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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Patent number: 12215806Abstract: Conduit coupling devices comprise a body configured to be selectively attached to engage an outer surface of a conduit; and an elongate connecting member extending from the body or configured to selectively extend from the body. Systems comprise at least two conduit coupling devices. Methods comprise attaching a first conduit coupling device to a first conduit; attaching a second conduit coupling device to a second conduit; operatively attaching the first conduit coupling device to the second conduit coupling device; translating the first conduit coupling device and the second conduit coupling device toward each other to operatively position the first conduit relative to the second conduit; and clamping the first conduit to the second conduit.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2023Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Austin B. Ball, Jonathan Y. Ahn, Christopher R. Brown, Shane E. Arthur, Joseph D. Anderson, Ricardo A. Fritzke
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Patent number: 12188508Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 7, 2022Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Joseph D. Anderson, Shane E. Arthur
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Publication number: 20240326276Abstract: An ultrasonic cutting blade includes a first end, a second end, and a curved body. The curved body extends between the first end and the second end. The curved body includes a first edge that is configured to contact a workpiece for performing a cutting operation on the workpiece. The curved body includes a radius of curvature that varies between a minimum radius of curvature and a maximum radius of curvature.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2023Publication date: October 3, 2024Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Ricardo A. Fritzke, Austin B. Ball, Christopher R. Brown, Shane E. Arthur, Marianne E. Wilkinson, Jonathan Y. Ahn
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Patent number: 12090715Abstract: 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: November 10, 2023Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Davis Tran
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Publication number: 20240262638Abstract: A pick-and-place system includes a rigid elongate strongback, configured to be supported by a robotic arm of a robotic device. In addition, the pick-and-place system includes a plurality of actuator-clamp assemblies, mountable in spaced relation to each other on the strongback. Each actuator-clamp assembly includes one or more jaw assemblies, each configured to clamp onto a localized segment of a workpiece. Each actuator-clamp assembly also includes a multi-axis actuator, configured to couple the one or more jaw assemblies to the strongback and adjust an orientation of the localized segment prior to placement of the workpiece onto a mating structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2023Publication date: August 8, 2024Inventors: Sandra L. Zmeu, Jonathan Y. Ahn, Austin B. Ball, Ricardo A. Fritzke, Christopher R. Brown
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Publication number: 20240255079Abstract: Conduit coupling devices comprise a body configured to be selectively attached to engage an outer surface of a conduit; and an elongate connecting member extending from the body or configured to selectively extend from the body. Systems comprise at least two conduit coupling devices. Methods comprise attaching a first conduit coupling device to a first conduit; attaching a second conduit coupling device to a second conduit; operatively attaching the first conduit coupling device to the second conduit coupling device; translating the first conduit coupling device and the second conduit coupling device toward each other to operatively position the first conduit relative to the second conduit; and clamping the first conduit to the second conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2023Publication date: August 1, 2024Inventors: Austin B. Ball, Jonathan Y. Ahn, Christopher R. Brown, Shane E. Arthur, Joseph D. Anderson, Ricardo A. Fritzke
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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