Patents by Inventor Michael J. Best

Michael J. Best 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: 20250149781
    Abstract: In a first example, a radome includes a shell including a ceramic matrix composite, the shell forming a first hole at a forward end of the shell and a second hole at an aft end of the shell. The radome also includes a fluid impervious coating on the shell. In a second example, a vehicle includes a main body, the radome, and an attachment assembly that couples the radome to the main body. In a third example, a method includes forming a shell comprising a ceramic matrix composite using a wet layup process, applying a fluid impervious coating onto the shell, and curing the shell and the fluid impervious coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Michael J. BEST, Robert A. DICHIARA, Brian L. MUENCH, Vann HENG, Jonathan D. EMBLER, Thomas R. PINNEY, Holly M. O'BRIEN
  • Patent number: 11901619
    Abstract: In a first example, a radome includes a shell including a ceramic matrix composite, the shell forming a first hole at a forward end of the shell and a second hole at an aft end of the shell. The radome also includes a fluid impervious coating on the shell. In a second example, a vehicle includes a main body, the radome, and an attachment assembly that couples the radome to the main body. In a third example, a method includes forming a shell comprising a ceramic matrix composite using a wet layup process, applying a fluid impervious coating onto the shell, and curing the shell and the fluid impervious coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Best, Robert A. DiChiara, Brian L. Muench, Vann Heng, Jonathan D. Embler, Thomas R. Pinney, Holly M. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20230198137
    Abstract: In a first example, a radome includes a shell including a ceramic matrix composite, the shell forming a first hole at a forward end of the shell and a second hole at an aft end of the shell. The radome also includes a fluid impervious coating on the shell. In a second example, a vehicle includes a main body, the radome, and an attachment assembly that couples the radome to the main body. In a third example, a method includes forming a shell comprising a ceramic matrix composite using a wet layup process, applying a fluid impervious coating onto the shell, and curing the shell and the fluid impervious coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Michael J. Best, Robert A. DiChiara, Brian L. Muench, Vann Heng, Jonathan D. Embler, Thomas R. Pinney, Holly M. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 10913552
    Abstract: A stand-off panel thermal protection system is disclosed. The system comprises a sandwich panel comprising: a first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and a second ceramic matrix composite facesheet. A ceramic matrix composite core is positioned between the first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and the second ceramic matrix composite facesheet. The ceramic matrix composite core has a perimeter. The first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and the second ceramic matrix composite facesheet extend past the perimeter to form a gap between the first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and the second ceramic matrix composite facesheet surrounding the ceramic matrix composite core. A plurality of orifices are formed through the sandwich panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Best, Thomas R. Pinney, Jonathan D. Embler
  • Patent number: 10773788
    Abstract: A fairing assembly for an aerial vehicle having a tank that forms a body of the vehicle and a wing coupled to the tank is provided. The fining assembly includes a substructure configured to couple with a tank skin of the tank, a thermal protection system coupled to the substructure, and a seal assembly coupled to the substructure, the seal assembly being configured to overlap at least a portion of an edge of the wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Best, Jonathan D. Embler, John S. Kruse, Thomas R. Pinney, Drew L. Smallwood
  • Publication number: 20190054998
    Abstract: A fairing assembly for an aerial vehicle having a tank that forms a body of the vehicle and a wing coupled to the tank is provided. The fairing assembly includes a substructure configured to couple with a tank skin of the tank, a thermal protection system coupled to the substructure, and a seal assembly coupled to the substructure, the seal assembly being configured to overlap at least a portion of an edge of the wing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Michael J. BEST, Jonathan D. EMBLER, John S. KRUSE, Thomas R. PINNEY, Drew L. SMALLWOOD
  • Publication number: 20180057192
    Abstract: A stand-off panel thermal protection system is disclosed. The system comprises a sandwich panel comprising: a first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and a second ceramic matrix composite facesheet. A ceramic matrix composite core is positioned between the first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and the second ceramic matrix composite facesheet. The ceramic matrix composite core has a perimeter. The first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and the second ceramic matrix composite facesheet extend past the perimeter to form a gap between the first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and the second ceramic matrix composite facesheet surrounding the ceramic matrix composite core. A plurality of orifices are formed through the sandwich panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Michael J. BEST, Thomas R. PINNEY, Jonathan D. EMBLER
  • Patent number: 9878809
    Abstract: A stand-off panel thermal protection system includes a sandwich panel comprising: a first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and a second ceramic matrix composite facesheet. A ceramic matrix composite core is positioned between the first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and the second ceramic matrix composite facesheet. The ceramic matrix composite core has a perimeter. The first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and the second ceramic matrix composite facesheet extend past the perimeter to form a gap between the first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and the second ceramic matrix composite facesheet surrounding the ceramic matrix composite core. A plurality of orifices are formed through the sandwich panel. The thermal protection system further comprises a soft goods seal positioned in the gap; a plurality of insulation components; a plurality of stand-off brackets; and a plurality of fasteners positionable through the plurality of orifices to couple the sandwich panel to the plurality of brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Best, Thomas R. Pinney, Jonathan D. Embler
  • Publication number: 20160362199
    Abstract: A stand-off panel thermal protection system is disclosed. The system comprises a sandwich panel comprising: a first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and a second ceramic matrix composite facesheet. A ceramic matrix composite core is positioned between the first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and the second ceramic matrix composite facesheet. The ceramic matrix composite core has a perimeter. The first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and the second ceramic matrix composite facesheet extend past the perimeter to form a gap between the first ceramic matrix composite facesheet and the second ceramic matrix composite facesheet surrounding the ceramic matrix composite core. A plurality of orifices are formed through the sandwich panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Michael J. Best, Thomas R. Pinney, Jonathan D. Embler
  • Patent number: 7050998
    Abstract: A method and a system for the optimal allocation of investment funds to construct an investment portfolio by using a two-segment, risk-averse utility function, where the first segment is a log-utility function indicative of the portfolio holder's utility for positive rates of return and reflects the portfolio holder's desire for maximizing portfolio growth, and the second segment is a power-utility function with a zero or negative power indicative of the degree to which the portfolio holder is averse to losses. An optimization algorithm determines the optimal investment weights for the assets in the investment portfolio to maximize the portfolio's expected utility, which is based on the two-segment utility function. A computer software includes modules for carrying out the optimization to determine the optimal investment weights for the assets and to thereby construct the investment portfolio. The computer software is in the form of codes executed by a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Financiometrics Inc.
    Inventors: Jivendra K. Kale, Michael J. Best