Patents by Inventor Ralph D. Cope
Ralph D. Cope 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: 11285677Abstract: There is disclosed a roller interchange device 200 comprising: a support 202 for mounting on a composite material lay-up head 100; a plurality of roller mounts 208 for mounting respective rollers 312, 314. Each roller mount 208 is selectively moveable to a respective engaged position relative the support 202. The engaged position of each roller mount 208 corresponds to a respective roller being held at a compaction location relative the head when the support is mounted on the head.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Rolls-Royce plcInventors: James Tingle, Ralph D. Cope
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Publication number: 20210370622Abstract: There is disclosed a roller interchange device 200 comprising: a support 202 for mounting on a composite material lay-up head 100; a plurality of roller mounts 208 for mounting respective rollers 312, 314. Each roller mount 208 is selectively moveable to a respective engaged position relative the support 202. The engaged position of each roller mount 208 corresponds to a respective roller being held at a compaction location relative the head when the support is mounted on the head.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2018Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: James Tingle, Ralph D. Cope
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Patent number: 9089465Abstract: A gantry system supports a human user in a harness attached to a carriage on a track. The carriage may comprise a body defining a U-shaped or C-shaped opening sized to receive a cylindrical track, and a pair of wheels attached to the body that roll along a top portion of the track with sufficiently minimal drag to permit the user to move the carriage without assistance. Single track embodiments may have a straight or curved trajectory and may have intersecting track portions with junctions that move between the intersecting track portions. In other embodiments, the carriage traverses a perpendicular track spanning a pair of parallel tracks. The perpendicular track may traverse the parallel tracks with or without motorized assistance. A counterweight system may provide partial weight support for the user. In one embodiment, the tracks are supported by a collapsible free-standing structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2014Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF DELAWAREInventors: James Cole Galloway, Ralph D. Cope, Nanette Gopez, Steven A. Cope, Tim Braucht, Kim Ferrara
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Publication number: 20140223661Abstract: A gantry system supports a human user in a harness attached to a carriage on a track. The carriage may comprise a body defining a U-shaped or C-shaped opening sized to receive a cylindrical track, and a pair of wheels attached to the body that roll along a top portion of the track with sufficiently minimal drag to permit the user to move the carriage without assistance. Single track embodiments may have a straight or curved trajectory and may have intersecting track portions with junctions that move between the intersecting track portions. In other embodiments, the carriage traverses a perpendicular track spanning a pair of parallel tracks. The perpendicular track may traverse the parallel tracks with or without motorized assistance. A counterweight system may provide partial weight support for the user. In one embodiment, the tracks are supported by a collapsible free-standing structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: University of DelawareInventors: James Cole Galloway, Ralph D. Cope, Nanette Gopez, Steven A. Cope, Tim Braucht, Kim Ferrara
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Patent number: 7803242Abstract: An apparatus for splicing an elongate multi-layered workpiece includes: (a) drives and guides cooperating to drive the workpiece along a working path; (b) a cutter for severing the workpiece; (c) a layer manipulator for separating layers; (d) an applicator for applying adhesive; and (e) a deflector unit for deflecting the workpiece from the working path. The cutter effects the severing to present first and second workpiece segments. The layer manipulator effects inter-layer separation in one segment to present an interlayer zone in the one segment. A drive inserts the other segment in the interlayer zone. The layer manipulator urges the layers together to capture the other segment within the interlayer zone to establish a multi-layer structure. A drive and at least one of the workpiece deflector unit and the applicator situate the multi-layer structure adjacent to the applicator for finishing the splicing by applying adhesive to the multi-layer structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2007Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Boeing CompanyInventors: Thomas J. Hagman, Ralph D. Cope, Ross Hutter, Steven A. Cope, Kim Ferrara, Nanette M. Gopez, Michael J. Case
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Publication number: 20080308213Abstract: An apparatus for splicing an elongate multi-layered workpiece includes: (a) drives and guides cooperating to drive the workpiece along a working path; (b) a cutter for severing the workpiece; (c) a layer manipulator for separating layers; (d) an applicator for applying adhesive; and (e) a deflector unit for deflecting the workpiece from the working path. The cutter effects the severing to present first and second workpiece segments. The layer manipulator effects inter-layer separation in one segment to present an interlayer zone in the one segment. A drive inserts the other segment in the interlayer zone. The layer manipulator urges the layers together to capture the other segment within the interlayer zone to establish a multi-layer structure. A drive and at least one of the workpiece deflector unit and the applicator situate the multi-layer structure adjacent to the applicator for finishing the splicing by applying adhesive to the multi-layer structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2007Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: Boeing CompanyInventors: Thomas J. Hagman, Ralph D. Cope, Ross Hutter, Steven A. Cope, Kim Ferrara, Nanette M. Gopez, Michael J. Case
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Patent number: 7404868Abstract: A tape placement head for applying thermoplastic tape to an object includes a heated feeder which guides the tape/tow to a heated zone. The heated zone has a line compactor having a single row of at least one movable heated member. An area compactor is located in the heated zone downstream from the line compactor. The area compactor includes a plurality of rows of movable feet which are extendable toward the tape/tow different distances with respect to each other to conform to the shape of the object. A shim is located between the heated compactors and the tape/tow. A chilled compactor is in a chilled zone downstream from the heated zone. The chilled zone includes a line chilled compactor and an area chilled compactor. A chilled shim is mounted between the chilled compactor and the tape/tow.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2006Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: Accudyne Systems, Inc.Inventors: Ralph D. Cope, Steve B. Funck, Mark B. Gruber, Mark A. Lamontia, Anthony D. Johnson
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Publication number: 20080083505Abstract: A tape placement head for applying thermoplastic tape to an object includes a heated feeder which guides the tape/tow to a heated zone. The heated zone has a line compactor having a single row of at least one movable heated member. An area compactor is located in the heated zone downstream from the line compactor. The area compactor includes a plurality of rows of movable feet which are extendable toward the tape/tow different distances with respect to each other to conform to the shape of the object. A shim is located between the heated compactors and the tape/tow. A chilled compactor is in a chilled zone downstream from the heated zone. The chilled zone includes a line chilled compactor and an area chilled compactor. A chilled shim is mounted between the chilled compactor and the tape/tow.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2006Publication date: April 10, 2008Inventors: Ralph D. Cope, Steve B. Funck, Mark B. Gruber, Mark A. Lamontia, Anthony D. Johnson