Patents by Inventor Jack A. Woods

Jack A. Woods 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).

  • Publication number: 20240095692
    Abstract: A method is provided by which payments for assets are recorded using blockchain transactions, and verified based on immutable logs associated with the transactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Ricky Charles RAND, Andrew James MEE, Jack Owen DAVIES, Paul CLARK, Alex WOODS
  • Patent number: 9770872
    Abstract: Fiber reinforced composite structures having curved stepped surfaces are fabricated by laying up plies of fiber reinforced material over a tool having a stepped tool feature. The plies are rotated about a fixed axis as they are laid up to substantially form a fixed axis rosette pattern. The plies are angularly oriented such that at least certain of the plies have fiber orientations other than 0, +45, ?45 and 90 degrees. Potential bridging of the fibers over the stepped tool features is reduced or eliminated by cutting slits in the plies in the area of the stepped features, so that the plies can be fully compacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew E. Modin, Jack A. Woods, Robert D. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 9579873
    Abstract: An area of a structure is reworked from one side of the structure using resin infusion of a dry fiber patch. Entrapped air and excess resin is removed from the patch during the infusion process by inserting a vacuum device into the patch, and forcing the area resin through the vacuum device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Dennis James Hanks, Jack A. Woods
  • Patent number: 9409354
    Abstract: A method comprises laying up a fiber ply of reinforcing fibers and a metal foil layer in a full face-to-face relation. The fibers in the fiber ply are oriented in a single direction. The metal foil layer includes a plurality of metal foil strips separated by gaps. The metal foil layer has substantially the same length and width as the fiber ply. The method further comprises infusing resin into the layup, wherein the resin flows through the gaps and infuses into the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert G. Albers, Jack A. Woods
  • Publication number: 20150231834
    Abstract: Fiber reinforced composite structures having curved stepped surfaces are fabricated by laying up plies of fiber reinforced material over a tool having a stepped tool feature. The plies are rotated about a fixed axis as they are laid up to substantially form a fixed axis rosette pattern. The plies are angularly oriented such that at least certain of the plies have fiber orientations other than 0, +45, ?45 and 90 degrees. Potential bridging of the fibers over the stepped tool features is reduced or eliminated by cutting slits in the plies in the area of the stepped features, so that the plies can be fully compacted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew E. Modin, Jack A. Woods, Robert D. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 9056448
    Abstract: Fiber reinforced composite structures having curved stepped surfaces are fabricated by laying up plies of fiber reinforced material over a tool having a stepped tool feature. The plies are rotated about a fixed axis as they are laid up to substantially form a fixed axis rosette pattern. The plies are angularly oriented such that at least certain of the plies have fiber orientations other than 0, +45, ?45 and 90 degrees. Potential bridging of the fibers over the stepped tool features is reduced or eliminated by cutting slits in the plies in the area of the stepped features, so that the plies can be fully compacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew E. Modin, Jack A. Woods, Robert D. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 8974212
    Abstract: Methods and systems for manufacturing fiber-reinforced resin parts are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin part includes positioning a plurality of fibers on a mold surface of a female tool, and covering the fibers with a sealing layer. The method further includes pressing a portion of the covered fibers against an interior transition region (e.g., an internal radius) of the mold surface. While the portion of covered fibers is pressed against the interior transition region, air is removed from between the sealing layer and the mold surface to draw at least a partial vacuum between the sealing layer and the mold surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Cundiff, Dennis J. Hanks, Jack A. Woods, Val G. Brustad, Andrew E. Modin
  • Publication number: 20140141215
    Abstract: A method comprises laying up a fiber ply of reinforcing fibers and a metal foil layer in a full face-to-face relation. The fibers in the fiber ply are oriented in a single direction. The metal foil layer includes a plurality of metal foil strips separated by gaps. The metal foil layer has substantially the same length and width as the fiber ply. The method further comprises infusing resin into the layup, wherein the resin flows through the gaps and infuses into the fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert G. Albers, Jack A. Woods
  • Patent number: 8636936
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a laminated composite body including a metal foil and a plurality of fiber plies. The method includes perforating a sheet of metal foil, stacking the perforated metal foil sheet and the plurality of fiber plies in face to face relation in a predetermined order and orientation, and infusing resin into the stacked sheet and plies so that resin flows through the perforations in the metal foil sheet and intersperses between the plurality of fiber plies to form the laminated composite body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andrew E. Modin, Robert D. Hawkins, Robert G. Albers, Jack A. Woods
  • Publication number: 20130236685
    Abstract: Fiber reinforced composite structures having curved stepped surfaces are fabricated by laying up plies of fiber reinforced material over a tool having a stepped tool feature. The plies are rotated about a fixed axis as they are laid up to substantially form a fixed axis rosette pattern. The plies are angularly oriented such that at least certain of the plies have fiber orientations other than 0, +45, ?45 and 90 degrees. Potential bridging of the fibers over the stepped tool features is reduced or eliminated by cutting slits in the plies in the area of the stepped features, so that the plies can be fully compacted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andrew E. Modin, Jack A. Woods, Robert D. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 8449709
    Abstract: Fiber reinforced composite structures having curved stepped surfaces are fabricated by laying up plies of fiber reinforced material over a tool having a stepped tool feature. The plies are rotated about a fixed axis as they are laid up to substantially form a fixed axis rosette pattern. The plies are angularly oriented such that at least certain of the plies have fiber orientations other than 0, +45, ?45 and 90 degrees. Potential bridging of the fibers over the stepped tool features is reduced or eliminated by cutting slits in the plies in the area of the stepped features, so that the plies can be fully compacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andrew E. Modin, Jack A. Woods, Robert D. Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20130000810
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a decal applicator machine includes a main frame, a decal frame supported by the main frame, the decal frame being adapted to securely hold a decal during application of the decal to a substrate, a deformable element adapted to support the decal during its application to the substrate, a substrate support element to which the substrate mounts, and drive means for driving the substrate into the decal and into the deformable member to firmly apply the decal to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Cool Works Cup, LLC.
    Inventors: James Preston David, Jim Davis, Austin Jack Woods
  • Publication number: 20100074979
    Abstract: Methods and systems for manufacturing fiber-reinforced resin parts are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin part includes positioning a plurality of fibers on a mold surface of a female tool, and covering the fibers with a sealing layer. The method further includes pressing a portion of the covered fibers against an interior transition region (e.g., an internal radius) of the mold surface. While the portion of covered fibers is pressed against the interior transition region, air is removed from between the sealing layer and the mold surface to draw at least a partial vacuum between the sealing layer and the mold surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Cundiff, Dennis J. Hanks, Jack A. Woods, Val G. Brustad, Andrew E. Modin
  • Publication number: 20100040722
    Abstract: A composite item is fabricated in system that includes a layer of preform, supply of resin, mandrel, and bagging film. The layer of preform corresponds to the composite item. The supply of resin is sufficient to infuse the preform. The mandrel includes a preform receiving zone to receive the layer of preform and a resin receiving zone to receive the supply of resin. The resin receiving zone is adjacent to the preform receiving zone. The bagging film is operable to generate an envelope surrounding the preform receiving zone and the resin receiving zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael L. Glain, Dennis J. Hanks, Andrew E. Modin, Jack A. Woods, Timothy D. Aquino
  • Patent number: 7633040
    Abstract: A composite item is fabricated in system that includes a layer of preform, supply of resin, mandrel, and bagging film. The layer of preform corresponds to the composite item. The supply of resin is sufficient to infuse the preform. The mandrel includes a preform receiving zone to receive the layer of preform and a resin receiving zone to receive the supply of resin. The resin receiving zone is adjacent to the preform receiving zone. The bagging film is operable to generate an envelope surrounding the preform receiving zone and the resin receiving zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael L. Glain, Dennis J. Hanks, Andrew E. Modin, Jack A. Woods, Timothy D. Aquino
  • Patent number: 7622066
    Abstract: Methods and systems for manufacturing fiber-reinforced resin parts are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin part includes positioning a plurality of fibers on a mold surface of a female tool, and covering the fibers with a sealing layer. The method further includes pressing a portion of the covered fibers against an interior transition region (e.g., an internal radius) of the mold surface. While the portion of covered fibers is pressed against the interior transition region, air is removed from between the sealing layer and the mold surface to draw at least a partial vacuum between the sealing layer and the mold surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Val G. Brustad, Thomas R. Cundiff, Dennis J. Hanks, Jack A. Woods, Andrew E. Modin
  • Patent number: 7585448
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a process for producing resin infused composite parts having improved structural performance and improved surface appearance. The process comprises the steps of positioning a dry composite preform on a forming tool component, arranging resin exit lines in close proximity to the perform, placing a permeable release material on the perform, and placing a first piece of flow media over the release material. The process further comprises the steps of wrapping a resin distribution tube with a second piece of flow media, placing a vacuum bag layer over the forming tool component, preform, release material, first and second pieces of flow media and resin distribution tube, such that the resin distribution tube is retained in a pleat formed in the vacuum bag layer and such that a bagged preform is formed, and positioning the resin distribution tube above the bagged preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Dennis J. Hanks, Jack A. Woods, Kate J. Felde
  • Publication number: 20080289747
    Abstract: Fiber reinforced composite structures having curved stepped surfaces are fabricated by laying up plies of fiber reinforced material over a tool having a stepped tool feature. The plies are rotated about a fixed axis as they are laid up to substantially form a fixed axis rosette pattern. The plies are angularly oriented such that at least certain of the plies have fiber orientations other than 0, +45, ?45 and 90 degrees. Potential bridging of the fibers over the stepped tool features is reduced or eliminated by cutting slits in the plies in the area of the stepped features, so that the plies can be fully compacted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Andrew E. Modin, Jack A. Woods, Robert D. Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20080079193
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for elimination of deformations on resin infused composite parts in which the resin distribution tube used in a resin vacuum infusion process is positioned above the surface of a preform and is not in contact with the preform. Flow media indirectly connects the resin distribution tube to the preform which allows for free movement of resin without direct contact of the resin distribution tube to the perform, and thus, this eliminates deformations that are caused by direct contact of the resin distribution tube to the preform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Dennis J. Hanks, Jack A. Woods, Kate J. Felde
  • Patent number: 7334782
    Abstract: By evacuating the resin feed tank to a pressure below atmospheric pressure, employing cyclic compaction, and controlling the net compaction pressure, we are better able to control a resin infusion process, particularly a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process, and produce aerospace-grade fiber-reinforced resin composite having fiber volume fractions and tool-side surface finishes comparable to or exceeding those made using an autoclave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jack A Woods, Andrew E. Modin, Robert D. Hawkins, Dennis J. Hanks