Patents by Inventor Steven R. Blencoe

Steven R. Blencoe 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).

  • Roller device with tailorable compliance for automated fiber placement
    Patent number: 10926491
    Abstract: A roller device for use in an automated fiber placement process for creating composite parts on a contoured tool. A helical spring provides a bendable axle, and a roller cover fits over the spring axle. A tension mechanism is arranged through the spring axle along a centerline axis, and is adjustable to control a bendability of the spring axle so as to more closely conform to particular contours of the tool. The tension mechanism may include a cable extending through the spring axle, a threaded portion at an end of the cable, and a screw received within the threaded portion and turnable to adjust a length of the tension mechanism and thereby adjust the bendability of the spring axle. The tension mechanism may be adjustable manually, semi-manually with a motor controlled by a user, or automatically with a motor controlled by an electronic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Tod Ross, Steven R. Blencoe
  • ROLLER DEVICE WITH TAILORABLE COMPLIANCE FOR AUTOMATED FIBER PLACEMENT
    Publication number: 20190224927
    Abstract: A roller device for use in an automated fiber placement process for creating composite parts on a contoured tool. A helical spring provides a bendable axle, and a roller cover fits over the spring axle. A tension mechanism is arranged through the spring axle along a centerline axis, and is adjustable to control a bendability of the spring axle so as to more closely conform to particular contours of the tool. The tension mechanism may include a cable extending through the spring axle, a threaded portion at an end of the cable, and a screw received within the threaded portion and turnable to adjust a length of the tension mechanism and thereby adjust the bendability of the spring axle. The tension mechanism may be adjustable manually, semi-manually with a motor controlled by a user, or automatically with a motor controlled by an electronic controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Tod Ross, Steven R. Blencoe