Patents by Inventor Keith R. McTernan

Keith R. 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).

  • Joining of structural members by friction plug welding
    Patent number: 6742697
    Abstract: The method of manufacturing a structural assembly includes positioning a first structural member at least partially adjacent a second structural member to define an interface therebetween and inserting a rotating plug into the first and second structural members at the interface to thereby join the first structural member to the second structural member. The resulting friction plug weld provides a relatively strong joint between the structural members, requires less forming and machining time, and is compatible with single-sided tooling. Additionally, the friction plug weld is compatible with other joining methods, such as friction stir welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Keith R. McTernan, Douglas J. Waldron, Ray Miryekta
  • JOINING OF STRUCTURAL MEMBERS BY FRICTION PLUG WELDING
    Publication number: 20030201306
    Abstract: The method of manufacturing a structural assembly includes positioning a first structural member at least partially adjacent a second structural member to define an interface therebetween and inserting a rotating plug into the first and second structural members at the interface to thereby join the first structural member to the second structural member. The resulting friction plug weld provides a relatively strong joint between the structural members, requires less forming and machining time, and is compatible with single-sided tooling. Additionally, the friction plug weld is compatible with other joining methods, such as friction stir welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Keith R. McTernan, Douglas J. Waldron, Ray Miryekta