Patents by Inventor Keith McTernan
Keith McTernan 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: 8997877Abstract: A method for making a riser component includes: positioning a coupler adjacent and end of a tube such that a region of the coupler forms an interface with the tube's end, wherein the region includes a material (in some embodiments an aluminum alloy), and the tube's end includes a groove and another material (in some embodiments a steel alloy) that is different than the region's material; heating the region of the coupler to increase the region's malleability; and exerting pressure on the region of the coupler to plastically deform the region to insert some of the region's material into the groove in the tube's end. By fixing the coupler to the tube in this manner, the coupler may be strongly secured to the tube, and thus able to withstand high, dynamic loads frequently experienced in service. Also, the material of the coupler may be different than the material of the tube, and thus the material of the coupler may be lighter than the material of the tube.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2011Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Advanced Joining Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Douglas J. Waldron, Keith McTernan, Scott Forrest
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Publication number: 20110240304Abstract: A method for making a riser component includes: positioning a coupler adjacent and end of a tube such that a region of the coupler forms an interface with the tube's end, wherein the region includes a material (in some embodiments an aluminum alloy), and the tube's end includes a groove and another material (in some embodiments a steel alloy) that is different than the region's material; heating the region of the coupler to increase the region's malleability; and exerting pressure on the region of the coupler to plastically deform the region to insert some of the region's material into the groove in the tube's end. By fixing the coupler to the tube in this manner, the coupler may be strongly secured to the tube, and thus able to withstand high, dynamic loads frequently experienced in service. Also, the material of the coupler may be different than the material of the tube, and thus the material of the coupler may be lighter than the material of the tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Inventors: Douglas J. Waldron, Keith McTernan, Scott Forrest
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Publication number: 20090050672Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for forming a friction stir weld joint in a workpiece. According to one embodiment, the tool includes a rotatable pin having first and second ends and defining a stirring portion therebetween structured to frictionally engage the workpiece so as to at least partially form the friction stir weld joint. The tool includes a rotatable first shoulder defining an aperture therethrough structured to slidably receive the first end of the pin. The tool also includes a second shoulder defining an aperture structured to receive the second end of the pin such that the pin extends between the first and second shoulders and such that the second shoulder is in rotatable communication with the pin. The first shoulder is structured to rotate independently of the pin and the second shoulder.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2008Publication date: February 26, 2009Applicant: Boeing CompanyInventors: Douglas J. Waldron, Ray Miryekta, Keith McTernan
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Patent number: 7464852Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for forming a friction stir weld joint in a workpiece. According to one embodiment, the tool includes a rotatable pin having first and second ends and defining a stirring portion therebetween structured to frictionally engage the workpiece so as to at least partially form the friction stir weld joint. The tool includes a rotatable first shoulder defining an aperture therethrough structured to slidably receive the first end of the pin. The tool also includes a second shoulder defining an aperture structured to receive the second end of the pin such that the pin extends between the first and second shoulders and such that the second shoulder is in rotatable communication with the pin. The first shoulder is structured to rotate independently of the pin and the second shoulder.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2004Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Douglas J. Waldron, Ray Miryekta, Keith McTernan
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Patent number: 7461769Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for forming a friction stir weld joint in a workpiece. According to one embodiment, the tool includes a rotatable pin having first and second ends and defining a stirring portion therebetween structured to frictionally engage the workpiece so as to at least partially form the friction stir weld joint. The tool includes a rotatable first shoulder defining an aperture therethrough structured to slidably receive the first end of the pin. The tool also includes a second shoulder defining an aperture structured to receive the second end of the pin such that the pin extends between the first and second shoulders and such that the second shoulder is in rotatable communication with the pin. The first shoulder is structured to rotate independently of the pin and the second shoulder.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2004Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Douglas J. Waldron, Ray Miryekta, Keith McTernan
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Patent number: 7416105Abstract: A method for superplastically forming a preform to manufacture a structural assembly with a contoured configuration is provided. The preform includes first and second structural members in a stacked configuration, with at least one additional peripheral member abutting the stack and joined thereto by a friction welded butt joint. In some cases, the preform defines dissimilar forming characteristics throughout, such as variations in material or thickness according to the amount of superplastic forming to be performed in each portion of the preform.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Franna S. Pitt, Keith McTernan
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Publication number: 20060249560Abstract: A method for superplastically forming a preform to manufacture a structural assembly with a contoured configuration is provided. The preform includes first and second structural members in a stacked configuration, with at least one additional peripheral member abutting the stack and joined thereto by a friction welded butt joint. In some cases, the preform defines dissimilar forming characteristics throughout, such as variations in material or thickness according to the amount of superplastic forming to be performed in each portion of the preform.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2005Publication date: November 9, 2006Inventors: Franna Pitt, Keith McTernan
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Patent number: 6908690Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for forming a friction stir weld joint in a workpiece. According to one embodiment, the tool includes a rotatable pin having first and second ends and defining a stirring portion therebetween structured to frictionally engage the workpiece so as to at least partially form the friction stir weld joint. The tool includes a rotatable first shoulder defining an aperture therethrough structured to slidably receive the first end of the pin. The tool also includes a second shoulder defining an aperture structured to receive the second end of the pin such that the pin extends between the first and second shoulders and such that the second shoulder is in rotatable communication with the pin. The first shoulder is structured to rotate independently of the pin and the second shoulder.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2002Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Douglas J. Waldron, Ray Miryekta, Keith McTernan
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Publication number: 20050103824Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for forming a friction stir weld joint in a workpiece. According to one embodiment, the tool includes a rotatable pin having first and second ends and defining a stirring portion therebetween structured to frictionally engage the workpiece so as to at least partially form the friction stir weld joint. The tool includes a rotatable first shoulder defining an aperture therethrough structured to slidably receive the first end of the pin. The tool also includes a second shoulder defining an aperture structured to receive the second end of the pin such that the pin extends between the first and second shoulders and such that the second shoulder is in rotatable communication with the pin. The first shoulder is structured to rotate independently of the pin and the second shoulder.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2004Publication date: May 19, 2005Inventors: Douglas Waldron, Ray Miryekta, Keith McTernan
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Publication number: 20050067461Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for forming a friction stir weld joint in a workpiece. According to one embodiment, the tool includes a rotatable pin having first and second ends and defining a stirring portion therebetween structured to frictionally engage the workpiece so as to at least partially form the friction stir weld joint. The tool includes a rotatable first shoulder defining an aperture therethrough structured to slidably receive the first end of the pin. The tool also includes a second shoulder defining an aperture structured to receive the second end of the pin such that the pin extends between the first and second shoulders and such that the second shoulder is in rotatable communication with the pin. The first shoulder is structured to rotate independently of the pin and the second shoulder.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2004Publication date: March 31, 2005Inventors: Douglas Waldron, Ray Miryekta, Keith McTernan
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Publication number: 20030201307Abstract: The present invention provides a tool for forming a friction stir weld joint in a workpiece. According to one embodiment, the tool includes a rotatable pin having first and second ends and defining a stirring portion therebetween structured to frictionally engage the workpiece so as to at least partially form the friction stir weld joint. The tool includes a rotatable first shoulder defining an aperture therethrough structured to slidably receive the first end of the pin. The tool also includes a second shoulder defining an aperture structured to receive the second end of the pin such that the pin extends between the first and second shoulders and such that the second shoulder is in rotatable communication with the pin. The first shoulder is structured to rotate independently of the pin and the second shoulder.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2002Publication date: October 30, 2003Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Douglas J. Waldron, Raymond Miryekta, Keith McTernan