Patents by Inventor Jonathan Y. Ahn
Jonathan Y. Ahn 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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Publication number: 20240075697Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for facilitating pick and placement of preforms. One embodiment is a method for picking and placing a preform. The method includes placing an inner surface of a first caul plate into contact with a first side of a stringer preform, such that an outer surface of the first caul plate forms a first plane that is uniform along a length of the stringer preform, placing an inner surface of a second caul plate into contact with a second side of the stringer preform, such that an outer surface of the second caul plate forms a second plane that is parallel to the first plane along a length of the stringer preform, grasping the caul plates at the first plane and the second plane along the length of the stringer preform, and lifting the stringer preform together with the caul plates while maintaining the grasp.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Davis Tran
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Patent number: 11919261Abstract: There is provided an automated removal apparatus for selectively removing one or more trimmed portions of a laminated ply in a ply-by-ply fabrication process. The automated removal apparatus includes a rotatable reel having a plurality of retractable vacuum panels attached around the rotatable reel. Each retractable vacuum panel has one or more retractable vacuum pad assemblies, and each retractable vacuum pad assembly has a vacuum pad with a vacuum port and a self-sealing valve. The automated removal apparatus further includes actuator assemblies attached to the plurality of retractable vacuum panels, friction reducing elements attached around the rotatable reel, a drive assembly attached to the rotatable reel, and a pneumatic system attached to the rotatable reel and including a valve manifold operable to control an air flow to the actuator assemblies and to one or more vacuum generators to generate a vacuum flow.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Chace Wilcoxson, Lisa C. Carlson, Gregory R. Klempel, Austin T. McAnelly, Deborah A. Fisher, Scott E. Krajca
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Patent number: 11865798Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for facilitating pick and placement of preforms. One embodiment is a method for picking and placing a preform. The method includes placing an inner surface of a first caul plate into contact with a first side of a stringer preform, such that an outer surface of the first caul plate forms a first plane that is uniform along a length of the stringer preform, placing an inner surface of a second caul plate into contact with a second side of the stringer preform, such that an outer surface of the second caul plate forms a second plane that is parallel to the first plane along a length of the stringer preform, grasping the caul plates at the first plane and the second plane along the length of the stringer preform, and lifting the stringer preform together with the caul plates while maintaining the grasp.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2020Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Davis Tran
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Publication number: 20230279893Abstract: A fastener includes a sleeve, a pin, and a visual indicator. The sleeve includes a tubular body. The pin includes a shank. At least a portion of the shank of the pin is configured to extend through the tubular body of the sleeve and to facilitate deformation of a portion of the tubular body into a bulb in response to a force applied to the tubular body of the sleeve by the shank of the pin. The visual indicator is configured to provide a visual verification of correct formation of the bulb.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2022Publication date: September 7, 2023Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Joseph D. Anderson, Shane E. Arthur
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Patent number: 11673692Abstract: Methods of forming a curvature into a composite stiffener and a forming tool are presented. The composite stiffener is positioned in a forming region created by a base assembly and an upper assembly. A first airflow is applied through the material of the base assembly. A second airflow is applied through the material of the upper assembly. A plurality of brackets of the upper assembly is moved relative to each other to change a curvature of the forming region along a length of the forming region to form the curvature into the composite stiffener.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Davis Tran, Long Ly
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Patent number: 11351658Abstract: An ergonomic frame-filler placement tool is manually operable to supply a vacuum fluid flow at a distal end of the tool that can be used by a worker to pick up and hold a piece of frame-filler material to the distal end of the tool, which enables the worker to manipulate the tool to position the piece of frame-filler material over a desired location of a fuselage mandrel and then manually stop the vacuum fluid flow at the distal end of the tool to position the piece of frame-filler material at the desired location on the mandrel.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Davis Tran, Silas L. Studley, Chace Wilcoxson, Long H. Ly, Darrell D. Jones, Robert Whiting
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Patent number: 11279057Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for removing material from a surface of a carrier. The apparatus comprises a buckling mechanism that comprises a gripper configured to engage the material. When engaged with the material, the gripper is movable relative to the surface of the carrier to move the material relative to the surface of the carrier and to form a buckle in the material. The apparatus also comprises a separation mechanism that is coupled to the buckling mechanism and comprises a wedge that is movable relative to the surface of the carrier to be insertable into the buckle formed in the material.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Christopher R. Loesche, Jacob E. Koopmans, Jonathan Y. Ahn
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Publication number: 20210394466Abstract: There is provided an automated removal apparatus for selectively removing one or more trimmed portions of a laminated ply in a ply-by-ply fabrication process. The automated removal apparatus includes a rotatable reel having a plurality of retractable vacuum panels attached around the rotatable reel. Each retractable vacuum panel has one or more retractable vacuum pad assemblies, and each retractable vacuum pad assembly has a vacuum pad with a vacuum port and a self-sealing valve. The automated removal apparatus further includes actuator assemblies attached to the plurality of retractable vacuum panels, friction reducing elements attached around the rotatable reel, a drive assembly attached to the rotatable reel, and a pneumatic system attached to the rotatable reel and including a valve manifold operable to control an air flow to the actuator assemblies and to one or more vacuum generators to generate a vacuum flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Chace Wilcoxson, Lisa C . Carlson, Gregory R. Klempel, Austin T. McAnelly, Deborah A. Fisher, Scott E. Krajca
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Publication number: 20210252809Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for facilitating pick and placement of preforms. One embodiment is a method for picking and placing a preform. The method includes placing an inner surface of a first caul plate into contact with a first side of a stringer preform, such that an outer surface of the first caul plate forms a first plane that is uniform along a length of the stringer preform, placing an inner surface of a second caul plate into contact with a second side of the stringer preform, such that an outer surface of the second caul plate forms a second plane that is parallel to the first plane along a length of the stringer preform, grasping the caul plates at the first plane and the second plane along the length of the stringer preform, and lifting the stringer preform together with the caul plates while maintaining the grasp.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2020Publication date: August 19, 2021Inventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Davis Tran
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Publication number: 20210187777Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for removing material from a surface of a carrier. The apparatus comprises a buckling mechanism that comprises a gripper configured to engage the material. When engaged with the material, the gripper is movable relative to the surface of the carrier to move the material relative to the surface of the carrier and to form a buckle in the material. The apparatus also comprises a separation mechanism that is coupled to the buckling mechanism and comprises a wedge that is movable relative to the surface of the carrier to be insertable into the buckle formed in the material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2019Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Christopher R. Loesche, Jacob E. Koopmans, Jonathan Y. Ahn
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Publication number: 20210179292Abstract: Methods of forming a curvature into a composite stiffener and a forming tool are presented. The composite stiffener is positioned in a forming region created by a base assembly and an upper assembly. A first airflow is applied through the material of the base assembly. A second airflow is applied through the material of the upper assembly. A plurality of brackets of the upper assembly is moved relative to each other to change a curvature of the forming region along a length of the forming region to form the curvature into the composite stiffener.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2019Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Davis Tran, Long Ly
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Patent number: 11028898Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for active vibration damping. One embodiment is a method for damping vibration in a mechanical system. The method includes detecting a vibration at a coupling of the mechanical system, generating a countervibration based on the detected vibration, and operating the mechanical system while generating the countervibration.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: John D. Sailing, Sr., Jonathan Y. Ahn
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Publication number: 20200384701Abstract: An ergonomic frame-filler placement tool is manually operable to supply a vacuum fluid flow at a distal end of the tool that can be used by a worker to pick up and hold a piece of frame-filler material to the distal end of the tool, which enables the worker to manipulate the tool to position the piece of frame-filler material over a desired location of a fuselage mandrel and then manually stop the vacuum fluid flow at the distal end of the tool to position the piece of frame-filler material at the desired location on the mandrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2019Publication date: December 10, 2020Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Davis Tran, Silas L. Studley, Chace Wilcoxson, Long H. Ly, Darrell D. Jones, Robert Whiting
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Publication number: 20200224746Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for active vibration damping. One embodiment is a method for damping vibration in a mechanical system. The method includes detecting a vibration at a coupling of the mechanical system, generating a countervibration based on the detected vibration, and operating the mechanical system while generating the countervibration.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2019Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: John D. Sailing, SR., Jonathan Y. Ahn