Patents by Inventor Kent W. Dunstan

Kent W. Dunstan 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: 8439308
    Abstract: A pressure relief apparatus for an engine compartment having a wall and an opening in the wall is provided. The pressure relief apparatus includes a door panel arranged in blocking relationship to the opening in the wall of the engine compartment, a plurality of hinges coupling the door panel to an inner surface of the wall of the engine compartment, a spring assembly coupled between each hinge and the inner surface of the wall, wherein the spring assembly includes a canister having an open end and a spring element housed within the canister, and a support fitting mounted to the engine compartment wall and having a portion extending toward the open end of the canister for applying a compressive force on the spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael E. Armstrong, Michael D. Jones, Kent W. Dunstan
  • Publication number: 20120125010
    Abstract: A pressure relief apparatus for an engine compartment having a wall and an opening in the wall is provided. The pressure relief apparatus includes a door panel arranged in blocking relationship to the opening in the wall of the engine compartment, a plurality of hinges coupling the door panel to an inner surface of the wall of the engine compartment, a spring assembly coupled between each hinge and the inner surface of the wall, wherein the spring assembly includes a canister having an open end and a spring element housed within the canister, and a support fitting mounted to the engine compartment wall and having a portion extending toward the open end of the canister for applying a compressive force on the spring element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Armstrong E. Michael, Michael D. Jones, Kent W. Dunstan
  • Patent number: 7850058
    Abstract: A method of superplastic forming of titanium packs and an associated assembly is provided. The titanium packs can include sheets having different granular structures so that the different sheets are adapted to superplastically form at different temperatures. One or more of the sheets can be formed at a temperature that is below the superplastic forming temperature of another sheet in the pack. In some cases, the occurrence of markoff can be reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Connelly, Kent W. Dunstan, William T. Williams, III, Peter N. Comley, Larry D. Hefti
  • Patent number: 5873547
    Abstract: A thrust mount (24) for passing thrust loads between a forward engine frame (16) and an aft engine mount upper fitting (34). The thrust mount includes first and second thrust links (46), (48) interconnected between the engine frame and an evener bar. A central clevis (30) extends forwardly from a forward surface (32) of the upper fitting (34). The central clevis (30) accepts a center portion (36) of the evener bar (38) and secures the evener bar therein using a rotatable connection mechanism (40). A pair of thrust lugs (42) also extends forwardly from the upper fitting. The central clevis is located between the opposed thrust lugs. Each thrust lug (42) includes slots (44) for receiving an evener bar end. The evener bar (38) further includes an aft surface (48) positioned near, though not normally contacting, the upper fitting forward surface (32). The rotatable connection mechanism (40) at the central clevis transfers thrust loads during normal operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Kent W. Dunstan
  • Patent number: 5860623
    Abstract: A failsafe engine mount (19) that includes a first link (45), a second link (47), a third link (53), four upper connection locations (39a), (39b), (39c), (39d) on an upper fitting (31), and four lower connection locations (75a), (75b), (75c), (75d) on a clevis strip (73) of an engine casing (71), is disclosed. The first link (45) connects the first upper connection location (39a) with the first lower connection location (75a). The second link (47) has a first arm (49) that connects the second lower connection location (75b) with the second upper connection location (39b). The second link (47) further includes a second arm (51) that connects the second upper connection location (39b) with the third lower connection location (75c). The third link (53) has a first arm (55) that connects the third upper connection location (39c) with the fourth upper connection location (39d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kent W. Dunstan, Kenneth E. Hey