Patents by Inventor Keith D. Humfeld

Keith D. Humfeld 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: 20240085325
    Abstract: An example system for inspecting a surface includes a laser, an optical system, a gated camera, and a control system. The laser is configured to emit pulses of light, with respective wavelengths of the pulses of light varying over time. The optical system includes at least one optical element, and is configured to direct light emitted by the laser to points along a scan line one point at a time. The gated camera is configured to record a fluorescent response of the surface from light having each wavelength of a plurality of wavelengths at each point along the scan line. The control system is configured to control the gated camera such that an aperture of the gated camera is open during fluorescence of the surface but closed during exposure of the surface to light emitted by the laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 11860093
    Abstract: An example system for inspecting a surface includes a laser, an optical system, a gated camera, and a control system. The laser is configured to emit pulses of light, with respective wavelengths of the pulses of light varying over time. The optical system includes at least one optical element, and is configured to direct light emitted by the laser to points along a scan line one point at a time. The gated camera is configured to record a fluorescent response of the surface from light having each wavelength of a plurality of wavelengths at each point along the scan line. The control system is configured to control the gated camera such that an aperture of the gated camera is open during fluorescence of the surface but closed during exposure of the surface to light emitted by the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 11703472
    Abstract: In an example, a method for accelerated conditioning of a composite core sandwich coupon is described. The method includes setting a first temperature and a first relative humidity level of the conditioning apparatus, wherein a combination of the first temperature and the first relative humidity level correspond to a desired relative humidity level of the plurality of cells of the core layer at room temperature. The method includes maintaining the first temperature and the first relative humidity for a first period, wherein during the first period a core humidity of the plurality of cells in the core layer approaches the first relative humidity level. The method includes determining that the core humidity has reached the first relative humidity level. The method includes, based on determining that the core humidity has reached the first relative humidity level, adjusting the first temperature to a second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Joseph A. Bolton
  • Publication number: 20220219411
    Abstract: Heating operation control includes obtaining sensor data indicating measured temperatures within a heating vessel during a heating operation; determining sets of thermal stack parameters. Each set of candidate thermal stack parameters is descriptive of a respective configuration of a thermal stack modeled by a first machine learning model to generate one or more estimated tool temperature values. The thermal stack includes the tool and a part coupled to the tool. Heating operation control also includes determining a temperature profile for the heating operation. The temperature profile is determined, via a second machine learning model, based on the plurality of sets of thermal stack parameters and one or more process specifications of the thermal stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Geoffrey A. Butler, Karl M. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20220178823
    Abstract: An example system for inspecting a surface includes a laser, an optical system, a gated camera, and a control system. The laser is configured to emit pulses of light, with respective wavelengths of the pulses of light varying over time. The optical system includes at least one optical element, and is configured to direct light emitted by the laser to points along a scan line one point at a time. The gated camera is configured to record a fluorescent response of the surface from light having each wavelength of a plurality of wavelengths at each point along the scan line. The control system is configured to control the gated camera such that an aperture of the gated camera is open during fluorescence of the surface but closed during exposure of the surface to light emitted by the laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Morteza Safai
  • Publication number: 20220136825
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for ultrasonic imaging of composite parts. One embodiment is a method that includes providing an object having multiple layers of fibers and resin, inducing ultrasonic waves at locations along the object, and attenuating the ultrasonic waves at the regions due to regions interspersed among the layers that each exhibit an elastic modulus distinct from an elastic modulus of the fibers and distinct from an elastic modulus of the matrix. The method further includes receiving the attenuated ultrasonic waves, and analyzing the attenuated ultrasonic waves to determine depths of the regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 11262302
    Abstract: An example system for inspecting a surface includes a laser, an optical system, a gated camera, and a control system. The laser is configured to emit pulses of light, with respective wavelengths of the pulses of light varying over time. The optical system includes at least one optical element, and is configured to direct light emitted by the laser to points along a scan line one point at a time. The gated camera is configured to record a fluorescent response of the surface from light having each wavelength of a plurality of wavelengths at each point along the scan line. The control system is configured to control the gated camera such that an aperture of the gated camera is open during fluorescence of the surface but closed during exposure of the surface to light emitted by the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 11230072
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a composite structure includes a tape placement machine including a delivery head configured to dispose a composite tape and a backing plate coupled to the tape placement machine and selectively located relative to the delivery head to react to a placement force applied by the tape placement machine as the composite tape is being disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Adam B. Lubchansky
  • Patent number: 11110631
    Abstract: An example method for curing a composite part includes placing the composite part onto a topside of a cure tool, and a bottom surface of the composite part contacts the topside of the cure tool and a top surface of the composite part is opposite the bottom surface of the composite part. The method also includes placing the cure tool and the composite part into an autoclave, using the autoclave to apply external heat to the cure tool and the composite part so that air flows over the top surface of the composite part to heat the top surface, and applying additional heat to a backside of the cure tool via radiation provided by at least one heating source of the cure tool, so as to reduce a temperature difference between the backside of the cure tool and the top surface of the composite part being cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Joseph A. Bolton
  • Patent number: 11085116
    Abstract: An engine shaft assembly for an engine is provided. The engine shaft assembly includes a shaft and a thermal distribution layer. The thermal distribution layer is provided on the shaft, and is configured to minimize the effect of distortion of the shaft caused by asymmetric cooling on shutdown of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Scott D. Hartshorn, Keith D. Humfeld
  • Patent number: 11053020
    Abstract: An electrically conductive patch for a sheet that is part of a skin of an aircraft is disclosed. The sheet includes an outermost surface constructed of an electrically conductive material and one or more electrical discharge points that are conductively coupled to the outermost surface of the sheet. The electrically conductive patch is disposed along the outermost surface of the sheet and is conductively coupled to the outermost surface of the sheet. The electrically conductive patch is constructed of a voltage responsive film configured to change from a first coloration and into a second coloration in response to experiencing a threshold voltage difference, where the first coloration substantially matches a coloration of the skin of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Joseph A. Bolton, Keith D. Humfeld
  • Publication number: 20210181133
    Abstract: In an example, a method for accelerated conditioning of a composite core sandwich coupon is described. The method includes setting a first temperature and a first relative humidity level of the conditioning apparatus, wherein a combination of the first temperature and the first relative humidity level correspond to a desired relative humidity level of the plurality of cells of the core layer at room temperature. The method includes maintaining the first temperature and the first relative humidity for a first period, wherein during the first period a core humidity of the plurality of cells in the core layer approaches the first relative humidity level. The method includes determining that the core humidity has reached the first relative humidity level. The method includes, based on determining that the core humidity has reached the first relative humidity level, adjusting the first temperature to a second temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Joseph A. Bolton
  • Patent number: 10942150
    Abstract: A composite material joined with a curable phenolic resin adhesive, with the phenolic resin adhesive comprising a stiffening agent precursor, and with the stiffening agent precursor selected to react with reaction by-products of the phenolic resin adhesive during curing to produce a reaction product stiffening agent in a cured bonding layer that is detectable by ultrasound, resins comprising the stiffening agent precursor, bonding layers comprising the reaction product stiffening agent, and methods for making the composite material joints and inspecting the composite material joints are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Eileen O. Kutscha, Morteza Safai
  • Publication number: 20210047049
    Abstract: An electrically conductive patch for a sheet that is part of a skin of an aircraft is disclosed. The sheet includes an outermost surface constructed of an electrically conductive material and one or more electrical discharge points that are conductively coupled to the outermost surface of the sheet. The electrically conductive patch is disposed along the outermost surface of the sheet and is conductively coupled to the outermost surface of the sheet. The electrically conductive patch is constructed of a voltage responsive film configured to change from a first coloration and into a second coloration in response to experiencing a threshold voltage difference, where the first coloration substantially matches a coloration of the skin of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Joseph A. Bolton, Keith D. Humfeld
  • Publication number: 20210001518
    Abstract: An example method for curing a composite part includes placing the composite part onto a topside of a cure tool, and a bottom surface of the composite part contacts the topside of the cure tool and a top surface of the composite part is opposite the bottom surface of the composite part. The method also includes placing the cure tool and the composite part into an autoclave, using the autoclave to apply external heat to the cure tool and the composite part so that air flows over the top surface of the composite part to heat the top surface, and applying additional heat to a backside of the cure tool via radiation provided by at least one heating source of the cure tool, so as to reduce a temperature difference between the backside of the cure tool and the top surface of the composite part being cured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Joseph A. Bolton
  • Patent number: 10882608
    Abstract: There is provided a hydraulic system for a vehicle. The hydraulic system has a hydraulic rotary actuator assembly rotationally coupled to a road wheel of the vehicle. The hydraulic rotary actuator assembly has a first operating mode, wherein a rotation of the road wheel causes the hydraulic rotary actuator assembly to pump a fluid from a fluid supply system. The hydraulic system further has a variable restrictor assembly coupled to the hydraulic rotary actuator assembly in the vehicle. The variable restrictor assembly controls a flow of the fluid flowing from the hydraulic rotary actuator assembly, to brake the rotation of the road wheel on a ground surface. The hydraulic system further has a variable restrictor controller coupled to the variable restrictor assembly. The variable restrictor controller controls the variable restrictor assembly, so as to enable a variation of a rate of braking of the road wheel on the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Joseph A. Bolton, Keith D. Humfeld
  • Patent number: 10848189
    Abstract: A method of making a part comprising stacking a plurality of uncured composite sheets to form an uncured composite stack. The method also comprises interposing a resistor wire between an adjacent two of the uncured composite sheets of the uncured composite stack. The method further comprises applying heat to the uncured composite stack externally of the uncured composite stack to at least partially cure the plurality of uncured composite sheets. The method additionally comprises transmitting an electric current through the resistor wire to generate heat, from the resistor wire, internally within the uncured composite stack to at least partially cure the plurality of uncured composite sheets. Applying heat to the uncured composite stack externally and generating heat internally converts the plurality of uncured composite sheets into a plurality of cured composite sheets and converts the uncured composite stack into a cured composite stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Joseph A. Bolton, Keith D. Humfeld
  • Patent number: 10801836
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for ultrasonic imaging of composite parts. One embodiment is a method that includes providing an object having multiple layers of fibers and resin, inducing ultrasonic waves at locations along the object, and attenuating the ultrasonic waves at the regions due to regions interspersed among the layers that each exhibit an elastic modulus distinct from an elastic modulus of the fibers and distinct from an elastic modulus of the matrix. The method further includes receiving the attenuated ultrasonic waves, and analyzing the attenuated ultrasonic waves to determine depths of the regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 10786955
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a composite structure includes steps of: (1) laying up, with a delivery head of a tape placement machine, a continuous segment of a composite tape on a composite panel to form a flange portion of an initial ply of a composite stiffener; (2) locating a backing plate, coupled to the delivery head, relative to the delivery head and the composite panel; and (3) further layup up, with the delivery head, the continuous segment of the composite tape on the backing plate to form a web portion of the initial ply of the composite stiffener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Adam B. Lubchansky
  • Publication number: 20200300759
    Abstract: An example system for inspecting a surface includes a laser, an optical system, a gated camera, and a control system. The laser is configured to emit pulses of light, with respective wavelengths of the pulses of light varying over time. The optical system includes at least one optical element, and is configured to direct light emitted by the laser to points along a scan line one point at a time. The gated camera is configured to record a fluorescent response of the surface from light having each wavelength of a plurality of wavelengths at each point along the scan line. The control system is configured to control the gated camera such that an aperture of the gated camera is open during fluorescence of the surface but closed during exposure of the surface to light emitted by the laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Morteza Safai