John Davis Potter

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:

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.