Patents by Inventor Franklin Bernard French

Franklin Bernard French 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).

  • Automated apparatus for use in selectively installing temporary fasteners in an assembly
    Patent number: 9687946
    Abstract: An automated apparatus for use in selectively installing temporary fasteners in an assembly is provided. The apparatus includes an end effector, a cutting mechanism coupled to the end effector and that forms an opening in the assembly when a potential opening location is substantially aligned with a cutting mechanism center point. The apparatus also includes at least one of a first sub-assembly and a second sub-assembly coupled to the end effector. The first sub-assembly includes a temporary fastener insertion mechanism that inserts a temporary fastener through the opening in the assembly when the opening is substantially aligned with an insertion mechanism center point different from the cutting mechanism center point. The second sub-assembly includes a temporary fastener removal mechanism that removes installed temporary fasteners from the assembly when the installed temporary fastener is substantially aligned with a removal mechanism center point different from the cutting mechanism center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: David William Cole, Franklin Bernard French, Daniel Thomas Long
  • AUTOMATED APPARATUS FOR USE IN SELECTIVELY INSTALLING TEMPORARY FASTENERS IN AN ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20150298825
    Abstract: An automated apparatus for use in selectively installing temporary fasteners in an assembly is provided. The apparatus includes an end effector, a cutting mechanism coupled to the end effector and that forms an opening in the assembly when a potential opening location is substantially aligned with a cutting mechanism center point. The apparatus also includes at least one of a first sub-assembly and a second sub-assembly coupled to the end effector. The first sub-assembly includes a temporary fastener insertion mechanism that inserts a temporary fastener through the opening in the assembly when the opening is substantially aligned with an insertion mechanism center point different from the cutting mechanism center point. The second sub-assembly includes a temporary fastener removal mechanism that removes installed temporary fasteners from the assembly when the installed temporary fastener is substantially aligned with a removal mechanism center point different from the cutting mechanism center point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: David William Cole, Franklin Bernard French, Daniel Thomas Long