Patents by Inventor Roger Gage
Roger Gage 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: 10259018Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a fastener element. A structure may be positioned over a seal cap that has been adhered and sealed to the fastener element. A number of projections associated with the structure may be moved along an interface formed between the seal cap and an object in which the fastener element has been installed such that the number of projections removes at least a portion of excess material around the seal cap while moving along the interface between the seal cap and the object.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2016Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jesse Randal Wiseman, Roger A. Gage, Matthew Gregory Kesterson, Stephan Joel Favilla
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Patent number: 9839996Abstract: A tool configured to install and torque multiple fasteners, such as nuts and/or bolts, positioned in confined and/or hard to reach areas. The tool includes a body portion, a plurality of fastener retainers, and a structure which permits both the remote tightening and torquing of such fasteners. The tool also provides an actuator for the remote release of torque loads which may build up in the fastener retainers during such torquing of the fasteners. The actuator includes a lever arm pivotally connected to the body portion and a cam that is rotatable between a first position and a second position. A linkage is engaged by the cam and urges the lever arm to a torquing position upon the cam being in the first position and to a torque release position upon the cam being in the second position.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2015Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James Albert DeLand, Roger A. Gage, Darrell Darwin Jones
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Publication number: 20170259306Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a fastener element. A structure may be positioned over a seal cap that has been adhered and sealed to the fastener element. A number of projections associated with the structure may be moved along an interface formed between the seal cap and an object in which the fastener element has been installed such that the number of projections removes at least a portion of excess material around the seal cap while moving along the interface between the seal cap and the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2016Publication date: September 14, 2017Inventors: Jesse Randal Wiseman, Roger A. Gage, Matthew Gregory Kesterson, Stephan Joel Favilla
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Patent number: 9404848Abstract: One example of the disclosure relates to an apparatus for testing adhesion of a seal to a surface. The apparatus includes a first member and a second member movable relative to the first member. The second member includes a seal-contact member. The apparatus also includes means for biasing the first member and the second member relative to each other with a biasing force and an indicator on one of the first member or the second member.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2014Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Matthew G. Kesterson, Jane Shin, Roger A. Gage
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Patent number: 9295367Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a fastener element. A structure may be positioned over a seal cap that has been adhered and sealed to the fastener element. A number of projections associated with the structure may be moved along an interface formed between the seal cap and an object in which the fastener element has been installed such that the number of projections removes at least a portion of excess material around the seal cap while moving along the interface between the seal cap and the object.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Jesse Randal Wiseman, Roger A. Gage, Matthew Gregory Kesterson, Stephan Joel Favilla
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Patent number: 9212727Abstract: In one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for being coupled to a drive to rotate a first portion of an article relative to a second portion thereof is provided. A chassis includes a first slot and an engagement feature. An input is rotatably mounted to the chassis, and an annular output is rotatably mounted to the chassis and is rotatably coupled to the input. A collar, which includes a plurality of mating features complementary with the engagement feature, is configured to engage the drive. The annular output includes a wall and a second slot extending entirely through the full thickness and height of the wall.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2013Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Matthew Gregory Kesterson, Roger A. Gage
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Publication number: 20150266174Abstract: A tool configured to install and torque multiple fasteners, such as nuts and/or bolts, positioned in confined and/or hard to reach areas. The tool includes a body portion, a plurality of fastener retainers, and a structure which permits both the remote tightening and torquing of such fasters. The tool also provides an actuator for the remote release of torque loads which may build up in the fastener retainers during such torquing of the fasteners. The actuator includes a lever arm pivotally connected to the body portion and a cam that is rotatable between a first position and a second position. A linkage is engaged by the cam and urges the lever arm to a torquing position upon the cam being in the first position and to a torque release position upon the cam being in the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2015Publication date: September 24, 2015Inventors: James Albert DeLand, Roger A. Gage, Darrell Darwin Jones
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Publication number: 20150260634Abstract: One example of the disclosure relates to an apparatus for testing adhesion of a seal to a surface. The apparatus includes a first member and a second member movable relative to the first member. The second member includes a seal-contact member. The apparatus also includes means for biasing the first member and the second member relative to each other with a biasing force and an indicator on one of the first member or the second member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: Matthew G. Kesterson, Jane Shin, Roger A. Gage
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Patent number: 9056376Abstract: A tool configured to install and torque multiple fasteners, such as nuts and/or bolts, positioned in confined and/or hard to reach areas. The tool includes a body portion, a plurality of fastener retainers, and a structure which permits both the remote tightening and torquing of such fasters. The tool also provides an actuator for the remote release of torque loads which may build up in the fastener retainers during such torquing of the fasteners. The actuator includes a lever arm pivotally connected to the body portion and a cam that is rotatable between a first position and a second position. A linkage is engaged by the cam and urges the lever arm to a torquing position upon the cam being in the first position and to a torque release position upon the cam being in the second position.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2012Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James Albert DeLand, Roger A Gage, Darrell Darwin Jones
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Patent number: 8272814Abstract: A crawler assembly includes an attachment mechanism that is removably attachable to a stringer. The stringer has a vertical web and a longitudinal axis. The crawler assembly includes a longitudinal slider that is engageable to the attachment mechanism and having a normalizing mechanism disposable in bearing contact against the vertical web for maintaining an orientation of the longitudinal slider relative to the stringer. The longitudinal slider is movable along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The crawler assembly includes a lateral slider that is mountable to the longitudinal slider and is movable along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The lateral slider includes a drill bushing. The longitudinal and lateral sliders cooperate to move the drill bushing to at least one predetermined hole location.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James N. Buttrick, Jr., Roger A. Gage, Paul G. Kostenick, Jr., Jesus Sanchez, Dario I. Valenzuela
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Publication number: 20120114439Abstract: A crawler assembly includes an attachment mechanism that is removably attachable to a stringer. The stringer has a vertical web and a longitudinal axis. The crawler assembly includes a longitudinal slider that is engageable to the attachment mechanism and having a normalizing mechanism disposable in bearing contact against the vertical web for maintaining an orientation of the longitudinal slider relative to the stringer. The longitudinal slider is movable along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The crawler assembly includes a lateral slider that is mountable to the longitudinal slider and is movable along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The lateral slider includes a drill bushing. The longitudinal and lateral sliders cooperate to move the drill bushing to at least one predetermined hole location.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2011Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: James N. Buttrick, Roger A. Gage, Paul G. Kostenick, JR., Jesus Sanchez, Dario I. Valenzuela
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Patent number: 8100611Abstract: A self-contained crawler assembly is engageable to a stringer and is adapted to position a drill bushing along the stringer for performing machining operations. The crawler assembly includes a longitudinal slider, a lateral slider and a controller for regulating operation of the longitudinal and lateral sliders for positioning the drill bushing at a hole location. In a further embodiment, the crawler assembly may include a longitudinal friction drive which is directly engageable to the stringer and which is operative to move in a direction parallel to the stringer.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James N. Buttrick, Jr., Roger A. Gage, Paul G. Kostenick, Jr., Jesus Sanchez, Dario I. Valenzuela
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Publication number: 20100054877Abstract: A self-contained crawler assembly is engageable to a stringer and is adapted to position a drill bushing along the stringer for performing machining operations. The crawler assembly includes a longitudinal slider, a lateral slider and a controller for regulating operation of the longitudinal and lateral sliders for positioning the drill bushing at a hole location. In a further embodiment, the crawler assembly may include a longitudinal friction drive which is directly engageable to the stringer and which is operative to move in a direction parallel to the stringer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2008Publication date: March 4, 2010Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: James N. Buttrick, JR., Roger A. Gage, Paul G. Kostenick, JR., Jesus Sanchez, Dario I. Valenzuela
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Patent number: 7632047Abstract: Methods and apparatus for counterbalanced manufacturing operations are disclosed. In one embodiment, an assembly includes a base, a tool support assembly, and a biasing device. The tool support assembly includes a first component coupled to the base and a second component moveable along a translation axis relative to the first component. The second component is configured to be coupled to a tool operable to perform the manufacturing operation on a workpiece. The biasing device includes a first portion coupled to the first component, a second portion coupled to the second component, and a control component. The first and second portions are moveably coupled and configured to apply a biasing force to the second component to at least partially counterbalance a force exerted on the second component along the translation axis by a weight of the tool support assembly and the tool during performance of the manufacturing operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2007Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James N. Buttrick, Jr., Roger A. Gage, Lyle M. Wallace
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Patent number: 7488144Abstract: Methods and apparatus for track members having a neutral axis rack are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for supporting a manufacturing tool relative to a workpiece includes a track assembly adapted to be attached to the workpiece and including at least one rail, the rail having a longitudinally-extending neutral axis and a rack extending along a pitch line that at least approximately coincides with the longitudinally-extending neutral axis. In alternate embodiments, the rack includes a plurality of wedge-shaped apertures or a plurality of conically-shaped apertures.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2003Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Theodore M. Boyl-Davis, James N. Buttrick, Jr., Roger A. Gage, Darrell D. Jones
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Publication number: 20080263845Abstract: Techniques of performing a manufacturing operation on a workpiece are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes forming an indexing hole in the workpiece. A coordinating pin may be installed into the indexing hole, the coordinating pin including a quantum of indexing information. A sensor may be positioned proximate the coordinating pin. The quantum of indexing information may be sensed with a sensor. A manufacturing operation may be performed on the workpiece based at least partially on the quantum of indexing information.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Darrell D. Jones, James N. Buttrick, Theodore Boyl-Davis, Roger Gage, Laurance N. Hazlehurst
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Patent number: 7406758Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing operations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vacuum cup assembly includes a housing having a vacuum generator formed therein, and a compliant sealing member coupled to the housing. The vacuum generator is coupleable to a source of pressurized fluid and is adapted to generate a reduced pressure region. The sealing member forms an enclosable region in fluid communication with the reduced pressure region. In another embodiment, a method of performing a manufacturing operation includes installing a coordinating pin into an indexing hole, the coordinating pin including a quantum of indexing information. The quantum of indexing information is sensed, and a manufacturing operation is performed based at least partially on the quantum of indexing information.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2004Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Darrell D. Jones, James N. Buttrick, Jr., Theodore Boyl-Davis, Roger Gage, Laurance N. Hazlehurst
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Publication number: 20080019784Abstract: Methods and apparatus for counterbalanced manufacturing operations are disclosed. In one embodiment, an assembly includes a base, a tool support assembly, and a biasing device. The tool support assembly includes a first component coupled to the base and a second component moveable along a translation axis relative to the first component. The second component is configured to be coupled to a tool operable to perform the manufacturing operation on a workpiece. The biasing device includes a first portion coupled to the first component, a second portion coupled to the second component, and a control component. The first and second portions are moveably coupled and configured to apply a biasing force to the second component to at least partially counterbalance a force exerted on the second component along the translation axis by a weight of the tool support assembly and the tool during performance of the manufacturing operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: James Buttrick, Roger Gage, Lyle Wallace
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Patent number: 7273333Abstract: Methods and apparatus for counterbalanced manufacturing operations are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for supporting a tool relative to a surface of a workpiece includes a base adapted to be attached to the workpiece, a tool support coupled to the base, and a biasing device coupled to both the base and the tool support. The tool support is moveable relative to the base along a translation axis, and the biasing device is biasable along a biasing axis that is at least partially along the translation axis. The biasing device is adapted to at least partially counterbalance a force (e.g. a gravitational force) exerted on the tool support along the translation axis.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2003Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: James N. Buttrick, Jr., Roger A. Gage, Lyle M. Wallace
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Patent number: 7216408Abstract: A flexible rail machine tool couples temporarily to a structure by vacuum cups and positions a tool head at any desired point over an area. The toolhead can perform operations such as drilling, bolt insertion, and acquisition of dimension data. The flexible rail can conform to surface curvature in one or more axes. Tool head perpendicularity to the structure can be sensed and adjusted as needed. The as-attached position of the rail may be compensated for through coordinate transformation, allowing holes, for example, to be placed with substantial precision.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2004Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Theodore M. Boyl-Davis, James N. Buttrick, Jr., Roger A. Gage, Darrell D. Jones, David P. Banks, Ronald Wayne Outous, Paul Reuben Arntson, James C. Murphy, Alan R. Merkley