Patents by Inventor James R. Schnelz

James R. Schnelz 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: 20220315234
    Abstract: Guide systems for installing aircraft structures are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first guide structured to be supported by a first hinge component of a first aircraft structure and a second guide structured to be supported by a second hinge component of a second aircraft structure. The first guide is to receive the second guide when the second structure is at an installation angle relative to the first structure. Engagement between the first guide and the second guide to enable rotational movement of the first hinge component and the second hinge component when the second aircraft structure moves to an installed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Luke D. Torjesen, Reed Daniel Wilson, August W. McKenna, James R. Schnelz, Peter Albert Madakson, Richard Eugene Noble, Scott Thomas Olson, Daniel W. Stewart, Raymond Helgeson, Frederick Zimmer
  • Patent number: 11156165
    Abstract: Fire seal assemblies for aircraft engines are described herein. An example fire seal assembly includes a first L-cap having a first leg and a second leg extending outward from the first leg, and a second L-cap having a third leg and a fourth leg extending outward from the third leg. The first and third legs are to be coupled to a core service disconnect (CSD) on a pylon of an aircraft, and the second and fourth legs are to extend outward and engage sides of a firewall of an engine of the aircraft. The first seal assembly further includes a seal coupled to the first and third legs and disposed between the second and fourth legs, a first end plug disposed between a first end of the seal and the second leg, and a second end plug disposed between a second end of the seal and the fourth leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Morgan A. Pond, James R. Schnelz
  • Publication number: 20200392902
    Abstract: Fire seal assemblies for aircraft engines are described herein. An example fire seal assembly includes a first L-cap having a first leg and a second leg extending outward from the first leg, and a second L-cap having a third leg and a fourth leg extending outward from the third leg. The first and third legs are to be coupled to a core service disconnect (CSD) on a pylon of an aircraft, and the second and fourth legs are to extend outward and engage sides of a firewall of an engine of the aircraft. The first seal assembly further includes a seal coupled to the first and third legs and disposed between the second and fourth legs, a first end plug disposed between a first end of the seal and the second leg, and a second end plug disposed between a second end of the seal and the fourth leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Morgan A. Pond, James R. Schnelz
  • Patent number: 10119563
    Abstract: An offset bushing for a structural member may include a tubular body having a cylindrical inner surface and a cylindrical outer surface. The cylindrical inner surface may have an inner diameter defining an inner axis. The cylindrical outer surface may have an outer diameter defining an outer axis. The inner axis may be spaced apart from the outer axis to define a linear offset. The offset bushing may include a bushing indexing feature configured to align with a member indexing feature of a member when the offset bushing is installed in a member bore. Alignment of the bushing indexing feature with the member indexing feature may cause the linear offset to be oriented substantially parallel to a loading axis of a load on the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert G. Hill, James R. Schnelz, Monte D. Wright
  • Publication number: 20160290391
    Abstract: An offset bushing for a structural member may include a tubular body having a cylindrical inner surface and a cylindrical outer surface. The cylindrical inner surface may have an inner diameter defining an inner axis. The cylindrical outer surface may have an outer diameter defining an outer axis. The inner axis may be spaced apart from the outer axis to define a linear offset. The offset bushing may include a bushing indexing feature configured to align with a member indexing feature of a member when the offset bushing is installed in a member bore. Alignment of the bushing indexing feature with the member indexing feature may cause the linear offset to be oriented substantially parallel to a loading axis of a load on the member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Robert G. Hill, James R. Schnelz, Monte D. Wright
  • Patent number: 8713895
    Abstract: A structural member such as a strut includes a composite material tube having metal end fittings that are attached to the tube by co-bonded, double shear joints. The double shear bond joint construction reduces the residual stress on the bonds that result from mismatch of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the composite tube and the metal end fittings. The ends of the fittings that are bonded to the tube may include a stepped profile that functions to limit the peak stresses in the bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher T. Allen, Patrick D. Bertrand, Derek J. Fox, William B. Grace, Kenneth M. Harrison, Wesley L. Holman, Menelaos S. Kafkalidis, James R. Schnelz, Edward M. Fisher
  • Patent number: 8414724
    Abstract: A structural member such as a strut includes a composite material tube having metal end fittings that are attached to the tube by co-bonded, double shear joints. The double shear bond joint construction reduces the residual stress on the bonds that result from mismatch of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the composite tube and the metal end fittings. The ends of the fittings that are bonded to the tube may include a stepped profile that functions to limit the peak stresses in the bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: James R. Schnelz
  • Patent number: 8365502
    Abstract: A structural member such as a strut includes a composite material tube having metal end fittings that are attached to the tube by co-bonded, double shear joints. The double shear bond joint construction reduces the residual stress on the bonds that result from mismatch of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the composite tube and the metal end fittings. The ends of the fittings that are bonded to the tube may include a stepped profile that functions to limit the peak stresses in the bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher T. Allen, Patrick D. Bertrand, Derek J. Fox, William B. H. Grace, Kenneth M. Harrison, Wesley L. Holman, Menelaos S. Kafkalidis, James R. Schnelz, Edward M. Fisher
  • Publication number: 20080129041
    Abstract: A structural member such as a strut includes a composite material tube having metal end fittings that are attached to the tube by co-bonded, double shear joints. The double shear bond joint construction reduces the residual stress on the bonds that result from mismatch of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the composite tube and the metal end fittings. The ends of the fittings that are bonded to the tube may include a stepped profile that functions to limit the peak stresses in the bonds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher T. Allen, Patrick D. Bertrand, Derek J. Fox, William B.H. Grace, Kenneth M. Harrison, Wesley L. Holman, Menelaso S. Kafkalidis, James R. Schnelz, Edward M. Fisher
  • Publication number: 20080131630
    Abstract: A structural member such as a strut includes a composite material tube having metal end fittings that are attached to the tube by co-bonded, double shear joints. The double shear bond joint construction reduces the residual stress on the bonds that result from mismatch of the coefficients of thermal expansion of the composite tube and the metal end fittings. The ends of the fittings that are bonded to the tube may include a stepped profile that functions to limit the peak stresses in the bonds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: James R. Schnelz
  • Patent number: 6758439
    Abstract: Aircraft engine nacelles and methods for structurally attaching them to aircraft structures, such as aircraft wings. In one embodiment, an aircraft engine nacelle is attached to a wing between a trailing edge region of the wing and an aft deck region of the wing. In one aspect of this embodiment, the engine nacelle includes a forward portion having first and second structural attach points offset from each other in a first direction at least generally perpendicular to a central axis of the engine nacelle. The first and second structural attach points can be configured to fixedly attach the engine nacelle to the wing at least proximate to the trailing edge region. In another aspect of this embodiment, the engine nacelle includes a side portion having at least a third structural attach point offset from the first and second structural attach points in a second direction at least generally parallel to the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Harrison, Donald T. Powell, James R. Schnelz, Brett D. Whitmer
  • Publication number: 20040094664
    Abstract: Aircraft engine nacelles and methods for structurally attaching them to aircraft structures, such as aircraft wings. In one embodiment, an aircraft engine nacelle is attached to a wing between a trailing edge region of the wing and an aft deck region of the wing. In one aspect of this embodiment, the engine nacelle includes a forward portion having first and second structural attach points offset from each other in a first direction at least generally perpendicular to a central axis of the engine nacelle. The first and second structural attach points can be configured to fixedly attach the engine nacelle to the wing at least proximate to the trailing edge region. In another aspect of this embodiment, the engine nacelle includes a side portion having at least a third structural attach point offset from the first and second structural attach points in a second direction at least generally parallel to the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Harrison, Donald T. Powell, James R. Schnelz, Brett D. Whitmer
  • Patent number: 6189830
    Abstract: An aircraft assembly includes a wing, a pylon structure attached to the wing, an aft engine mount attached to the pylon structure, and an engine attached to the aft engine mount. The aft engine mount includes a pivotal attachment to the pylon structure and first and second spring beams operatively connected to the pylon structure at opposing sides of the pivotal attachment for damping pivotal movement of the engine with respect to the pylon structure to enable tuning of the natural frequency of the engine to avoid wing flutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James R. Schnelz, Donald T. Powell