Patents by Inventor John C. Waldrop

John C. Waldrop 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).

  • Double bag vacuum infusion process and system for low cost, advanced composite fabrication
    Patent number: 8851879
    Abstract: Boeing is actively engaged in the production of lightweight composite airframes for both military and commercial applications. The double bag vacuum infusion process of the present invention provides a low cost, method for producing complex composite assemblies without an autoclave. It also enables the production of highly innovative structures. The quality of the composites produced using such an infusion process are comparable to composites made using prepregs, hand layup or fiber placement, and autoclave curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John C. Waldrop, William R. Burkett, Carmine J. Sesti, Bruce Harshman, Alan F. Tegeler, Wesley P. Weinman
  • Double bag vacuum infusion process and system for low cost, advanced composite fabrication
    Patent number: 8356989
    Abstract: Boeing is actively engaged in the production of lightweight composite airframes for both military and commercial applications. The double bag vacuum infusion process of the present invention provides a low cost, method for producing complex composite assemblies without an autoclave. It also enables the production of highly innovative structures. The quality of the composites produced using such an infusion process are comparable to composites made using prepregs, hand layup or fiber placement and autoclave curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John C. Waldrop, William R. Burkett, Carmine J. Sesti, Bruce Harshman, Alan F. Tegeler, Wesley P. Weinman
  • Double Bag Vacuum Infusion Process and System for Low Cost, Advanced Composite Fabrication
    Publication number: 20120231107
    Abstract: Boeing is actively engaged in the production of lightweight composite airframes for both military and commercial applications. The double bag vacuum infusion process of the present. invention provides a low cost, method for producing complex composite assemblies without an autoclave. It also enables the production of highly innovative structures. The quality of the composites produced using such an infusion process are comparable to composites made using prepregs, hand layup or fiber placement, and autoclave curing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: John C. Waldrop, William R. Burkett, Carmine J. Sesti, Bruce Harshman, Alan F. Tegeler, Wesley P. Weinman
  • DOUBLE BAG VACUUM INFUSION PROCESS AND SYSTEM FOR LOW COST, ADVANCED COMPOSITE FABRICATION
    Publication number: 20080220112
    Abstract: Boeing is actively engaged in the production of lightweight composite airframes for both military and commercial applications. The double bag vacuum infusion process of the present invention provides a low cost, method for producing complex composite assemblies without an autoclave. It also enables the production of highly innovative structures. The quality of the composites produced using such an infusion process are comparable to composites made using prepregs, hand layup or fiber placement and autoclave curing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: John C. Waldrop, William R. Burkett, Carmine J. Sesti, Bruce Harshman, Alan F. Tegeler, Wesley P. Weinman
  • Vacuum assisted resin transfer method for co-bonding composite laminate structures
    Publication number: 20040256053
    Abstract: A method for forming complexly shaped composite laminate assemblies. A pair of dry fiber preforms are placed on a tool with a thin film adhesive layer therebetween. A vacuum bag encloses the preforms and the adhesive layer. The preforms are heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the adhesive to become viscous and to wet several plys of each of the preforms. The preforms are then allowed to cool slightly before resin is infused via a vacuum source through each of the preforms to thoroughly wet each of the preforms. The resulting joint formed at the bond line of the two preforms is stronger than what would be formed simply by adhering two otherwise completely formed preforms together because the dry fiber preforms, in connection with the heating of the preforms, allow wetting of several plys of each of the preforms at the joint area, rather than just the surface ply of each preform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Steven J. Burpo, Terry A. Sewell, John C. Waldrop
  • Vacuum assisted resin transfer method for co-bonding composite laminate structures
    Publication number: 20030019567
    Abstract: A method for forming complexly shaped composite laminate assemblies. A pair of dry fiber preforms are placed on a tool with a thin film adhesive layer therebetween. A vacuum bag encloses the preforms and the adhesive layer. The preforms are heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the adhesive to become viscous and to wet several plys of each of the preforms. The preforms are then allowed to cool slightly before resin is infused via a vacuum source through each of the preforms to thoroughly wet each of the preforms. The resulting joint formed at the bond line of the two preforms is stronger than what would be formed simply by adhering two otherwise completely formed preforms together because the dry fiber preforms, in connection with the heating of the preforms, allow wetting of several plys of each of the preforms at the joint area, rather than just the surface ply of each preform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Steven J. Burpo, Terry A. Sewell, John C. Waldrop
  • Double bag vacuum infusion process and system for low cost, advanced composite fabrication
    Publication number: 20020022422
    Abstract: Boeing is actively engaged in the production of lightweight composite airframes for both military and commercial applications. The double bag vacuum infusion process of the present invention provides a low cost, method for producing complex composite assemblies without an autoclave. It also enables the production of highly innovative structures. The quality of the composites produced using such an infusion process are comparable to composites made using prepregs, hand layup or fiber placement, and autoclave curing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: John C. Waldrop, Bruce Harshman, William R. Burkett, Alan F. Tegeler, Carmine John Sesti, Wes P. Weinman