Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Patrick Schultz

Jeffrey Patrick Schultz 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: 20140130736
    Abstract: The present invention relates to tooling and methods for disposing, coating, building up, repairing, or otherwise modifying the surface of a metal substrate using frictional heating and compressive loading of a consumable metal material against the substrate. Embodiments of the invention include friction-based fabrication tooling comprising a non-consumable member with a throat and a consumable member disposed in the throat, wherein the throat is operably configured such that during rotation of the non-consumable member at a selected speed, the throat exerts normal forces on and rotates the consumable member at the selected speed; and comprising means for dispensing the consumable member through the throat and onto a substrate using frictional heating and compressive loading. Embodiments of the invention also include fabrication methods using the tools described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey Patrick Schultz, Kevin D. Creehan
  • Patent number: 8636194
    Abstract: A low-temperature friction-based coating method termed friction stir fabrication (FSF) is disclosed, in which material is deposited onto a substrate and subsequently stirred into the substrate using friction stir processing to homogenize and refine the microstructure. This solid-state process is capable of depositing coatings, including nanocrystalline aluminum and/or metal matrix composites and the like, onto substrates such as aluminum at relatively low temperatures. A method of making rod stock for use in the FSF process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Schultz-Creehan Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Patrick Schultz, Kevin Creehan
  • Patent number: 8632850
    Abstract: The present invention relates to tooling and methods for disposing, coating, building up, repairing, or otherwise modifying the surface of a metal substrate using frictional heating and compressive loading of a consumable metal material against the substrate. Embodiments of the invention include friction-based fabrication tooling comprising a non-consumable member with a throat and a consumable member disposed in the throat, wherein the throat is operably configured such that during rotation of the non-consumable member at a selected speed, the throat exerts normal forces on and rotates the consumable member at the selected speed; and comprising means for dispensing the consumable member through the throat and onto a substrate using frictional heating and compressive loading. Embodiments of the invention also include fabrication methods using the tools described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Schultz-Creehan Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Patrick Schultz, Kevin Creehan
  • Publication number: 20130142012
    Abstract: The present invention relates to towed array shape sensing and manipulation. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to an array of multiple flow sensors positioned at set lengths along a tow cable to measure changes in the flow direction and water speed as a function of position along the length of the cable, which can be used to accurately determine tow cable shape and assist in maintaining a desired tow cable shape. Embodiments include a system for determining the shape of a towed cable comprising: a tow cable; multiple probes linearly distributed along the cable, each for measuring pressure, velocity, and/or flow direction in water; and means for using the measurements as a function of probe position along the cable to determine cable shape or to correct/restore cable shape during use with the aid of actuators and a control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Jeffrey Patrick Schultz, Robert Flelder
  • Patent number: 8397974
    Abstract: The present invention relates to tools and methods for welding, coating, repairing, or otherwise modifying the surface of a metal substrate. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide self-reacting friction stir welding tools which have an internal channel that allows filler materials to be added to the weld joint or otherwise friction stir processed area. Embodiments also provide friction stir tooling having upper and lower shoulders disposed at a fixed distance from one another and connected by a fixed split-pin. The tooling can be configured for automatically dispensing varying amounts of filler material into the tooling in response to variations in thickness of a substrate being processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Aeroprobe Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Patrick Schultz, Kevin Creehan
  • Publication number: 20120279441
    Abstract: The present invention relates to tools and methods for disposing, coating, repairing, or otherwise modifying the surface of a metal substrate using frictional heating and compressive/shear loading of a consumable metal against the substrate. Embodiments of the invention include friction-based fabrication tooling comprising a non-consumable member with a throat and a consumable member disposed in the throat, wherein consumable filler material is capable of being introduced to the throat in a continuous manner during deposition using frictional heating and compressive/shear loading of the filler material onto the substrate. Preferred embodiments according to the invention include such tools operably configured for applying a force or displacement to the filler material during deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin Creehan, Jeffrey Patrick Schultz
  • Publication number: 20120279442
    Abstract: The present invention relates to tools and methods for welding, coating, repairing, or otherwise modifying the surface of a metal substrate. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide self-reacting friction stir welding tools which have an internal channel that allows filler materials to be added to the weld joint or otherwise friction stir processed area. Embodiments also provide friction stir tooling having upper and lower shoulders disposed at a fixed distance from one another and connected by a fixed split-pin. The tooling can be configured for automatically dispensing varying amounts of filler material into the tooling in response to variations in thickness of a substrate being processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin Creehan, Jeffrey Patrick Schultz
  • Publication number: 20120009339
    Abstract: The present invention relates to tooling and methods for disposing, coating, building up, repairing, or otherwise modifying the surface of a metal substrate using frictional heating and compressive loading of a consumable metal material against the substrate. Embodiments of the invention include friction-based fabrication tooling comprising a non-consumable member with a throat and a consumable member disposed in the throat, wherein the throat is operably configured such that during rotation of the non-consumable member at a selected speed, the throat exerts normal forces on and rotates the consumable member at the selected speed; and comprising means for dispensing the consumable member through the throat and onto a substrate using frictional heating and compressive loading. Embodiments of the invention also include fabrication methods using the tools described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin Creehan, Jeffrey Patrick Schultz
  • Publication number: 20100285207
    Abstract: A low-temperature friction-based coating method termed friction stir fabrication (FSF) is disclosed, in which material is deposited onto a substrate and subsequently stirred into the substrate using friction stir processing to homogenize and refine the microstructure. This solid-state process is capable of depositing coatings, including nanocrystalline aluminum and/or metal matrix composites and the like, onto substrates such as aluminum at relatively low temperatures. A method of making rod stock for use in the FSF process is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Kevin CREEHAN, Jeffrey Patrick SCHULTZ
  • Patent number: 7586233
    Abstract: Composite materials comprising ferroelastic ceramic particulates dispersed in a metal matrix are capable of vibration damping. When the ferroelastic ceramic particulates are subjected to stress, such as the cyclic stress experienced during vibration of the material, internal stresses in the ceramic cause the material to deform via twinning, domain rotation or domain motion thereby dissipating the vibrational energy. The ferroelastic ceramic particulates may also act as reinforcements to improve the mechanical properties of the composites. The composite materials may be used in various structural components in vehicles, aircraft, spacecraft, buildings and tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Patrick Schultz, Ted Ankomahene Asare, Ben David Poquette, Stephen Lynn Kampe
  • Patent number: 7126257
    Abstract: Composite materials comprising piezoelectric ceramic particulates dispersed in a metal matrix are capable of vibration damping. When the piezoelectric ceramic particulates are subjected to strain, such as the strain experienced during vibration of the material, they generate an electrical voltage that is converted into Joule heat in the surrounding metal matrix, thereby dissipating the vibrational energy. The piezoelectric ceramic particulates may also act as reinforcements to improve the mechanical properties of the composites. The composite materials may be used in various structural components in vehicles, aircraft, spacecraft, buildings and tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen L. Kampe, Jeffrey Patrick Schultz, Alexander O. Aning, Adam Goff, Jennifer Franklin