Patents by Inventor Silas L. Studley
Silas L. Studley 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: 12202215Abstract: A method of manufacturing a backed cross-ply prepreg comprises cutting, using a cutting machine, a first continuous length of a unidirectional prepreg into first prepreg segments, each having an opposing pair of segment cut edges that are non-parallel to a lengthwise direction of the unidirectional prepreg. The method also includes picking up, using a pick-and-place system, the first prepreg segments off of the cutting machine, and placing the first prepreg segments in end-to-end relation onto a conveyor belt of an adhesion machine, and in an orientation such that the segment cut edges are generally parallel to a lengthwise direction of the conveyor belt. The method also includes feeding, using the conveyor belt, the first prepreg segments to an adhesion station of the adhesion machine, and adhering, using the adhesion station, the first prepreg segments to a continuous length of a backing material.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2024Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Shuonan Dong, Silas L. Studley, Samuel F. Pedigo, Nathan A. Secinaro, Lukas Wavrin, Kevin Hsu, James Hutchinson, Connor Burch, Nini Hong, Devin Ide, Lucky Singh, Santosh Devasia
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Publication number: 20240149538Abstract: A method of manufacturing a backed cross-ply prepreg comprises cutting, using a cutting machine, a first continuous length of a unidirectional prepreg into first prepreg segments, each having an opposing pair of segment cut edges that are non-parallel to a lengthwise direction of the unidirectional prepreg. The method also includes picking up, using a pick-and-place system, the first prepreg segments off of the cutting machine, and placing the first prepreg segments in end-to-end relation onto a conveyor belt of an adhesion machine, and in an orientation such that the segment cut edges are generally parallel to a lengthwise direction of the conveyor belt. The method also includes feeding, using the conveyor belt, the first prepreg segments to an adhesion station of the adhesion machine, and adhering, using the adhesion station, the first prepreg segments to a continuous length of a backing material.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2024Publication date: May 9, 2024Inventors: Shuonan Dong, Silas L. Studley, Samuel F. Pedigo, Nathan A. Secinaro, Lukas Wavrin, Kevin Hsu, James Hutchinson, Connor Burch, Nini Hong, Devin Ide, Lucky Singh, Santosh Devasia
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Patent number: 11919256Abstract: A manufacturing system includes a cutting machine, an adhesion machine, and a pick-and-place system. The cutting machine sequentially cuts a continuous length of a unidirectional prepreg into prepreg segments. Each prepreg segment has an opposing pair of segment cut edges that are non-parallel to a lengthwise direction of the unidirectional prepreg. The adhesion machine has a conveyor belt and an adhesion station. The pick-and-place system sequentially picks up the prepreg segments from the cutting machine, and places the prepreg segments in end-to-end relation on the conveyor belt, and in an orientation such that the segment cut edges are generally parallel to a lengthwise direction of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt feeds the prepreg segments to the adhesion station. The adhesion station adheres the prepreg segments to a continuous length of a backing material, thereby resulting in a continuous length of a backed cross-ply prepreg.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignees: The Boeing Company, University of WashingtonInventors: Shuonan Dong, Silas L. Studley, Samuel F. Pedigo, Nathan A. Secinaro, Lukas Wavrin, Kevin Hsu, James Hutchinson, Connor Burch, Nini Hong, Devin Ide, Lucky Singh, Santosh Devasia
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Publication number: 20220347941Abstract: A manufacturing system includes a cutting machine, an adhesion machine, and a pick-and-place system. The cutting machine sequentially cuts a continuous length of a unidirectional prepreg into prepreg segments. Each prepreg segment has an opposing pair of segment cut edges that are non-parallel to a lengthwise direction of the unidirectional prepreg. The adhesion machine has a conveyor belt and an adhesion station. The pick-and-place system sequentially picks up the prepreg segments from the cutting machine, and places the prepreg segments in end-to-end relation on the conveyor belt, and in an orientation such that the segment cut edges are generally parallel to a lengthwise direction of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt feeds the prepreg segments to the adhesion station. The adhesion station adheres the prepreg segments to a continuous length of a backing material, thereby resulting in a continuous length of a backed cross-ply prepreg.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2022Publication date: November 3, 2022Inventors: Shuonan Dong, Silas L. Studley, Samuel F. Pedigo, Nathan A. Secinaro, Lukas Wavrin, Kevin Hsu, James Hutchinson, Connor Burch, Nini Hong, Devin Ide, Lucky Singh, Santosh Devasia
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Patent number: 11351658Abstract: An ergonomic frame-filler placement tool is manually operable to supply a vacuum fluid flow at a distal end of the tool that can be used by a worker to pick up and hold a piece of frame-filler material to the distal end of the tool, which enables the worker to manipulate the tool to position the piece of frame-filler material over a desired location of a fuselage mandrel and then manually stop the vacuum fluid flow at the distal end of the tool to position the piece of frame-filler material at the desired location on the mandrel.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Davis Tran, Silas L. Studley, Chace Wilcoxson, Long H. Ly, Darrell D. Jones, Robert Whiting
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Publication number: 20200384701Abstract: An ergonomic frame-filler placement tool is manually operable to supply a vacuum fluid flow at a distal end of the tool that can be used by a worker to pick up and hold a piece of frame-filler material to the distal end of the tool, which enables the worker to manipulate the tool to position the piece of frame-filler material over a desired location of a fuselage mandrel and then manually stop the vacuum fluid flow at the distal end of the tool to position the piece of frame-filler material at the desired location on the mandrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2019Publication date: December 10, 2020Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Jonathan Y. Ahn, Davis Tran, Silas L. Studley, Chace Wilcoxson, Long H. Ly, Darrell D. Jones, Robert Whiting
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Patent number: 10086596Abstract: An apparatus for forming a material layer onto a form tool may include at least one nosepiece configured to laterally sweep a ply carrier onto a form tool contour. The apparatus may include a pair of tension arms configured to support opposing lateral sides of a ply carrier having a material layer mounted to a lower surface thereof. The apparatus may include one or more actuators configured to position the tension arms during forming of the ply carrier to the form tool contour. The one or more actuators may be configured to sense and control lateral tension in the ply carrier during forming of the ply carrier to the form tool contour.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Matthew R. Desjardien, Blake Rafferty, Michael Karas, Mark S. Bunker, Erik Lund, Garrett C. Hanson, Stephen G. Holley, Benjamin B. Lee, John D. O'Connell, John D. Morris, Derek J. Flolid, Bruce S. Howard, Mark C. Boberg, Eric J. Walker, Silas L. Studley, Derek Willis
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Publication number: 20160263879Abstract: An apparatus for forming a material layer onto a form tool may include at least one nosepiece configured to laterally sweep a ply carrier onto a form tool contour. The apparatus may include a pair of tension arms configured to support opposing lateral sides of a ply carrier having a material layer mounted to a lower surface thereof. The apparatus may include one or more actuators configured to position the tension arms during forming of the ply carrier to the form tool contour. The one or more actuators may be configured to sense and control lateral tension in the ply carrier during forming of the ply carrier to the form tool contour.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2015Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Matthew R. Desjardien, Blake Rafferty, Michael Karas, Mark S. Bunker, Erik Lund, Garrett C. Hanson, Stephen G. Holley, Benjamin B. Lee, John D. O'Connell, John D. Morris, Derek J. Flolid, Bruce S. Howard, Mark C. Boberg, Eric J. Walker, Silas L. Studley, Derek Willis
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Patent number: 8152260Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for application and accurate positioning of at least one graphic image on a large contoured surface, comprising a flexible-rail positioning system mounted on a portion of the surface on which the graphic image is to be applied, a graphic image application system, software to operate the positioning system, and software to operate the graphic image application system. In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of applying and accurately positioning at least one graphic image on a large contoured surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2011Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Richard W. Baird, James N. Buttrick, Glenn R. Dalby, Silas L. Studley
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Publication number: 20110199431Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for application and accurate positioning of at least one graphic image on a large contoured surface, comprising a flexible-rail positioning system mounted on a portion of the surface on which the graphic image is to be applied, a graphic image application system, software to operate the positioning system, and software to operate the graphic image application system. In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of applying and accurately positioning at least one graphic image on a large contoured surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Richard W. Baird, James N. Buttrick, Glenn R. Dalby, Silas L. Studley
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Patent number: 7922272Abstract: There is provided a method of applying an accurately positioning at least one graphic image on a large contoured surface using an apparatus comprising a flexible-rail positioning system mounted on a portion of the surface on which the graphic image is to be applied, a graphic image application system, software to operate the positioning system, and software to operate the graphic image application system.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2008Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Richard W. Baird, James N. Buttrick, Glenn R. Dalby, Silas L. Studley
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Publication number: 20090257070Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for application and accurate positioning of at least one graphic image on a large contoured surface, comprising a flexible-rail positioning system mounted on a portion of the surface on which the graphic image is to be applied, a graphic image application system, software to operate the positioning system, and software to operate the graphic image application system. In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of applying and accurately positioning at least one graphic image on a large contoured surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2008Publication date: October 15, 2009Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Richard W. Baird, James N. Buttrick, Glenn R. Dalby, Silas L. Studley