Patents by Inventor William Shawn WHORTON

William Shawn WHORTON 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).

  • Exterior indexing process and tooling
    Patent number: 9981367
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for aligning fastener holes of two components. An alignment fixture includes two mating fixtures. Each mating fixture includes a reference plate that is aligned to the fastener holes of one of the components. Each mating fixture also includes an alignment device. The alignment devices can be aligned with the respective reference plates such that the alignment between the reference plates and the fastener holes are transferred to the alignment devices. Once aligned, the alignment devices can be temporarily attached to the respective components at locations away from the fastener holes. The reference plates can then be removed. Thereafter, the components can be brought together such that mating features on the alignment devices engage. Engagement of the mating features aligns the two components such that the fastener holes on the components are aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Edward Nestleroad, Andrew Michael Huckey, William Shawn Whorton, Craig Charlton, Jake Aspen Wilson
  • EXTERIOR INDEXING PROCESS AND TOOLING
    Publication number: 20170008646
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for aligning fastener holes of two components. An alignment fixture includes two mating fixtures. Each mating fixture includes a reference plate that is aligned to the fastener holes of one of the components. Each mating fixture also includes an alignment device. The alignment devices can be aligned with the respective reference plates such that the alignment between the reference plates and the fastener holes are transferred to the alignment devices. Once aligned, the alignment devices can be temporarily attached to the respective components at locations away from the fastener holes. The reference plates can then be removed. Thereafter, the components can be brought together such that mating features on the alignment devices engage. Engagement of the mating features aligns the two components such that the fastener holes on the components are aligned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Mark Edward NESTLEROAD, Andrew Michael HUCKEY, William Shawn WHORTON, Craig CHARLTON, Jake Aspen WILSON