Patents by Inventor Philip P. Steinacher

Philip P. Steinacher 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).

  • Thermoplastic composite part manufacturing system and method
    Patent number: 11633931
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a continuous compression molding machine. The continuous compression molding machine comprises a tooling die, extending through a heating zone and a cooling zone, a tooling sleeve, and a biasing system. The tooling sleeve corresponds to the tooling die and is for use in forming a thermoplastic composite part from a thermoplastic composite charge when the tooling sleeve with the thermoplastic composite charge is moved with respect to the tooling die through the heating zone and the cooling zone. The biasing system is configured to hold the thermoplastic charge at a first angle within the heating zone and hold the thermoplastic composite charge at a second angle within the cooling zone, as the tooling sleeve moves through the heating zone and the cooling zone with the thermoplastic composite charge. The first angle is different from the second angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Philip P. Steinacher, Randall Dow Wilkerson, James Rodney Fox, Michael Palmore Matlack, Ryan Joseph Merriman, Donald C. Besselsen, David Phillip Bruk
  • Thermoplastic Composite Part Manufacturing System and Method
    Publication number: 20200368945
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a continuous compression molding machine. The continuous compression molding machine comprises a tooling die, extending through a heating zone and a cooling zone, a tooling sleeve, and a biasing system. The tooling sleeve corresponds to the tooling die and is for use in forming a thermoplastic composite part from a thermoplastic composite charge when the tooling sleeve with the thermoplastic composite charge is moved with respect to the tooling die through the heating zone and the cooling zone. The biasing system is configured to hold the thermoplastic charge at a first angle within the heating zone and hold the thermoplastic composite charge at a second angle within the cooling zone, as the tooling sleeve moves through the heating zone and the cooling zone with the thermoplastic composite charge. The first angle is different from the second angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Philip P. Steinacher, Randall Dow Wilkerson, James Rodney Fox, Michael Palmore Matlack, Ryan Joseph Merriman, Donald C. Besselsen, David Phillip Bruk
  • Die-based composite fabrication
    Patent number: 10786956
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for forming composite parts. One embodiment is a method that includes receiving flat unidirectional tape that is continuous and fiber-reinforced, and drawing the tape through a fixed die that heats and plastically deforms the tape into a gap filler having a non-flat cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Randall D. Wilkerson, Donald C. Besselsen, Philip P. Steinacher, Jerry Lee Newland
  • Thermoplastic composite part manufacturing system and method
    Patent number: 10773430
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a continuous compression molding machine. The continuous compression molding machine comprises a tooling die, extending through a heating zone and a cooling zone, a tooling sleeve, and a biasing system. The tooling sleeve corresponds to the tooling die and is for use in forming a thermoplastic composite part from a thermoplastic composite charge when the tooling sleeve with the thermoplastic composite charge is moved with respect to the tooling die through the heating zone and the cooling zone. The biasing system is configured to hold the thermoplastic charge at a first angle within the heating zone and hold the thermoplastic composite charge at a second angle within the cooling zone, as the tooling sleeve moves through the heating zone and the cooling zone with the thermoplastic composite charge. The first angle is different from the second angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Philip P. Steinacher, Randall Dow Wilkerson, James Rodney Fox, Michael Palmore Matlack, Ryan Joseph Merriman, Donald C. Besselsen, David Phillip Bruk
  • DIE-BASED COMPOSITE FABRICATION
    Publication number: 20180311916
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for forming composite parts. One embodiment is a method that includes receiving flat unidirectional tape that is continuous and fiber-reinforced, and drawing the tape through a fixed die that heats and plastically deforms the tape into a gap filler having a non-flat cross section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Randall D. Wilkerson, Donald C. Besselsen, Philip P. Steinacher, Jerry Lee Newland
  • Thermoplastic Composite Part Manufacturing System and Method
    Publication number: 20180304503
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a continuous compression molding machine. The continuous compression molding machine comprises a tooling die, extending through a heating zone and a cooling zone, a tooling sleeve, and a biasing system. The tooling sleeve corresponds to the tooling die and is for use in forming a thermoplastic composite part from a thermoplastic composite charge when the tooling sleeve with the thermoplastic composite charge is moved with respect to the tooling die through the heating zone and the cooling zone. The biasing system is configured to hold the thermoplastic charge at a first angle within the heating zone and hold the thermoplastic composite charge at a second angle within the cooling zone, as the tooling sleeve moves through the heating zone and the cooling zone with the thermoplastic composite charge. The first angle is different from the second angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Philip P. Steinacher, Randall Dow Wilkerson, James Rodney Fox, Michael Palmore Matlack, Ryan Joseph Merriman, Donald C. Besselsen, David Phillip Bruk