Patents by Inventor Matthew R. DesJardien
Matthew R. DesJardien 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).
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Patent number: 11235432Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting an object. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a support structure, a positioning system, and a retention system. The positioning system may be associated with the support structure and configured to position the support structure with respect to a number of linear axes. The retention system may be associated with the support structure. The retention system may be configured to retain a portion of an object and move the portion of the object towards a platform such that the portion of the object substantially conforms to a shape of the platform.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2018Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Matthew R. DesJardien, Eric M. Reid, James N. Buttrick, Darrell Darwin Jones, Dan Dresskell Day, Paul Reed Stone
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Patent number: 11027378Abstract: A method for assembly manufacturing including positioning a workpiece in an assembly position within an operational cell, positioning a fastening machine relative to the workpiece, wherein the fastening machine includes a robot frame comprising a throat, an assembly end effector coupled to the frame about the throat, and a plurality of linear actuators coupled to the frame, moving, by the plurality of linear actuators, the fastening machine about at least one of six degrees of freedom to receive at least a portion of the workpiece within the throat and position the assembly end effector relative to the workpiece, and performing, by the fastening machine, a fastening operation on the workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eric M. Reid, Matthew R. Desjardien, Edward J. Batt, Antonio C. Micale
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Publication number: 20190160610Abstract: A method for assembly manufacturing including positioning a workpiece in an assembly position within an operational cell, positioning a fastening machine relative to the workpiece, wherein the fastening machine includes a robot frame comprising a throat, an assembly end effector coupled to the frame about the throat, and a plurality of linear actuators coupled to the frame, moving, by the plurality of linear actuators, the fastening machine about at least one of six degrees of freedom to receive at least a portion of the workpiece within the throat and position the assembly end effector relative to the workpiece, and performing, by the fastening machine, a fastening operation on the workpiece.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2019Publication date: May 30, 2019Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eric M. Reid, Matthew R. Desjardien, Edward J. Batt, Antonio C. Micale
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Patent number: 10272530Abstract: A method for assembly manufacturing may include the steps of: (1) positioning, by a material-handling system, an unassembled workpiece in a first assembly position within a tacking cell, (2) performing, by a first plurality of fastening machines, a tack fastening operation on the unassembled workpiece to form a partially assembled workpiece, (3) transferring, by the material-handling system, the partially assembled workpiece from the tacking cell to a fastening cell, (4) positioning, by the material-handling system, the partially assembled workpiece in a second assembly position within the fastening cell, and (5) performing, by a second plurality of fastening machines, a final fastening operation on the partially assembled workpiece to form an assembled workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2016Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eric M. Reid, Matthew R. Desjardien, Edward J. Batt, Antonio C. Micale
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Patent number: 10086596Abstract: An apparatus for forming a material layer onto a form tool may include at least one nosepiece configured to laterally sweep a ply carrier onto a form tool contour. The apparatus may include a pair of tension arms configured to support opposing lateral sides of a ply carrier having a material layer mounted to a lower surface thereof. The apparatus may include one or more actuators configured to position the tension arms during forming of the ply carrier to the form tool contour. The one or more actuators may be configured to sense and control lateral tension in the ply carrier during forming of the ply carrier to the form tool contour.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Matthew R. Desjardien, Blake Rafferty, Michael Karas, Mark S. Bunker, Erik Lund, Garrett C. Hanson, Stephen G. Holley, Benjamin B. Lee, John D. O'Connell, John D. Morris, Derek J. Flolid, Bruce S. Howard, Mark C. Boberg, Eric J. Walker, Silas L. Studley, Derek Willis
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Patent number: 10040155Abstract: A drilling byproduct recovery system employs a vacuum shroud positioned adjacent a workpiece. A spindle extends from a base and engages a tool. The spindle vertically reciprocates the tool upwardly through an aperture in the vacuum shroud to engage the workpiece. A circumferential air jet is emitted proximate a base of the spindle and directed toward the vacuum shroud.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2016Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Matthew R. DesJardien, Samuel Chew, Donald J. Best
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Publication number: 20180169807Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting an object. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a support structure, a positioning system, and a retention system. The positioning system may be associated with the support structure and configured to position the support structure with respect to a number of linear axes. The retention system may be associated with the support structure. The retention system may be configured to retain a portion of an object and move the portion of the object towards a platform such that the portion of the object substantially conforms to a shape of the platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2018Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Matthew R. DesJardien, Eric M. Reid, James N. Buttrick, Darrell Darwin Jones, Dan Dresskell Day, Paul Reed Stone
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Patent number: 9925629Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting an object. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a support structure, a positioning system, and a retention system. The positioning system may be associated with the support structure and configured to position the support structure with respect to a number of linear axes. The retention system may be associated with the support structure. The retention system may be configured to retain a portion of an object and move the portion of the object towards a platform such that the portion of the object substantially conforms to a shape of the platform.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2013Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Matthew R. DesJardien, Eric M. Reid, James N. Buttrick, Darrell Darwin Jones, Dan Dresskell Day, Paul Reed Stone
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Patent number: 9889610Abstract: A composite ply is compacted around a radius edge of the tool by a rolling former that rolls over the radiused edge and conforms to any contours along the length of the edge. The rolling former includes a compliant tubular member rotatably held in spaced apart roller assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2014Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Matthew R. DesJardien, James N. Buttrick
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Patent number: 9873230Abstract: A mobile vehicle is used to place, compact and inspect composite plies at selected locations on a tool. The vehicle includes an on-board supply of composite plies, a transfer platen for transferring plies to the tool, a compactor for compacting plies on the tool, and an inspection device for inspecting plies on the tool, each operated and manipulated by an on-board manipulator such as a robot.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Matthew R. DesJardien, James N. Buttrick, Terrence J. Rowe, Daniel Mark McDonagh, Silas Lawton Studley, Tracy E. Zimmerman
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Publication number: 20170203401Abstract: A drilling byproduct recovery system employs a vacuum shroud positioned adjacent a workpiece. A spindle extends from a base and engages a tool. The spindle vertically reciprocates the tool upwardly through an aperture in the vacuum shroud to engage the workpiece. A circumferential air jet is emitted proximate a base of the spindle and directed toward the vacuum shroud.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2016Publication date: July 20, 2017Inventors: Matthew R. DesJardien, Samuel Chew, Donald J. Best
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Patent number: 9643738Abstract: A method of loading a landing gear in an aircraft comprises accessing an ideal path specifying movement of the landing gear from a starting location to an expected mounting location on the aircraft; determining a difference between the expected mounting location and an actual mounting location on the aircraft; modifying the ideal path to move the expected mounting location to the actual mounting location; and moving the landing gear along the modified path.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Matthew R. DesJardien, Blair P. Nelson, Allan M. Kremenich, Zeyad A. Al Aqrabawi, Brian Van Horne
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Publication number: 20160354882Abstract: A method for assembly manufacturing may include the steps of: (1) positioning, by a material-handling system, an unassembled workpiece in a first assembly position within a tacking cell, (2) performing, by a first plurality of fastening machines, a tack fastening operation on the unassembled workpiece to form a partially assembled workpiece, (3) transferring, by the material-handling system, the partially assembled workpiece from the tacking cell to a fastening cell, (4) positioning, by the material-handling system, the partially assembled workpiece in a second assembly position within the fastening cell, and (5) performing, by a second plurality of fastening machines, a final fastening operation on the partially assembled workpiece to form an assembled workpiece.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: Eric M. Reid, Matthew R. Desjardien, Edward J. Batt, Antonio C. Micale
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Publication number: 20160332749Abstract: A method of loading a landing gear in an aircraft comprises accessing an ideal path specifying movement of the landing gear from a starting location to an expected mounting location on the aircraft; determining a difference between the expected mounting location and an actual mounting location on the aircraft; modifying the ideal path to move the expected mounting location to the actual mounting location; and moving the landing gear along the modified path.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2015Publication date: November 17, 2016Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Matthew R. DesJardien, Blair P. Nelson, Allan M. Kremenich, Zeyad A. Al Aqrabawi, Brian Van Horne
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Patent number: 9484148Abstract: A method for distributing energy to a group of ground-based machines. The energy is supplied to the group of ground-based machines through a pattern of inductive power transfer lines physically associated with a ground in a work area. Operations are performed with the group of ground-based machines in the work area. The group of ground-based machines moves in the work area without following a path based on the inductive power transfer lines.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Eric M. Reid, Matthew R. DesJardien, Steven A. Best, Daniel Mark McDonagh, William Goodridge Westgard, Carlos D. Crespo
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Patent number: 9452500Abstract: A system for assembly manufacturing may include at least one tacking cell configured to perform at least one tack fastening operation on a workpiece, at least one fastening cell configured to perform at least one final fastening operation on the workpiece and a material-handling system linking the tacking cell and the fastening cell, wherein the material-handling system positions the workpiece within the tacking cell and wherein the material-handling system transfers the workpiece from the tacking cell to the fastening cell.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2014Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eric M. Reid, Matthew R. Desjardien, Edward J. Batt, Antonio C. Micale
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Publication number: 20160263879Abstract: An apparatus for forming a material layer onto a form tool may include at least one nosepiece configured to laterally sweep a ply carrier onto a form tool contour. The apparatus may include a pair of tension arms configured to support opposing lateral sides of a ply carrier having a material layer mounted to a lower surface thereof. The apparatus may include one or more actuators configured to position the tension arms during forming of the ply carrier to the form tool contour. The one or more actuators may be configured to sense and control lateral tension in the ply carrier during forming of the ply carrier to the form tool contour.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2015Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Matthew R. Desjardien, Blake Rafferty, Michael Karas, Mark S. Bunker, Erik Lund, Garrett C. Hanson, Stephen G. Holley, Benjamin B. Lee, John D. O'Connell, John D. Morris, Derek J. Flolid, Bruce S. Howard, Mark C. Boberg, Eric J. Walker, Silas L. Studley, Derek Willis
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Publication number: 20160031166Abstract: A composite ply is compacted around a radius edge of the tool by a rolling former that rolls over the radiused edge and conforms to any contours along the length of the edge. The rolling former includes a compliant tubular member rotatably held in spaced apart roller assemblies.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2014Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: Matthew R. DesJardien, James N. Buttrick
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Publication number: 20150266147Abstract: A system for assembly manufacturing may include at least one tacking cell configured to perform at least one tack fastening operation on a workpiece, at least one fastening cell configured to perform at least one final fastening operation on the workpiece and a material-handling system linking the tacking cell and the fastening cell, wherein the material-handling system positions the workpiece within the tacking cell and wherein the material-handling system transfers the workpiece from the tacking cell to the fastening cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2014Publication date: September 24, 2015Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eric M. Reid, Matthew R. Desjardien, Edward J. Batt, Antonio C. Micale
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Publication number: 20140353894Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting an object. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a support structure, a positioning system, and a retention system. The positioning system may be associated with the support structure and configured to position the support structure with respect to a number of linear axes. The retention system may be associated with the support structure. The retention system may be configured to retain a portion of an object and move the portion of the object towards a platform such that the portion of the object substantially conforms to a shape of the platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Matthew R. DesJardien, Eric M. Reid, James N. Buttrick, Darrell Darwin Jones, Dan Dresskell Day, Paul Reed Stone