Patents by Inventor Domenico Furfari

Domenico Furfari 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: 10633116
    Abstract: A method for joining two aircraft structural parts by a bolted or riveted joint and for preventing cracks at said joint includes providing a first metallic aircraft structural part and a second aircraft structural part, wherein the first aircraft structural part includes a first joint region and a second aircraft structural part includes a second joint region. Furthermore, the method includes inducing compressive residual stresses in a first area of the first joint region for preventing cracks by applying parallel crack retarding regions formed as stripes in the first area, drilling fastener holes in the first and second areas of the first. Finally, the method includes a step of fastening together the first and second aircraft structural parts at the first and second joint regions by a bolted or riveted joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Domenico Furfari, Nikolaus Ohrloff
  • Patent number: 10035577
    Abstract: A vehicle structure component reinforced by means of an area, a vehicle including such a vehicle structure component, and a corresponding method to reinforce a vehicle structure component are proposed. The area includes a compressive residual stress in a first direction and a compressive or tensile residual stress in a second direction being vertically aligned to the first direction, wherein the ratio of the compressive stress in the first direction and the compressive or tensile residual stress lies between ?0.2 and +1.0. Hence, the propagation direction of cracks in such areas is diverted, faster pressure equalization takes place, and further crack propagation is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH, EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Domenico Furfari, Elke Hombergsmeier
  • Publication number: 20170225266
    Abstract: A solid overlay for laser shock peening is described herein. The solid overlay includes a transparent or translucent material, wherein the solid overlay is structured and adapted to a shape of a surface of a component to be treated by the laser shock peening. The solid overlay is configured to confine a plasma plume generated by laser light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicants: Airbus Operations GmbH, Coventry University
    Inventors: Domenico Furfari, Michael Fitzpatrick
  • Patent number: 9498842
    Abstract: A method for the friction stir welding of two components, in particular of two shell components of a fuselage structure of an aircraft and spacecraft, said method comprising the following method steps: positioning the two components relative to one another in such a way that a connection region is formed between the two components; friction stir welding the two components by a friction stir welding tool which penetrates the connection region in order to produce a weld which permeates the connection region with the formation of an unpenetrated weld edge portion of the connection region; and introducing internal compressive stresses, at least in the weld edge portion of the connection region. Further a device for the friction stir welding of two components, in particular of two shell components of a fuselage structure of an aircraft and spacecraft is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Domenico Furfari, Marco Pacchione
  • Patent number: 9346121
    Abstract: A method for the friction stir welding of two components, in particular of two shell components of a fuselage structure of an aircraft and spacecraft, said method comprising the following method steps: positioning the two components relative to one another in such a way that a connection region is formed between the two components; friction stir welding the two components by means of a friction stir welding tool which penetrates the connection region in order to produce a weld which permeates the connection region with the formation of an unpenetrated weld edge portion of the connection region; and introducing internal compressive stresses, at least in the weld edge portion of the connection region. Further a device for the friction stir welding of two components, in particular of two shell components of a fuselage structure of an aircraft and spacecraft is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Domenico Furfari, Marco Pacchione
  • Publication number: 20160068278
    Abstract: A method for joining two aircraft structural parts by a bolted or riveted joint and for preventing cracks at said joint includes a step of providing a first metallic aircraft structural part and a second aircraft structural part, wherein the first aircraft structural part includes a first joint region and a second aircraft structural part includes a second joint region. Furthermore, the method includes a step of inducing compressive residual stresses in a first area of the first joint region for preventing cracks. Finally, the method includes a step of fastening together the first and second aircraft structural parts at the first and second joint regions by a bolted or riveted joint. An aircraft including first and second aircraft structural parts is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Domenico Furfari, Nikolaus Ohrloff
  • Publication number: 20150369271
    Abstract: A fastener comprising a shaft having a first end and a second end, the fastener comprising a head at a first end of the shaft, the shaft defining either a radially extending recess between the first and second ends and/or a head with regions having different radii of curvature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Domenico FURFARI, Roman STARIKOV, John STUCKEY, Jianhong LIN
  • Patent number: 9150941
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preventing the forming of cracks and slowing the crack propagation in metallic airplane structural parts by laser shock peening with the following steps: Providing an airplane structural part having a crack; irradiating a first surface area of the airplane structural part close to the crack with a first pulsed laser beam having a first wavelength and a first pulsation frequency, wherein energy of the first laser beam is absorbed by the airplane structural part and a shock wave runs through the airplane structural part, which creates compressive prestressings in the airplane structural part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Steinwandel, Domenico Furfari, Nikolaus Ohrloff, Claudio Dalle Donne
  • Publication number: 20150209892
    Abstract: A method for the friction stir welding of two components, in particular of two shell components of a fuselage structure of an aircraft and spacecraft, said method comprising the following method steps: positioning the two components relative to one another in such a way that a connection region is formed between the two components; friction stir welding the two components by a friction stir welding tool which penetrates the connection region in order to produce a weld which permeates the connection region with the formation of an unpenetrated weld edge portion of the connection region; and introducing internal compressive stresses, at least in the weld edge portion of the connection region. Further a device for the friction stir welding of two components, in particular of two shell components of a fuselage structure of an aircraft and spacecraft is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Domenico FURFARI, Marco PACCHIONE
  • Publication number: 20150209894
    Abstract: A method for the friction stir welding of two components, in particular of two shell components of a fuselage structure of an aircraft and spacecraft, said method comprising the following method steps: positioning the two components relative to one another in such a way that a connection region is formed between the two components; friction stir welding the two components by means of a friction stir welding tool which penetrates the connection region in order to produce a weld which permeates the connection region with the formation of an unpenetrated weld edge portion of the connection region; and introducing internal compressive stresses, at least in the weld edge portion of the connection region. Further a device for the friction stir welding of two components, in particular of two shell components of a fuselage structure of an aircraft and spacecraft is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Domenico FURFARI, Marco PACCHIONE
  • Patent number: 8998065
    Abstract: A method for the friction stir welding of two components, in particular of two shell components of a fuselage structure of an aircraft and spacecraft, said method comprising the following method steps: positioning the two components relative to one another in such a way that a connection region is formed between the two components; friction stir welding the two components by means of a friction stir welding tool which penetrates the connection region in order to produce a weld which permeates the connection region with the formation of an unpenetrated weld edge portion of the connection region; and introducing internal compressive stresses, at least in the weld edge portion of the connection region. Further a device for the friction stir welding of two components, in particular of two shell components of a fuselage structure of an aircraft and spacecraft is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Domenico Furfari, Marco Pacchione
  • Publication number: 20150090771
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a module for an airframe or fuselage structure of an aircraft or spacecraft includes positioning a first member adjacent to a second member at an assembly station; welding the first member to the second member at the assembly station to produce a module having a welded joint between the first and second members; and peening at least one of the first member, the second member, and the welded joint at the assembly station to compensate for or to correct distortion caused by the welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Domenico Furfari, Marco Pacchione, Valentin Richter-Trummer
  • Publication number: 20140134043
    Abstract: A vehicle structure component reinforced by means of an area, a vehicle including such a vehicle structure component, and a corresponding method to reinforce a vehicle structure component are proposed. The area includes a compressive residual stress in a first direction and a compressive or tensile residual stress in a second direction being vertically aligned to the first direction, wherein the ratio of the compressive stress in the first direction and the compressive or tensile residual stress lies between ?0.2 and +1.0. Hence, the propagation direction of cracks in such areas is diverted, faster pressure equalization takes place, and further crack propagation is inhibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicants: EADS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Domenico Furfari, Elke Hombergsmeier
  • Publication number: 20130149501
    Abstract: In the case of a method for connecting a fibre composite component to a structural component of an aircraft and spacecraft, a metal foil is provided as a transverse reinforcement element between the fibre composite component and the structural component. It is formed with at least one anchoring portion which protrudes from the surface facing the fibre composite component and is inserted between the fibre composite component and the structural component. A corresponding arrangement is produced in accordance with this method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Marco PACCHIONE, Domenico FURFARI
  • Publication number: 20110290770
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preventing the forming of cracks and slowing the crack propagation in metallic airplane structural parts by laser shock peening with the following steps: Providing an airplane structural part having a crack; irradiating a first surface area of the airplane structural part close to the crack with a first pulsed laser beam having a first wavelength and a first pulsation frequency, wherein energy of the first laser beam is absorbed by the airplane structural part and a shock wave runs through the airplane structural part, which creates compressive prestressings in the airplane structural part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Juergen Steinwandel, Domenico Furfari, Nikolaus Ohrloff, Claudio Dalle Donne
  • Publication number: 20110248070
    Abstract: A method for the friction stir welding of two components, in particular of two shell components of a fuselage structure of an aircraft and spacecraft, said method comprising the following method steps: positioning the two components relative to one another in such a way that a connection region is formed between the two components; friction stir welding the two components by means of a friction stir welding tool which penetrates the connection region in order to produce a weld which permeates the connection region with the formation of an unpenetrated weld edge portion of the connection region; and introducing internal compressive stresses, at least in the weld edge portion of the connection region. Further a device for the friction stir welding of two components, in particular of two shell components of a fuselage structure of an aircraft and spacecraft is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Domenico Furfari, Marco Pacchione