Patents by Inventor Dennis James Hanks

Dennis James Hanks 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).

  • Support tools for forming laminates
    Patent number: 10744725
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for utilizing support tools for forming laminates. One embodiment is a system that includes a pair of dies that hold a multi-layer laminate over a gap, a male die that presses the laminate into the gap causing the laminate to change shape, and a support tool inserted into the gap beneath the laminate. The support tool includes a base that extends in a lengthwise direction, struts fixedly attached to the base that project upward from the base and are distributed along the lengthwise direction, and a cap that is slidably attached to the struts, and that covers the struts to form an upper surface of the support tool. Each of the struts rises from the base to the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Dennis James Hanks
  • SUPPORT TOOLS FOR FORMING LAMINATES
    Publication number: 20170348919
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for utilizing support tools for forming laminates. One embodiment is a system that includes a pair of dies that hold a multi-layer laminate over a gap, a male die that presses the laminate into the gap causing the laminate to change shape, and a support tool inserted into the gap beneath the laminate. The support tool includes a base that extends in a lengthwise direction, struts fixedly attached to the base that project upward from the base and are distributed along the lengthwise direction, and a cap that is slidably attached to the struts, and that covers the struts to form an upper surface of the support tool. Each of the struts rises from the base to the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventor: Dennis James Hanks
  • Concurrent infusion of dissimilar resins
    Patent number: 9738011
    Abstract: A fiber preform is infused with two differing resin systems concurrently using stacked resin delivery assemblies located along one edge of the preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Dennis James Hanks, Hugh A. Yap
  • Method and apparatus for reworking structures
    Patent number: 9579873
    Abstract: An area of a structure is reworked from one side of the structure using resin infusion of a dry fiber patch. Entrapped air and excess resin is removed from the patch during the infusion process by inserting a vacuum device into the patch, and forcing the area resin through the vacuum device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Dennis James Hanks, Jack A. Woods
  • Concurrent Infusion of Dissimilar Resins
    Publication number: 20150336294
    Abstract: A fiber preform is infused with two differing resin systems concurrently using stacked resin delivery assemblies located along one edge of the preform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Dennis James Hanks, Hugh A. Yap
  • Method and apparatus for reworking structures using resin infusion of fiber preforms
    Patent number: 8945321
    Abstract: An area of a structure is reworked using resin infusion of a fiber preform. A resin flow hole is formed through the structure from a first side of the structure to a second side of the structure. The fiber preform is placed on the first side of the structure and substantially saturated with resin by flowing resin into the preform and out through the resin flow hole to the second side of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Dennis James Hanks, Jack Allen Woods, Gregory Robert Gleason
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REWORKING STRUCTURES USING RESIN INFUSION OF FIBER PREFORMS
    Publication number: 20120305169
    Abstract: An area of a structure is reworked using resin infusion of a fiber preform. A resin flow hole is formed through the structure from a first side of the structure to a second side of the structure. The fiber preform is placed on the first side of the structure and substantially saturated with resin by flowing resin into the preform and out through the resin flow hole to the second side of the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Dennis James Hanks, Jack Allen Woods, Gregory Robert Gleason