Patents by Inventor Eric G. Gruner

Eric G. Gruner 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).

  • Stop pads for aircraft folding wing tips
    Patent number: 11077931
    Abstract: Stop pads for aircraft folding wing tips are described herein. An example aircraft wing includes a fixed wing portion and a wing tip moveably coupled to the fixed wing portion about a hinge axis. The wing tip is moveable between an extended position and a folded position. The aircraft wing also includes a first stop pad coupled to the fixed wing portion, the first stop pad having a first contact surface, and a second stop pad coupled to the wing tip, the second stop pad having a second contact surface. The first and second contact surfaces are to engage each other when the wing tip is in the extended position. A contact plane between the first and second contact surfaces is coplanar with the hinge axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Eric S. Kamila, Eric G. Gruner
  • Hinge pins for foldable aircraft wings
    Patent number: 10793251
    Abstract: Hinge pins for foldable aircraft wings are described. An example apparatus includes a hinge pin to rotatably couple a foldable tip of an aircraft wing to a fixed structure of the aircraft wing. The hinge pin includes a first flange, a second flange spaced apart from the first flange along a central axis of the hinge pin, and a through hole oriented along the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric S. Kamila, Warren H. Steyaert, David D. Boes, Daniel E. McGinty, Ryan A. Fear, Renato Felicio, Eric G. Gruner, Matthew S. Elenbaas, Ian C. Burford, Eric D. Blohm
  • Repairing a contoured composite panel
    Patent number: 10744747
    Abstract: A method for repairing damage caused to a curved composite-material panel may include removal of a sector including through-thickness damage, installation of a patch performed from an exterior side of the panel, buildup of the void caused by removal of the sector, and installation of one or more composite repair plies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Eric G. Gruner
  • STOP PADS FOR AIRCRAFT FOLDING WING TIPS
    Publication number: 20200039630
    Abstract: Stop pads for aircraft folding wing tips are described herein. An example aircraft wing includes a fixed wing portion and a wing tip moveably coupled to the fixed wing portion about a hinge axis. The wing tip is moveable between an extended position and a folded position. The aircraft wing also includes a first stop pad coupled to the fixed wing portion, the first stop pad having a first contact surface, and a second stop pad coupled to the wing tip, the second stop pad having a second contact surface. The first and second contact surfaces are to engage each other when the wing tip is in the extended position. A contact plane between the first and second contact surfaces is coplanar with the hinge axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Eric S. Kamila, Eric G. Gruner
  • HINGE PINS FOR FOLDABLE AIRCRAFT WINGS
    Publication number: 20190291847
    Abstract: Hinge pins for foldable aircraft wings are described. An example apparatus includes a hinge pin to rotatably couple a foldable tip of an aircraft wing to a fixed structure of the aircraft wing. The hinge pin includes a first flange, a second flange spaced apart from the first flange along a central axis of the hinge pin, and a through hole oriented along the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Eric S. Kamila, Warren H. Steyaert, David D. Boes, Daniel E. McGinty, Ryan A. Fear, Renato Felicio, Eric G. Gruner, Matthew S. Elenbaas, Ian C. Burford, Eric D. Blohm
  • REPAIRING A CONTOURED COMPOSITE PANEL
    Publication number: 20170029088
    Abstract: A method for repairing damage caused to a curved composite-material panel may include removal of a sector including through-thickness damage, installation of a patch performed from an exterior side of the panel, buildup of the void caused by removal of the sector, and installation of one or more composite repair plies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Eric G. Gruner