Patents Assigned to Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11149563
    Abstract: An assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine has a carrier component and a supported component. The assembly includes a mounting system for coupling the supported component to the carrier component. In an illustrative embodiment, the assembly is a turbine shroud segment for blocking gases from passing over turbine blades included in the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel K. Vetters, Jeffrey M. Crutchfield
  • Patent number: 11149590
    Abstract: An assembly for a gas turbine engine includes ceramic material containing (i.e. ceramic matrix composite) segments and joints that couple the segments together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites, Inc., Rolls-Roycfe North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron D. Sippel, Ted J. Freeman, Joseph P. Lamusga, Daniel K. Vetters, Sean E. Landwehr, Bruce E. Varney
  • Patent number: 11149568
    Abstract: A turbine vane assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes a support strut and a vane. The support strut is made of metallic materials. The vane is made of composite materials and is arranged around the support strut to insulate the metallic materials of the support strut during use of the turbine vane assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Michael G. Abbott, Austin R. Warmuth
  • Patent number: 11149581
    Abstract: A component for use in a gas turbine engine includes a component body, and a damage-indicative coating. The damage-indicative coating is configured to change from an intact state in which the damage-indicative coating has a first appearance to a damaged state in which the damage-indicative coating has a second appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Anthony G. Razzell, Stephen I. Harris
  • Patent number: 11117838
    Abstract: A method of making a fiber preform for ceramic matrix composite (CMC) fabrication that utilizes a fugitive binder and a machining step is described. The method includes, according to one embodiment, laying up a plurality of plies to form a stack, where each ply comprises an arrangement of fibers. The stack is infiltrated with a polymer at an elevated temperature to form an infiltrated stack that is cooled to form a rigid preform. The rigid fiber preform is machined to have a predetermined shape, such that a machined fiber preform is formed. A composite assembly including the machined fiber preform is formed and then the composite assembly is heated at a sufficient temperature to pyrolyze the polymer. Thus, a porous preform of a predetermined geometry is formed for further processing into a CMC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES INC.
    Inventors: Wayne Steffier, Michael Jacquinto, Stephen Harris, Robert Shinavski, Todd Engel
  • Patent number: 11085302
    Abstract: Turbine blades for use in gas turbine engines are disclosed herein. Each blade includes an airfoil and a protective crown. The airfoil includes ceramic matrix composite materials. The protective crown includes ceramic-containing materials and is mounted to a radially-outer end portion of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Jeremy P. Roehm, Robert J. Shinavski
  • Publication number: 20210230071
    Abstract: A method of producing a ceramic matrix composite including a protective ceramic coating thereon comprises applying a surface slurry onto an outer surface of an impregnated fiber preform. The surface slurry includes particulate ceramic solids dispersed in a flowable preceramic polymer comprising silicon, and the impregnated fiber preform comprises a framework of ceramic fibers loaded with particulate matter. The flowable preceramic polymer is cured, thereby forming on the outer surface a composite layer comprising a cured preceramic polymer with the particulate ceramic solids dispersed therein. The cured preceramic polymer is then pyrolyzed to form a porous ceramic layer comprising silicon carbide, and the impregnated fiber preform and the porous ceramic layer are infiltrated with a molten material comprising silicon. After infiltration, the molten material is cooled to form a ceramic matrix composite body with a protective ceramic coating thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventor: Sungbo Shim
  • Patent number: 11046618
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) is formed by infiltrating a metal or alloy into a fiber preform in a reactor or furnace that is separated into multiple discrete temperature zones. The gradual cooling of the CMC is controlled, such that upon solidification, a narrow, planar, solidification front is created which allows the expanding metal or alloy to move into a hotter section of the fiber preform, opposed to the surface of the CMC. A discrete solidification front is established that moves through the ceramic matrix composite (CMC) as the composite cools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES INC.
    Inventors: Robert Shinavski, Joseph Doyle, Andrew Ritchey, Stephen Harris
  • Patent number: 11046620
    Abstract: A method of processing a CMC component includes applying a surface formulation comprising a resin and/or a preceramic polymer to a fiber preform. The surface formulation is cured to form a surface coating, which is then pyrolyzed to convert the resin to carbon and/or the preceramic polymer to silicon carbide. After pyrolysis, the fiber preform is infiltrated with a melt comprising silicon to form a CMC component. During melt infiltration, the carbon reacts with the silicon to form silicon carbide, and the silicon carbide prevents unreacted silicon from accessing a surface region of the CMC component. Thus, after melt infiltration, a concentration of free silicon in the surface region is a low amount of about 5 vol. % or less. Upon assembling the CMC component with a metal component, diffusion between the components is inhibited or prevented by the low amount of free silicon in the surface region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES INC.
    Inventors: Sungbo Shim, Jun Shi
  • Patent number: 11047780
    Abstract: A system includes a load actuator, a strain measurement device, and a computing device. The computing device is configured to receive an unconditioned displacement signal from the strain measurement device. The unconditioned displacement signal represents displacement of a specimen under load from the load actuator. The computing device is further configured to split the unconditioned displacement signal into a measurement signal and a control signal. The computing device is further configured to filter the control signal to generate a filtered control signal and control the load actuator based on the filtered control signal. The computing device is further configured to determine a strain on the specimen based on the measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites, Inc.
    Inventor: Austin Warmuth
  • Patent number: 11021779
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) is formed using a three-dimensional (3-D) woven preform by removing the set of sacrificial fibers from the 3-D woven preform and allowing a metal or metal alloy infiltrate the 3-D woven preform. The 3-D woven preform is formed by a method that includes providing a woven layer comprising a first set of ceramic fibers oriented in a first (x) direction woven with a second set of ceramic fibers oriented in a second (y) direction; stacking a plurality of woven layers on top of each other, said woven layers providing a two-dimensional (2-D) preform; weaving a set of sacrificial fibers in a third (z) direction with the 2-D preform, said weaving providing the 3-D woven preform; and shaping the 3-D woven preform into a predetermined shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chris Barrett, Steffan Brown
  • Patent number: 11008881
    Abstract: A shroud for radially encasing a turbine in a gas turbine engine is provided. The shroud comprises a carrier which defines a pin-receiving carrier bore, and a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment comprising an arcuate flange with a surface facing the turbine and a part that defines a pin-receiving seal segment bore. The seal segment bore is radially spaced from the arcuate flange by a spacing flange which extends radially outward from the arcuate flange to effect receipt within the seal segment bore of an elongated pin. The elongated pin extends through the carrier bore and the seal segment bore, and the elongated pin has a lateral cross-sectional dimension of at least three-eighths of an inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Ted Freeman, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Patent number: 11008652
    Abstract: A system may include a reactor vessel comprising an outer wall, a heat source thermally coupled to the reactor vessel, at least one reactor inlet in the outer wall, and at least one reactor outlet. The reactor vessel may be configured to house a porous preform in a radially central core region. The at least one reactor inlet may be configured to introduce a precursor gas to the reactor vessel to produce swirling flow of the precursor gas around the radially central core region of the reactor vessel. The at least one reactor outlet may be configured to remove exhaust gas from the reactor vessel and assist in maintaining a dynamic pressure of the reactor vessel greater than a pressure in the porous preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: Chong M. Cha, David Liliedahl, Richard W. Kidd, Ross Galligher, Nicholas Doan
  • Patent number: 11001532
    Abstract: A method of producing a ceramic matrix composite including a protective ceramic coating thereon comprises applying a surface slurry onto an outer surface of an impregnated fiber preform. The surface slurry includes particulate ceramic solids dispersed in a flowable preceramic polymer comprising silicon, and the impregnated fiber preform comprises a framework of ceramic fibers loaded with particulate matter. The flowable preceramic polymer is cured, thereby forming on the outer surface a composite layer comprising a cured preceramic polymer with the particulate ceramic solids dispersed therein. The cured preceramic polymer is then pyrolyzed to form a porous ceramic layer comprising silicon carbide, and the impregnated fiber preform and the porous ceramic layer are infiltrated with a molten material comprising silicon. After infiltration, the molten material is cooled to form a ceramic matrix composite body with a protective ceramic coating thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES INC.
    Inventor: Sungbo Shim
  • Patent number: 10995623
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to blades used in gas turbine engines. More specifically designs in accordance with the present disclosure include turbine blades comprising ceramic matrix composite materials with abrasive tips coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc., Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron D. Sippel, Andrew Glucklich, Sungbo Shim, Ted J. Freeman
  • Patent number: 10995040
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a ceramic matrix composite component having a deltoid region is provided. The method includes providing a porous ceramic preform. The porous ceramic preform includes a layer-to-layer weave of ceramic fibers that forms a modified layer-to-layer woven core and at least one 2-dimensional layer of ceramic fibers that is disposed adjacent to the modified layer-to-layer woven core. The porous ceramic preform is formed into a ceramic matrix composite body having the deltoid region such that the modified layer-to-layer woven core extends through the deltoid region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Lamusga, Christopher Barrett
  • Patent number: 10989060
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment for use in a segmented turbine shroud for radially encasing a turbine in a gas turbine engine. The CMC seal segment comprises an arcuate flange having a surface facing the turbine and a portion defining a bore for receiving an elongated pin, with the bore having a length that is at least 70% of the length of the elongated pin received therein. The CMC seal segment is carried by the carrier by at least one of the elongated pins being received within the bore. The CMC seal segment portion defining a pin-receiving bore is radially spaced from the arcuate flange by a spacing flange extending radially outward from the arcuate flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel K. Vetters, David J. Thomas, Ted Freeman, Joseph Lamusga, Rick Uskert, Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel, Matt Brandt
  • Publication number: 20210114942
    Abstract: A method is provided in which a first tape is applied to an outer surface of a ceramic matrix composite (CMC). A second tape is applied to the first tape. The second tape is heated to at least a melting temperature of the second tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Sungbo Shim, Pathikumar Sellappan
  • Patent number: 10954809
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine may comprise a blade track and a method of making the same. The blade track may be constructed of ceramic matrix composite components including main body members and joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron D. Sippel, Bruce E. Varney, Ted J. Freeman, Christopher Barrett
  • Publication number: 20210069931
    Abstract: Methods of reducing dry crack formation in ceramic matrix composite green bodies are provided. Some of the methods expose the green body to a gaseous atmosphere at a relatively high humidity for a first period, and then slowly lower the humidity over a second period, where the gaseous atmosphere is at room temperature for both periods. Other methods start the gaseous atmosphere at room temperature and then raise the temperature to a higher temperature while the humidity is relatively high, and hold that temperature even as the humidity is lowered in the second period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Pathikumar Sellappan, Sungbo Shim