Patents by Inventor Brian Richard Craig

Brian Richard Craig 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).

  • Publication number: 20250163808
    Abstract: A method of reducing depletion of elements from an airfoil includes disposing a bond coating on the airfoil, where the airfoil comprises cooling channels. The airfoil includes a material that has an initial composition. A cooling hole is machined in the airfoil to contact the cooling channels such that a fluid travelling in the cooling channel may be discharged via the cooling hole. The machining of the cooling hole results in a formation of a depleted region around the cooling hole. The depleted region is depleted of a portion of the initial composition of the airfoil. A top coat is disposed on the bond coat. The airfoil is subjected to a heat treatment at a temperature effective to promote diffusion of elements from a non-depleted region to the depleted region around the cooling hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Inventors: Brian Richard Craig, Michael J. Minor, Randall D. Kelton, Arka Ray, Xuan Liu
  • Patent number: 12203384
    Abstract: A method of reducing depletion of elements from an airfoil includes disposing a bond coating on the airfoil, where the airfoil comprises cooling channels. The airfoil includes a material that has an initial composition. A cooling hole is machined in the airfoil to contact the cooling channels such that a fluid travelling in the cooling channel may be discharged via the cooling hole. The machining of the cooling hole results in a formation of a depleted region around the cooling hole. The depleted region is depleted of a portion of the initial composition of the airfoil. A top coat is disposed on the bond coat. The airfoil is subjected to a heat treatment at a temperature effective to promote diffusion of elements from a non-depleted region to the depleted region around the cooling hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Richard Craig, Michael J. Minor, Randall D. Kelton, Arka Ray, Xuan Liu
  • Publication number: 20240263557
    Abstract: A method of repairing, or manufacturing, a tip for an airfoil can comprise: removing a portion of the airfoil that reduces a radial height of the airfoil and defines a first mating surface of the airfoil; forming a blade tip body for the airfoil, the blade tip body defining a second mating surface; and joining the first mating surface to the second mating surface via a Field Assisted Sintering Technology (“FAST”) process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: BRIAN RICHARD CRAIG, BRIAN T. HAZEL, LUKE HENRY RETTBERG, XUAN LIU, MICHAEL J. MINOR, CHRISTOPHER J. BISCHOF, STEWART S. FOWLER, STEVEN IVORY, NICHOLAS M. LORICCO
  • Publication number: 20240165751
    Abstract: A method can comprise forming a component comprising a first mating surface; coupling the component to an airfoil having a second mating surface and a Field Assisted Sintering Technology (“FAST”) system; heating, via the FAST system, the airfoil and the component; and applying, via the FAST system, a mechanical pressure between the first mating surface and the second mating surface to join the airfoil to the component and form a blade, the component at least partially defining a leading edge of the blade in response to joining the airfoil to the component
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas M. LoRicco, Brian Richard Craig, Brian T. Hazel, Luke Henry Rettberg, Xuan Liu, Michael J. Minor, Christopher J. Bischof, Stewart S. Fowler, Steven Ivory
  • Patent number: 11814979
    Abstract: A method of repairing a tip for an airfoil is disclosed herein. In various embodiments, the method comprises: removing a portion of the airfoil that reduces a radial height of the airfoil and at least partially removes a defect of the airfoil; removing a remainder of the defect; joining, via gas tungsten arc welding, a filler material to the airfoil to repair the defect; and joining a first mating surface of the airfoil to a second mating surface of a blade tip body via a solid-state joining process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Richard Craig, Brian T Hazel, Xuan Liu, Luke Henry Rettberg, Nicholas M LoRicco, Steven Ivory, Michael J Minor, Christopher J Bischof, Stewart S Fowler