Patents by Inventor Nick S. Evans

Nick S. Evans 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: 10239159
    Abstract: A wire guide and a laser wire-processing device that includes a wire guide are provided. The laser wire-processing device includes a housing and an aperture in a side of the housing, wherein the aperture defines a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the aperture. The laser wire-processing device also includes a backstop arranged in the housing and aligned with the longitudinal axis, the backstop defining a wire-contact surface in a facing relationship with the aperture. The laser wire-processing device also includes a wire guide arranged in the housing to manipulate a wire inserted through the aperture into a desired position relative to the longitudinal axis between the aperture and the backstop. The laser wire-processing device also includes a laser operable to direct a laser beam toward an insulation layer of the wire. The wire guide could be a tube arranged in the device or a backstop guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Bradley J. Mitchell, Mark Blumenkrantz
  • Patent number: 10232550
    Abstract: A system for additively manufacturing a composite part comprises a delivery assembly, a feed mechanism, and a source of curing energy. The delivery assembly comprises a delivery guide movable relative to a surface and is configured to deposit a continuous flexible line along a print path. The delivery assembly further comprises a first inlet, configured to receive a non-resin component, and a second inlet, configured to receive a photopolymer resin. The delivery assembly applies the photopolymer resin to the non-resin component. The feed mechanism pushes the continuous flexible line out of the delivery guide. The source of the curing energy delivers the curing energy to a portion of the continuous flexible line after it exits the delivery guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Samuel F. Harrison, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Patent number: 10232570
    Abstract: A system for additively manufacturing a composite part comprises a delivery guide and a surface, at least one of which is movable relative to another. The delivery guide is configured to deposit at least a segment of a continuous flexible line along a print path. The print path is stationary relative to the surface. The continuous flexible line comprises a non-resin component and a photopolymer-resin component that is partially cured. The system further comprises a feed mechanism configured to push the continuous flexible line through the delivery guide. The system further comprises a source of a curing energy. The source is configured to deliver the curing energy at least to a portion of the segment of the continuous flexible line after the segment of the continuous flexible line exits the delivery guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Samuel F. Harrison, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Patent number: 10201941
    Abstract: A system comprises a delivery guide movable relative to a surface. The delivery guide is configured to deposit a continuous flexible line along a print path that is stationary relative to the surface. The system further comprises a vessel, configured to hold a volume of a liquid photopolymer resin and to apply a quantity of the liquid photopolymer resin to the non-resin component to create the continuous flexible line. The system further comprises a feed mechanism, configured to pull the non-resin component through the vessel and to push the continuous flexible line out of the delivery guide. The system further comprises a source of curing energy. The source is configured to deliver the curing energy at least to a portion of the segment of the continuous flexible line after the segment of the continuous flexible line exits the delivery guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Samuel F. Harrison, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Patent number: 10195784
    Abstract: A system for additively manufacturing a composite part comprises a delivery guide, movable relative to a surface. The delivery guide is configured to deposit at least a segment of a continuous flexible line along a print path. The continuous flexible line comprises a non-resin component and a thermosetting-resin component. The thermosetting-resin component comprises a first part and a second part. The system further comprises a first resin-part applicator, configured to apply a first quantity of the first part to the non-resin component, and a second resin-part applicator, configured to apply a second quantity of the second part to the first quantity of the first part of a thermosetting resin, applied to the non-resin component. The system also comprises a feed mechanism, configured to pull the non-resin component through the first resin-part applicator and the second resin-part applicator, and to push the continuous flexible line out of the delivery guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Samuel F. Harrison, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Patent number: 10189242
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing a composite part is disclosed. The method comprises depositing a segment of a continuous flexible line along a print path. The continuous flexible line comprises a non-resin component and a thermosetting resin component that is not fully cured. The method further comprises, while advancing the continuous flexible line toward the print path, delivering a predetermined or actively determined amount of curing energy at least to a portion of the segment of the continuous flexible line at a controlled rate after the segment of the continuous flexible line is deposited along the print path to at least partially cure at least the portion of the segment of the continuous flexible line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Samuel F. Harrison, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Patent number: 10189240
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing a composite part comprises applying a liquid photopolymer resin to a non-resin component to create a continuous flexible line by pulling the non-resin component through a vessel, containing a volume of the liquid photopolymer resin. The continuous flexible line comprises the non-resin component and a photopolymer-resin component that comprises at least some of the liquid photopolymer resin applied to the non-resin component. The method further comprises routing the continuous flexible line into a delivery guide, pushing the continuous flexible line out of the delivery guide, depositing, via the delivery guide, a segment of the continuous flexible line along a print path, and delivering curing energy at least to a portion of the segment of the continuous flexible line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Samuel F. Harrison, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Patent number: 10189241
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing a composite part is disclosed. The method comprises pushing a continuous flexible line through a delivery guide. The continuous flexible line comprises a non-resin component and a thermosetting-epoxy-resin component that is partially cured. The method also comprises depositing, via the delivery guide, a segment of the continuous flexible line along a print path. The method further comprises maintaining the thermosetting-epoxy-resin component of at least the continuous flexible line being pushed through the delivery guide below a threshold temperature prior to depositing the segment of the continuous flexible line along the print path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Samuel F. Harrison, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Patent number: 10183478
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing a composite part is disclosed. The method comprises depositing, via a delivery guide, a segment of a continuous flexible line along a print path. The continuous flexible line comprises a non-resin component and a thermosetting-epoxy-resin component that is partially cured. The method also comprises maintaining the thermosetting-epoxy-resin component of at least the continuous flexible line being advanced toward the print path via the delivery guide below a threshold temperature. The method further comprises delivering a predetermined or actively determined amount of curing energy to the segment of the continuous flexible line at a controlled rate while advancing the continuous flexible line toward the print path to at least partially cure the segment of the continuous flexible line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Samuel F. Harrison, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Patent number: 10183479
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing a composite part comprises applying a first quantity of a first part of a thermosetting resin to a first element of a non-resin component by pulling the first element through a first resin-part applicator and applying a second quantity of a second part of the thermosetting resin to a second element of the non-resin component by pulling the second element through a second resin-part applicator. The method also comprises combining the first element with the first quantity of first part and the second element with the second quantity of second part, to create a continuous flexible line. The method additionally comprises routing the continuous flexible line into a delivery guide and depositing, via the delivery guide, a segment of the continuous flexible line along a print path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Samuel F. Harrison, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Patent number: 10179446
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing a composite part comprises applying a thermosetting resin to a non-resin component to create a continuous flexible line by pulling a non-resin component through a first resin-part applicator, in which a first quantity of a first part of the thermosetting resin is applied to the non-resin component, and by pulling a non-resin component through a second resin-part applicator, in which a second quantity of a second part of the thermosetting resin is applied to at least a portion of the first quantity of the first part of the thermosetting resin, applied to the non-resin component. The method further comprises routing the continuous flexible line into a delivery guide and depositing, via the delivery guide, a segment of the continuous flexible line along a print path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Samuel F. Harrison, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Patent number: 10166752
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing a composite part comprises applying a photopolymer resin to a non-resin component while pushing a continuous flexible line through a delivery assembly. The continuous flexible line comprises the non-resin component and a photopolymer-resin component that comprises at least some of the photopolymer resin applied to the non-resin component. The method also comprises depositing, via the delivery assembly, a segment of the continuous flexible line along a print path. The method further comprises delivering curing energy to at least a portion of the segment of the continuous flexible line deposited along the print path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Samuel F. Harrison, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Patent number: 10166753
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing composite part comprises depositing a segment of a continuous flexible line along a print path. The continuous flexible line comprises a non-resin component and further comprises a photopolymer-resin component that is uncured. The method further comprises delivering a predetermined or actively determined amount of curing energy at least to a portion of the segment of the continuous flexible line at a controlled rate while advancing the continuous flexible line toward the print path and after the segment of the continuous flexible line is deposited along the print path to at least partially cure at least the portion of the segment of the continuous flexible line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Samuel F. Harrison, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Patent number: 10131132
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing a composite part comprises depositing a segment of a continuous flexible line along a print path. The continuous flexible line comprises a non-resin component and a photopolymer-resin component that is partially cured. The method also comprises delivering a predetermined or actively determined amount of curing energy at least to a portion of the segment of the continuous flexible line at a controlled rate while advancing the continuous flexible line toward the print path and after the segment of the continuous flexible line is deposited along the print path to at least partially cure at least the portion of the segment of the continuous flexible line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Samuel F. Harrison, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Patent number: 10124570
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing a composite part is disclosed. The method comprises applying a thermosetting resin to a non-resin component of a continuous flexible line while pushing the non-resin component through a delivery guide and pushing the continuous flexible line out of the delivery guide. The continuous flexible line further comprises a thermosetting resin component that comprises at least some of the thermosetting resin applied to the non-resin component. The method further comprises depositing, via the delivery guide, a segment of the continuous flexible line along the print path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Samuel F. Harrison, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Patent number: 10112380
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing a composite part comprises pushing a continuous flexible line through a delivery guide. The continuous flexible line comprises a non-resin component and a photopolymer-resin component that is partially cured. The method also comprises depositing, via the delivery guide, a segment of the continuous flexible line along a print path. Additionally, the method comprises delivering curing energy at least to a portion of the segment of the continuous flexible line deposited along the print path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Samuel F. Harrison, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Publication number: 20180287353
    Abstract: A cable processing apparatus including a frame; a cable guide coupled to the frame; a first cable clamp adjacent the cable guide; a second cable clamp adjacent the cable guide where the first cable clamp is disposed between the cable guide and the second cable clamp; and a controller configured to move the second cable clamp to a clamped position such that a cable extending through the cable guide is clamped by the second cable clamp, move the second cable clamp, relative to the cable guide, in a direction extending along the cable such that a first portion of the insulation is removed from the cable at the first score to expose shielding of the cable, and move the second cable clamp, relative to the first cable clamp, in the direction extending along the cable to cut the shielding to expose one or more conductor of the cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Damien O. MARTIN, Nick S. EVANS, Bradley J. MITCHELL, Eerik J. HELMICK
  • Patent number: 10071545
    Abstract: A system for additively manufacturing a composite part is disclosed. The system comprises a housing and a nozzle. The nozzle is supported by the housing. The nozzle comprises an outlet, sized to dispense a continuous flexible line. The continuous flexible line comprises a non-resin component and a photopolymer-resin component. The system also comprises a feed mechanism, supported within the housing. The feed mechanism is configured to push the continuous flexible line out of the outlet of the nozzle. The system further comprises a light source, supported by the housing. The light source is configured to deliver a light beam to the continuous flexible line after the continuous flexible line exits the outlet of the nozzle to at least partially cure the photopolymer-resin component of the continuous flexible line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel F. Harrison, Faraón Torres, Ryan G. Ziegler, Nick S. Evans, Ciro J. Grijalva, III, Hayden S. Osborn
  • Publication number: 20180212409
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a cable including an insulating member, a shielding layer, and a conductor, the apparatus includes a frame forming a housing having an aperture configured to receive an end portion of the cable; a first gripping member disposed within the housing and being configured to grip the cable; and a second gripping member disposed within the housing and being configured to grip the cable; wherein the second gripping member is mounted within the housing so as to be movable relative to the first gripping member to effect fanning and cutting of a portion of the shielding layer,
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Bradley J. Mitchell, Kevin Callahan
  • Publication number: 20180154583
    Abstract: An adhesive-bonded attachment device includes a mounting base including a mounting surface, a structural adhesive disposed on the mounting surface, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on the mounting surface bordering the structural adhesive, wherein the structural adhesive and the pressure-sensitive adhesive define a bonding surface configured to be bonded to a contact surface of a structure, and an attachment feature disposed on said mounting base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nick S. Evans, Lenny E. Lay