Patents by Inventor Gregory R. Klempel

Gregory R. Klempel 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 removal apparatus, system, and method for selectively removing trimmed portions of a laminated ply in a ply-by-ply fabrication process
    Patent number: 11919261
    Abstract: There is provided an automated removal apparatus for selectively removing one or more trimmed portions of a laminated ply in a ply-by-ply fabrication process. The automated removal apparatus includes a rotatable reel having a plurality of retractable vacuum panels attached around the rotatable reel. Each retractable vacuum panel has one or more retractable vacuum pad assemblies, and each retractable vacuum pad assembly has a vacuum pad with a vacuum port and a self-sealing valve. The automated removal apparatus further includes actuator assemblies attached to the plurality of retractable vacuum panels, friction reducing elements attached around the rotatable reel, a drive assembly attached to the rotatable reel, and a pneumatic system attached to the rotatable reel and including a valve manifold operable to control an air flow to the actuator assemblies and to one or more vacuum generators to generate a vacuum flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Chace Wilcoxson, Lisa C. Carlson, Gregory R. Klempel, Austin T. McAnelly, Deborah A. Fisher, Scott E. Krajca
  • FABRICATION OF MULTI-SEGMENT SPARS
    Publication number: 20220153400
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabricating multiple segment spars for an aircraft. In one example the method includes fabricating preforms of fiber reinforced material for spar segments, hardening the preforms to form the spar segments, and bonding the spar segments together to form a completed spar detail. In addition to bonding, other examples include co-curing and fastening the spar segments. In additional examples, the spar segments include kinks or sub-kinks as described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Darrell D. Jones, Daniel R. Smith, Carlos Walker, Kurtis Shuldberg Willden, Hiteshkumar M. Patel, Jacob E. Koopmans, Scott Krajca, James P. Dobberfuhl, Marcus C. Hart, Gregory R. Klempel, Steven Kuan-chi Wu, Justin K. Alfred
  • Automated Removal Apparatus, System, and Method for Selectively Removing Trimmed Portions of a Laminated Ply in a Ply-by-Ply Fabrication Process
    Publication number: 20210394466
    Abstract: There is provided an automated removal apparatus for selectively removing one or more trimmed portions of a laminated ply in a ply-by-ply fabrication process. The automated removal apparatus includes a rotatable reel having a plurality of retractable vacuum panels attached around the rotatable reel. Each retractable vacuum panel has one or more retractable vacuum pad assemblies, and each retractable vacuum pad assembly has a vacuum pad with a vacuum port and a self-sealing valve. The automated removal apparatus further includes actuator assemblies attached to the plurality of retractable vacuum panels, friction reducing elements attached around the rotatable reel, a drive assembly attached to the rotatable reel, and a pneumatic system attached to the rotatable reel and including a valve manifold operable to control an air flow to the actuator assemblies and to one or more vacuum generators to generate a vacuum flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Chace Wilcoxson, Lisa C . Carlson, Gregory R. Klempel, Austin T. McAnelly, Deborah A. Fisher, Scott E. Krajca