Patents by Inventor Christopher Mara

Christopher Mara 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).

  • Additive application of machinable stock layer onto CMC components
    Patent number: 12773807
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a method for additively applying a machinable stock layer to surfaces of a ceramic matric composite (CMC) component. The method includes positioning, on a base fixture, a substrate comprising a component and a machinable stock layer on one or more surfaces of the component. The method further includes positioning one or more backing plates movably coupled to the base fixture, wherein each of the backing plates is configured to receive an applied compressive load and move relative to the base fixture. The method further includes positioning a plurality of rubber sheets, wherein each rubber sheet is coupled to one of the base fixture or a backing plate, and wherein the plurality of rubber sheets is configured to translate the applied compressive load on the one or more backing plates into a distributed compressive load on a surface of the machinable stock layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2026
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Crutchfield, Pathikumar Sellappan, Christopher Mara
  • Method of Producing Machined CMC Surfaces without Exposing Fiber
    Publication number: 20240025812
    Abstract: A method to produce a ceramic matrix composite part, wherein the method comprises providing a ceramic fiber preform. Wherein the ceramic fiber preform includes a three-dimensional framework of a plurality of ceramic fibers. The method comprising, prior to melt infiltration, adding a layer of machinable stock to a target area of the ceramic fiber preform, melt infiltrating the ceramic fiber preform, forming the ceramic matrix composite part by cooling the melt infiltrated ceramic fiber preform, and machining the part in the target area where the machinable stock is located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Crutchfield, Pathikumar Sellappan, Chris Downie, Christopher Mara, Sungbo Shim
  • Method of producing machined CMC surfaces without exposing fiber
    Patent number: 11858862
    Abstract: A method to produce a ceramic matrix composite part, wherein the method comprises providing a ceramic fiber preform. Wherein the ceramic fiber preform includes a three-dimensional framework of a plurality of ceramic fibers. The method comprising, prior to melt infiltration, adding a layer of machinable stock to a target area of the ceramic fiber preform, melt infiltrating the ceramic fiber preform, forming the ceramic matrix composite part by cooling the melt infiltrated ceramic fiber preform, and machining the part in the target area where the machinable stock is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Crutchfield, Pathikumar Sellappan, Chris Downie, Christopher Mara, Sungbo Shim