Patents by Inventor Peter J. VanVoast

Peter J. VanVoast 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).

  • Aircraft skin attachment system
    Patent number: 9669579
    Abstract: A method for forming a structural member and a structural member produced thereby includes positioning a first composite section and a second composite section within a tool. The tool has an inner surface and a wall intersection and is supported by a tool platform. The tool platform and a pressure platform are relatively movable between an open position and a closed position. The tool has a non-planar outer surface against which the member may be pressed. A composite splice member is positioned at least partially overlapping both the first composite section and the second composite section to form a joint in the composite structural member. The composite structural member is pressed against the non-planar outer surface of the tool by applying pressure to the joint from a pressure bladder. Heat is applied to the composite structural member at the joint to cure the composite splice member to the first composite section and the second composite section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: William T. Kline, Charles J. Nelson, Thang D. Phung, Curtis M. Groth, Robert G. Meyer, Peter J. VanVoast, Charles Y. Hu, Geoffrey A. Butler, Dan D. Day, Thomas J. Kennedy, Luis A. Perla, Richard A. Ransom, Justin L. Holland, Erik Lund, Joseph F. Warren
  • Aircraft Skin Attachment System
    Publication number: 20150004347
    Abstract: A method for forming a structural member and a structural member produced thereby includes positioning a first composite section and a second composite section within a tool. The tool has an inner surface and a wall intersection and is supported by a tool platform. The tool platform and a pressure platform are relatively movable between an open position and a closed position. The tool has a non-planar outer surface against which the member may be pressed. A composite splice member is positioned at least partially overlapping both the first composite section and the second composite section to form a joint in the composite structural member. The composite structural member is pressed against the non-planar outer surface of the tool by applying pressure to the joint from a pressure bladder. Heat is applied to the composite structural member at the joint to cure the composite splice member to the first composite section and the second composite section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: William T. Kline, Charles J. Nelson, Thang D. Phung, Curtis M. Groth, Robert G. Meyer, Peter J. VanVoast, Charles Y. Hu, Geoffrey A. Butler, Dan D. Day, Thomas J. Kennedy, Luis J. Perla, Richard A. Ransom, Justin L. Holland, Erik Lund, Joseph F. Warren
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR JOINING COMPOSITE STRUCTURAL MEMBERS AND STRUCTURAL MEMBERS MADE THEREBY
    Publication number: 20100116938
    Abstract: A composite structural member includes first and second composite sections spliced together by an overlapping composite splice member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: William T. Kline, Charles J. Nelson, Thang D. Phung, Curtis M. Groth, Robert G. Meyer, Peter J. VanVoast, Charles Y. Hu, Geoffrey A. Butler, Dan D. Day, Thomas J. Kennedy, Luis A. Perla, Richard A. Ransom, Justin L. Holland, Erik Lund, Joseph F. Warren
  • Optical emission spectroscopy of plasma treated bonding surfaces
    Patent number: 7157717
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for real-time contaminant detection and plasma treatment verification during plasma treatment of bonding surfaces. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is utilized to determine contamination of a bonding surface prior to the bonding process. OES is further utilized to monitor bonding sites on the bonding surface to verify effectiveness of the plasma treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul H. Shelley, Peter J. VanVoast, Thomas A. Dean, Bruce R. Davis