Patents by Inventor Brendan M. Lenz

Brendan M. Lenz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11987898
    Abstract: An article includes a substrate formed of a molybdenum-based alloy. A barrier layer is disposed on the substrate. The barrier layer is formed of at least one noble metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Brendan M. Lenz, Douglas M. Berczik
  • Patent number: 11919821
    Abstract: A void filler material includes a ceramic rod and a fibrous overwrap. The void filler material may be used in a ceramic matrix composite. The method of making the ceramic matrix composite includes inserting the void filler material in voids of a preform and depositing a ceramic matrix on the preform and the void filler material using chemical vapor infiltration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brendan M. Lenz
  • Patent number: 11851378
    Abstract: A method of preparing a woven fabric material for use in a ceramic matrix composite includes passing a desized woven fabric tape having a first inter-filament spacing through a dispersal module configured to transform the desized woven fabric tape into a dispersed woven fabric tape having a second inter-filament spacing greater than the first inter-filament spacing. The dispersal module includes a first charging element with a charged surface and disposed to apply an electric charge to the desized woven fabric tape. The method further includes applying a polymer binder to the dispersed woven fabric tape to create a stabilized woven fabric tape having the second inter-filament spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Brendan M. Lenz, Sarah A. Frith, Daniel L. Becerra, Olivier H. Sudre
  • Publication number: 20230227366
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing ceramic matrix composites (CMC) and CMCs made by the method are disclosed. The method can be a manual process or an automated process, such as using a robotic system, that is used for controlled delivery of ceramic particles in a CMC fabric. The method includes identifying voids present between adjacent tows of the CMC fabric and dispensing ceramic particles into the voids. Applying the ceramic particles in the center of the voids reduces the size and volume fraction of the voids/defects, improving the homogeneity of surface texture of the preform, homogeneity of microstructure, and part model shape conformity. The method for manufacturing CMCs creates CMCs having a homogenous distribution of small pores after matrix formation that improves the interlaminar mechanical and thermal properties of the CMCs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Evan Benjamin Callaway, Brendan M. Lenz, Kathryn S. Read, Sarah A. Frith, Olivier H. Sudre
  • Publication number: 20230192561
    Abstract: A method for producing a ceramic matrix composite component is disclosed. The method includes providing a plurality of first ceramic fiber plies including a plurality of interconnected tows and a plurality of first pores positioned between adjacent tows. The method includes applying a plurality of first ceramic particles within the plurality of first pores. Next, the method includes applying a plurality of second ceramic fiber plies onto an outer surface of the plurality of first ceramic fiber plies. The second ceramic fiber plies include a plurality of interconnected tows and a plurality of second pores positioned between adjacent tows. The method then includes applying a plurality of second ceramic particles within the plurality of second pores. Further, the plurality of second ceramic particles are larger than the plurality of first ceramic particles. Lastly, the method includes densifying the ceramic matrix composite preform to form the ceramic matrix composite component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Kathryn S. Read, Brendan M. Lenz
  • Publication number: 20230193541
    Abstract: A method of preparing a ceramic fabric and ceramic matrix composite components constructed from the ceramic fabric include transforming ceramic tows, or ceramic fabrics, to varying degrees from a first tow geometry to a second tow geometry, thereby reducing a first dimension of the ceramic tows and increasing a second dimension of the ceramic tows orthogonal to the first dimension. Plies constructed with flattened tows, or as-received tows, have various inter-tow pore sizes that are arranged with increasing inter-tow pore size towards exterior surfaces of the preform structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Kathryn S. Read, Brendan M. Lenz
  • Publication number: 20230063554
    Abstract: A method of preparing a ceramic fabric for use in a ceramic matrix composite includes arranging a plurality of ceramic tows, each comprising a plurality of filaments, introducing a superabsorbent polymer to the plurality of ceramic tows such that an amount of the superabsorbent polymer surrounds at least a subset of the plurality of filaments within each of the plurality of ceramic tows, and introducing water to the plurality of ceramic tows to cause the superabsorbent polymer to expand and force apart adjacent ones of the subset of the plurality of filaments within each of the plurality of ceramic tows. Expansion of the superabsorbent polymer within one of the plurality of ceramic tows reduces a filament packing density of the one of the plurality of ceramic tows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventor: Brendan M. Lenz
  • Publication number: 20230036697
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing ceramic matrix composites includes producing chemical vapor deposition functionalized ceramic particles before injecting the functionalized ceramic particles into the CMC fabric. The functionalized ceramic particles are mixed with a binder solution and then dispensed into voids present between adjacent tows of the CMC fabric. Injecting the particles in the center of the voids reduces the size and volume fraction of the voids/defects, improving the homogeneity of surface texture, homogeneity of microstructure, and part model shape conformity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Brendan M. Lenz, Sarah A. Frith, Olivier H. Sudre
  • Publication number: 20230019661
    Abstract: A method of preparing a woven fabric material for use in a ceramic matrix composite includes passing a desized woven fabric tape having a first inter-filament spacing through a dispersal module configured to transform the desized woven fabric tape into a dispersed woven fabric tape having a second inter-filament spacing greater than the first inter-filament spacing. The dispersal module includes a first charging element with a charged surface and disposed to apply an electric charge to the desized woven fabric tape. The method further includes applying a polymer binder to the dispersed woven fabric tape to create a stabilized woven fabric tape having the second inter-filament spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Brendan M. Lenz, Sarah A. Frith, Daniel L. Becerra, Olivier H. Sudre
  • Publication number: 20210404081
    Abstract: An article includes a substrate formed of a molybdenum-based alloy. A barrier layer is disposed on the substrate. The barrier layer is formed of at least one noble metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Brendan M. Lenz, Douglas M. Berczik
  • Patent number: 11111797
    Abstract: An article includes a substrate formed of a molybdenum-based alloy. A barrier layer is disposed on the substrate. The barrier layer is formed of at least one noble metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brendan M. Lenz, Douglas M. Berczik
  • Publication number: 20210155553
    Abstract: Disclosed is a preform for a ceramic matrix composite including direct channels extending from an exterior surface of the preform to an interior space of the preform wherein the direct channels are free of char.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventor: Brendan M. Lenz
  • Publication number: 20210114941
    Abstract: A void filler material includes a ceramic rod and a fibrous overwrap. The void filler material may be used in a ceramic matrix composite. The method of making the ceramic matrix composite includes inserting the void filler material in voids of a preform and depositing a ceramic matrix on the preform and the void filler material using chemical vapor infiltration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventor: Brendan M. Lenz
  • Publication number: 20210114945
    Abstract: A method of making a fiber reinforced composite includes: infiltrating a preform having a perimeter with an electrophoretic gel; adding nanoparticles to wells located in the electrophoretic gel outside the preform perimeter; introducing the nanoparticles to the preform using gel electrophoresis; removing the electrophoretic gel to result in a preform having embedded nanoparticles; and infiltrating the preform having embedded nanoparticles with a matrix material or a matrix material precursor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventor: Brendan M. Lenz
  • Publication number: 20190309637
    Abstract: An article includes a substrate formed of a molybdenum-based alloy. A barrier layer is disposed on the substrate. The barrier layer is formed of at least one noble metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Brendan M. Lenz, Douglas M. Berczik
  • Patent number: 10329926
    Abstract: An article includes a substrate formed of a molybdenum-based alloy. The molybdenum-based alloy has a composition that includes molybdenum, silicon, and boron. A barrier layer is disposed on the substrate. The barrier layer is formed of at least one noble metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brendan M. Lenz, Douglas M. Berczik
  • Publication number: 20170321558
    Abstract: An article includes a substrate formed of a molybdenum-based alloy. The molybdenum-based alloy has a composition that includes molybdenum, silicon, and boron. A barrier layer is disposed on the substrate. The barrier layer is formed of at least one noble metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Brendan M. Lenz, Douglas M. Berczik