Patents by Inventor Kenneth L. Brook

Kenneth L. Brook 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).

  • Patent number: 10308344
    Abstract: The disclosure herein provides for disbond resistant stringer runouts. Various aspects may be used independently or in combination to mitigate disbonding associated with the stiffener runout under operational loads. Aspects include a stiffener runout having rounded base flange corners. A recessed notch may be incorporated within the base flange to provide a flange termination point that is forward of the web termination point, allowing the web to terminate prior to the base flange. The web may be trimmed from a full height to a reduced height at the web termination point. The base flange may be co-bonded to the underlying composite structure via a scarf joint. Perimeter clamp radius fillers may be used to concentrate a clamping force around the perimeter of the base flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Lyle R. Deobald, Kenneth L. Brook, Timothy D. Jackson, Kenneth J. Duffie, Gregory B. Doty
  • Publication number: 20170246830
    Abstract: The disclosure herein provides for disbond resistant stringer runouts. Various aspects may be used independently or in combination to mitigate disbonding associated with the stiffener runout under operational loads. Aspects include a stiffener runout having rounded base flange corners. A recessed notch may be incorporated within the base flange to provide a flange termination point that is forward of the web termination point, allowing the web to terminate prior to the base flange. The web may be trimmed from a full height to a reduced height at the web termination point. The base flange may be co-bonded to the underlying composite structure via a scarf joint. Perimeter clamp radius fillers may be used to concentrate a clamping force around the perimeter of the base flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Lyle R. Deobald, Kenneth L. Brook, Timothy D. Jackson, Kenneth J. Duffie, Gregory B. Doty
  • Patent number: 9676470
    Abstract: The disclosure herein provides for disbond resistant stringer runouts. Various aspects may be used independently or in combination to mitigate disbonding associated with the stiffener runout under operational loads. Aspects include a stiffener runout having rounded base flange corners. A recessed notch may be incorporated within the base flange to provide a flange termination point that is forward of the web termination point, allowing the web to terminate prior to the base flange. The web may be trimmed from a full height to a reduced height at the web termination point. The base flange may be co-bonded to the underlying composite structure via a scarf joint. Perimeter clamp radius fillers may be used to concentrate a clamping force around the perimeter of the base flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Lyle R. Deobald, Kenneth L. Brook, Timothy D. Jackson, Kenneth J. Duffie, Gregory B. Doty
  • Patent number: 9382014
    Abstract: The disclosure provides in one embodiment for a vent dam for use in a vent stringer in a fuel vent system. The vent dam is configured to mount to and within the vent stringer The vent dam has a contoured guiding surface for guiding fuel flow into and out of an interior of the vent stringer, wherein the vent dam, the vent stringer, and a tube attached to the vent stringer are in fluid communication with one or more fuel tanks. The vent dam further has one or more side flanges extending from the contoured guiding surface for providing attachment of the vent dam to one or more interior portions of the vent stringer, wherein the contoured guiding surface and the one or more side flanges are formed as one piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Brook, Bonnie A. Keefe
  • Patent number: 9138919
    Abstract: A collapsible bladder has flexible outer walls and at least one strut inside the enclosure. The strut is connected to the outer walls and controls the shape into which the enclosure may be collapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: John D. Morris, Michael A. Lee, Kenneth L. Brook
  • Publication number: 20150239570
    Abstract: The disclosure provides in one embodiment for a vent dam for use in a vent stringer in a fuel vent system. The vent dam is configured to mount to and within the vent stringer The vent dam has a contoured guiding surface for guiding fuel flow into and out of an interior of the vent stringer, wherein the vent dam, the vent stringer, and a tube attached to the vent stringer are in fluid communication with one or more fuel tanks. The vent dam further has one or more side flanges extending from the contoured guiding surface for providing attachment of the vent dam to one or more interior portions of the vent stringer, wherein the contoured guiding surface and the one or more side flanges are formed as one piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Brook, Bonnie A. Keefe
  • Publication number: 20150175250
    Abstract: The disclosure herein provides for disbond resistant stringer runouts. Various aspects may be used independently or in combination to mitigate disbonding associated with the stiffener runout under operational loads. Aspects include a stiffener runout having rounded base flange corners. A recessed notch may be incorporated within the base flange to provide a flange termination point that is forward of the web termination point, allowing the web to terminate prior to the base flange. The web may be trimmed from a full height to a reduced height at the web termination point. The base flange may be co-bonded to the underlying composite structure via a scarf joint. Perimeter clamp radius fillers may be used to concentrate a clamping force around the perimeter of the base flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Lyle R. Deobald, Kenneth L. Brook, Timothy D. Jackson, Kenneth J. Duffie, Gregory B. Doty
  • Patent number: 9061754
    Abstract: A structure may comprise a skin member and a hat stringer. The hat stringer may include a base portion and first and second webs extending outwardly from the base portion. The first and second webs may be formed of a wrap laminate having wrap plies and a cover laminate having cover plies. The first and second webs may be interconnected by a cap. The hat stringer and skin member may be co-cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Donald P. Matheson, Kenneth L. Brook
  • Patent number: 9010689
    Abstract: The disclosure provides in one embodiment for a vent dam for use in a vent stringer in a fuel vent system. The vent dam comprises a contoured guiding surface for guiding fluid flow in a vent stringer. The vent dam further comprises one or more side flanges extending from the contoured guiding surface for providing attachment of the vent dam within the vent stringer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Brook, Bonnie Keefe
  • Patent number: 8974886
    Abstract: The disclosure herein provides for disbond resistant stringer runouts. Various aspects may be used independently or in combination to mitigate disbonding associated with the stiffener runout under operational loads. Aspects include a stiffener runout having rounded base flange corners. A recessed notch may be incorporated within the base flange to provide a flange termination point that is forward of the web termination point, allowing the web to terminate prior to the base flange. The web may be trimmed from a full height to a reduced height at the web termination point. The base flange may be co-bonded to the underlying composite structure via a scarf joint. Perimeter clamp radius fillers may be used to concentrate a clamping force around the perimeter of the base flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Lyle Ray Deobald, Kenneth L. Brook, Timothy D. Jackson, Kenneth John DuffiƩ, Gregory B. Doty
  • Publication number: 20140322382
    Abstract: A collapsible bladder has flexible outer walls and at least one strut inside the enclosure. The strut is connected to the outer walls and controls the shape into which the enclosure may be collapsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: John D. Morris, Michael A. Lee, Kenneth L. Brook
  • Patent number: 8800953
    Abstract: A collapsible bladder has flexible outer walls and at least one strut inside the enclosure. The strut is connected to the outer walls and controls the shape into which the enclosure may be collapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John D. Morris, Michael A. Lee, Kenneth L. Brook
  • Patent number: 8746618
    Abstract: A stringer comprises a base portion and first and second webs extending outwardly from the base portion. The orientation of at least one of the first and second webs may transition from a first angle to a second angle within an angle transition zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Brook, Niraj Patel, John D. Morris, Michael A. Lee
  • Patent number: 8714485
    Abstract: A structure may comprise a skin member and a hat stringer. The hat stringer may include a base portion and first and second webs extending outwardly from the base portion. Each one of the first and second webs may be comprised of a wrap laminate having wrap plies and a cover laminate having cover plies. The first and second webs may be interconnected by a cap. The hat stringer and skin member may be co-cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Donald P. Matheson, Kenneth L. Brook
  • Publication number: 20140120318
    Abstract: A structure may comprise a skin member and a hat stringer. The hat stringer may include a base portion and first and second webs extending outwardly from the base portion. The first and second webs may be formed of a wrap laminate having wrap plies and a cover laminate having cover plies. The first and second webs may be interconnected by a cap. The hat stringer and skin member may be co-cured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Donald P. Matheson, Kenneth L. Brook
  • Publication number: 20130287995
    Abstract: The disclosure herein provides for disbond resistant stringer runouts. Various aspects may be used independently or in combination to mitigate disbonding associated with the stiffener runout under operational loads. Aspects include a stiffener runout having rounded base flange corners. A recessed notch may be incorporated within the base flange to provide a flange termination point that is forward of the web termination point, allowing the web to terminate prior to the base flange. The web may be trimmed from a full height to a reduced height at the web termination point. The base flange may be co-bonded to the underlying composite structure via a scarf joint. Perimeter clamp radius fillers may be used to concentrate a clamping force around the perimeter of the base flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Lyle Ray Deobald, Kenneth L. Brook, Timothy D. Jackson, Kenneth John DuffiƩ, Gregory B. Doty
  • Patent number: 8293051
    Abstract: A collapsible bladder has flexible outer walls and at least one strut inside the enclosure. The strut is connected to the outer walls and controls the shape into which the enclosure may be collapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John D. Morris, Michael A. Lee, Kenneth L. Brook
  • Publication number: 20120045609
    Abstract: A stringer comprises a base portion and first and second webs extending outwardly from the base portion. The orientation of at least one of the first and second webs may transition from a first angle to a second angle within an angle transition zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Brook, Niraj Patel, John D. Morris, Michael A. Lee
  • Patent number: 8074694
    Abstract: A stringer comprises a base portion and first and second webs extending outwardly from the base portion. The orientation of at least one of the first and second webs may transition from a first angle to a second angle within an angle transition zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Brook, Niraj Patel, John D. Morris, Michael A. Lee
  • Publication number: 20110139932
    Abstract: A structure may comprise a skin member and a hat stringer. The hat stringer may include a base portion and first and second webs extending outwardly from the base portion. Each one of the first and second webs may be comprised of a wrap laminate having wrap plies and a cover laminate having cover plies. The first and second webs may be interconnected by a cap. The hat stringer and skin member may be co-cured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Donald P. Matheson, Kenneth L. Brook