Patents by Inventor David Smolenski

David Smolenski 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 of making a fiber preform for ceramic matrix composite (CMC) fabrication utilizing a fugitive binder
    Patent number: 10822280
    Abstract: A method of making a fiber preform for ceramic matrix composite (CMC) fabrication comprises laminating an arrangement of fibers between polymer sheets comprising an organic polymer, which may function as a fugitive binder during fabrication, to form a flexible prepreg sheet. A plurality of the flexible prepreg sheets are laid up in a predetermined geometry to form a stack, and the stack is heated to soften the organic polymer and bond together the flexible prepreg sheets into a bonded prepreg structure. Upon cooling of the bonded prepreg structure, a rigid preform is formed. The rigid preform is heated at a sufficient temperature to pyrolyze the organic polymer. Thus, a porous preform that may undergo further processing into a CMC is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Harris, David Smolenski
  • METHOD OF MAKING A FIBER PREFORM FOR CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITE (CMC) FABRICATION UTILIZING A FUGITIVE BINDER
    Publication number: 20190185385
    Abstract: A method of making a fiber preform for ceramic matrix composite (CMC) fabrication comprises laminating an arrangement of fibers between polymer sheets comprising an organic polymer, which may function as a fugitive binder during fabrication, to form a flexible prepreg sheet. A plurality of the flexible prepreg sheets are laid up in a predetermined geometry to form a stack, and the stack is heated to soften the organic polymer and bond together the flexible prepreg sheets into a bonded prepreg structure. Upon cooling of the bonded prepreg structure, a rigid preform is formed. The rigid preform is heated at a sufficient temperature to pyrolyze the organic polymer. Thus, a porous preform that may undergo further processing into a CMC is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Harris, David Smolenski