first smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and connected to the first tooling die. The first smart susceptor material has a first Curie temperature. A second smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and associated with the second tooling die. The second smart susceptor material has a second Curie temperature lower than the first Curie temperature. A flexible membrane is between the second tooling die and the first smart susceptor material. The flexible membrane is configured to receive pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Marc R. Matsen, Timothy J. Luchini, Bret A. Voss, Christopher J. Hottes
-
Patent number: 11452178Abstract: A heating blanket is disclosed. The heating blanket may include a thermoplastic matrix configured to become conformable at a predetermined temperature, a conductor embedded in the thermoplastic matrix and configured to receive electrical current and generate a magnetic field in response to the electrical current, and a plurality of susceptors embedded in the thermoplastic matrix and composed of a magnetic material having a Curie point.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Robert J. Miller, John F. Spalding, Jr., Diane C. Rawlings, Darrell M. Storvick, Christopher J. Hottes
-
Patent number: 11220064Abstract: A composite sandwich panel includes a first composite part and a second composite part. A plurality of stiffeners extend between the first and second composite parts. A fiberglass composite perimeter edge closeout is positioned along one or more edges of the first and second composite parts. The fiberglass composite perimeter edge closeout controls a magnetic flux to bond the first and second composite parts to the plurality of stiffeners.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2018Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Marc R. Matsen, Bret Alan McGinness Voss, Vincent C. Ku, Christopher J. Hottes
-
Patent number: 11051368Abstract: A heating blanket is disclosed. The heating blanket may include a conductor yarn configured to receive electrical current and generate a magnetic field in response to the electrical current, and a plurality of susceptor yarns composed of a magnetic material including a Curie point. The conductor yarn and the plurality of susceptor yarns may be interlaced to form a layer of fabric.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Robert J. Miller, Christopher J. Hottes
-
Publication number: 20210001515Abstract: A first tooling die and a second tooling die are movable with respect to each other. The first tooling die and the second tooling die form a die cavity. The first tooling die and the second tooling die comprise a plurality of stacked metal sheets. A plurality of air gaps is defined between adjacent stacked metal sheets. A first smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and connected to the first tooling die. The first smart susceptor material has a first Curie temperature. A second smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and associated with the second tooling die. The second smart susceptor material has a second Curie temperature lower than the first Curie temperature. A flexible membrane is between the second tooling die and the first smart susceptor material. The flexible membrane is configured to receive pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Timothy J. Luchini, Bret A. Voss, Christopher J. Hottes
-
Patent number: 10814526Abstract: A first tooling die and a second tooling die are movable with respect to each other. The first tooling die and the second tooling die form a die cavity. The first tooling die and the second tooling die comprise a plurality of stacked metal sheets. A plurality of air gaps is defined between adjacent stacked metal sheets. A first smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and connected to the first tooling die. The first smart susceptor material has a first Curie temperature. A second smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and associated with the second tooling die. The second smart susceptor material has a second Curie temperature lower than the first Curie temperature. A flexible membrane is between the second tooling die and the first smart susceptor material. The flexible membrane is configured to receive pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Marc R. Matsen, Timothy J. Luchini, Bret A. Voss, Christopher J. Hottes
-
Publication number: 20200086582Abstract: A composite sandwich panel includes a first composite part and a second composite part. A plurality of stiffeners extend between the first and second composite parts. A fiberglass composite perimeter edge closeout is positioned along one or more edges of the first and second composite parts. The fiberglass composite perimeter edge closeout controls a magnetic flux to bond the first and second composite parts to the plurality of stiffeners.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2018Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Bret Alan McGinness Voss, Vincent C. Ku, Christopher J. Hottes
-
Publication number: 20190091893Abstract: A first tooling die and a second tooling die are movable with respect to each other. The first tooling die and the second tooling die form a die cavity. The first tooling die and the second tooling die comprise a plurality of stacked metal sheets. A plurality of air gaps is defined between adjacent stacked metal sheets. A first smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and connected to the first tooling die. The first smart susceptor material has a first Curie temperature. A second smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and associated with the second tooling die. The second smart susceptor material has a second Curie temperature lower than the first Curie temperature. A flexible membrane is between the second tooling die and the first smart susceptor material. The flexible membrane is configured to receive pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Timothy J. Luchini, Bret A. Voss, Christopher J. Hottes
-
Patent number: 10220579Abstract: A processing apparatus such as a heating and/or debulking apparatus that may be used to debulk a plurality of uncured composite layers to form an article such as an aircraft component may include a plurality of interconnected smart susceptor heater blankets. The plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets may be connected in series or in parallel, and may be controlled to uniformly heat the component during formation.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2018Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Andrew M. Hopkins, Donald J. Sutkus, James M. Kestner, Jennifer S. Noel, Robert J. Miller, Marc R. Matsen, Christopher J. Hottes, Mark E. King, Darren R. Walker
-
Publication number: 20180147794Abstract: A processing apparatus such as a heating and/or debulking apparatus that may be used to debulk a plurality of uncured composite layers to form an article such as an aircraft component may include a plurality of interconnected smart susceptor heater blankets. The plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets may be connected in series or in parallel, and may be controlled to uniformly heat the component during formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2018Publication date: May 31, 2018Inventors: Andrew M. Hopkins, Donald J. Sutkus, James M. Kestner, Jennifer S. Noel, Robert J. Miller, Marc R. Matsen, Christopher J. Hottes, Mark E. King, Darren R. Walker
-
Patent number: 9914269Abstract: A processing apparatus such as a heating and/or debulking apparatus that may be used to debulk a plurality of uncured composite layers to form an article such as an aircraft component may include a plurality of interconnected smart susceptor heater blankets. The plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets may be connected in series or in parallel, and may be controlled to uniformly heat the component during formation.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2016Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Andrew M. Hopkins, Donald J. Sutkus, James M. Kestner, Jennifer S. Noel, Robert J. Miller, Marc R. Matsen, Christopher J. Hottes, Mark E. King, Darren R. Walker
-
Publication number: 20170246817Abstract: A processing apparatus such as a heating and/or debulking apparatus that may be used to debulk a plurality of uncured composite layers to form an article such as an aircraft component may include a plurality of interconnected smart susceptor heater blankets. The plurality of smart susceptor heater blankets may be connected in series or in parallel, and may be controlled to uniformly heat the component during formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2016Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventors: Andrew M. Hopkins, Donald J. Sutkus, James M. Kestner, Jennifer S. Noel, Robert J. Miller, Marc R. Matsen, Christopher J. Hottes, Mark E. King, Darren R. Walker
-
Publication number: 20170135157Abstract: A heating blanket is disclosed. The heating blanket may include a thermoplastic matrix configured to become conformable at a predetermined temperature, a conductor embedded in the thermoplastic matrix and configured to receive electrical current and generate a magnetic field in response to the electrical current, and a plurality of susceptors embedded in the thermoplastic matrix and composed of a magnetic material having a Curie point.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2015Publication date: May 11, 2017Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Robert J. Miller, John F. Spalding, JR., Diane C. Rawlings, Darrell M. Storvick, Christopher J. Hottes
-
Publication number: 20170135156Abstract: A heating blanket is disclosed. The heating blanket may include a conductor yarn configured to receive electrical current and generate a magnetic field in response to the electrical current, and a plurality of susceptor yarns composed of a magnetic material including a Curie point. The conductor yarn and the plurality of susceptor yarns may be interlaced to form a layer of fabric.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2015Publication date: May 11, 2017Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Robert J. Miller, Christopher J. Hottes