John E Potter

US Patent:

6851945, Feb 8, 2005

Filed:

Dec 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/316564

Inventors:

John Potter - Camarillo CA, US
William Mead - Long Beach CA, US

Assignee:

Northrop Grumman Corporation - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

B29C070/44

US Classification:

425389, 156285, 156382

Abstract:

A reusable vacuum bag is configured for application of at least one sealant bead for providing vacuum tight sealing of the reusable vacuum bag to a forming tool during fabrication of a composite part. The reusable vacuum bag comprises at least one elastomeric layer and a fluoroelastomeric strip. The elastomeric layer is sealable to the forming tool and has a sealing flange extending peripherally thereabout. The fluoroelastomeric strip extends substantially along the sealing flange and has first and second surfaces. The elastomeric layer and the fluoroelastomeric strip each have polymers and a peroxide curative. The peroxide curative initiates vulcanization wherein the polymers of each material cross-link at an elevated temperature to form double-oxygen bonds such that a permanent bond is formed between the sealing flange and the fluoroelastomeric strip at the first surface. The fluoroelastomeric strip is releaseably adhered at the second surface to the sealant bead.

US Patent:

6941632, Sep 13, 2005

Filed:

Nov 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/708899

Inventors:

William T. Mead - Long Beach CA, US
John Potter - Camarillo CA, US
Narciso Gonzales - Whittier CA, US

Assignee:

Northrop Grumman Corporation - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

B23P017/00

US Classification:

29424, 29 8103, 29270, 492 7, 492 13, 492 60, 156349, 156579

Abstract:

There is provided a variable pressure roller system for installing a preform having contact surfaces onto a configuration of a mold surface by applying pressure thereon. The roller system of the present invention comprises a roller carriage. A grasping handle may be mounted to the roller carriage. Moreover, the roller system may further comprise a plurality of rollers, wherein each respective one of the plurality of rollers is defined by a weight to generate a specific pressure corresponding thereto. Furthermore, each respective one of the plurality of rollers may be removably engageable to the roller carriage. Each respective one of the plurality of rollers may be adapted to uniformly distribute the specific pressure corresponding thereto on the contact surfaces for conforming the preform to the configuration of the mold surface when engaged to the roller carriage.

US Patent:

7534319, May 19, 2009

Filed:

Apr 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/408132

Inventors:

William T. Mead - Long Beach CA, US
John Potter - Camarillo CA, US

Assignee:

Northrop Grumman Corporation - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

B29C 65/02
B29C 65/56
B29C 65/78
B32B 37/06
B32B 37/10
B32B 37/12
B32B 38/04
B32B 38/18
B32B 3/02
B29C 65/18
B29C 65/34
B32B 37/16
E04C 1/39

US Classification:

156259, 156160, 156180, 156184, 156196, 156212, 156222, 156228, 156264, 156469, 428156, 428174, 428188, 523091, 523093

Abstract:

Methods of forming shaped adhesive fillets are disclosed. The adhesive fillets may be made by stacking multiple layers of adhesive sheets, consolidating the stacked layers, cutting strips from the consolidated layers, and forming the strips into adhesive fillets having desired cross sectional shapes. The fillets may be formed by feeding the strips through an apparatus comprising opposing rollers and a catcher, which facilitates release of the adhesive fillets from the rollers. The formed adhesive fillets are useful for applications such as stiffened panels for aircraft.

US Patent:

8211530, Jul 3, 2012

Filed:

Feb 3, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/357162

Inventors:

William T. Mead - Long Beach CA, US
John Potter - Camarillo CA, US

Assignee:

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation - Falls Church VA

International Classification:

B32B 1/00
B32B 3/00

US Classification:

428174, 428156

Abstract:

Methods of forming shaped adhesive fillets are disclosed. The adhesive fillets may be made by stacking multiple layers of adhesive sheets, consolidating the stacked layers, cutting strips from the consolidated layers, and forming the strips into adhesive fillets having desired cross sectional shapes. The fillets may be formed by feeding the strips through an apparatus comprising opposing rollers and a catcher, which facilitates release of the adhesive fillets from the rollers. The formed adhesive fillets are useful for applications such as stiffened panels for aircraft.

US Patent:

20070290401, Dec 20, 2007

Filed:

Jun 15, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/453540

Inventors:

John E. Potter - Camarillo CA, US

International Classification:

B29C 70/34

US Classification:

264258

Abstract:

The invention is a process for making a composite structure. In detail, the process includes the steps of: 1) laying up a plurality of sheets of fibrous material fully impregnated with a resin on a mold surface forming a lay-up; 2) forming a chamber about the lay-up; 3) drawing a vacuum from the chamber; 4) simultaneously with the step of drawing a vacuum from the chamber, providing a source of additional resin to the lay up, such that the additional resin is drawn throughout the lay-up; and 5) heating the lay-up until the resin is cured.

US Patent:

51318342, Jul 21, 1992

Filed:

Dec 21, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/633571

Inventors:

John E. Potter - Camarillo CA

Assignee:

Northrop Corporation - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

B29C 4516

US Classification:

425389

Abstract:

An isostatic pressurizing bag for consolidating a composite part has an outer flexible elastomer having a fixed resilient outside surface. The outer elastomer surrounds a closed chamber. A thermally expandable inner elastomer is located in the closed chamber. The inner elastomer is selected as an elastomer that can viscously flow or move in response to pressure. The outer elastomer is capable of flexure to relieve expansion of the inner elastomer. The bag is formed by curing plies of uncured silicone rubber around either a silicone gel or a particulated silicone rubber that is capable of phase change to a flowable gel in response to pressure. In use a composite prepreg is overlaid on a surface that defines the shape of a desired part. The isostatic pressurizing bag is located over the prepreg trapping the prepreg between the pressurizing bag and the surface. The composite prepreg is heated to its cure temperature while simultaneously applying heat and pressure to the isostatic pressurizing bag to consolidate the prepreg between the surface and the isostatic pressurizing bag.

US Patent:

51319705, Jul 21, 1992

Filed:

Mar 2, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/488582

Inventors:

John E. Potter - Camarillo CA
John A. Van Hamersveld - Thousand Oaks CA
Norma J. Cretal - Thousand Oaks CA

Assignee:

Northrop Corporation - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

B32B 312

US Classification:

156205

Abstract:

Ultra strong lightweight core material capable of sustained operation at unusually high temperatures for composite structure of the type used in aircraft parts such as wings, fairings and stabilizers is produced from preimpregnated thermoplastic fibercloth ribbon by the manufacturing processes of this invention. The fibercloth ribbon is preformed between corrugated rollers of a special roll forming press which heats the ribbon to a softening temperature, forms it into a pattern of half-hex corrugations, cools it and sets it in that pattern. Then sheets cut from the corrugated ribbon are stacked into a bonding press along with hex forming mandrels placed between the sheets in the corrugations. With a full stack, the press is enclosed with side covers containing heating units, hydraulic pressure is applied to compress and consolidate the stack and contact interfacial facets, and heat is applied by directing superheated air jets on the mandrel ends until a bonding temperature is reached, forming the material accurately around the hex mandrels and fusion bonding adjacent sheets together at interfacial facets in a honeycomb pattern. After cooling to a setting temperature, pressure is removed and the bonded stack is removed from the bonding press.

US Patent:

58634525, Jan 26, 1999

Filed:

Apr 17, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/837402

Inventors:

Robert L. Harshberger - Lakewood CA
Keith A. Olsen - Lakewood CA
John E. Potter - Camarillo CA
Martin J. McLaughlin - Los Angeles CA
Stephen P. Grossman - El Segundo CA

Assignee:

Northrop Grumman Corporation - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

B22D 1900
B22C 908

US Classification:

249 83

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for making a fiber reinforced composite wherein fiber reinforcement material is disposed in a molding cavity formed between a substantially rigid molding tool and a compliant molding tool in a pressurizable chamber of a pressure vessel, such as an autoclave. Uncured polymer resin is introduced under pressure to the molding cavity by a resin pump disposed in the chamber or external thereof so as to initially infiltrate the fiber reinforcement material with the resin. The chamber is gas pressurized to provide isostatic pressure on the rigid and compliant tools during resin infiltration of the fiber reinforcement material. The resin-infiltrated fiber reinforcement material then is heated in the chamber to cure the resin matrix. Large surface area composites of the aerospace skin structure type can be made using the present invention.