Patents by Inventor Donald William Ruhmann

Donald William Ruhmann 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).

  • Shape memory alloy spacer system
    Patent number: 10934021
    Abstract: A method for aligning and joining a first structure to a second structure in an aircraft is provided. A spacer system having a shape memory alloy is positioned in a gap between the first structure and the second structure. The shape memory alloy is initially in a cooled state. A temperature of the shape memory alloy is increased such that the shape memory alloy changes from the cooled shape to a heated shape to fill the gap and apply a load to hold the first structure in place relative to the second structure. Additional processes may then be performed to join the first structure to the second structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James Henry Mabe, Frederick Theodore Calkins, Stephen K. Kirchmeier, Edward Andrew Whalen, Donald William Ruhmann
  • Shape Memory Alloy Spacer System
    Publication number: 20200130865
    Abstract: A method for aligning and joining a first structure to a second structure in an aircraft is provided. A spacer system having a shape memory alloy is positioned in a gap between the first structure and the second structure. The shape memory alloy is initially in a cooled state. A temperature of the shape memory alloy is increased such that the shape memory alloy changes from the cooled shape to a heated shape to fill the gap and apply a load to hold the first structure in place relative to the second structure. Additional processes may then be performed to join the first structure to the second structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: James Henry Mabe, Frederick Theodore Calkins, Stephen K. Kirchmeier, Edward Andrew Whalen, Donald William Ruhmann