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: 11541575
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Timothy J. Luchini, Bret A. Voss, Christopher J. Hottes
  • Patent number: 11452178
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Miller, John F. Spalding, Jr., Diane C. Rawlings, Darrell M. Storvick, Christopher J. Hottes
  • Patent number: 11220064
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Bret Alan McGinness Voss, Vincent C. Ku, Christopher J. Hottes
  • Patent number: 11051368
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Miller, Christopher J. Hottes
  • Publication number: 20210001515
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Timothy J. Luchini, Bret A. Voss, Christopher J. Hottes
  • Patent number: 10814526
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Timothy J. Luchini, Bret A. Voss, Christopher J. Hottes
  • Publication number: 20200086582
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Bret Alan McGinness Voss, Vincent C. Ku, Christopher J. Hottes
  • Publication number: 20190091893
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Timothy J. Luchini, Bret A. Voss, Christopher J. Hottes
  • Patent number: 10220579
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: 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: 20180147794
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: 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: 9914269
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: 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: 20170246817
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: 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: 20170135156
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert J. Miller, Christopher J. Hottes
  • Publication number: 20170135157
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Miller, John F. Spalding, JR., Diane C. Rawlings, Darrell M. Storvick, Christopher J. Hottes