Patents by Inventor Nathan Brad Crane

Nathan Brad Crane 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: 11741594
    Abstract: A Pulsed Thermography (PT) system and method is provided utilizing a long duration pulse in combination with a radiant heat shield as a non-destructive testing method for quantitatively measuring defect depths within a 3D printed part and for characterizing layer-by-layer surface defects in the 3D printed part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Nathan Brad Crane, James Randall Pierce, III
  • Patent number: 11478992
    Abstract: A material processing and associated additive manufacturing system and method that utilizes high intensity light to fuse an entire layer of material, at one time, to create a three-dimensional component. The system and method of the present invention allows for each layer to be created in a fraction of the time, thereby reducing the overall time for a three-dimensional component to be created, thereby increasing control over the properties achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Nathan Brad Crane, Justin Troy Nussbaum
  • Patent number: 11376795
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to methods for monitoring or controlling a manufacturing process of a material by determining when a variation in surface characteristics takes place. Such surface characteristics correlates to the processing condition of the material and can include density, roughness, porosity, or planarity on a surface of the material. The methods can include herein can include directing a solvent or energy on a surface of the material to form an at least partially modified surface, directing light at an incident angle with respect to the at least partially modified surface, measuring one or more predetermined properties of light reflected from the at least partially modified surface, determining that the material is fully processed based on the measured predetermined property of the light reflected, and optionally adjusting a processing parameter of the manufacturing process in response to the measured predetermined property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Justin Nussbaum, Nathan Brad Crane
  • Publication number: 20220062996
    Abstract: In a general aspect, a method for additive manufacturing can include depositing a liquid on a first portion of an article, the liquid containing a dopant, the article including a feedstock material. The method can also include heating, at a first temperature, the article to, at least one of, evaporate or decompose the liquid. The heating at the first temperature can leave the dopant on the first portion of the article. The method can further include heating, at a second temperature, the article. The heating at the second temperature can result in the feedstock material melting and the dopant mixing with the feedstock material in a second portion of the article. The second portion of the article can include the first portion of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Nathan Brad Crane, Tracy Wendell Nelson
  • Publication number: 20220058790
    Abstract: A Pulsed Thermography (PT) system and method is provided utilizing a long duration pulse in combination with a radiant heat shield as a non-destructive testing method for quantitatively measuring defect depths within a 3D printed part and for characterizing layer-by-layer surface defects in the 3D printed part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Nathan Brad Crane, James Randall Pierce, III
  • Publication number: 20210370586
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to method for increasing the molecular weight of a polymer material during an additive manufacturing process. The method can comprise disposing a first layer of the polymer material at a target surface; exposing the first layer of the polymer material to an energy source for a sufficient period of time to sinter or melt and undergo a condensation reaction at least at a portion of the polymer material; controlling the condensation reaction to allow a desired increased number average molecular weight of the polymer material; and repeating the method steps to form an object in a layerwise fashion. Controlling the condensation reaction can comprise controlling and/or adjusting an energy 10 source-related parameter, a polymer-related parameter, a temperature related parameter, a vacuum related parameter, a process duration, a processing gas, an air flow volume and/or speed, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Justin NUSSBAUM, Nathan Brad CRANE
  • Patent number: 11170493
    Abstract: A Pulsed Thermography (PT) system and method is provided utilizing a long duration pulse in combination with a radiant heat shield as a non-destructive testing method for quantitatively measuring defect depths within a 3D printed part and for characterizing layer-by-layer surface defects in the 3D printed part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Nathan Brad Crane, James Randall Pierce, III
  • Publication number: 20210069979
    Abstract: A material processing and associated additive manufacturing system and method that utilizes high intensity light to fuse an entire layer of material, at one time, to create a three-dimensional component. The system and method of the present invention allows for each layer to be created in a fraction of the time, thereby reducing the overall time for a three-dimensional component to be created, thereby increasing control over the properties achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Nathan Brad Crane, Justin Troy Nussbaum
  • Patent number: 10843415
    Abstract: A material processing and associated additive manufacturing system and method that utilizes high intensity light to fuse an entire layer of material, at one time, to create a three-dimensional component. The system and method of the present invention allows for each layer to be created in a fraction of the time, thereby reducing the overall time for a three-dimensional component to be created, thereby increasing control over the properties achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Nathan Brad Crane, Justin Troy Nussbaum
  • Publication number: 20200184632
    Abstract: A Pulsed Thermography (PT) system and method is provided utilizing a long duration pulse in combination with a radiant heat shield as a non-destructive testing method for quantitatively measuring defect depths within a 3D printed part and for characterizing layer-by-layer surface defects in the 3D printed part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Nathan Brad Crane, James Randall Pierce, III
  • Patent number: 10396422
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apertured waveguide includes a wall comprising a plurality of apertures and an interior channel along which electromagnetic waves can propagate, the interior channel being defined at least in part by the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Eduardo Antonio Rojas, Justin Troy Nussbaum, Thomas McCrea Weller, Nathan Brad Crane
  • Patent number: 6991428
    Abstract: A fan blade for a gas turbine engine having an airfoil with a leading edge; a trailing edge; a concave side; and a convex side. The blade has an integral platform with: a convex fillet merging with the airfoil; a forward edge; an aft edge; and a thickness defined between a top surface and an underside surface. The platform includes a stiffener on the underside surface adjacent the convex side of the blade, such that the stiffener defines a blade-off event platform fracture path on a second side of the platform adjacent the following blade and adjacent the convex side of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Nathan Brad Crane
  • Publication number: 20040253110
    Abstract: A fan blade for a gas turbine engine having an airfoil with a leading edge; a trailing edge; a concave side; and a convex side. The blade has an integral platform with: a convex fillet merging with the airfoil; a forward edge; an aft edge; and a thickness defined between a top surface and an underside surface. The platform includes a stiffener on the underside surface adjacent the convex side of the blade, such that the stiffener defines a blade-off event platform fracture path on a second side of the platform adjacent the following blade and adjacent the convex side of the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventor: Nathan Brad Crane