Patents by Inventor William D. Sherman

William D. Sherman 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: 10649087
    Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a group of passive sensor systems, an active sensor system, and a processor unit. The group of passive sensor systems is configured to generate first sensor information from light in an environment around the group of passive sensor systems. The active sensor system is configured to send signals, receive responses from the signals, and generate second sensor information from the responses. The processor unit is configured to control the active sensor system to send the signals in a direction toward an object using the first sensor information and generate information about the object using the second sensor information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Martin Saint Clair, William D. Sherman, Mitchell D. Voth, Ronald N. Murata, Bentley Edwin Northon, James Ridgeway Gillis, Robert P. Higgins, David Christien Soreide, Robert R. Keever, Ordie Dean Butterfield
  • Patent number: 10510485
    Abstract: A magnetic assembly includes a winding and a housing disposed about the winding. The housing includes an interior surface contoured to conform to the winding to facilitate heat transfer between the winding and the housing. A method of manufacturing a magnetic assembly includes forming a contoured interior surface on a housing and assembling a winding into the housing such that the interior surface of the housing conforms to the winding to facilitate heat transfer between the winding and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: John Huss, William D. Sherman
  • Patent number: 10333365
    Abstract: An end winding support segment for a generator rotor includes a support segment body with a curved inner surface configured to be adjacent to a rotor shaft, a winding support arm extending radially outward from the support segment body, and an orifice extending from the curved inner surface of the support to an exterior surface of the support adjacent the winding support arm with the orifice configured to transfer lubricant from a surface of the rotor shaft to a winding located on the winding support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Dhaval Patel, Glenn W. Hufstedler, Ted A. Martin, Eric A. Brust, Shaun Maconaghy, Kevin J. Koester, Doren C. Smith, Alan D. Hanson, William D. Sherman
  • Patent number: 10233941
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of variable geometry guide vanes for gas turbine engines. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a plastic variable inlet guide vane for a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shihming Jan, Nagendra Narasimha Kedlaya, Jang Y. Jo, William D. Sherman, Daniel J. Deen, Phillip Creed
  • Publication number: 20170133120
    Abstract: A nanocomposite structure includes a nanocomposite. The nanocomposite includes a bulk matrix phase and a nanophase filler disposed within the bulk matrix phase. The nanophase has a plurality of nanotubes including a material with thermal conductivity that is greater than the thermal conductivity of the bulk matrix phase of the nanocomposite. An electrical device includes a conductor in thermal communication with the nanocomposite structure formed from the nanocomposite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Sherman, John Huss, Alan Kasner
  • Patent number: 9606235
    Abstract: A laser metrology system may include a modulated measurement beam, a beam splitter for splitting the measurement beam into a local oscillator beam and a transmitted beam, an optical assembly for projecting the transmitted beam to a measured area on a surface of a target structure and for receiving a reflected beam from the measured area, a beam combiner for combining the reflected beam and the local oscillator beam into a detection beam, a detector for processing the detection beam, the detector including a micro-lens for projecting the detection beam, a photodetector for carrying out coherent detection of the detection beam and detector electronics in communication with the photodetector for generating informational data from the detection beam, and a range processor for computing dimensional data about the measured area from the informational data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Saint Clair, Mitchell D. Voth, William D. Sherman, David C. Soreide
  • Publication number: 20170076862
    Abstract: A magnetic assembly includes a winding and a housing disposed about the winding. The housing includes an interior surface contoured to conform to the winding to facilitate heat transfer between the winding and the housing. A method of manufacturing a magnetic assembly includes forming a contoured interior surface on a housing and assembling a winding into the housing such that the interior surface of the housing conforms to the winding to facilitate heat transfer between the winding and the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: John Huss, William D. Sherman
  • Patent number: 9491448
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring a surface of an object. The system, in one embodiment, includes a laser projector device mounted at a fixed location relative to an object being formed by a fabrication process, and a videogrammetry device mounted at another fixed location relative to the object. The laser projector device includes a laser element mounted on a two-axis gimbal assembly, and the gimbal assembly directs laser beams from the laser element onto target points on a surface of the object. The laser projector device measures angles of the laser beams to the target points, while the videogrammetry device simultaneously performs measurements of the target points by capturing video images of the laser beams reflecting off of the target points. A controller processes the measurements from the laser projector device and the videogrammetry device to calculate x, y, z coordinates of the target points in a 3D coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William D. Sherman, Mitchell Voth, Jonathan Saint Clair
  • Publication number: 20160241093
    Abstract: A stator for a generator includes a core having a back iron that is annular in shape and poles that extend inward from the back iron, a hoop having an annular shape that is radially inward from the back iron, and a plurality of winding supports surrounding the poles. Each winding support includes a tooth extending radially inward from the hoop and surrounding a corresponding pole with the tooth having a first end adjacent to the hoop and a second end radially inward from the first end and a first channel on a first axial side of the tooth extending from the second end to the first end. The stator also includes a plurality of windings with each winding wrapped around a corresponding tooth so that each winding is spaced from the tooth at the first channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Dhaval Patel, Gordon W. Friske, Brady A. Manogue, Shaun Maconaghy, Kevin J. Koester, William D. Sherman
  • Publication number: 20160211713
    Abstract: An end winding support for a generator rotor includes a support body with an annular inner surface configured to be radially outward from a rotor shaft, a plurality of winding support arms extending radially outward from the support body, and a plurality of orifices extending from the annular inner surface of the support to an exterior surface of the support body adjacent the plurality of winding support arms with the plurality of orifices configured to transfer lubricant from a surface of the rotor shaft to a plurality of windings located on the plurality of winding support arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Dhaval Patel, Eric A. Brust, Brady A. Manogue, Kevin J. Koester, Glenn W. Hufstedler, William D. Sherman, Alan D. Hanson, Shaun Maconaghy, Christine Lynn Ooyen
  • Publication number: 20160211712
    Abstract: An end winding support segment for a generator rotor includes a support segment body with a curved inner surface configured to be adjacent to a rotor shaft, a winding support arm extending radially outward from the support segment body, and an orifice extending from the curved inner surface of the support to an exterior surface of the support adjacent the winding support arm with the orifice configured to transfer lubricant from a surface of the rotor shaft to a winding located on the winding support arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Dhaval Patel, Glenn W. Hufstedler, Ted A. Martin, Eric A. Brust, Shaun Maconaghy, Kevin J. Koester, Doren C. Smith, Alan D. Hanson, William D. Sherman
  • Publication number: 20160169246
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of variable geometry guide vanes for gas turbine engines. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a plastic variable inlet guide vane for a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Shihming JAN, Nagendra Narasimha Kedlaya, Jang Y. Jo, William D. Sherman, Daniel J. Deen, Phillip Creed
  • Publication number: 20160042854
    Abstract: A magnetic assembly includes a winding and a housing disposed about the winding. The housing includes an interior surface contoured to conform to the winding to facilitate heat transfer between the winding and the housing. A method of manufacturing a magnetic assembly includes forming a contoured interior surface on a housing and assembling a winding into the housing such that the interior surface of the housing conforms to the winding to facilitate heat transfer between the winding and the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: John Huss, William D. Sherman
  • Patent number: 9244270
    Abstract: A wide angle scanning system includes a plurality of rotationally symmetrical transmissive optical elements each having a non-refracting surface and a refracting surface; and a mechanical beam steering system including micro-mechanical steering elements, each being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of rotationally symmetrical transmissive optical elements for rotating a respective rotationally symmetrical transmissive optical element about a center of rotation that coincides with a center of the non-refracting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William D. Sherman, Jonathan M. Saint Clair, Barbara A. Capron, Stephen K. Wilcken
  • Publication number: 20150198433
    Abstract: A laser metrology system may include a modulated measurement beam, a beam splitter for splitting the measurement beam into a local oscillator beam and a transmitted beam, an optical assembly for projecting the transmitted beam to a measured area on a surface of a target structure and for receiving a reflected beam from the measured area, a beam combiner for combining the reflected beam and the local oscillator beam into a detection beam, a detector for processing the detection beam, the detector including a micro-lens for projecting the detection beam, a photodetector for carrying out coherent detection of the detection beam and detector electronics in communication with the photodetector for generating informational data from the detection beam, and a range processor for computing dimensional data about the measured area from the informational data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Saint Clair, Mitchell D. Voth, William D. Sherman, David C. Soreide
  • Publication number: 20130201052
    Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a group of passive sensor systems, an active sensor system, and a processor unit. The group of passive sensor systems is configured to generate first sensor information from light in an environment around the group of passive sensor systems. The active sensor system is configured to send signals, receive responses from the signals, and generate second sensor information from the responses. The processor unit is configured to control the active sensor system to send the signals in a direction toward an object using the first sensor information and generate information about the object using the second sensor information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jonathan Martin Saint Clair, William D. Sherman, Mitchell D. Voth, Ronald N. Murata, Bentley Edwin Northon, James Ridgeway Gillis, Robert P. Higgins, David Christien Soreide, Robert R. Keever, Ordie Dean Butterfield
  • Patent number: 7903261
    Abstract: Systems and methods to control projection of a pattern are provided. A particular method includes receiving first three-dimensional coordinates that specify one or more locations on a surface of a workpiece where the one or more locations correspond to a part definition to be projected onto the surface. The method also includes computing scan angles for a scanning system based on the first three-dimensional coordinates. The scan angles specify angles used by the scanning system to direct a beam of light to project the part definition onto the surface. The method also includes sending control signals to the scanning system based on the scan angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Saint Clair, Mitchell D. Voth, David C. Soreide, William D. Sherman
  • Publication number: 20100141932
    Abstract: Systems and methods to control projection of a pattern are provided. A particular method includes receiving first three-dimensional coordinates that specify one or more locations on a surface of a workpiece where the one or more locations correspond to a part definition to be projected onto the surface. The method also includes computing scan angles for a scanning system based on the first three-dimensional coordinates. The scan angles specify angles used by the scanning system to direct a beam of light to project the part definition onto the surface. The method also includes sending control signals to the scanning system based on the scan angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Saint Clair, Mitchell D. Voth, David C. Soreide, William D. Sherman
  • Patent number: 7701592
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for targetless optical measurement and optical information projection. A non-contact optical measurement device is provided for determining at least one of position and orientation of a workpiece. A projector is provided for projecting a part definition on the workpiece. Advantageously, beams from the non-contact optical measurement device and the projector pass through common optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Saint Clair, Mitchell D. Voth, David C. Soreide, William D. Sherman
  • Patent number: 7684043
    Abstract: A system and method for free space, optical remote sensing of a potential threat agent using spectrally responsive sensor material. In one example the sensor material is formed by particles, which in one particular form are porous photonic crystals. The particles are dispersed into an area being monitored for the presence of the potential threat agent. A pair of lasers is used to generate optical light beams that are directed at the sensor particles after the particles have been dispersed. The light reflected by the sensor particles is then analyzed. The presence of the potential threat agent causes a shift in the spectral peak of light reflected from the sensor particles that can be sensed using photo detectors and a processing subsystem. The system can be tuned to remotely detect for specific chemical, biological or environmental agents that may be present within a given area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignees: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jason R. Dorvee, Jamie R. Link, Michael J. Sailor, Harold E. Hager, William D. Sherman