Patents by Inventor David Arthur Whelan
David Arthur Whelan 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).
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Patent number: 11273930Abstract: A method and apparatus for shaping fuselage sections. A first fuselage section is held in a holding structure in a cradle in a cradle system. Force are applied to the first fuselage section with an actuator system to a portion of the first fuselage section such that a first current shape of the first fuselage section changes towards a first desired shape for the first fuselage section to join the first the fuselage section to a second fuselage section.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jeffrey H. Hunt, Stephen A. Walls, David Arthur Whelan, Bentley Edwin Northon, Robert Roland Keever, Jacklyn Ann Holmes, Ordie Dean Butterfield, Grant Joseph Atkinson, Jonathan Kenji Brown, Glenn Scott Bushnell
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Patent number: 11131982Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing fuselage sections. The apparatus comprises a cradle system, a metrology system, and a controller. The cradle system holds a first fuselage section and applies forces to the first fuselage section to change a current shape of the first fuselage section. The metrology system makes measurements of the current shape of the first fuselage section. The controller receives the measurements from the metrology system, identifies the forces needed to change the current shape of the first fuselage section towards a desired shape for connecting the first fuselage section to a second fuselage section, and sends commands to the cradle system to apply the forces to change the current shape of the first fuselage section towards the desired shape.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jeffrey H. Hunt, Stephen A. Walls, David Arthur Whelan
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Patent number: 9927227Abstract: Methods and an apparatus for processing fuselage sections. Measurements of a first fuselage section are generated using a scanning system. The scanning system includes a first scanner and a second scanner. The first scanner generates measurements of a first portion of the first fuselage section and the second scanner generates measurements of a second portion of the first fuselage section. The first fuselage section is held in a cradle system. The measurements of the first portion of the first fuselage section are combined with the measurements of the second portion of the first fuselage section to generate an ensemble of measurements of the first fuselage section. Using the cradle system, one or more of the first fuselage section or a second fuselage section are shaped based on the ensemble of measurements. Using the cradle system, the first fuselage section is joined with the second fuselage section.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2016Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Jeffrey H. Hunt, Stephen A. Walls, David Arthur Whelan, Jonathan M. Saint Clair
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Publication number: 20170015440Abstract: Methods and an apparatus for processing fuselage sections. Measurements of a first fuselage section are generated using a scanning system. The scanning system includes a first scanner and a second scanner. The first scanner generates measurements of a first portion of the first fuselage section and the second scanner generates measurements of a second portion of the first fuselage section. The first fuselage section is held in a cradle system. The measurements of the first portion of the first fuselage section are combined with the measurements of the second portion of the first fuselage section to generate an ensemble of measurements of the first fuselage section. Using the cradle system, one or more of the first fuselage section or a second fuselage section are shaped based on the ensemble of measurements. Using the cradle system, the first fuselage section is joined with the second fuselage section.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2016Publication date: January 19, 2017Inventors: Jeffrey H. Hunt, Stephen A. Walls, David Arthur Whelan, Jonathan M. Saint Clair
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Patent number: 9453720Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing fuselage sections. A scanning system is positioned between a first fuselage section held in a first cradle and a second fuselage section held in a second cradle. A group of beams of light is transmitted from the scanning system to targets on a first interior surface of the first fuselage section and a second interior surface of the second fuselage section. A reflected light is detected from a beam of light. Measurements of the first fuselage section and the second fuselage section are generated from using the reflected light generated in response to the beam of light. The measurements enable shaping at least one of the first fuselage section and the second fuselage section for joining the first fuselage section to the second fuselage section.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Jeffrey H. Hunt, Stephen A. Walls, David Arthur Whelan, Jonathan M. Saint Clair
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Publication number: 20160076879Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing fuselage sections. A scanning system is positioned between a first fuselage section held in a first cradle and a second fuselage section held in a second cradle. A group of beams of light is transmitted from the scanning system to targets on a first interior surface of the first fuselage section and a second interior surface of the second fuselage section. A reflected light is detected from a beam of light. Measurements of the first fuselage section and the second fuselage section are generated from using the reflected light generated in response to the beam of light. The measurements enable shaping at least one of the first fuselage section and the second fuselage section for joining the first fuselage section to the second fuselage section.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2014Publication date: March 17, 2016Inventors: Jeffrey H. Hunt, Stephen A. Walls, David Arthur Whelan, Jonathan M. Saint Clair
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Publication number: 20160075450Abstract: A method and apparatus for shaping fuselage sections. A first fuselage section is held in a holding structure in a cradle in a cradle system. Force are applied to the first fuselage section with an actuator system to a portion of the first fuselage section such that a first current shape of the first fuselage section changes towards a first desired shape for the first fuselage section to join the first the fuselage section to a second fuselage section.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2014Publication date: March 17, 2016Inventors: Jeffrey H. Hunt, Stephen A. Walls, David Arthur Whelan, Bentley Edwin Northon, Robert Roland Keever, Jacklyn Ann Holmes, Ordie Dean Butterfield, Grant Joseph Atkinson, Jonathan Kenji Brown, Glenn Scott Bushnell
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Publication number: 20160074926Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing fuselage sections. The apparatus comprises a cradle system, a metrology system, and a controller. The cradle system holds a first fuselage section and applies forces to the first fuselage section to change a current shape of the first fuselage section. The metrology system makes measurements of the current shape of the first fuselage section. The controller receives the measurements from the metrology system, identifies the forces needed to change the current shape of the first fuselage section towards a desired shape for connecting the first fuselage section to a second fuselage section, and sends commands to the cradle system to apply the forces to change the current shape of the first fuselage section towards the desired shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2014Publication date: March 17, 2016Inventors: Jeffrey H. Hunt, Stephen A. Walls, David Arthur Whelan
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Patent number: 8593334Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic waves are transmitted in a selected direction toward a target object from a first array of antenna elements. Scattered electromagnetic waves generated from the electromagnetic waves are received at a first portion of a second array of antenna elements configured to receive the scattered electromagnetic waves in a first direction with respect to the selected direction and at a second portion of the second array of antenna elements configured to receive the scattered electromagnetic waves in a second direction with respect to the selected direction. First information in the scattered electromagnetic waves received by the first portion is subtracted from second information in the scattered electromagnetic waves received by the second portion to form difference data. An elevation angle is identified between a direction of the target object and the selected direction using the difference data.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2011Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Daniel Joseph Sego, David Arthur Whelan
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Publication number: 20130027241Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic waves are transmitted in a selected direction toward a target object from a first array of antenna elements. Scattered electromagnetic waves generated from the electromagnetic waves are received at a first portion of a second array of antenna elements configured to receive the scattered electromagnetic waves in a first direction with respect to the selected direction and at a second portion of the second array of antenna elements configured to receive the scattered electromagnetic waves in a second direction with respect to the selected direction. First information in the scattered electromagnetic waves received by the first portion is subtracted from second information in the scattered electromagnetic waves received by the second portion to form difference data. An elevation angle is identified between a direction of the target object and the selected direction using the difference data.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2011Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Daniel Joseph Sego, David Arthur Whelan
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Patent number: 8263939Abstract: An apparatus comprising a mirror array having a plurality of mirrors and a control system. The plurality of mirrors is capable of receiving a signal for an image. The control system is capable of controlling a first portion of the plurality of mirrors in the mirror array to direct a first portion of the signal to a detector. The control system is also capable of controlling a second portion of the plurality of mirrors in the mirror array to direct a second portion of the signal away from the detector.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael Joseph Delaney, Jr., David Arthur Whelan
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Publication number: 20100264316Abstract: An apparatus comprising a mirror array having a plurality of mirrors and a control system. The plurality of mirrors is capable of receiving a signal for an image. The control system is capable of controlling a first portion of the plurality of mirrors in the mirror array to direct a first portion of the signal to a detector. The control system is also capable of controlling a second portion of the plurality of mirrors in the mirror array to direct a second portion of the signal away from the detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2009Publication date: October 21, 2010Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael Joseph Delaney, JR., David Arthur Whelan