Patents by Inventor Roger S Kepner

Roger S Kepner 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).

  • Aircraft body mounted energy absorbing rub strip
    Patent number: 9637212
    Abstract: An energy absorbing rub strip having a core material and a fairing positioned over the core material. The core material may be configured to buckle under the application of a predetermined amount of force and the fairing may be configured to be attached to a fuselage of an aircraft. The fairing may be made out of an abrasive-resistant material such as titanium or a nickel-based metal. The core material may be comprised of an aluminum honeycomb. The core material may be comprised of a dual density material. The length of the rub strip may extend beyond potential contact points on the fuselage during landing and takeoff. Upon a ground contact event, the thickness of deformed/buckled core material may be measured to determine if the ground contact event may have caused structural damage to the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Justin D Cottet, Roger S Kepner, Michael L Drake
  • AIRCRAFT BODY MOUNTED ENERGY ABSORBING RUB STRIP
    Publication number: 20150336654
    Abstract: An energy absorbing rub strip having a core material and a fairing positioned over the core material. The core material may be configured to buckle under the application of a predetermined amount of force and the fairing may be configured to be attached to a fuselage of an aircraft. The fairing may be made out of an abrasive-resistant material such as titanium or a nickel-based metal. The core material may be comprised of an aluminum honeycomb. The core material may be comprised of a dual density material. The length of the rub strip may extend beyond potential contact points on the fuselage during landing and takeoff. Upon a ground contact event, the thickness of deformed/buckled core material may be measured to determine if the ground contact event may have caused structural damage to the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Justin D Cottet, Roger S Kepner, Michael L Drake