Patents by Inventor Sara Saxton Underwood

Sara Saxton Underwood 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: 11466580
    Abstract: A nozzle including a vane and a band, each having defined therein interlocking features. The vane and the band are each formed of a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) including reinforcing fibers embedded in a matrix. The vane and the band include one or more interlocking features. The nozzle further including an interlocking mechanical joint joining the vane and the band to one another. Methods are also provided for joining the vane and the band at the interlocking features to form an interlocking mechanical joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sara Saxton Underwood, Douglas Glenn Decesare, Michael Ray Tuertscher, Daniel Gene Dunn, Douglas Melton Carper
  • Patent number: 10738628
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component including a subcomponent, such as a band flowpath, a load bearing wall and a wall support, each comprised of a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) including reinforcing fibers embedded in a matrix. The CMC component further including at least one mechanical joint joining the subcomponent, the load bearing wall and the wall support to form the CMC component. The reinforcing fibers of the load bearing wall are oriented substantially normal to the reinforcing fibers of the subcomponent and the wall support. Methods are also provided for joining the subcomponent, the load bearing wall and the wall support to form a mechanical joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sara Saxton Underwood, Douglas Glenn Decesare, Michael Ray Tuertscher, Daniel Gene Dunn, Douglas Melton Carper, Brian Gregg Feie
  • Publication number: 20190360346
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component including a subcomponent, such as a band flowpath, a load bearing wall and a wall support, each comprised of a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) including reinforcing fibers embedded in a matrix. The CMC component further including at least one mechanical joint joining the subcomponent, the load bearing wall and the wall support to form the CMC component. The reinforcing fibers of the load bearing wall are oriented substantially normal to the reinforcing fibers of the subcomponent and the wall support. Methods are also provided for joining the subcomponent, the load bearing wall and the wall support to form a mechanical joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Sara Saxton Underwood, Douglas Glenn Decesare, Michael Ray Tuertscher, Daniel Gene Dunn, Douglas Melton Carper, Brian Gregg Feie
  • Publication number: 20190338660
    Abstract: A nozzle including a vane and a band, each having defined therein interlocking features. The vane and the band are each formed of a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) including reinforcing fibers embedded in a matrix. The vane and the band include one or more interlocking features. The nozzle further including an interlocking mechanical joint joining the vane and the band to one another. Methods are also provided for joining the vane and the band at the interlocking features to form an interlocking mechanical joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Sara Saxton Underwood, Douglas Glenn Decesare, Michael Ray Tuertscher, Daniel Gene Dunn, Douglas Melton Carper
  • Publication number: 20180114307
    Abstract: An inspection system for inspecting a component is presented. The inspection system includes a probe unit, wherein the probe unit includes a first flux concentrator operatively coupled to a first surface of the component. Also, the probe unit includes at least one inductive coil positioned around the first flux concentrator, and configured to induce an electrical current flow in at least a portion of the component via the first flux concentrator. Further, the inspection system includes an infrared (IR) camera configured to capture a plurality of frames corresponding to the portion of the component. In addition, the inspection system includes a processing unit electrically coupled to the IR camera and configured to determine an anomaly in the component based on the captured plurality of frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Nathaniel Benedict Hawes, Michael Colan Moscinski, Sara Saxton Underwood, Jonas Patrik Richard Gustavsson