Patents by Inventor Steven G. Keener

Steven G. Keener 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: 10589342
    Abstract: A method of forming a fastener includes inserting a blank precursor into a bore of a forming die having an enlarged bore portion, applying a first axial compression force to the blank precursor, and forming a cold-worked head section and an enlarged shank portion on the blank precursor corresponding to the enlarged bore portion. The enlarged shank portion has a nominal shank portion extending therefrom. The method additionally includes inserting the nominal shank portion into a bore of a final reduction die, applying a second axial compression force to the enlarged shank portion, and urging the enlarged shank portion into the bore of the final reduction die. The method includes reducing a cross-sectional area of the enlarged shank portion by approximately 2 to 5 percent to form a cold-worked shank section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Steven G. Keener
  • Publication number: 20170203356
    Abstract: A method of forming a fastener includes inserting a blank precursor into a bore of a forming die having an enlarged bore portion, applying a first axial compression force to the blank precursor, and forming a cold-worked head section and an enlarged shank portion on the blank precursor corresponding to the enlarged bore portion. The enlarged shank portion has a nominal shank portion extending therefrom. The method additionally includes inserting the nominal shank portion into a bore of a final reduction die, applying a second axial compression force to the enlarged shank portion, and urging the enlarged shank portion into the bore of the final reduction die. The method includes reducing a cross-sectional area of the enlarged shank portion by approximately 2 to 5 percent to form a cold-worked shank section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventor: Steven G. Keener
  • Patent number: 9649682
    Abstract: A method of forming a fastener may include inserting a blank precursor into a bore of a forming die having an enlarged bore portion. The method may further include applying a first axial compression force to the blank precursor, and forming a cold-worked head section and an enlarged shank portion on the blank precursor corresponding to the enlarged bore portion. The enlarged shank portion may have a nominal shank portion extending therefrom. The method may additionally include inserting the nominal shank portion into a bore of a final reduction die, applying a second axial compression force to the enlarged shank portion, and urging the enlarged shank portion into the bore of the final reduction die. The method may also include reducing a cross-sectional area of the enlarged shank portion by approximately 2 to 5 percent to form a cold-worked shank section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Steven G. Keener
  • Patent number: 9103047
    Abstract: A method of improving the material properties of a composite by electrodepositing particular polymers, organic compounds or inorganic compounds onto electrically conductive fibrous substrates, whether individual fibers or as a fabric, to form composites of improved structural properties and having particular physical properties such as being ice phobic, fire resistant, or electrically conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Norman R. Byrd, Steven G. Keener, Stephen C. Amundson, Arthur Rojo
  • Patent number: 9068250
    Abstract: A high-strength, pre-coated, titanium or titanium-alloy material component is provided that includes a titanium or titanium-alloy material article having ultra-fine, submicron grain size microstructure and an organic coating of phenolic resin applied to the surface of the article. The article is prepared from a coarse grain titanium or titanium-alloy powder material that is cryomilled into an ultra-fine, submicron grain material, degassed, and densified. The densified material is formed or otherwise processed into a article, and pre-coated with an organic coating containing phenolic resin prior to installation or assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Steven G. Keener
  • Publication number: 20150096166
    Abstract: A method of forming a fastener may include inserting a blank precursor into a bore of a forming die having an enlarged bore portion. The method may further include applying a first axial compression force to the blank precursor, and forming a cold-worked head section and an enlarged shank portion on the blank precursor corresponding to the enlarged bore portion. The enlarged shank portion may have a nominal shank portion extending therefrom. The method may additionally include inserting the nominal shank portion into a bore of a final reduction die, applying a second axial compression force to the enlarged shank portion, and urging the enlarged shank portion into the bore of the final reduction die. The method may also include reducing a cross-sectional area of the enlarged shank portion by approximately 2 to 5 percent to form a cold-worked shank section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Steven G. Keener
  • Patent number: 8474759
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for attaching parts. A composite male fastening component is placed through at least a first part and a second part. The composite male fastener component preferably has a threaded portion. A composite female fastener component is positioned adjacent to and surrounding the threaded portion of the male fastener component. A portion of the composite female fastener component is caused to flow around and form into the threaded portion of the composite male fastener component. The portion of the composite female fastener component that flowed around and formed into the threaded portion of the composite male fastener component is re-solidified and re-consolidated such that the composite female fastener component is securely attached to the composite male fastener component thereby joining the mating parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Steven G. Keener
  • Publication number: 20130125376
    Abstract: A fastener has a cold-worked head section, a cold-worked shank section, and a ductile shank section extending from the cold-worked shank section to a tail end portion of the fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Steven G. Keener
  • Patent number: 8393068
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for mechanically-joining components to assemble a composite structure. A first component and a second component may be provided. At least one of the first and second components may comprise a composite component. A hole may be formed in each of the first and second components. A metallic sleeve may be placed in the holes in the first and second components such that the metallic sleeve is in contact with the first and second components, and a composite rivet may be placed in the metallic sleeve. Heat and a deforming force may be applied to the composite rivet to join the first and second components to form an assembled composite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Steven G. Keener
  • Patent number: 8137755
    Abstract: The invention is a high-strength, pre-coated, aluminum or aluminum-alloy component comprising an aluminum or aluminum-alloy article having ultra-fine, submicron grain microstructure and an organic coating of phenolic resin applied to the surface of the article. The article is prepared from a coarse grain aluminum or aluminum-alloy material that is cryomilled into an ultra-fine, submicron grain material, degassed, and densified. The densified material is formed into an article, and coated with an organic coating containing phenolic resin prior to installation or assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven G. Keener, Patrick B. Berbon
  • Patent number: 7966711
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for attaching parts. A composite male fastening component is placed through at least a first part and a second part. The composite male fastener component preferably has a threaded portion. A composite female fastener component is positioned adjacent to and surrounding the threaded portion of the male fastener component. A portion of the composite female fastener component is caused to flow around and form into the threaded portion of the composite male fastener component. The portion of the composite female fastener component that flowed around and formed into the threaded portion of the composite male fastener component is re-solidified and re-consolidated such that the composite female fastener component is securely attached to the composite male fastener component thereby joining the mating parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Steven G. Keener
  • Patent number: 7959783
    Abstract: A method of improving the material properties of a composite by electrodepositing particular polymers, organic compounds or inorganic compounds onto electrically conductive fibrous substrates, whether individual fibers or as a fabric, to form composites of improved structural properties and having particular physical properties such as being ice phobic, fire resistant, or electrically conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Norman R. Byrd, Steven G. Keener, Stephen C. Amundson, Arthur Rojo
  • Patent number: 7922841
    Abstract: An aluminum or aluminum-alloy material sheet comprised of an aluminum material having an ultra-fine, submicron grain structure. The strength and physical properties of the aluminum or aluminum-alloy material sheet are improved over previous aluminum and aluminum-alloy material sheets because the aluminum is produced by cryomilling the aluminum or aluminum-alloy materials into a metal powder with ultra-fine, submicron grain structure. The powder is consolidated and rolled into the form of a sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Clifford C. Bampton, Patrick B. Berbon, Steven G. Keener
  • Patent number: 7915371
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for applying to a substrate, in the form of a seal, a polysiloxane-containing coating, preferably a polysiloxane(amide-ureide) coating capable of inhibiting corrosion as well as the accumulation of ice. One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a polysiloxane(amide-ureide) that forms a durable, long lasting, anti-corrosive and anti-ice coating when applied to a substrate as a seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Norman R. Byrd, Steven G. Keener
  • Publication number: 20110027043
    Abstract: A high-strength, pre-coated, titanium or titanium-alloy material component is provided that includes a titanium or titanium-alloy material article having ultra-fine, submicron grain size microstructure and an organic coating of phenolic resin applied to the surface of the article. The article is prepared from a coarse grain titanium or titanium-alloy powder material that is cryomilled into an ultra-fine, submicron grain material, degassed, and densified. The densified material is formed or otherwise processed into a article, and pre-coated with an organic coating containing phenolic resin prior to installation or assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Steven G. Keener
  • Patent number: 7854967
    Abstract: A method for preparing and treating the surfaces of structural components, such as structural aircraft wing and fuselage skin panels, spar, spar assemblies, ribs, stiffeners, hinges, doors, etc., and the mechanical components attached to these aforementioned structural components, with a semi-permeable, corrosion-inhibiting organic coating. The method being particularly applicable for the improved sealing process of the faying surfaces of these aircraft components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven G. Keener, Norman R. Byrd
  • Patent number: 7829014
    Abstract: The invention is a high-strength, pre-coated, titanium or titanium-alloy material component comprising a titanium or titanium-alloy material article having ultra-fine, submicron grain size microstructure and an organic coating of phenolic resin applied to the surface of the article. The article is prepared from a coarse grain titanium or titanium-alloy powder material that is cryomilled into an ultra-fine, submicron grain material, degassed, and densified. The densified material is formed or otherwise processed into a article, and pre-coated with an organic coating containing phenolic resin prior to installation or assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Steven G. Keener
  • Patent number: 7654909
    Abstract: A hybrid fastening system comprising a female fastener component, i.e., swage collar, fabricated from a titanium or titanium-alloy material, preferably Ti-3Al-2.5V, and a mating titanium or titanium-alloy material male fastener component, i.e., threaded pin, each preferably pre-coated with an organic coating material comprising an organic, phenolic resin. The threaded pin component is installed through two or more structural components to be joined. The swage collar component is then deformed or swaged onto the threads of the pre-coated threaded pin component to achieve the same, if not improved, fastener/joint performance characteristics of existing lockbolt systems using aluminum-alloy material swage collar components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven G. Keener, Cesare Peralta
  • Patent number: 7655320
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use, in a pre-coating process, of a flash plating, without a subsequent chromate seal, as a surface pre-treatment for a ferrous-alloy substrate prior to applying a corrosion-inhibiting coating to improve the overall corrosion protection of the pre-treatment component. Preferably the ferrous alloy is a heat-treatable, precipitation-hardenable stainless steel and the pre-treatement is a cadmium flash plate or a zinc-nickel alloy flash plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven G. Keener, Michael A. Mendoza
  • Publication number: 20100001137
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for attaching parts. A composite male fastening component is placed through at least a first part and a second part. The composite male fastener component preferably has a threaded portion. A composite female fastener component is positioned adjacent to and surrounding the threaded portion of the male fastener component. A portion of the composite female fastener component is caused to flow around and form into the threaded portion of the composite male fastener component. The portion of the composite female fastener component that flowed around and formed into the threaded portion of the composite male fastener component is re-solidified and re-consolidated such that the composite female fastener component is securely attached to the composite male fastener component thereby joining the mating parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Steven G. Keener