Patents by Inventor Benjamin John Bowin Lai

Benjamin John Bowin Lai 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: 11643369
    Abstract: An article may include a substrate including a ceramic or a ceramic matrix composite. The substrate defines a hot side surface configured to face a heated gas environment and a cool side surface opposite the hot side surface. The article also includes a cool side coating on the cool side surface. The cool side coating comprises at least one material having a flow temperature equal to or slightly less than a temperature of the heated gas environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Walston, Benjamin John Bowin Lai, Adam Lee Chamberlain
  • Patent number: 11180421
    Abstract: In some examples, techniques of repairing and/or reinforcing oxide-oxide ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials using a metallic material. In one example, a method including applying a metallic material at an edge of an oxide-oxide CMC substrate; and heating the metallic material to diffuse the metal material into the oxide-oxide CMC substrate at the edge. In another example, a method including applying a metallic material onto a damaged area of the oxide-oxide CMC; applying a reinforcing phase material onto the damaged area of the oxide-oxide CMC; and heating the metallic material to diffuse the metallic material into the oxide-oxide CMC and attach the reinforcing phase material to the damaged area of the oxide-oxide CMC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Walston, Benjamin John Bowin Lai, Sean E. Landwehr
  • Publication number: 20210078914
    Abstract: An article may include a substrate including a ceramic or a ceramic matrix composite. The substrate defines a hot side surface configured to face a heated gas environment and a cool side surface opposite the hot side surface. The article also includes a cool side coating on the cool side surface. The cool side coating comprises at least one material having a flow temperature equal to or slightly less than a temperature of the heated gas environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Walston, Benjamin John Bowin Lai, Adam Lee Chamberlain
  • Publication number: 20210061720
    Abstract: In some examples, techniques of repairing and/or reinforcing oxide-oxide ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials using a metallic material. In one example, a method including applying a metallic material at an edge of an oxide-oxide CMC substrate; and heating the metallic material to diffuse the metal material into the oxide-oxide CMC substrate at the edge. In another example, a method including applying a metallic material onto a damaged area of the oxide-oxide CMC; applying a reinforcing phase material onto the damaged area of the oxide-oxide CMC; and heating the metallic material to diffuse the metallic material into the oxide-oxide CMC and attach the reinforcing phase material to the damaged area of the oxide-oxide CMC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Walston, Benjamin John Bowin Lai, Sean E. Landwehr
  • Patent number: 10717681
    Abstract: A method of preparing a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component that includes a protective ceramic layer comprises adhering at least one flexible ceramic tape to a ceramic fiber preform, where the at least one flexible ceramic tape comprises ceramic particles dispersed in an organic binder phase. After the adhering, the at least one flexible ceramic tape is heated to a temperature sufficient to volatilize the organic binder phase, thereby forming a porous ceramic layer on at least a portion of the ceramic fiber preform. After the heating and volatilizing, the ceramic fiber preform and the porous ceramic layer are infiltrated with a molten material, thereby forming a CMC component including, on at least a portion thereof, a protective ceramic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sean Erin Landwehr, Benjamin John Bowin Lai, Adam Lee Chamberlain
  • Patent number: 10273192
    Abstract: A ceramic article includes a flexible backing selected from paper, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, polymeric films, metal foils, and combinations thereof. A green ceramic layer is on a first side of the flexible backing, wherein the green ceramic layer includes a ceramic material and a polymeric binder. A major surface of the green ceramic layer includes a pattern of features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin John Bowin Lai, Kang N. Lee, David J. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20160236995
    Abstract: A ceramic article includes a flexible backing selected from paper, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, polymeric films, metal foils, and combinations thereof. A green ceramic layer is on a first side of the flexible backing, wherein the green ceramic layer includes a ceramic material and a polymeric binder. A major surface of the green ceramic layer includes a pattern of features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Benjamin John Bowin Lai, Kang N. Lee, David J. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20160159066
    Abstract: A method of preparing a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component that includes a protective ceramic layer comprises adhering at least one flexible ceramic tape to a ceramic fiber preform, where the at least one flexible ceramic tape comprises ceramic particles dispersed in an organic binder phase. After the adhering, the at least one flexible ceramic tape is heated to a temperature sufficient to volatilize the organic binder phase, thereby forming a porous ceramic layer on at least a portion of the ceramic fiber preform. After the heating and volatilizing, the ceramic fiber preform and the porous ceramic layer are infiltrated with a molten material, thereby forming a CMC component including, on at least a portion thereof, a protective ceramic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Sean Erin Landwehr, Benjamin John Bowin Lai, Adam Lee Chamberlain