Paul B Nelson

US Patent:

6502808, Jan 7, 2003

Filed:

Sep 25, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/669322

Inventors:

Paul R. Stone - Federal Way WA
David E. Strand - Newcastle WA
Paul E. Nelson - University Place WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B23B 3130

US Classification:

269 21, 269 75, 269 71, 269266, 269296

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for holding a part on a fixture in a precisely known predetermined position includes pressing a surface of the part against a vacuum head and sealing an annular elastomeric sealing ring against the part surface. A valve button of a valve is engaged by the part surface to open the valve and establish communication between a vacuum source. The part is pulled by the vacuum against a hard stop in the vacuum head having a fixed precisely known relationship to said vacuum head reference surface. The hard-stop can be mounted in the base of the vacuum head for pivoting about at least one axis to self-align the hard-stop face with the part face.

US Patent:

6625866, Sep 30, 2003

Filed:

Jan 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/757680

Inventors:

Paul R. Stone - Federal Way WA
David E. Strand - Newcastle WA
Paul E. Nelson - University Place WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B23P 1100

US Classification:

29559, 292813, 292815, 29464, 269 21, 269266

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for manufacturing large, semi-flexible metal components includes a fixture that holds the component blank in a desired position for manufacturing operations by accurate numerically controlled machine tools using original numerical part definition records, utilizing spatial relationships between key features of detail parts or subassemblies as represented by coordination features machined into the parts and subassemblies, thereby making the parts and subassemblies intrinsically determinant of the dimensions and contour of the part.

US Patent:

6634597, Oct 21, 2003

Filed:

Jan 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/044517

Inventors:

Richard N. Johnson - Bellevue WA
Paul E. Nelson - University Place WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B64D 1302

US Classification:

2441185, 454 76

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for controlling aircraft airflow. An apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention can include an air scoop having an inlet and an outlet and configured to mount to the aircraft and be movable relative to at least a portion of the aircraft between a first position and a second position. The air scoop can be oriented to capture air when in the second position. The outlet can be configured to be coupled in fluid communication with a pressurized portion of the aircraft when the air scoop is in the second position to convey air from the inlet to the pressurized portion. The air scoop can be configured to significantly increase the drag of the aircraft from a first value when the air scoop is in the first position to a second value when the air scoop is in the second position.

US Patent:

6718614, Apr 13, 2004

Filed:

Jan 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/338568

Inventors:

Paul R. Stone - Federal Way WA
David E. Strand - Newcastle WA
Paul E. Nelson - University Place WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B23Q 700

US Classification:

29559

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for holding a part on a fixture in a precisely known predetermined position includes pressing a surface of the part against a vacuum head and sealing an annular elastomeric sealing ring against the part surface. A valve button of a valve is engaged by the part surface to open the valve and establish communication between a vacuum source. The part is pulled by the vacuum against a hard stop in the vacuum head having a fixed precisely known relationship to said vacuum head reference surface. The hard-stop can be mounted in the base of the vacuum head for pivoting about at least one axis to self-align the hard-stop face with the part face.

US Patent:

6764043, Jul 20, 2004

Filed:

Dec 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/316497

Inventors:

Mithra M. K. V. Sankrithi - Lake Forest Park WA
Paul E. Nelson - University Place WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B64C 3302

US Classification:

244 53B, 137 151

Abstract:

A rotatable scarf inlet for an engine and a method of operating a jet aircraft engine on an aircraft. The rotatable scarf inlet is rotatably supported at a forward end portion of a nacelle of the engine. The rotatable scarf inlet is controllably rotatable relative to the engine nacelle to a plurality of angular positions to inhibit ingestion of foreign object debris or to improve airflow characteristics, depending on whether the aircraft is taxiing, taking off from a runway, or operating in a cruise condition. The method involves controllably rotating the rotatable scarf inlet with respect to the engine nacelle to a corresponding one of the plurality of angular positions.

US Patent:

6808143, Oct 26, 2004

Filed:

Nov 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/001536

Inventors:

Clayton L. Munk - Maple Valley WA
Paul E. Nelson - University Place WA
David E. Strand - Newcastle WA

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B64C 326

US Classification:

244123, 244131

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for manufacturing wings includes a fixture that holds wing panels for drilling and edge trimming by accurate numerically controlled machine tools using original numerical part definition records, utilizing spatial relationships between key features of detail parts or subassemblies as represented by coordination features machined into the parts and subassemblies, thereby making the parts and subassemblies intrinsically determinant of the dimensions and contour of the wing. Spars are attached to the wing panel using the coordination holes to locate the spars accurately on the panel in accordance with the original engineering design, and in-spar ribs are attached to rib posts on the spar using accurately drilled coordination holes in the ends of the rib and in the rib post. The wing contour is determined by the configuration of the spars and ribs rather than by any conventional hard tooling which determines the wing contour in conventional processes.

US Patent:

6855099, Feb 15, 2005

Filed:

Oct 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/004060

Inventors:

Laurance N. Hazlehurst - Seattle WA, US
James N. Buttrick - Seattle WA, US
Darrell D. Jones - Mill Creek WA, US
Kostadinos D. Papanikolaou - Southfield MI, US
David P. Banks - Lake Stevens WA, US
Terrence J. Rowe - Seattle WA, US
Ronald Outous - Shoreline WA, US
Charles H. Glaisyer - Everett WA, US
Harry E. Townsend - Seattle WA, US
Mark Boberg - Bellevue WA, US
Paul Elfes Nelson - University Place WA, US
John R. Porter - Lynnwood WA, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B23Q003/157
B23P023/00

US Classification:

483 38, 483 36, 483 31, 483 28, 29712, 292815, 29714, 29720, 29 34 B, 29464, 295241, 2952506, 294071, 2940709, 408236, 408 12, 408 13, 408 16, 408 97, 408116, 408115 R, 409178, 409210, 409201, 33286

Abstract:

A production system for manufacturing a workpiece comprises an index system including a plurality of index devices removably mounted on the workpiece at known longitudinally spaced locations therealong, and a longitudinally extending index member releasably engaged with at least two of the index devices such that a position and orientation of the index member are fixed relative to the workpiece by the index devices, the index member having position-indicating features distributed therealong. The production system further comprises a machine module mounted for longitudinal movement along the index member and operable to perform an operation, the machine module being operable to detect the position-indicating features on the index member and thereby determine a position of the machine module relative to the workpiece.

US Patent:

6979288, Dec 27, 2005

Filed:

Dec 30, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/026242

Inventors:

Laurance N. Hazlehurst - Seattle WA, US
James N. Buttrick - Seattle WA, US
Darrell D. Jones - Mill Creek WA, US
Kostadinos D. Papanikolaou - Southfield MI, US
David P. Banks - Lake Stevens WA, US
Terrence J. Rowe - Seattle WA, US
Ronald Outous - Shoreline WA, US
Charles H. Glaisyer - Everett WA, US
Harry E. Townsend - Seattle WA, US
Mark Boberg - Bellevue WA, US
Paul Elfes Nelson - University Place WA, US
John R. Porter - Lynnwood WA, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Seattle WA

International Classification:

B23P003/157
B23P023/00

US Classification:

483 1, 408 1 R, 408 12, 408 13, 408 16, 408 88, 29712, 292815, 29714, 29720, 29 34 B, 29464, 295241, 2952506, 294071, 2940709

Abstract:

A production system for manufacturing a workpiece comprises an index system including a plurality of index devices removably mounted on the workpiece at known longitudinally spaced locations therealong, and a longitudinally extending index member releasably engaged with at least two of the index devices such that a position and orientation of the index member are fixed relative to the workpiece by the index devices, the index member having position-indicating features distributed therealong. The production system further comprises a machine module mounted for longitudinal movement along the index member and operable to perform an operation, the machine module being operable to detect the position-indicating features on the index member and thereby determine a position of the machine module relative to the workpiece.