Patents by Inventor Mark T. Smitherman

Mark T. Smitherman 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).

  • Portable friction stir welding repair tool
    Patent number: 11077517
    Abstract: Embodiments can include a self-reacting friction stir weld (“FSW”) tool. The device can be configured to be portable and produce full penetration welds in situ. The FSW tool can include a system that cuts out a portion of the structure surrounding a defective portion of the structure. A work-piece can be inserted within the removed portion and friction stir welded to the structure via the FSW tool. A superior repair as compared to merely welding the defect can be achieved by replacing a portion of the structure surrounding the defect as opposed to merely welding the defect (e.g., the crack). A controlled geometric shaped weld beam can be generated for the interface between the work-piece and the structure, which may led to a stronger, more reliable weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Concurrent Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mark. T. Smitherman, Timothy G. Freidhoff, Paul I. Sleppy, Daniel B. George, II, James C. McHenry, Alan W. Baum
  • PORTABLE FRICTION STIR WELDING REPAIR TOOL
    Publication number: 20180161915
    Abstract: Embodiments can include a self-reacting friction stir weld (“FSW”) tool. The device can be configured to be portable and produce full penetration welds in situ. The FSW tool can include a system that cuts out a portion of the structure surrounding a defective portion of the structure. A work-piece can be inserted within the removed portion and friction stir welded to the structure via the FSW tool. A superior repair as compared to merely welding the defect can be achieved by replacing a portion of the structure surrounding the defect as opposed to merely welding the defect (e.g., the crack). A controlled geometric shaped weld beam can be generated for the interface between the work-piece and the structure, which may led to a stronger, more reliable weld.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Mark T. Smitherman, Timothy G. Freidhoff, Paul I. Sleppy, Daniel B. George, II, James C. McHenry, Alan W. Baum