LAURENCE B. WINN

2549 N. Stewart Ave.

Tucson, AZ 85716

(262) 949-2449 (Cell phone/voice mail)

lwinn@aol.com

http://www.solutionsbylaurencewinn.com

http://www.alienlandscapes.biz

 

 

SUMMARY

           

Mechanical engineer with advanced degree and extensive experience in the continuous improvement and documentation of products and processes. Inventor. New product developer. Skilled in knowledge management. Trained in statistical process control (SPC), including generation and use of control charts, evaluation of process capability by Cp and Cpk, design of experiments (DOE), analysis of variation (ANOVA), gage repeatability and reproducibility (gage R&R), creation and maintenance of failure modes and effects analyses (FMEA). Experience includes use of multiple CAD and FEA packages. Known as an innovative, analytical, logical thinker who adapts to new situations quickly.  Skills include:

 

·      Design of rubber, plastic, stamped steel, cast aluminum, and machined components

·      Fluid flow analysis

·      Stress analysis by classical methods and FEA

·      Thermal analysis by classical methods and FEA

·      Solid modeling using Alibre Design, CATIA, Pro/Engineer, and AutoCAD systems

·      Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing per ASME Y14.5

·      Reliability disciplines, including Weibull analysis, FMEA, and quality function deployment (QFD)

·      Tribology, including solid lubricant selection for high-pressure, vacuum, and high-temperature applications

·      Rotor dynamics, including dynamic balancing techniques, and vibration analysis

·      Structural vibration analysis

·      Technical documentation using MS Word, MS Visio, MS Excel, MS Project, AutoCAD, Bluebeam, Adobe Acrobat, and MathCAD

·      Written, graphic, and verbal communication to create consensus

·      Project management

 

PATENTS

           

·      Seal Rotor Mount         

·      Unitized Wheel Hub and Bearing Assembly

·      Unitized Wheel Hub and Bearing Assembly with Lubricant Distributing Vanes

·      Hub Seal with Machinable Thrust Ring

·      Hub Seal with Low Installation Load and Rotation Prevention Structure

·      Disposable Seal Installation Tool

 

EXPERIENCE

 

8/2006 – Present (full-time as of 4/2020)   SPACEFARERS CORPORATION, a Tucson, Arizona retail, test marketing, promotion, and information laboratory for sustainability products on the path to space colonization.

President

·      Mission: Co-marketing is too sterile a term. SpaceFarers Corporation produces live-action technology theater about a self-sufficient colony somewhere in space. We generate ambiance as magical and fun as that of a great Renaissance fair, except that our action catapults visitors and vendors into a prosperous future.

·      Vision: World domination through immersive entertainment, creating consensus for pioneering the high frontier as the organizing principle of mankind.

·      Tasked with team-building, fund-raising, and B2B partnering.

 

10/2007 – 4/2020   TUCSON WATER, a Tucson, Arizona municipal utility

Civil Engineer, New Area Development:
Activities range from plan reviews and hydraulic analysis using Water CAD and InfoWater to special projects and project management.

·      Managed an interagency construction project with Pima County to bring water and sewer service to Tucson’s new Aerospace Corridor.

·      Led a team to replace sewer and water mains in a historically sensitive area of downtown Tucson at the site of a politically significant new hotel in what is arguably the most congested underground in Tucson.

·      Performed a reliability analysis of Tucson Water infrastructure to determine main break frequency as a function of age and material.

·      Published a peer-reviewed article on installation practices for gasketed PVC pipe in the Journal American Water Works Association.

·      In an industry first, developed an algorithm to reduce simple linear measurements taken from pipe joints to angular deflection. The method is adaptable to the measurement of curvature in plastic pipe as well. It can be automated.

·      Designed a self-clearing large water meter vault that avoids the need for confined space safety protocols during entry. It has since become a standard approach where compact design is required in economic development zones downtown.

·      Participated in teams, including the first update to Tucson Water’s Standard Specifications and Details in six years and a restructuring of the Tucson Water web site for responsiveness and ease of use.

 

6/2006 - 8/2006     HONEYWELL AEROSPACE, Tucson, Arizona

Manufacturer of military and civil aviation electrical systems, including generators.

Contract Engineer (Manpower Professional):

·      Gathered data and performed a reliability analysis of a civil aviation main generator, providing an improved understanding of current performance and the character of existing failure modes.

·      Provided engineering services for production support and strategic sourcing.

·      Helped an important military customer identify technologies for monitoring oil levels in an oil -cooled generator with the objective of minimizing maintenance time.

·      Assisted in the preparation of a white paper on the effect of coil end turn deflection on rotor dynamic balance.

 

4/2005 - 6/2006     CAPSTONE TURBINE CORPORATION, Chatsworth, California

Small, innovative, publicly traded manufacturer of microturbines for distributed power generation and combined heat and power applications.

Sr. Rotordynamics Engineer:

·      Deeply involved in the company's core technology, which is high-performance (third-generation) foil air bearings.

·      Performed structural, thermal, and rotordynamic analyses using CAE tools (ANSYS, MathCAD, and Excel, primarily, with CATIA for solid modeling)
Designed test plans using DOE tools such as Design Expert and reliability tools such as SuperSMITH.

·      Monitored and performed hands-on testing and production troubleshooting.

·      Prepared technical reports.
Participated in Six Sigma team processes aimed at product improvement.

·      Accomplishments include the application of Weibull Analysis and failure modes and effects analysis, and other Six Sigma tools, to expedite the resolution of warranty issues for a big boost in cash flow ($3 million annually).

 

1998 - 2005     TRISEAL CORPORATION, Hebron, Illinois

Small (less than 30 employees), privately held manufacturer of hub oil seals and other wheel end components for the heavy-duty automotive market.

Product Engineer:

·      As a member of Triseal management team, performed and/or oversaw all aspects of product improvement and new product development. Wrote education and training materials for in-house publications. Represented the organization in trade journal contacts. Two direct reports (test engineer and designer).

·      Organized and staffed a new test facility.

·      Introduced a formal functional test/audit discipline for existing products.

·      Designed snap-in plastic hubcap windows, injection molded using polycarbonate, Nylon 12, and polyurethane materials. Developed an inexpensive optical technique (birefringence) for the nondestructive detection of residual stress in the molded product. Led a successful effort to eliminate the defect by process controls.

·      Established a system of engineering specifications and work instructions for product design and testing.

·      Created a new product development process and filled the pipeline. Deployed new products representing a quantum leap in leather technology and steady evolution in elastomeric sealing technology.

·      Initiated a CAE system using finite element analysis for mold shrinkage, deflection analysis and kinematic functional limits of rubber lip seals.

·      Supervised employees in mechanical assembly operations, provided direction to production staff, scheduled daily work, checked inventory, designed and ordered production rigs and tooling, maintained test procedures, and solved production problems. Hired people. Fired people.

·      In surveys conducted annually since 1999, customer perception of product performance improved from a rating of 2.1 to 3.66 (on a scale of 1 to 5). In the category of technical innovation, we went from 1.9 to 3.75. Overall 1.5 to 3.89.

 

1992 - END 1997       STEMCO, INC., Longview, Texas

Manufacturing division of Coltec Industries specializing in hub oil seals and other wheel end components for the heavy-duty automotive market. (200 employees)

Senior Product Engineer

·      Directed laboratory personnel. One direct report (designer).

·      Invented Stemco's unitized hub system.

·      Developed several patented sealing technologies that provide performance advantages including superior contaminant exclusion, misalignment tolerance and enhanced retention.

·      Introduced new laboratory equipment and techniques to measure static leakage,

·      hydrodynamic pumping, dynamic properties and endurance, leading to doubling of life in one product and increase of 15 times in another.

·      Resolved quality assurance and rubber molding issues through venting and air leak test solutions, reducing flaws to almost zero and eliminating concerns and debate about residual defects.

 

1985 - 1992     ALLIED-SIGNAL AEROSPACE COMPANY, Phoenix, Arizona

Manufacturer of aircraft turbine engines.

Senior Aerospace Engineer

·      Authored comprehensive plan for use of personal computers in communications and

·      mechanical component design, increasing productivity by approximately 40%. Plan

·      requested by other divisions.

·      Analyzed, designed and tested key technologies, including air bearings, non-contacting counter-rotating intershaft seals, heat pipes and liquid metal seals, resulting in Federal and foreign contracts.

·      Designed foil bearings for an experimental high power density auxiliary power unit. When tested, the design outperformed all previous designs in high temperature operation.

·      Created FORTRAN applications to predict hydrodynamic stability in gas bearings and rolling element bearing separators.

·      Improved a carbon face seal testing process, resulting in savings of $2500 per engine.

 

1983 - 1985     MARTIN MARIETTA CORPORATION, Vandenberg AFB, California

Contractor for field support of space shuttle launch processing.

Senior Field Engineer

·      Designed unconventional suspended sensor array for space shuttle flame duct

·      tests, allowing test team to meet both technical and schedule objectives.

·      Completely revised engineering statement of work procedures for test equipment

·      fabrication, limiting volume of specification-driven vendor requirements, substantially reducing cost and delivery time.

 

1981 -1983      MAFI-TRENCH CORPORATION, Santa Maria, California

Small (fewer than 50 employees), privately held manufacturer of turbomachinery for the natural gas processing industry.

Design Engineer

·      Researched literature and developed procedures and software for calculation of critical fluid film bearing parameters.

·      Designed company’s first prototype epicyclic gear train (star system) with floating sun gear.

·      Designed hydrostatic/hydrodynamic hybrid bearings for large geothermal turbines. These bearings, extremely effective at mitigating high startup and transient loads, were generally regarded to be the first of their kind in the industry, although no patent was sought.

 

1980 -1981      MARTIN MARIETTA CORPORATION, Vandenberg AFB, California

Contractor for field support of space shuttle launch processing.

·      Field Engineer

·      As part of three-member team, developed specifications and test procedures for pathfinder space shuttle launch processing software.

 

1977 -1980      AIRESEARCH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Torrance, California

Manufacturer of diverse high technology products.

Engineering Sciences Engineer

·      Analyzed, designed and tested the mechanical components, foil bearings in particular, of air cycle machines, used in aircraft and spacecraft environmental control systems.

·      Developed a foil-bearing supported, subambient uranium hexafluoride compressor for laser isotope separation research by the DoE.

·      Provided technical support for the conversion of Skylab hardware to cool escape suits used on the first flights of the space shuttle.

·      Researched and coordinated successful proposal for first environmentally safe fighter aircraft emergency power unit.

·      Wrote acceptance test plan and procedures for nozzle vectoring actuators of the space

·      shuttle orbital maneuvering system.

 

CERTIFICATION

 

·      Professional Engineer, Mechanical Certification, California (1981-1984) and Arizona (2012 -Present)

·      Private Pilot (1965-1973)

 

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

 

·      BA, Applied Mechanics, University of California, San Diego, 1977

·      MSME, Fluid Mechanics, University of California, Los Angeles, 1980

·      Fatigue Life Methods, Pennsylvania State University, 1991.

·      Rolling Element Bearing Design, Allied-Signal, 1991.

·      Leather Technology, Stemco, 1992.

·      Weibull Reliability, Maintainability and Failure Analysis, University of Tennessee Space Institute, 1992.

·      Rubber Technology, American Chemical Society, Rubber Division, 1992.

·      Finite Element Analysis of Elastomeric Components, University Center for Continuing Education, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1997.

·      CD-based courses in statistical process control and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing. (1998-2002)

·      CATIA training (2005)

·      Vibration Analysis and Advanced Vibration Analysis seminars, Machine Dynamics, Inc. (2006)

·      Close reading of engineering literature, especially that of the ASME and STLE.

 

MEDIA EXPERIENCE

 

·      Studied journalism in college and worked as science editor and editor-in-chief of college newspapers.

·      Served as US Navy journalist at (then) NAS Miramar and aboard the USS Oriskany.

·      Published numerous articles on science and aerospace topics in newspapers and trade journals.

·      Authored an article on the Tunguska Event, a still-mysterious 1908 detonation in Siberia that saw no equal until the atom bomb, for Readers Almanac II.

·      Created a 10-minute multimedia event consisting of film, two banks of dissolve slide projection, and a musical score to promote the Western Spaceport Museum and Science Center in Lompoc, CA.

·      Wrote a monthly column on the frontier theory of history for an online magazine. (www.fordianvillage.com > Articles > Larry Winn > Frontier Theory).

·      Currently maintain NewSpace information resource at www.alienlandscapes.biz.

·      Published a peer-reviewed article, Limits of Longitudinal Bending of C900 PVC Pipe, Journal American Water Works Association, January 2018.