Patents by Inventor Randall E. Simons

Randall E. Simons 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).

  • Band clamp with redundant load path
    Patent number: 8732916
    Abstract: Techniques for detachably joining a first component and a second component includes a band clamp, a tensioning device, a plurality of shoes, and a plurality of brackets. The band clamp is configured to cause the plurality of shoes to engage an abutting cylindrical flange of each of the first component and the second component and to provide a sufficient clamping pressure to join the first component with the second component. Each of the plurality of brackets is attached to one of the first component and the second component. The sufficient clamping pressure results from redundant, independently inspectable, sources, a primary redundant source being circumferential tension in the band clamp, caused by tightening the tensioning device, to produce a first radial restraining force on the shoes, and a secondary redundant source being a second radial restraining force, applied by way of the plurality of brackets, to the band clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLC
    Inventors: Randall E. Simons, Steven Lee Wittmer, James S. Bray
  • BAND CLAMP WITH REDUNDANT LOAD PATH
    Publication number: 20120317753
    Abstract: Techniques for detachably joining a first component and a second component includes a band clamp, a tensioning device, a plurality of shoes, and a plurality of brackets. The band clamp is configured to cause the plurality of shoes to engage an abutting cylindrical flange of each of the first component and the second component and to provide a sufficient clamping pressure to join the first component with the second component. Each of the plurality of brackets is attached to one of the first component and the second component. The sufficient clamping pressure results from redundant, independently inspectable, sources, a primary redundant source being circumferential tension in the band clamp, caused by tightening the tensioning device, to produce a first radial restraining force on the shoes, and a secondary redundant source being a second radial restraining force, applied by way of the plurality of brackets, to the band clamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, INC.
    Inventors: Randall E. Simons, Steven Lee Wittmer, James S. Bray