Patents by Inventor Steven E. Twaddle
Steven E. Twaddle 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: 11919052Abstract: In one embodiment, systems and methods include using an automated laser system to remove a portion of a coating for nutplate installation. An automated laser system comprises a laser scanner and a laser head, wherein the laser head is coupled to the laser scanner. The laser head comprises a containment unit and a vacuum connector wherein the vacuum connector is disposed on a first side of the containment unit. The laser head further comprises a camera system, a light source, a first actuator, and a second actuator all disposed on a top surface of the containment unit. The laser head further comprises an end piece, wherein the second actuator is configured to displace the end piece.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: David Haynes Coleman, Michael Bryan Stoddard, Jeffrey P. Langevin, Steven E. Twaddle, Alexandria Zoe Arthur
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Publication number: 20230047797Abstract: A system includes a robotic arm, a rotisserie control linkage, and a computer system. The robotic arm includes a touch probe and laser head. The rotisserie control linkage is configured to couple to a transport cart. The computer system is communicatively coupled to the robotic arm and the rotisserie control linkage and is configured to control the system to probe, using the touch probe of the robotic arm, a transparent outer layer of an aircraft canopy located on the transport cart in order to determine surface measurements of the aircraft canopy. The computer system also controls the system to ablate, using a plurality of predetermined parameters and the laser head of the robotic arm, an interface layer located between the transparent outer layer and the aircraft canopy, wherein movements of the robotic arm during the ablation are based on the surface measurements.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2021Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Jeffrey P. Langevin, Jeffrey T. Drewett, David Haynes Coleman, Daniel John Flanagan, Steven E. Twaddle
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Patent number: 11426805Abstract: An apparatus for precision shaving is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an endmill cutter, a base frame, and a motor adjacent to the base frame and having a shaft on one end. A coupler is positioned between the shaft and the endmill cutter. A positioning slide is housed within the base frame and a coupler frame and a first gear are fastened to the positioning slide. A second gear is adjacent to the first gear, the second gear having a set of first teeth and a set of second teeth positioned opposite the set of first teeth. The set of first teeth and the set of second teeth are separated by a gap.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Kevin Aaron Coffey, Stuart C. Street, Steven E. Twaddle, William Lynn Jenkins
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Publication number: 20220023921Abstract: In one embodiment, systems and methods include using an automated laser system to remove a portion of a coating for nutplate installation. An automated laser system comprises a laser scanner and a laser head, wherein the laser head is coupled to the laser scanner. The laser head comprises a containment unit and a vacuum connector wherein the vacuum connector is disposed on a first side of the containment unit. The laser head further comprises a camera system, a light source, a first actuator, and a second actuator all disposed on a top surface of the containment unit. The laser head further comprises an end piece, wherein the second actuator is configured to displace the end piece.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: David Haynes Coleman, Michael Bryan Stoddard, Jeffrey P. Langevin, Steven E. Twaddle, Alexandria Zoe Arthur
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Publication number: 20210354213Abstract: An apparatus for precision shaving is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an endmill cutter, a base frame, and a motor adjacent to the base frame and having a shaft on one end. A coupler is positioned between the shaft and the endmill cutter. A positioning slide is housed within the base frame and a coupler frame and a first gear are fastened to the positioning slide. A second gear is adjacent to the first gear, the second gear having a set of first teeth and a set of second teeth positioned opposite the set of first teeth. The set of first teeth and the set of second teeth are separated by a gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2020Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Kevin Aaron Coffey, Stuart C. Street, Steven E. Twaddle, William Lynn Jenkins
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Patent number: 11173526Abstract: In one embodiment, systems and methods include using an automated laser system to remove a portion of a coating for nutplate installation. An automated laser system comprises a laser scanner and a laser head, wherein the laser head is coupled to the laser scanner. The laser head comprises a containment unit and a vacuum connector wherein the vacuum connector is disposed on a first side of the containment unit. The laser head further comprises a camera system, a light source, a first actuator, and a second actuator all disposed on a top surface of the containment unit. The laser head further comprises an end piece, wherein the second actuator is configured to displace the end piece.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: David Haynes Coleman, Michael Bryan Stoddard, Jeffrey P. Langevin, Steven E. Twaddle, Alexandria Zoe Arthur
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Patent number: 11149778Abstract: A system includes an abrasion assembly containing one or more abrasion pads configured to clean a faying surface of multiple nutplates, and a shaft attached to at least one of the abrasion pads and configured to rotate some or all of the abrasion pads during cleaning, wherein cleaning includes abrading the faying surfaces with the abrasion pads. The system also includes a base configured to attach to a pressure applicator, and a pressure applicator configured to attach to the base, hold the nutplates such that the faying surface of each nutplate is capable of contacting one of the abrasion pads, and apply pressure to the nutplates such that each of the nutplates contact one of the abrasion pads during the cleaning. Furthermore, the abrasion assembly is configured to rotate the abrasion pads within at least one of the base and the pressure applicator during cleaning.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Kevin Aaron Coffey, David Haynes Coleman, Stuart C. Street, Steven E. Twaddle
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Patent number: 11148175Abstract: A system includes an abrasion component containing an abrasion pad configured to clean a faying surface of a nutplate and a shaft attached to the abrasion pad and configured to rotate the shaft and the abrasion pad during cleaning of the nutplate, which includes abrading the faying surface with the abrasion pad. The system further includes a base configured to attach to a pressure applicator, and the pressure applicator, which is configured to attach to the base, hold the nutplate such that the faying surface is capable of contacting the abrasion pad during the cleaning of the nutplate, and apply pressure to the nutplate such that the nutplate contacts the abrasion pad during the cleaning of the nutplate. Furthermore, the abrasion component is configured to rotate the abrasion pad within at least one of the base and the pressure applicator during the cleaning of the nutplate.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Kevin Aaron Coffey, David Haynes Coleman, Stuart C. Street, Steven E. Twaddle
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Publication number: 20210154709Abstract: In one embodiment, systems and methods include using an automated laser system to remove a portion of a coating for nutplate installation. An automated laser system comprises a laser scanner and a laser head, wherein the laser head is coupled to the laser scanner. The laser head comprises a containment unit and a vacuum connector wherein the vacuum connector is disposed on a first side of the containment unit. The laser head further comprises a camera system, a light source, a first actuator, and a second actuator all disposed on a top surface of the containment unit. The laser head further comprises an end piece, wherein the second actuator is configured to displace the end piece.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2020Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: David Haynes Coleman, Michael Bryan Stoddard, Jeffrey P. Langevin, Steven E. Twaddle, Alexandria Zoe Arthur
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Publication number: 20200368791Abstract: A system includes a laser configured to conduct a cleaning cycle that includes producing a laser beam capable of cleaning a faying surface of each of a plurality of nutplates, and conducting a first pass to clean each of the faying surfaces, wherein the laser is at a first position having a first angle relative to an axis orthogonal to the faying surfaces during the first pass. The system also includes a nutplate tray configured to hold the plurality of nutplates such that each faying surface is oriented such that the laser beam is capable of contacting each faying surface at least once during the cleaning cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Inventors: David Haynes Coleman, Caroline Rebecca Mitchell, Michael Bryan Stoddard, Steven E. Twaddle
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Patent number: 10737303Abstract: A system includes a laser configured to conduct a cleaning cycle that includes producing a laser beam capable of cleaning a faying surface of each of a plurality of nutplates, and conducting a first pass to clean each of the faying surfaces, wherein the laser is at a first position having a first angle relative to an axis orthogonal to the faying surfaces during the first pass. The system also includes a nutplate tray configured to hold the plurality of nutplates such that each faying surface is oriented such that the laser beam is capable of contacting each faying surface at least once during the cleaning cycle.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: David Haynes Coleman, Caroline Rebecca Mitchell, Michael Bryan Stoddard, Steven E. Twaddle
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Publication number: 20180369879Abstract: A system includes a laser configured to conduct a cleaning cycle that includes producing a laser beam capable of cleaning a faying surface of each of a plurality of nutplates, and conducting a first pass to clean each of the faying surfaces, wherein the laser is at a first position having a first angle relative to an axis orthogonal to the faying surfaces during the first pass. The system also includes a nutplate tray configured to hold the plurality of nutplates such that each faying surface is oriented such that the laser beam is capable of contacting each faying surface at least once during the cleaning cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2017Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: David Haynes Coleman, Caroline Rebecca Mitchell, Michael Bryan Stoddard, Steven E. Twaddle
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Publication number: 20180369873Abstract: A system includes an abrasion component containing an abrasion pad configured to clean a faying surface of a nutplate and a shaft attached to the abrasion pad and configured to rotate the shaft and the abrasion pad during cleaning of the nutplate, which includes abrading the faying surface with the abrasion pad. The system further includes a base configured to attach to a pressure applicator, and the pressure applicator, which is configured to attach to the base, hold the nutplate such that the faying surface is capable of contacting the abrasion pad during the cleaning of the nutplate, and apply pressure to the nutplate such that the nutplate contacts the abrasion pad during the cleaning of the nutplate. Furthermore, the abrasion component is configured to rotate the abrasion pad within at least one of the base and the pressure applicator during the cleaning of the nutplate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2017Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Kevin Aaron Coffey, David Haynes Coleman, Stuart C. Street, Steven E. Twaddle
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Publication number: 20180372143Abstract: A system includes an abrasion assembly containing one or more abrasion pads configured to clean a faying surface of multiple nutplates, and a shaft attached to at least one of the abrasion pads and configured to rotate some or all of the abrasion pads during cleaning, wherein cleaning includes abrading the faying surfaces with the abrasion pads. The system also includes a base configured to attach to a pressure applicator, and a pressure applicator configured to attach to the base, hold the nutplates such that the faying surface of each nutplate is capable of contacting one of the abrasion pads, and apply pressure to the nutplates such that each of the nutplates contact one of the abrasion pads during the cleaning. Furthermore, the abrasion assembly is configured to rotate the abrasion pads within at least one of the base and the pressure applicator during cleaning.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2017Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: Kevin Aaron Coffey, David Haynes Coleman, Stuart C. Street, Steven E. Twaddle