James A Weathers

US Patent:

20220267034, Aug 25, 2022

Filed:

Jan 7, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/647351

Inventors:

- CHICAGO IL, US
Jeffrey Wayne Weathers - Huntsville AL, US
James Boyd Weathers - Huntsville AL, US

Assignee:

THE BOEING COMPANY - CHICAGO IL

International Classification:

B64G 5/00

Abstract:

A collet assembly, for an umbilical plate that connects a vehicle to a ground station prior to a launch of the vehicle, includes an active decoupler. The active decoupler includes a pin. A cuff has a central opening. The pin passes through the central opening. A plurality of fingers are pivotally coupled to the cuff. A plurality of levers are pivotally coupled to the plurality of fingers and the pin.

US Patent:

20180055227, Mar 1, 2018

Filed:

Dec 20, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/384660

Inventors:

- Chicago IL, US
Zachary S. Hopkins - Madison AL, US
Murray S. Edmondson - Madison AL, US
James B. Weathers - Madison AL, US
Shawn E. Mills - Owens Cross Roads AL, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

A47B 95/00
B64G 1/22

Abstract:

Provided are toroidal support structures and assemblies comprising these structures. A toroidal support structure comprises one or more side panels forming a tubular ring and one or more floor panels forming a planar ring. These rings define the toroidal shape of the structure. The structure also comprises multiple isolating linear support components connected to a top edge of the tubular ring. During installation of the structure, the isolating linear support components are attached to a mounting base for supporting the structure relative to the base, while providing thermal isolation to the rings and preventing their mechanical distortion. As such, a toroidal support structure can be attached to various types of mounting bases, such as a cryogenic tank of a spacecraft. Both rings provide supporting and mounting surfaces for equipment, cables, and pipes, while the toroidal opening allows external components to protrude through the support structure.