Patents by Inventor Christopher Downie

Christopher Downie 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).

  • Method and apparatus for ceramic matrix composite turbine shroud assembly
    Patent number: 12503962
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a shroud segment. The shroud segment includes a heat shield, an attachment flange, and a multi-layer coating. The heat shield extends circumferentially partway around the axis to define a portion of gas path for the gas turbine engine. The attachment feature extends radially outward from the heat shield. The multi-layer coating is applied to different surfaces of the heat shield and the attachment feature of the shroud segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2025
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Thomas, Christopher Downie, Aaron D. Sippel, Ted J. Freeman, Clark Snyder
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITE TURBINE SHROUD ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20250179937
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a shroud segment. The shroud segment includes a heat shield, an attachment flange, and a multi-layer coating. The heat shield extends circumferentially partway around the axis to define a portion of gas path for the gas turbine engine. The attachment feature extends radially outward from the heat shield. The multi-layer coating is applied to different surfaces of the heat shield and the attachment feature of the shroud segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2024
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: David J. Thomas, Christopher Downie, Aaron D. Sippel, Ted J. Freeman, Clark Snyder
  • Bladder cast slurry infiltration
    Patent number: 12195403
    Abstract: A method of forming a bladder cast ceramic matrix composite (CMC) article including infiltrating a CMC substrate positioned in a cavity of a mold body with a slurry. The CMC substrate includes reinforcement material defining inner spaces. The slurry includes solid particles and a carrier material. During infiltration, the slurry at least partially fills at least a portion of the inner spaces of the CMC substrate. The method also includes inflating at least one bladder that is coupled to the mold body and disposed within the cavity such that a surface of the at least one bladder in an inflated configuration contacts at least one surface of the CMC substrate. The method also includes drying the slurry to remove at least a portion of the carrier material form an infiltrated CMC and deflating the at least one bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Crutchfield, Christopher Downie
  • Method and apparatus for ceramic matrix composite turbine shroud assembly
    Patent number: 12188365
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a shroud segment. The shroud segment includes a heat shield, an attachment flange, and a multi-layer coating. The heat shield extends circumferentially partway around the axis to define a portion of gas path for the gas turbine engine. The attachment feature extends radially outward from the heat shield. The multi-layer coating is applied to different surfaces of the heat shield and the attachment feature of the shroud segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Thomas, Christopher Downie, Aaron D. Sippel, Ted J. Freeman, Clark Snyder
  • BLADDER CAST SLURRY INFILTRATION
    Publication number: 20220363605
    Abstract: A method of forming a bladder cast ceramic matrix composite (CMC) article including infiltrating a CMC substrate positioned in a cavity of a mold body with a slurry. The CMC substrate includes reinforcement material defining inner spaces. The slurry includes solid particles and a carrier material. During infiltration, the slurry at least partially fills at least a portion of the inner spaces of the CMC substrate. The method also includes inflating at least one bladder that is coupled to the mold body and disposed within the cavity such that a surface of the at least one bladder in an inflated configuration contacts at least one surface of the CMC substrate. The method also includes drying the slurry to remove at least a portion of the carrier material form an infiltrated CMC and deflating the at least one bladder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey Crutchfield, Christopher Downie