Patents by Inventor Donald Leroy Erion

Donald Leroy Erion 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: 10520921
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an aircraft part for an assembly includes creating a 3D geometry model for an aircraft part having surface features and holes represented by the 3D geometry model and sized to nominal dimensions. The method includes generating a NC machining program directly from the 3D geometry model, with instructions for a single NC machining apparatus to machine the aircraft part, and including instructions to machine the holes to nominal. And the method includes machining the aircraft part utilizing the NC machining program. For this, the NC machining apparatus utilizes a hole-forming tool set at substantially the nominal, instead of at a high or low side of a related hole-diameter tolerance range to allow for tight geometric dimensioning and tolerancing requirements, whereby the holes are machined to substantially the nominal. This method enables the full process capability of the CNC machines while utilizing inspection tolerances that are measurable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Donald Leroy Erion, David Ray Turner
  • Publication number: 20180107194
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an aircraft part for an assembly includes creating a 3D geometry model for an aircraft part having surface features and holes represented by the 3D geometry model and sized to nominal dimensions. The method includes generating a NC machining program directly from the 3D geometry model, with instructions for a single NC machining apparatus to machine the aircraft part, and including instructions to machine the holes to nominal. And the method includes machining the aircraft part utilizing the NC machining program. For this, the NC machining apparatus utilizes a hole-forming tool set at substantially the nominal, instead of at a high or low side of a related hole-diameter tolerance range to allow for tight geometric dimensioning and tolerancing requirements, whereby the holes are machined to substantially the nominal. This method enables the full process capability of the CNC machines while utilizing inspection tolerances that are measureable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Donald Leroy Erion, David Ray Turner
  • Patent number: 9857789
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an aircraft part for an assembly includes creating a 3D geometry model for an aircraft part having surface features and holes represented by the 3D geometry model and sized to nominal dimensions. The method includes generating a NC machining program directly from the 3D geometry model, with instructions for a single NC machining apparatus to machine the aircraft part, and including instructions to machine the holes to nominal. And the method includes machining the aircraft part utilizing the NC machining program. For this, the NC machining apparatus utilizes a hole-forming tool set at substantially the nominal, instead of at a high or low side of a related hole-diameter tolerance range to allow for tight geometric dimensioning and tolerancing requirements, whereby the holes are machined to substantially the nominal. This method enables the full process capability of the CNC machines while utilizing inspection tolerances that are measureable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Donald Leroy Erion, David Ray Turner
  • Publication number: 20160327937
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an aircraft part for an assembly includes creating a 3D geometry model for an aircraft part having surface features and holes represented by the 3D geometry model and sized to nominal dimensions. The method includes generating a NC machining program directly from the 3D geometry model, with instructions for a single NC machining apparatus to machine the aircraft part, and including instructions to machine the holes to nominal. And the method includes machining the aircraft part utilizing the NC machining program. For this, the NC machining apparatus utilizes a hole-forming tool set at substantially the nominal, instead of at a high or low side of a related hole-diameter tolerance range to allow for tight geometric dimensioning and tolerancing requirements, whereby the holes are machined to substantially the nominal. This method enables the full process capability of the CNC machines while utilizing inspection tolerances that are measureable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Donald Leroy Erion, David Ray Turner