Patents by Inventor Michael K. Hughes

Michael K. Hughes 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: 9574587
    Abstract: A system for preloading a fastener of a mechanical fitting includes a strain measuring device to measure a strain on the fastener as the fastener is tightened. The mechanical fitting may include a base structure and a plate member. A support structure supports the plate member at a predetermined spacing from the base structure. The support structure may include a first sloping plate and a second sloping plate each extending between the plate member and the base structure. The fastener extends through a first hole in the plate member and a second hole in the base structure. The fastener is accessible through an opening on each side of the support structure. At least a portion of the strain measuring device is positioned relative to the fastener through a first opening of the openings to measure the strain on the fastener correlating to the preload as the fastener is tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Grip, Michael K. Hughes
  • Publication number: 20140298635
    Abstract: A system for preloading a fastener of a mechanical fitting includes a strain measuring device to measure a strain on the fastener as the fastener is tightened. The mechanical fitting may include a base structure and a plate member. A support structure supports the plate member at a predetermined spacing from the base structure. The support structure may include a first sloping plate and a second sloping plate each extending between the plate member and the base structure. The fastener extends through a first hole in the plate member and a second hole in the base structure. The fastener is accessible through an opening on each side of the support structure. At least a portion of the strain measuring device is positioned relative to the fastener through a first opening of the openings to measure the strain on the fastener correlating to the preload as the fastener is tightened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Grip, Michael K. Hughes
  • Publication number: 20080285007
    Abstract: A measurement system that uses a laser triangulation device to measure the thickness of transparent and/or opaque layers of a multilayer film. The triangulation device has a laser device that projects a beam perpendicularly to a surface of the multilayer film and first and second detectors that image first and second reflected rays of the beam at first and second distances offset from first and second optical axes to produce first and second measurement signals. A controller processes the measurement signals using a triangulation procedure and a simultaneous equation procedure to provide a thickness of an outer transparent layer. For a multilayer film having an opaque layer sandwiched between outer transparent layers, first and second triangulation devices are disposed on opposed sides of the film to measure the thickness of each outer film. Knowing the distance between the two devices, the thickness of the opaque layer can be derived.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventor: Michael K. Hughes
  • Publication number: 20080158572
    Abstract: A measurement system that uses a laser triangulation device to measure the thickness of transparent and/or opaque layers of a multilayer film. The triangulation device has a laser device that projects a beam perpendicularly to a surface of the multilayer film and first and second detectors that image first and second reflected rays of the beam at first and second distances offset from first and second optical axes to produce first and second measurement signals. A controller processes the measurement signals using a triangulation procedure and a simultaneous equation procedure to provide a thickness of an outer transparent layer. For a multilayer film having an opaque layer sandwiched between outer transparent layers, first and second triangulation devices are disposed on opposed sides of the film to measure the thickness of each outer film. Knowing the distance between the two devices, the thickness of the opaque layer can be derived.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Michael K. Hughes
  • Patent number: 4182728
    Abstract: Discoloration of dicarboxylic acid chlorides having 4 to 10 carbon atoms, especially those made by reacting the corresponding dicarboxylic acid with phosphorus trichloride, is inhibited by the addition of a dicarboxylic acid thereto. Addition of a dicarboxylic acid to a dicarboxylic acid chloride which has already discolored precipitates impurities and thus clarifies the dicarboxylic acid chloride. The clarified dicarboxylic acid chlorides are useful as starting materials to make polyester foam materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Des Marais, Michael K. Hughes