Patents by Inventor Robert E. Grip
Robert E. Grip 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: 11939150Abstract: A transformable cargo container for use with ground and air transportation vehicles is disclosed. The cargo container includes a main container body defining a storage chamber therein and including at least one inlet. The cargo container also includes a transformable assembly coupled to the main container body and positioned at an exterior of the main container body. The transformable assembly includes one or more supplemental containers and one or more supply ducts, at least one of the supplemental container(s) being configured to house refrigeration equipment. The transformable assembly is moveable between an aircraft configuration and a ground configuration. Based on the transformable assembly being in either the aircraft configuration or the ground configuration, the refrigeration equipment is configured to supply coolant into the main container body via the supply duct(s) and the inlet(s).Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Robert E. Grip, Jared Backues, Ted K. Rothaupt
-
Publication number: 20240002054Abstract: A securing lock for a cargo support apparatus includes one or more first locking interfaces. The one or more first locking interfaces include a tooth assembly including one or more teeth, and a jaws assembly including one or more jaws. The one or more teeth are configured to be engaged by one or more other jaws of a second locking interface of at least one other container to secure the container to the at least one other container. The one or more jaws are configured to engage one or more other teeth of the second locking interface of the at least one other container to secure the container to the at least one other container.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2022Publication date: January 4, 2024Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Robert E. Grip, John Joseph Brown, Michael S. Karapetian
-
Patent number: 11787524Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage and a pair of wings. Each wing is coupled to the fuselage at a wing-fuselage joint, and is supported by a strut coupled to the fuselage at a strut-fuselage joint and coupled to the wing at a strut-wing joint. The strut-fuselage joint is located below and at least partially aft of the wing-fuselage joint. The wing generates a lifting force when air passes over the wing. The lifting force induces a vertical moment about the wing-fuselage joint due to the location of the strut-fuselage joint below and at least partially aft of the wing-fuselage joint. The wing and/or the strut has a structural arrangement configured to counteract the vertical moment.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Robert E. Grip, Neal A. Harrison
-
Publication number: 20230227250Abstract: In an example, a transformable cargo container for use with ground and air transportation vehicles is disclosed. The cargo container includes a main container body defining a storage chamber therein and including at least one inlet. The cargo container also includes a transformable assembly coupled to the main container body and positioned at an exterior of the main container body. The transformable assembly includes one or more supplemental containers and one or more supply ducts, at least one of the supplemental container(s) being configured to house refrigeration equipment. The transformable assembly is movable between an aircraft configuration and a ground configuration. Based on the transformable assembly being in either the aircraft configuration or the ground configuration, the refrigeration equipment is configured to supply coolant into the main container body via the supply duct(s) and the inlet(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2022Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Robert E. Grip, Jared Backues, Ted K. Rothaupt
-
Publication number: 20230227246Abstract: In an example, a transformable cargo container for use with ground and air transportation vehicles is disclosed. The cargo container includes a main container body defining a storage chamber. The cargo container also includes a transformable assembly coupled to the main container body and positioned at an exterior of the main container body. The transformable assembly includes one or more supplemental containers and is movable between an aircraft configuration and a ground configuration. Based on the transformable assembly being in the aircraft configuration, the transformable cargo container has a non-rectangular cross-sectional area and is configured to occupy a partially-radial cross-sectional storage area of a fuselage of an aircraft. And based on the transformable assembly being in the ground configuration, the transformable cargo container is configured to occupy a rectangular cross-sectional storage area on a ground transportation vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2022Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Robert E. Grip, Ted K. Rothaupt, Tommie R. Tatum, Frank W. Cihos
-
Publication number: 20230227245Abstract: In an example, a transformable cargo container for use with ground and air transportation vehicles is disclosed. The cargo container includes a main container body defining a storage chamber. The cargo container also includes a transformable assembly coupled to the main container body and positioned at an exterior of the main container body. The transformable assembly includes one or more supplemental containers and is movable between an aircraft configuration and a ground configuration. Based on the transformable assembly being in the aircraft configuration, the transformable cargo container has a non-rectangular cross-sectional area and is configured to occupy a partially-circular cross-sectional storage area of a fuselage of an aircraft. And based on the transformable assembly being in the ground configuration, the transformable cargo container is configured to occupy a rectangular cross-sectional storage area on a ground transportation vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2022Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Robert E. Grip, Ted K. Rothaupt, Alan C. Simonini
-
Publication number: 20230140102Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage and a pair of wings. Each wing is coupled to the fuselage at a wing-fuselage joint, and is supported by a strut coupled to the fuselage at a strut-fuselage joint and coupled to the wing at a strut-wing joint. The strut-fuselage joint is located below and at least partially aft of the wing-fuselage joint. The wing generates a lifting force when air passes over the wing. The lifting force induces a vertical moment about the wing-fuselage joint due to the location of the strut-fuselage joint below and at least partially aft of the wing-fuselage joint. The wing and/or the strut has a structural arrangement configured to counteract the vertical moment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2021Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Robert E. Grip, Neal A. Harrison
-
Patent number: 10583918Abstract: An aircraft emergency landing stability system includes an aircraft, including a fuselage and landing gear, and a blister projecting downwardly from a fuselage-underside surface of the fuselage proximate to a nose of the fuselage. The blister locates a secondary contact surface of the aircraft forward of a center of gravity of the aircraft to mitigate a nose-down pitching moment of the aircraft created in response to contact with a landing surface during an emergency landing.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2019Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Robert E. Grip, Steven R. Kent, Ted K. Rothaupt, Blaine K. Rawdon
-
Patent number: 10479471Abstract: An aircraft is provided. The aircraft includes truss elements configured to form a space frame fuselage, and skin panels connected with the truss elements and configured to form a skin over said space frame fuselage. The skin panels are movable relative to one another so as to prevent loading of the space frame fuselage from inducing loading in the skin. The aircraft includes a fitting. The fitting includes a first intermediate portion, a first outer portion, and a first inner portion. The first outer and inner portions are spaced apart from each other and interconnected by the first intermediate portion. The skin panels include first and second skin panels that are adjacent to each other. The first skin panel has a first end portion that is adjacent to a second end portion of the second skin panel. The fitting is positioned between the first and second skin panels such that the first and second end portions of the skin panels extend between the first inner and outer portions.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Angelina M. Conti, Robert E. Grip, Ted K. Rothaupt
-
Publication number: 20190248477Abstract: An aircraft emergency landing stability system includes an aircraft, including a fuselage and landing gear, and a blister projecting downwardly from a fuselage-underside surface of the fuselage proximate to a nose of the fuselage. The blister locates a secondary contact surface of the aircraft forward of a center of gravity of the aircraft to mitigate a nose-down pitching moment of the aircraft created in response to contact with a landing surface during an emergency landing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Robert E. Grip, Steven R. Kent, Ted K. Rothaupt, Blaine K. Rawdon
-
Patent number: 10315756Abstract: An aircraft emergency landing stability system includes an aircraft a fuselage and landing gear, and a landing stability apparatus coupled to the fuselage, wherein the landing stability structure mitigates a nose-down pitching moment of the aircraft created in response to contact with a landing surface during an emergency landing.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Robert E. Grip, Steven R. Kent, Ted K. Rothaupt, Blaine K. Rawdon
-
Patent number: 10288008Abstract: A sandwich structure includes a first skin and a second skin spaced apart from each other and interconnected by a hinge assembly including a first hinge member and a second hinge member. The first hinge member proximal end is coupled to the first skin. The second hinge member proximal end is coupled to the second skin. The first hinge member distal end is coupled to the second member distal end at a member joint. The hinge assembly: prevents movement of the first skin relative to the second skin in an in-plane longitudinal direction of the first skin, allows movement of the first skin relative to the second skin in an in-plane transverse direction of the first skin, and allows movement of the first skin relative to the second skin in an out-of-plane direction that is normal to the in-plane longitudinal direction and the in-plane transverse direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Robert E. Grip, John J. Brown
-
Publication number: 20180148153Abstract: An aircraft is provided. The aircraft includes truss elements configured to form a space frame fuselage, and skin panels connected with the truss elements and configured to form a skin over said space frame fuselage. The skin panels are movable relative to one another so as to prevent loading of the space frame fuselage from inducing loading in the skin. The aircraft includes a fitting. The fitting includes a first intermediate portion, a first outer portion, and a first inner portion. The first outer and inner portions are spaced apart from each other and interconnected by the first intermediate portion. The skin panels include first and second skin panels that are adjacent to each other. The first skin panel has a first end portion that is adjacent to a second end portion of the second skin panel. The fitting is positioned between the first and second skin panels such that the first and second end portions of the skin panels extend between the first inner and outer portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2016Publication date: May 31, 2018Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Angelina M. Conti, Robert E. Grip, Ted K. Rothaupt
-
Publication number: 20170297682Abstract: An aircraft emergency landing stability system includes an aircraft a fuselage and landing gear, and a landing stability apparatus coupled to the fuselage, wherein the landing stability structure mitigates a nose-down pitching moment of the aircraft created in response to contact with a landing surface during an emergency landing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2016Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Robert E. Grip, Steven R. Kent, Ted K. Rothaupt, Blaine K. Rawdon
-
Publication number: 20170096963Abstract: A sandwich structure includes a first skin and a second skin spaced apart from each other and interconnected by a hinge assembly including a first hinge member and a second hinge member. The first hinge member proximal end is coupled to the first skin. The second hinge member proximal end is coupled to the second skin. The first hinge member distal end is coupled to the second member distal end at a member joint. The hinge assembly: prevents movement of the first skin relative to the second skin in an in-plane longitudinal direction of the first skin, allows movement of the first skin relative to the second skin in an in-plane transverse direction of the first skin, and allows movement of the first skin relative to the second skin in an out-of-plane direction that is normal to the in-plane longitudinal direction and the in-plane transverse direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2016Publication date: April 6, 2017Inventors: Robert E. Grip, John J. Brown
-
Patent number: 9598167Abstract: An airfoil may include a leading edge and a shape control mechanism. The leading edge may include a flexible leading edge skin having a first end, a second end, and an arc length defined therebetween. The shape control mechanism may be attached to the flexible leading edge skin at a plurality of support locations and may transition the flexible leading edge skin from a first shape having a first curvature profile to a second shape having a second curvature profile different than the first curvature profile without a change in the arc length.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Robert E. Grip, John J. Brown, Neal A. Harrison, Blaine K. Rawdon, John C. Vassberg
-
Patent number: 9574587Abstract: A system for preloading a fastener of a mechanical fitting includes a strain measuring device to measure a strain on the fastener as the fastener is tightened. The mechanical fitting may include a base structure and a plate member. A support structure supports the plate member at a predetermined spacing from the base structure. The support structure may include a first sloping plate and a second sloping plate each extending between the plate member and the base structure. The fastener extends through a first hole in the plate member and a second hole in the base structure. The fastener is accessible through an opening on each side of the support structure. At least a portion of the strain measuring device is positioned relative to the fastener through a first opening of the openings to measure the strain on the fastener correlating to the preload as the fastener is tightened.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Robert E. Grip, Michael K. Hughes
-
Patent number: 9555871Abstract: A sandwich structure includes a first skin, a second skin, a first hinge member, and a second hinge member. The first hinge member may be movably coupled to the first skin and a first skin joint. The second hinge member may be movably coupled to the second skin and second skin joint. The first hinge member and the second member may be movably coupled to one another and a member joint located between the first and second skin joint.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Robert E. Grip, John J. Brown
-
Patent number: 9492901Abstract: A fastener comprises a head, and a shank having an outer surface and an axially-extending channel in the outer surface. Optically transmissive, strain-sensitive fills the channel.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Leora Peltz, Robert E. Grip, John J. Brown
-
Publication number: 20160009372Abstract: An airfoil may include a leading edge and a shape control mechanism. The leading edge may include a flexible leading edge skin having a first end, a second end, and an arc length defined therebetween. The shape control mechanism may be attached to the flexible leading edge skin at a plurality of support locations and may transition the flexible leading edge skin from a first shape having a first curvature profile to a second shape having a second curvature profile different than the first curvature profile without a change in the arc length.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2014Publication date: January 14, 2016Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Robert E. Grip, John J. Brown, Neal A. Harrison, Blaine K. Rawdon, John C. Vassberg