Patents by Inventor Robert G. Wilhelm

Robert G. Wilhelm 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: 9375818
    Abstract: A manufacturing method, including: given a predetermined finished part geometry, providing a sacrificial structure preform that simultaneously contains the finished part geometry, minimizes material that must be removed from the sacrificial structure preform to achieve the finished part geometry during machining, and has a sufficient stiffness to resist a machining force that will be applied during machining without allowing the finished part geometry to be compromised; and machining the sacrificial structure preform to achieve the finished part geometry. The manufacturing method also includes preliminarily estimating a stiffness of the finished part geometry and the machining force that will be applied during machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Kevin Scott Smith, Robert G. Wilhelm, Brian S. Dutterer
  • Publication number: 20140000079
    Abstract: A manufacturing method, including: given a predetermined finished part geometry, providing a sacrificial structure preform that simultaneously contains the finished part geometry, minimizes material that must be removed from the sacrificial structure preform to achieve the finished part geometry during machining, and has a sufficient stiffness to resist a machining force that will be applied during machining without allowing the finished part geometry to be compromised; and machining the sacrificial structure preform to achieve the finished part geometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Kevin Scott Smith, Robert G. Wilhelm, Brian S. Dutterer
  • Patent number: 7787696
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating a systematic relationship between a plurality of points include determining an estimated systematic relationship representative of the plurality of points according to an estimation function and based on a given set of measured points. The estimated systematic relationship having coordinate data and normal vector data associated with the given set of points and corresponding to at least a portion of the plurality of points. Further, an adaptive sampling mechanism may automatically determine whether further measurements are required based on the estimated systematic relationship and based on predetermined measurement criteria. Additionally, a data verification device may remove inaccurate data from the estimation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Robert G. Wilhelm, Robert M. Edgeworth
  • Publication number: 20020025074
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating a systematic relationship between a plurality of points include determining an estimated systematic relationship representative of the plurality of points according to an estimation function and based on a given set of measured points. The estimated systematic relationship having coordinate data and normal vector data associated with the given set of points and corresponding to at least a portion of the plurality of points. Further, an adaptive sampling mechanism may automatically determine whether further measurements are required based on the estimated systematic relationship and based on predetermined measurement criteria. Additionally, a data verification device may remove inaccurate data from the estimation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventor: Robert G. Wilhelm