Patents by Inventor James Warren Rudolph

James Warren Rudolph 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: 11396483
    Abstract: A carbon/carbon brake disk is provided. The carbon/carbon brake disk may comprise a carbon fiber, wherein the carbon fiber is formed into a fibrous network, wherein the fibrous network comprises carbon deposited therein. The carbon fiber may undergo a FHT process, wherein micro-cracks are disposed in the carbon fiber. In various embodiments, the micro-cracks may be at least partially filled with un-heat-treated carbon via a final CVD process, wherein the final CVD process is performed at a temperature in the range of up to about 1,000° C. (1,832° F.) for a duration in the range from about 20 hours to about 100 hours. In various embodiments, the un-heat-treated carbon may be configured to prevent oxygen, moisture, and/or oxidation protection systems (OPS) chemicals from penetrating the carbon/carbon brake disk. In various embodiments, the final CVI/CVD process may be configured to increase the wear life of the carbon/carbon brake disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: James Warren Rudolph, John Linck
  • Patent number: 11053168
    Abstract: A method of treating a carbon/carbon composite is provided. The method may include infiltrating a carbonized fibrous structure with hydrocarbon gas to form a densified fibrous structure. The method may include treating the densified fibrous structure with heat at a first temperature range from about 1600 to about 2400° C. to form a heat treated densified fibrous structure. The method may include infiltrating the heat treated densified fibrous structure with silicon to form a silicon carbide infiltrated fibrous structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. Kirkpatrick, James Warren Rudolph
  • Publication number: 20200262762
    Abstract: A carbon/carbon brake disk is provided. The carbon/carbon brake disk may comprise a carbon fiber, wherein the carbon fiber is formed into a fibrous network, wherein the fibrous network comprises carbon deposited therein. The carbon fiber may undergo a FHT process, wherein micro-cracks are disposed in the carbon fiber. In various embodiments, the micro-cracks may be at least partially filled with un-heat-treated carbon via a final CVD process, wherein the final CVD process is performed at a temperature in the range of up to about 1,000° C. (1,832° F.) for a duration in the range from about 20 hours to about 100 hours. In various embodiments, the un-heat-treated carbon may be configured to prevent oxygen, moisture, and/or oxidation protection systems (OPS) chemicals from penetrating the carbon/carbon brake disk. In various embodiments, the final CVI/CVD process may be configured to increase the wear life of the carbon/carbon brake disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: James Warren Rudolph, John Linck
  • Patent number: 10689305
    Abstract: A carbon/carbon brake disk is provided. The carbon/carbon brake disk may comprise a carbon fiber, wherein the carbon fiber is formed into a fibrous network, wherein the fibrous network comprises carbon deposited therein. The carbon fiber may undergo a FHT process, wherein micro-cracks are disposed in the carbon fiber. In various embodiments, the micro-cracks may be at least partially filled with un-heat-treated carbon via a final CVD process, wherein the final CVD process is performed at a temperature in the range of up to about 1,000° C. (1,832° F.) for a duration in the range from about 20 hours to about 100 hours. In various embodiments, the un-heat-treated carbon may be configured to prevent oxygen, moisture, and/or oxidation protection systems (OPS) chemicals from penetrating the carbon/carbon brake disk. In various embodiments, the final CVI/CVD process may be configured to increase the wear life of the carbon/carbon brake disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Warren Rudolph, John Linck
  • Publication number: 20200017961
    Abstract: A process for densifying an annular porous structure comprising flowing a reactant gas into an inner diameter (ID) volume and through an ID surface of the annular porous structure, flowing the reactant gas through an outer diameter (OD) surface of the annular porous structure and into an OD volume, flowing the reactant gas from the OD volume through the OD surface of the annular porous structure, and flowing the reactant gas through an ID surface of the annular porous structure and into the ID volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: JAMES WARREN RUDOLPH, Ying She, Zissis A. Dardas, Thomas P. Filburn, Brian ST. Rock, John Linck
  • Patent number: 10465282
    Abstract: A process for densifying an annular porous structure comprising flowing a reactant gas into an inner diameter (ID) volume and through an ID surface of the annular porous structure, flowing the reactant gas through an outer diameter (OD) surface of the annular porous structure and into an OD volume, flowing the reactant gas from the OD volume through the OD surface of the annular porous structure, and flowing the reactant gas through an ID surface of the annular porous structure and into the ID volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Warren Rudolph, Ying She, Zissis A. Dardas, Thomas P. Filburn, Brian St. Rock, John Linck
  • Patent number: 10443124
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for densifying a porous structure is disclosed. The porous structure comprises a first surface, a second surface, an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface. The process may comprise progressive densification in conjunction with thermal gradient and/or pressure gradient densification processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark James Purdy, John Edgar Finley, Mark Russell Wolke, James Warren Rudolph, Timothy Patrick Smith
  • Publication number: 20190292107
    Abstract: A method of treating a carbon/carbon composite is provided. The method may include infiltrating a carbonized fibrous structure with hydrocarbon gas to form a densified fibrous structure. The method may include treating the densified fibrous structure with heat at a first temperature range from about 1600 to about 2400° C. to form a heat treated densified fibrous structure. The method may include infiltrating the heat treated densified fibrous structure with silicon to form a silicon carbide infiltrated fibrous structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher T. Kirkpatrick, James Warren Rudolph
  • Publication number: 20180223423
    Abstract: A process for densifying an annular porous structure comprising flowing a reactant gas into an inner diameter (ID) volume and through an ID surface of the annular porous structure, flowing the reactant gas through an outer diameter (OD) surface of the annular porous structure and into an OD volume, flowing the reactant gas from the OD volume through the OD surface of the annular porous structure, and flowing the reactant gas through an ID surface of the annular porous structure and into the ID volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: JAMES WARREN RUDOLPH, YING SHE, Zissis A. Dardas, THOMAS P. FILBURN, BRIAN ST. ROCK, JOHN LINCK
  • Patent number: 9963779
    Abstract: A process for densifying an annular porous structure comprising flowing a reactant gas into an inner diameter (ID) volume and through an ID surface of the annular porous structure, flowing the reactant gas through an outer diameter (OD) surface of the annular porous structure and into an OD volume, flowing the reactant gas from the OD volume through the OD surface of the annular porous structure, and flowing the reactant gas through an ID surface of the annular porous structure and into the ID volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Warren Rudolph, Ying She, Zissis A. Dardas, Thomas P. Filburn, Brian St. Rock, John Linck
  • Publication number: 20170247793
    Abstract: A process for densifying an annular porous structure comprising flowing a reactant gas into an inner diameter (ID) volume and through an ID surface of the annular porous structure, flowing the reactant gas through an outer diameter (OD) surface of the annular porous structure and into an OD volume, flowing the reactant gas from the OD volume through the OD surface of the annular porous structure, and flowing the reactant gas through an ID surface of the annular porous structure and into the ID volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: James Warren Rudolph, Ying She, Zissis A. Dardas, Thomas P. Filburn, Brian St. Rock, John Linck
  • Publication number: 20160376203
    Abstract: A carbon/carbon brake disk is provided. The carbon/carbon brake disk may comprise a carbon fiber, wherein the carbon fiber is formed into a fibrous network, wherein the fibrous network comprises carbon deposited therein. The carbon fiber may undergo a FHT process, wherein micro-cracks are disposed in the carbon fiber. In various embodiments, the micro-cracks may be at least partially filled with un-heat-treated carbon via a final CVD process, wherein the final CVD process is performed at a temperature in the range of up to about 1,000° C. (1,832° F.) for a duration in the range from about 20 hours to about 100 hours. In various embodiments, the un-heat-treated carbon may be configured to prevent oxygen, moisture, and/or oxidation protection systems (OPS) chemicals from penetrating the carbon/carbon brake disk. In various embodiments, the final CVI/CVD process may be configured to increase the wear life of the carbon/carbon brake disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Warren Rudolph, John Linck
  • Publication number: 20040159472
    Abstract: This invention is in the field of Chemical vapor infiltration and Chemical vapor deposition (CVI/CVD). More specifically, this invention is directed to method and apparatus for weighing parts being subjected to the CVI/CVD process, during the process itself to indicate a weight change thereof. The process may be terminated or altered as desired based upon the weight gain information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventor: James Warren Rudolph
  • Patent number: 6440220
    Abstract: The invention is relates to CVI/CVD furnace apparatus. More specifically, the invention is directed to methods and apparatus for inhibiting infiltration of reactive gas into insulation for a high temperature CVI/CVD furnace. A method and apparatus is provided that inhibits infiltration of reactant gas into porous insulation over extended periods of time, preferably the life of the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: James Warren Rudolph
  • Patent number: 6162298
    Abstract: The invention is relates to CVI/CVD furnace apparatus. More specifically, the invention is directed to a sealed gas inlet for a high temperature CVI/CVD furnace. A method and apparatus are provided for preventing gas leakage around a gas inlet extending through a hole in a susceptor floor in a CVI/CVD furnace. According to the invention, the gas inlet is sealed to the susceptor floor with sufficient intimacy to block leakage of gas through the hole around the gas inlet while allowing the gas inlet to cyclically translate through the hole due to thermal expansion and contraction induced by thermal cycles in the CVI/CVD furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventor: James Warren Rudolph
  • Patent number: 6062851
    Abstract: The invention relates to a susceptor lid for use in a CVI/CVD furnace. More specifically, the invention is directed to a lid configured to consecutively run CVI/CVD and heat treatment processes without opening the furnace. The susceptor lid according to the invention comprises a susceptor lid body having a gas exhaust hole; and, an exhaust lid disposed over said gas exhaust hole, said exhaust lid being configured to move within the CVI/CVD furnace from a first position wherein said exhaust lid covers said gas exhaust hole to a second position wherein said gas exhaust lid at least partially uncovers said gas exhaust hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventors: James Warren Rudolph, Scott William Stevens