Patents by Inventor Clayton M. Little

Clayton M. Little 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).

  • Wrinkle characterization and performance prediction for composite structures
    Patent number: 11255825
    Abstract: Methods that provide wrinkle characterization and performance prediction for wrinkled composite structures using automated structural analysis. In accordance with some embodiments, the method combines the use of B-scan ultrasound data, automated optical measurement of wrinkles and geometry of cross-sections, and finite element analysis of wrinkled composite structure to provide the ability to assess the actual significance of a detected wrinkle relative to the intended performance of the structure. The disclosed method uses an ultrasonic inspection system that has been calibrated by correlating ultrasonic B-scan data acquired from reference standards with measurements of optical cross sections (e.g., micrographs) of those reference standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Jill P. Bingham, Hong Hue Tat, Yuan-Jye Wu, John M. Pryor, Sadie L. Fieni, Mark D. Winters, Kathryn T. Moore, James C. Kennedy, Clayton M. Little, John Z. Lin
  • Wrinkle Characterization and Performance Prediction for Composite Structures
    Publication number: 20180120268
    Abstract: Methods that provide wrinkle characterization and performance prediction for wrinkled composite structures using automated structural analysis. In accordance with some embodiments, the method combines the use of B-scan ultrasound data, automated optical measurement of wrinkles and geometry of cross-sections, and finite element analysis of wrinkled composite structure to provide the ability to assess the actual significance of a detected wrinkle relative to the intended performance of the structure. The disclosed method uses an ultrasonic inspection system that has been calibrated by correlating ultrasonic B-scan data acquired from reference standards with measurements of optical cross sections (e.g., micrographs) of those reference standards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Jill P. Bingham, Hong Hue Tat, Yuan-Jye Wu, John M. Pryor, Sadie L. Fieni, Mark D. Winters, Kathryn T. Moore, James C. Kennedy, Clayton M. Little, John Z. Lin