Patents by Inventor Stephen Craig Mitchell

Stephen Craig Mitchell 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: 8876042
    Abstract: An assembly includes a unitary nacelle structure and an integrated fan housing for a gas turbine engine assembly. The unitary nacelle structure includes an inlet region and a fan cowl region, and is configured to at least partially circumscribe the integrated fan housing. The integrated fan housing comprises an integral composite structure and includes a fan case sized and configured for encircling a fan blade assembly of an associated gas turbine engine, a fan hub, and a plurality of fan outlet guide vanes. The unitary nacelle structure cooperates with the integrated fan housing to transfer static and dynamic loads directly to a support structure, rather than through the engine core, to minimize backbone bending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald George LaChapelle, Christopher Charles Glynn, Donald Lee Gardner, Stephen Craig Mitchell, Mullahalli Venkataramaniah Srinivas, Edward Atwood Rainous, David Lance Pennekamp
  • Patent number: 8017188
    Abstract: Methods of making an article having at least one toughened region and at least one untoughened region involving providing a material, applying a toughening agent to a portion of the material, shaping the material to produce a preform, applying an untoughened resin to the preform, and curing the preform having the applied untoughened resin to produce the at least one toughened region and the at least one untoughened region wherein the toughened region comprises a toughened resin having a fracture toughness of at least about 1.0 MPa-m1/2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ming Xie, Donald George Lachapelle, Stephen Craig Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7998393
    Abstract: Methods for making components having improved erosion resistance including providing a component having a surface, applying at least one layer of an erosion system to at least a portion of the surface of the component, each layer of the erosion system containing a support, and a toughened resin applied to the support, and co-molding the component having the applied erosion system to produce a coated component having from about a 50% increase to about a 400% increase in erosion resistance per layer of the erosion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Craig Mitchell, Andrew J. Brizgis, Donald George Lachapelle, Warren Rosal Ronk
  • Publication number: 20110146230
    Abstract: An assembly includes a unitary nacelle structure and an integrated fan housing for a gas turbine engine assembly. The unitary nacelle structure includes an inlet region and a fan cowl region, and is configured to at least partially circumscribe the integrated fan housing. The integrated fan housing comprises an integral composite structure and includes a fan case sized and configured for encircling a fan blade assembly of an associated gas turbine engine, a fan hub, and a plurality of fan outlet guide vanes. The unitary nacelle structure cooperates with the integrated fan housing to transfer static and dynamic loads directly to a support structure, rather than through the engine core, to minimize backbone bending.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Donald George LaChapelle, Christopher Charles Glynn, Donald Lee Gardner, Stephen Craig Mitchell, Mullahalli Venkataramaniah Srinivas, Edward Atwood Rainous, David Lance Pennekamp
  • Patent number: 7914256
    Abstract: Articles having a body including a composite material having at least one toughened region and at least one untoughened region, the toughened region containing a toughening agent selected from the group consisting of polymers, nano fibers, nano particles, and combinations thereof where the toughened region includes a toughened resin having a fracture toughness of at least about 1.0 MPa-m1/2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ming Xie, Donald George LaChapelle, Stephen Craig Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7883737
    Abstract: Methods allowing for visual inspection of a coated component for erosion damage involving providing a component, and applying a plurality of layers of an erosion system to at least a portion of the component to produce the coated component where each layer of the erosion system comprises a different color that becomes visible as the layer is eroded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Craig Mitchell, Andrew J. Brizgis, Donald George LaChapelle, Warren Rosal Ronk
  • Patent number: 7875354
    Abstract: An erosion system including a toughened resin for improving erosion resistance, the toughened resin including a resin and a toughening agent, and a support for retaining the toughened resin where at least one layer of the erosion system is applied to a component to provide from about a 50% increase to about a 400% increase in erosion resistance to the component per layer of the erosion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Craig Mitchell, Andrew J. Brizgis, Donald George Lachapelle, Warren Rosal Ronk
  • Publication number: 20100148396
    Abstract: Methods of making an article having at least one toughened region and at least one untoughened region involving providing a material, applying a toughening agent to a portion of the material, shaping the material to produce a preform, applying an untoughened resin to the preform, and curing the preform having the applied untoughened resin to produce the at least one toughened region and the at least one untoughened region wherein the toughened region comprises a toughened resin having a fracture toughness of at least about 1.0 MPa-m1/2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Ming Xie, Donald George Lachapelle, Stephen Craig Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20100150706
    Abstract: Articles having a body including a composite material having at least one toughened region and at least one untoughened region, the toughened region containing a toughening agent selected from the group consisting of polymers, nano fibers, nano particles, and combinations thereof where the toughened region includes a toughened resin having a fracture toughness of at least about 1.0 MPa-m1/2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Ming Xie, Donald George Lachapelle, Stephen Craig Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7604095
    Abstract: An enclosure having at least one wall, the wall includes an inner panel comprising, in sequence outwardly from the enclosure hollow interior, an inner sheet comprising a plurality of perforations extending therethrough, a plurality of panel stiffening members coupled to the inner sheet, and at least one inner panel sound absorption member comprising non-metallic sound absorption material positioned between adjacent of the plurality of panel stiffening members, and an outer panel comprising in sequence inwardly from outside of the enclosure, an outer panel sandwich member comprising non-metallic composite material including spaced-apart first and second walls and a plurality of spaced-apart transverse walls extending between the first and second walls defining hollow chambers therebetween, the outer panel coupled to the inner panel such that an outer surface of the inner panel is substantially flush against an outer surface of the outer panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Stephen Craig Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20090239058
    Abstract: An erosion system including a toughened resin for improving erosion resistance, the toughened resin including a resin and a toughening agent, and a support for retaining the toughened resin where at least one layer of the erosion system is applied to a component to provide from about a 50% increase to about a 400% increase in erosion resistance to the component per layer of the erosion system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: STEPHEN CRAIG MITCHELL, ANDREW J. BRIZGIS, DONALD GEORGE LACHAPELLE, WARREN ROSAL RONK
  • Publication number: 20090236771
    Abstract: Methods for making components having improved erosion resistance including providing a component having a surface, applying at least one layer of an erosion system to at least a portion of the surface of the component, each layer of the erosion system containing a support, and a toughened resin applied to the support, and co-molding the component having the applied erosion system to produce a coated component having from about a 50% increase to about a 400% increase in erosion resistance per layer of the erosion system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: STEPHEN CRAIG MITCHELL, Andrew J. Brizgis, Donald George Lachapelle, Warren Rosal Ronk
  • Publication number: 20090238983
    Abstract: Methods allowing for visual inspection of a coated component for erosion damage involving providing a component, and applying a plurality of layers of an erosion system to at least a portion of the component to produce the coated component where each layer of the erosion system comprises a different color that becomes visible as the layer is eroded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: STEPHEN CRAIG MITCHELL, ANDREW J. BRIZGIS, DONALD GEORGE LACHAPELLE, WARREN ROSAL RONK
  • Patent number: 7467687
    Abstract: An enclosure for apparatus that, during operation, generates heat and/or sound energy comprises at least one wall defining at least a portion of the enclosure hollow interior. The wall comprises in sequence outwardly from the enclosure hollow interior an inner panel, an outer panel, a support frame between the inner and outer panels to hold the inner and outer panels spaced apart, and a vibrator isolator between the support frame and the panels. Panels or panel segments of the wall primarily are made of non-metallic composites to provide a structurally strong, lightweight enclosure that includes enhanced acoustic characteristics and reduced heat transfer through enclosure walls, along with fire protection and in-plane shear loading capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Craig Mitchell, Jay Alan Benson, Glen William Royal
  • Patent number: 7429166
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a turbine engine component includes forming a component to include a first side and an opposite second side, positioning at least one capillary adjacent to an external surface of at least one of the first and second sides, and securing the at least one capillary to the component with at least one composite layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Stephen Craig Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20070278035
    Abstract: An enclosure having at least one wall, the wall includes an inner panel comprising, in sequence outwardly from the enclosure hollow interior, an inner sheet comprising a plurality of perforations extending therethrough, a plurality of panel stiffening members coupled to the inner sheet, and at least one inner panel sound absorption member comprising non-metallic sound absorption material positioned between adjacent of the plurality of panel stiffening members, and an outer panel comprising in sequence inwardly from outside of the enclosure, an outer panel sandwich member comprising non-metallic composite material including spaced-apart first and second walls and a plurality of spaced-apart transverse walls extending between the first and second walls defining hollow chambers therebetween, the outer panel coupled to the inner panel such that an outer surface of the inner panel is substantially flush against an outer surface of the outer panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventor: Stephen Craig Mitchell