Patents by Inventor Herbert L. Hoffman
Herbert L. Hoffman 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).
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Patent number: 9045216Abstract: Vibration-damping blankets are attached to the back surfaces of fairing panels of a flight vehicle (e.g., an aircraft or spacecraft) to reduce vibration, fatigue, structure and airborne transmitted energy, and cabin noise. In one case, the flight vehicle fairing has an exterior comprising exterior surfaces of a multiplicity of removable panels. A method of retrofitting the flight vehicle with vibration-damping blankets comprises: removing a panel from the flight vehicle exterior; attaching a vibration-damping blanket to a back surface of the removed panel; and installing the panel with attached vibration-damping blanket on the flight vehicle with the exterior surface of the panel forming part of the flight vehicle exterior. In one embodiment, the vibration-damping blanket comprises polymeric (e.g., aromatic polyamide) fibers in a nonwoven structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2011Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Justin Christenson, Herbert L. Hoffman, Juhn-Shyue Lin, Gary R. Chewning, Alan Edgar Landmann, Adrian Viisoreanu, Hugh Poling, Balamurugan R. Annamalai, Justin D. Kearns, Jason Alexander Gordon
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Patent number: 9016628Abstract: Assemblies, methods, and an apparatus for damping vibrational energy induced to a reinforced skin structure are disclosed. The reinforced skin structure includes an outer wall and at least one stringer coupled to the outer wall. The method includes providing a damping apparatus that includes a stiffening member configured to adjust at least one of a bending mode and a torsional twisting mode of the stringer and an energy dissipation member configured to dissipate vibrational energy of the stringer. The stiffening member includes at least two elongated members that are spaced a distance apart and at least one truss member that extends obliquely between the at least two elongated members. The damping apparatus is attached to the at least one stringer. The damping apparatus may be configured to dampen vibration in the range of between about 200-600 Hz.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Justin Christenson, Herbert L. Hoffman, Gary R. Chewning, Juhn-Shyue Lin
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Publication number: 20140361120Abstract: Vibration-damping blankets are attached to the back surfaces of fairing panels of a flight vehicle (e.g., an aircraft or spacecraft) to reduce vibration, fatigue, structure and airborne transmitted energy, and cabin noise. In one case, the flight vehicle fairing has an exterior comprising exterior surfaces of a multiplicity of removable panels. A method of retrofitting the flight vehicle with vibration-damping blankets comprises: removing a panel from the flight vehicle exterior; attaching a vibration-damping blanket to a back surface of the removed panel; and installing the panel with attached vibration-damping blanket on the flight vehicle with the exterior surface of the panel forming part of the flight vehicle exterior. In one embodiment, the vibration-damping blanket comprises polymeric (e.g., aromatic polyamide) fibers in a nonwoven structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2011Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Justin Christenson, Herbert L. Hoffman, Juhn-Shyue Lin, Gary R. Chewning, Alan Edgar Landmann, Adrian Viisoreanu, Hugh Poling, Balamurugan R. Annamalai, Justin D. Kearns, Jason Alexander Gordon
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Patent number: 8752783Abstract: A fairing includes a fairing body having a fairing interior and an interior surface and a spray-on insulation foam layer provided on the interior surface of the fairing body.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2013Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: John-Shyue Lin, Herbert L Hoffman, Hugh Poling
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Publication number: 20130327588Abstract: Assemblies, methods, and an apparatus for damping vibrational energy induced to a reinforced skin structure are disclosed. The reinforced skin structure includes an outer wall and at least one stringer coupled to the outer wall. The method includes providing a damping apparatus that includes a stiffening member configured to adjust at least one of a bending mode and a torsional twisting mode of the stringer and an energy dissipation member configured to dissipate vibrational energy of the stringer. The stiffening member includes at least two elongated members that are spaced a distance apart and at least one truss member that extends obliquely between the at least two elongated members. The damping apparatus is attached to the at least one stringer. The damping apparatus may be configured to dampen vibration in the range of between about 200-600 Hz.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2012Publication date: December 12, 2013Inventors: Justin Christenson, Herbert L. Hoffman, Gary R. Chewning, Juhn-Shyue Lin
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Patent number: 8360355Abstract: A fairing includes a fairing body having a fairing interior and an interior surface and a spray-on insulation foam layer provided on the interior surface of the fairing body.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2010Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Juhn-Shyue Lin, Herbert L. Hoffman, Hugh W. Poling
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Publication number: 20120325966Abstract: Vibration-damping blankets are attached to the back surfaces of fairing panels of a flight vehicle (e.g., an aircraft or spacecraft) to reduce vibration, fatigue, structure and airborne transmitted energy, and cabin noise. In one case, the flight vehicle fairing has an exterior comprising exterior surfaces of a multiplicity of removable panels. A method of retrofitting the flight vehicle with vibration-damping blankets comprises: removing a panel from the flight vehicle exterior; attaching a vibration-damping blanket to a back surface of the removed panel; and installing the panel with attached vibration-damping blanket on the flight vehicle with the exterior surface of the panel forming part of the flight vehicle exterior. In one embodiment, the vibration-damping blanket comprises polymeric (e.g., aromatic polyamide) fibers in a nonwoven structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2011Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Justin Christenson, Herbert L. Hoffman, Juhn-Shyue Lin, Gary R. Chewning, Alan Edgar Landmann, Adrian Viisoreanu, Hugh Poling, Balamurugan R. Annamalai, Justin D. Kearns, Jason Alexander Gordon
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Patent number: 8292214Abstract: A wing-to-body fairing for aircraft is formed from a sandwich structure having integrated vibration damping.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2009Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Juhn-Shyue Lin, Herbert L. Hoffman, Gary R. Chewning, Melvin Kosanchick, III, Hugh Poling
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Publication number: 20120032024Abstract: A fairing includes a fairing body having a fairing interior and an interior surface and a spray-on insulation foam layer provided on the interior surface of the fairing body.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2010Publication date: February 9, 2012Inventors: Juhn-Shyue Lin, Herbert L. Hoffman, Hugh W. Poling
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Patent number: 8056850Abstract: A wing-to-body fairing for reducing noise due to wing-to-body fairing vibrations in an aircraft, spacecraft, or vehicle may include a honeycomb center having a cavity which is at least partially filled with particle material.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2008Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Juhn-Shyue Lin, Herbert L. Hoffman, Gary R. Chewning, Melvin Kosanchick, III, Hugh Poling
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Publication number: 20090184200Abstract: A wing-to-body fairing for aircraft is formed from a sandwich structure having integrated vibration damping.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2009Publication date: July 23, 2009Inventors: Juhn-Shyue Lin, Herbert L. Hoffman, Gary R. Chewning, Melvin Kosanchick, III, Hugh Poling
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Publication number: 20090184206Abstract: A wing-to-body fairing for reducing noise due to wing-to-body fairing vibrations in an aircraft, spacecraft, or vehicle may include a honeycomb center having a cavity which is at least partially filled with particle material.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2008Publication date: July 23, 2009Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: JUHN-SHYUE LIN, HERBERT L. HOFFMAN, GARY R. CHEWNING, MELVIN KOSANCHICK, III, HUGH POLING
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Publication number: 20090078820Abstract: In one embodiment, a wing-to-body fairing for reducing noise due to wing-to-body fairing vibrations in at least one of an aircraft and a spacecraft comprises a honeycomb center comprising a cavity which is substantially filled with foam material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2007Publication date: March 26, 2009Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: JUHN-SHYUE LIN, HERBERT L. HOFFMAN, GARY R. CHEWNING, MELVIN KOSANCHICK, HUGH POLING
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Patent number: 7198062Abstract: A valve is provided for controlling a flow of a fluid between a first environment and a second environment. The valve includes a frame adapted to fit within a perimeter of an aperture in a divider separating the first environment from the second environment. The valve additionally includes a first gate movable within the frame to control a flow of the fluid through the aperture between the first environment and the second environment. The first gate includes a substantially aerodynamically clean surface substantially free from protrusions disrupting the flow of the fluid over the first gate surface. Additionally, the first gate includes a trailing edge having a baffle adapted to cover an aft edge of the frame when the first gate is positioned to have a small opening angle. The baffle includes a plurality of 3-D notches in a front side of the baffle.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2004Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Herbert L. Hoffman, Pat D. Parkin, Frederick R. Helms, Wen-Hwang Lin, Roy Hai-Tien Loh, Yeu-Chuan Hsia, Naval K. Agarwal, F. Wayne Hollatz, Robert J. Devitis, Richard A. Black, Wendell R. Miller, Martin Steinert, Frank Arnold, Ulf Michel, Wolfgang Neise
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Publication number: 20040238046Abstract: A valve is provided for controlling a flow of a fluid between a first environment and a second environment. The valve includes a frame adapted to fit within a perimeter of an aperture in a divider separating the first environment from the second environment. The valve additionally includes a first gate movable within the frame to control a flow of the fluid through the aperture between the first environment and the second environment. The first gate includes a substantially aerodynamically clean surface substantially free from protrusions disrupting the flow of the fluid over the first gate surface. Additionally, the first gate includes a trailing edge having a baffle adapted to cover an aft edge of the frame when the first gate is positioned to have a small opening angle. The baffle includes a plurality of 3-D notches in a front side of the baffle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: Herbert L. Hoffman, Pat D. Parkin, Frederick R. Helms, Wen-Hwang Lin, Roy Hai-Tien Loh, Yeu-Chuan Hsia, Naval K. Agarwal, F. Wayne Hollatz, Robert J. Devitis, Richard A. Black, Wendell R. Miller, Martin Steinert, Frank Arnold, Ulf Michel, Wolfgang Neise
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Publication number: 20040149340Abstract: A valve for controlling a flow of a fluid between a first environment to a second environment. The valve includes a frame adapted to fit within a perimeter of an aperture in a divider separating the first environment from the second environment. The valve additionally includes a first gate movable within the frame to control a flow of the fluid through the aperture between the first environment and the second environment. The first gate has a substantially aerodynamically clean surface that is substantially free from protrusions that may disrupt the flow of the fluid over the first gate surface. The aerodynamically clean surface reduces coherent vortex shedding of the fluid as the fluid flows across the surface of the first gate. To further reduce vortex shedding, the first gate includes a rounded leading edge. Additionally, the first gate includes a trailing edge adapted to reduce edge tones.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2003Publication date: August 5, 2004Inventors: Martin Steinert, Frank Arnold, Ulf Michel, Wolfgang Neise, Herbert L. Hoffman, Pat D. Parkin, Frederick R. Helms, Wen-Hwang Lin, Roy Hai-Tien Loh, Yeu-Chuan Hsia, Naval K. Agarwal, F. Wayne Hollatz, Robert J. Devitis, Richard A. Black, Wendell R. Miller
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Patent number: 6682413Abstract: A valve for controlling a flow of a fluid between a first environment to a second environment is provided. The valve includes a frame that fits within an aperture in a divider separating the first environment from the second environment. Additionally, the valve includes at least one gate mounted and movable within the frame to control a flow of the fluid between the first environment and the second environment through the aperture. The gate includes a surface, wherein at least one portion of the surface includes a rough texture. The rough texture reduces coherent vortex shedding of the fluid as the fluid passes over the gate surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2002Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Herbert L. Hoffman, Pat Parkin, Frederick R. Helms, Wen-Hwang Lin, Roy Hai-Tien Loh, Yeu-Chuan Hsia, Naval Agarwal, F. Wayne Hollatz, Robert J. Devitis, Richard A. Black, Wendell R. Miller