Patents by Inventor Daniel T. Long

Daniel T. Long 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).

  • Systems and methods for assembling aircraft wing skins
    Patent number: 9879704
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a first end effector configured to press a selected area of an aircraft wing skin panel against a corresponding area of an underlying wing support structure with a downward force, drill a hole within the selected area, the hole extending through the skin panel and the support structure, and insert an elongated shaft of a fastener into the hole. The system includes a mechanism configured to locate the first end effector relative to the selected area. The system can further include a second end effector configured to press the corresponding area of the support structure against the selected area of the skin panel with an upward force that is opposite in direction to the downward force, and a mechanism configured to locate the second end effector relative to the corresponding area of the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bruce J. Hanninen, Daniel T. Long
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSEMBLING AIRCRAFT WING SKINS
    Publication number: 20160296994
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a first end effector configured to press a selected area of an aircraft wing skin panel against a corresponding area of an underlying wing support structure with a downward force, drill a hole within the selected area, the hole extending through the skin panel and the support structure, and insert an elongated shaft of a fastener into the hole. The system includes a mechanism configured to locate the first end effector relative to the selected area. The system can further include a second end effector configured to press the corresponding area of the support structure against the selected area of the skin panel with an upward force that is opposite in direction to the downward force, and a mechanism configured to locate the second end effector relative to the corresponding area of the support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Bruce J. Hanninen, Daniel T. Long