Patents by Inventor Larry Scott Smotherman

Larry Scott Smotherman 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).

  • Method and Apparatus for the Application of Frame to Fuselage Pull-up Force via Fuselage Skin Waterline Tensioning
    Publication number: 20240101277
    Abstract: A device to assemble a skin and a frame of an aircraft fuselage. The device includes first and second brace members that extend along opposing sides of a gap. Arches are spaced apart and fixedly connected to the first and second brace members and that extend across the gap. A strongback is attached to and movable along the first and second brace members with the strongback having a curved shape that matches the plurality of arches. The strongback includes clamps configured to engage with the frame. First and second tension devices apply tension to the skin at the strongback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Santiago Mejia, Patrick James Macko, Byron James Autry, Paul Gabriel Werntges, Larry Scott Smotherman, David Raines, Sara Murphy
  • Method and apparatus for the application of frame to fuselage pull-up force via fuselage skin waterline tensioning
    Patent number: 11866201
    Abstract: A device to assemble a skin and a frame of an aircraft fuselage. The device includes first and second brace members that extend along opposing sides of a gap. Arches are spaced apart and fixedly connected to the first and second brace members and that extend across the gap. A strongback is attached to and movable along the first and second brace members with the strongback having a curved shape that matches the plurality of arches. The strongback includes clamps configured to engage with the frame. First and second tension devices apply tension to the skin at the strongback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Santiago Mejia, Patrick James Macko, Byron James Autry, Paul Gabriel Werntges, Larry Scott Smotherman, David Raines, Sara Murphy
  • Method and Apparatus for the Application of Frame to Fuselage Pull-up Force via Fuselage Skin Waterline Tensioning
    Publication number: 20230356857
    Abstract: A device to assemble a skin and a frame of an aircraft fuselage. The device includes first and second brace members that extend along opposing sides of a gap. Arches are spaced apart and fixedly connected to the first and second brace members and that extend across the gap. A strongback is attached to and movable along the first and second brace members with the strongback having a curved shape that matches the plurality of arches. The strongback includes clamps configured to engage with the frame. First and second tension devices apply tension to the skin at the strongback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Santiago Mejia, Patrick James Macko, Byron James Autry, Paul Gabriel Werntges, Larry Scott Smotherman, David Raines, Sara Murphy