Patents by Inventor Michael Kenneth-Que Louie
Michael Kenneth-Que Louie 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: 11953880Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for indexing a layup mandrel. One embodiment is a method for indexing a layup mandrel for a composite part. The method includes identifying a surface of a layup mandrel that travels in a process direction during fabrication of a composite part, placing a lamination head in contact with the surface, traversing the surface of the layup mandrel with the lamination head, acquiring a stream of 3D coordinates of the lamination head as the lamination head traverses the surface, characterizing the layup mandrel based on the stream of 3D coordinates, altering a Numerical Control (NC) program that directs layup of fiber reinforced material at the layup mandrel, based on a difference between the alignment of the layup mandrel and a nominal alignment of the layup mandrel.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jordan Seth Erickson, Michael Kenneth-Que Louie
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Patent number: 11911977Abstract: An illustrative example of the present disclosure provides a machine configured to form a composite structure. The machine includes a composite placement machine, measuring equipment, a tool path generator, and compaction equipment. The composite placement machine lays up composite plies. The measuring equipment measures surfaces of the composite plies to form measurements during layup of the composite plies. A computer includes a model of the composite plies for a structure. The tool path generator forms a modified tool path based upon a difference between the measurements and expected measurements for the composite plies in the model.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael Kenneth-Que Louie, Robert Graham Albers, Jeron D. Moore, Luis A. Perla, Gagandeep Saini, Brice A. Johnson, Marcin A. Rabiega
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Patent number: 11724467Abstract: A composite barrel is laid up on a rotatable mandrel using laminators that apply composite material on the mandrel. The laminators are arranged on opposite sides of the mandrel and apply composite material to a first region of the mandrel while the mandrel is held stationary in a first rotational position. The mandrel is rotated to a second rotational position where it is held stationary as the laminators apply composite material to a second region of the mandrel to complete the layup. Plies in the first and second regions are spliced together during the layup process.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael Kenneth-Que Louie, Todd Rudberg, Brent L. Thayer, Jordan S. Erickson, Keith Duane Price
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Patent number: 11597167Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for forming a laminate. The method includes indexing a layup mandrel to a lamination machine disposed at a first location, transporting the lamination machine and the layup mandrel in a process direction from the first location towards a second location, laying up a laminate comprising layers of fiber-reinforced material onto the layup mandrel via the lamination machine while the lamination machine and the layup mandrel are transported in the process direction, removing the layup mandrel and the laminate at the second location, and returning the lamination machine to the first location for laying up another laminate onto another mandrel.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael Kenneth-Que Louie, Jordan Seth Erickson
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Publication number: 20220194024Abstract: A composite barrel is laid up on a rotatable mandrel using laminators that apply composite material on the mandrel. The laminators are arranged on opposite sides of the mandrel and apply composite material to a first region of the mandrel while the mandrel is held stationary in a first rotational position. The mandrel is rotated to a second rotational position where it is held stationary as the laminators apply composite material to a second region of the mandrel to complete the layup. Plies in the first and second regions are spliced together during the layup process.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2021Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Michael Kenneth-Que Louie, Todd Rudberg, Brent L. Thayer, Jordan S. Erickson, Keith Duane Price
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Publication number: 20220152947Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabricating composite parts. The method includes subdividing a laminate into zones, laying up tows of fiber reinforced material for the laminate over a layup mandrel via multiple laminations such that each lamination head applies tows in a different zone, and splicing the zones together to form the laminate during the laying up of the tows while moving the layup mandrel in a process direction during fabrication of the composite parts.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2021Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventors: Daniel R. Smith, Darrell D. Jones, Michael Kenneth-Que Louie, Richard Allen Miller, II, Jordan Seth Erickson
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Publication number: 20220155754Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for indexing a layup mandrel. One embodiment is a method for indexing a layup mandrel for a composite part. The method includes identifying a surface of a layup mandrel that travels in a process direction during fabrication of a composite part, placing a lamination head in contact with the surface, traversing the surface of the layup mandrel with the lamination head, acquiring a stream of 3D coordinates of the lamination head as the lamination head traverses the surface, characterizing the layup mandrel based on the stream of 3D coordinates, altering a Numerical Control (NC) program that directs layup of fiber reinforced material at the layup mandrel, based on a difference between the alignment of the layup mandrel and a nominal alignment of the layup mandrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2021Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventors: Jordan Seth Erickson, Michael Kenneth-Que Louie
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Publication number: 20220152943Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for forming a laminate. The method includes indexing a layup mandrel to a lamination machine disposed at a first location, transporting the lamination machine and the layup mandrel in a process direction from the first location towards a second location, laying up a laminate comprising layers of fiber-reinforced material onto the layup mandrel via the lamination machine while the lamination machine and the layup mandrel are transported in the process direction, removing the layup mandrel and the laminate at the second location, and returning the lamination machine to the first location for laying up another laminate onto another mandrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2021Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventors: Michael Kenneth-Que Louie, Jordan Seth Erickson
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Publication number: 20210252807Abstract: An illustrative example of the present disclosure provides a method. A first set of composite plies including a first outer ply of a first composite structure is laid up. A first intermediate surface of the first outer ply is measured to form a first set of measurements. A laydown surface for a tool path of a composite placement machine is modified to form a modified tool path, wherein modifying the laydown surface comprises modifying the laydown surface such that a laydown surface of the modified tool path matches the first set of measurements. A composite ply is laid down using the composite placement machine and the modified tool path.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Inventors: Michael Kenneth-Que Louie, Robert Graham Albers, Jeron D. Moore, Luis A. Perla, Gagandeep Saini, Brice A. Johnson, Marcin A. Rabiega
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Patent number: 11034100Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a composite object. A first plurality of tows is laid up over a tool according to a first path. A second plurality of tows is laid up over the tool according to a second path. A first portion of the first plurality of tows runs non-parallel to a second portion of the second plurality of tows. First ends of the first portion of the first plurality of tows and second ends of the second portion of the second plurality of tows meet at a merge zone along the tool to form a ply of a composite laminate.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2018Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael Kenneth-Que Louie, Jeron D. Moore, Gagandeep Saini, Luis A. Perla, Brice Aaron Johnson, Stewart James Ibbotson, Timothy D. Jackson, Robert G. Meyer, Robert Graham Albers
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Patent number: 11020913Abstract: A process and system for improving surface quality of composite structures, including laying up a first set of composite plies including a first outer ply of a first composite structure. A first intermediate surface of the first outer ply is measured to form a first set of measurements. A laydown surface for a tool path of a composite placement machine is modified to form a modified tool path, wherein modifying the laydown surface comprises modifying the laydown surface such that a laydown surface of the modified tool path matches the first set of measurements. A composite ply is laid down using the composite placement machine and the modified tool path.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2018Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael Kenneth-Que Louie, Robert Graham Albers, Jeron D. Moore, Luis A. Perla, Gagandeep Saini, Brice A. Johnson, Marcin A. Rabiega
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Patent number: 10974465Abstract: A method and system for forming a composite laminate. A layup plan is generated for laying up a plurality of plies having a plurality of merge zones, each ply of the plurality of plies having a corresponding merge zone at which ends of a first plurality of tows for each ply and ends of a second plurality of tows for each ply meet. The locations of the plurality of merge zones are offset relative to each other through a thickness of the composite laminate. The plurality of plies is then laid up according to the layup plan to form a composite laminate.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2018Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jeron D. Moore, Michael Kenneth-Que Louie, Gagandeep Saini, Luis A. Perla, Brice Aaron Johnson, Stewart James Ibbotson, Robert G. Meyer
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Publication number: 20190389149Abstract: A method and system for forming a composite laminate. A layup plan is generated for laying up a plurality of plies having a plurality of merge zones, each ply of the plurality of plies having a corresponding merge zone at which ends of a first plurality of tows for each ply and ends of a second plurality of tows for each ply meet. The locations of the plurality of merge zones are offset relative to each other through a thickness of the composite laminate. The plurality of plies is then laid up according to the layup plan to form a composite laminate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2018Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: Jeron D. Moore, Michael Kenneth-Que Louie, Gagandeep Saini, Luis A. Perla, Brice Aaron Johnson, Stewart James Ibbotson, Robert G. Meyer
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Publication number: 20190389150Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a composite object. A first plurality of tows is laid up over a tool according to a first path. A second plurality of tows is laid up over the tool according to a second path. A first portion of the first plurality of tows runs non-parallel to a second portion of the second plurality of tows. First ends of the first portion of the first plurality of tows and second ends of the second portion of the second plurality of tows meet at a merge zone along the tool to form a ply of a composite laminate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2018Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: Michael Kenneth-Que Louie, Jeron D. Moore, Gagandeep Saini, Luis A. Perla, Brice Aaron Johnson, Stewart James Ibbotson, Timothy D. Jackson, Robert G. Meyer, Robert Graham Albers
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Publication number: 20190344513Abstract: An illustrative example of the present disclosure provides a method. A first set of composite plies including a first outer ply of a first composite structure is laid up. A first intermediate surface of the first outer ply is measured to form a first set of measurements. A laydown surface for a tool path of a composite placement machine is modified to form a modified tool path, wherein modifying the laydown surface comprises modifying the laydown surface such that a laydown surface of the modified tool path matches the first set of measurements. A composite ply is laid down using the composite placement machine and the modified tool path.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2018Publication date: November 14, 2019Inventors: Michael Kenneth-Que Louie, Robert Graham Albers, Jeron D. Moore, Luis A. Perla, Gagandeep Saini, Brice A. Johnson, Marcin A. Rabiega
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Patent number: 8985174Abstract: A reusable vacuum bag for processing parts is made by encapsulating a generally rigid frame within a flexible diaphragm.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2011Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael Kenneth-Que Louie, Kenneth M. Dull, Timothy David Aquino
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Publication number: 20130048212Abstract: A reusable vacuum bag for processing parts is made by encapsulating a generally rigid frame within a flexible diaphragm.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Michael Kenneth-Que Louie, Kenneth M. Dull, Timothy David Aquino