Patents by Inventor Thomas D. Nixon

Thomas D. Nixon 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: 10472976
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a ceramic matrix composite component, a monolithic insert, and a polymer char and a method for producing the same. The ceramic matrix composite component may include an exterior surface, with the monolithic insert bonded to the exterior surface of the ceramic matrix composite component. The polymer char may be sandwiched between the monolithic insert and the exterior surface of the ceramic matrix composite that may bond the monolithic insert to the ceramic matrix composite component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Thomas D. Nixon, Sean E. Landwehr, Aaron D. Sippel, Donald W. Reinhart
  • Patent number: 10465534
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite component and a ceramic insert, and a method for producing the same. The ceramic matrix composite component may include an exterior surface comprising silicon fibers in a silicon carbide matrix. The insert may include a continuous porosity bonded to the exterior surface of the ceramic matrix composite component. The silicon carbide matrix of the ceramic matrix composite component may extend into the porosity of the ceramic insert to bond the ceramic insert to the ceramic matrix composite component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Thomas D. Nixon, Sean E. Landwehr, Aaron D. Sippel, Donald W. Reinhart
  • Patent number: 10458653
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a ceramic matrix composite component, a ceramic insert, and a ply and a method for producing the same. The ceramic matrix composite component may comprise silicon carbide fibers in a silicon carbide matrix. The ceramic inset may be adjacent to the ceramic matrix composite component. The ply may at least partially cover the ceramic insert such that the ceramic insert may be sandwiched between the ply and the ceramic matrix composite component, and the ply may extend beyond the ceramic insert in at least one direction so that the ply is joined to the ceramic matrix composite. The ply may comprise at least one layer of silicon carbide fibers or carbon fibers in a silicon carbide matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Thomas D. Nixon, Sean E. Landwehr, Aaron D. Sippel, Donald W. Reinhart
  • Patent number: 10401028
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a structural component and a sacrificial layer, and method for producing the same. The structural component may comprise silicon carbide fibers within a silicon carbide matrix. The sacrificial layer may be joined to the structural component and may comprising unarranged ceramic fibers, wherein the sacrificial layer may comprise a volume fiber fraction lower than a volume fiber fraction of the structural component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Thomas D. Nixon, Sean E. Landwehr, Aaron D. Sippel, Donald W. Reinhart
  • Patent number: 10233764
    Abstract: A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed in this paper. The vane assembly includes an inner platform, an outer platform, and a ceramic-containing airfoil. The ceramic-containing airfoil extends from the inner platform to the outer platform. A clamp mechanism couples the inner platform and the outer platform to the ceramic-containing airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Thomas, Richard C. Uskert, Thomas D. Nixon
  • Publication number: 20170101880
    Abstract: A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed in this paper. The vane assembly includes an inner platform, an outer platform, and a ceramic-containing airfoil. The ceramic-containing airfoil extends from the inner platform to the outer platform. A clamp mechanism couples the inner platform and the outer platform to the ceramic-containing airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: David J. Thomas, Richard C. Uskert, Thomas D. Nixon
  • Publication number: 20160356497
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a structural component and a sacrificial layer, and method for producing the same. The structural component may comprise silicon carbide fibers within a silicon carbide matrix. The sacrificial layer may be joined to the structural component and may comprising unarranged ceramic fibers, wherein the sacrificial layer may comprise a volume fiber fraction lower than a volume fiber fraction of the structural component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Thomas D. Nixon, Sean E. Landwehr, Aaron D. Sippel, Donald W. Reinhart
  • Publication number: 20160356164
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a ceramic matrix composite component, a monolithic insert, and a polymer char and a method for producing the same. The ceramic matrix composite component may include an exterior surface, with the monolithic insert bonded to the exterior surface of the ceramic matrix composite component. The polymer char may be sandwiched between the monolithic insert and the exterior surface of the ceramic matrix composite that may bond the monolithic insert to the ceramic matrix composite component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Thomas D. Nixon, Sean E. Landwehr, Aaron D. Sippel, Donald W. Reinhart
  • Publication number: 20160356163
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite component and a ceramic insert, and a method for producing the same. The ceramic matrix composite component may include an exterior surface comprising silicon fibers in a silicon carbide matrix. The insert may include a continuous porosity bonded to the exterior surface of the ceramic matrix composite component. The silicon carbide matrix of the ceramic matrix composite component may extend into the porosity of the ceramic insert to bond the ceramic insert to the ceramic matrix composite component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Thomas D. Nixon, Sean E. Landwehr, Aaron D. Sippel, Donald W. Reinhart
  • Publication number: 20160356499
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a ceramic matrix composite component, a ceramic insert, and a ply and a method for producing the same. The ceramic matrix composite component may comprise silicon carbide fibers in a silicon carbide matrix. The ceramic inset may be adjacent to the ceramic matrix composite component. The ply may at least partially cover the ceramic insert such that the ceramic insert may be sandwiched between the ply and the ceramic matrix composite component, and the ply may extend beyond the ceramic insert in at least one direction so that the ply is joined to the ceramic matrix composite. The ply may comprise at least one layer of silicon carbide fibers or carbon fibers in a silicon carbide matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Thomas D. Nixon, Sean E. Landwehr, Aaron D. Sippel, Donald W. Reinhart
  • Patent number: 6855428
    Abstract: The present invention is a composite material and process to produce same. That material comprises a fibrous structure which is initially predominantly coated with elemental carbon; that fibrous structure is then subsequently predominantly coated with at least one ceramic material, e.g., boron carbide, which is non-reactive with silicon. The composite material also comprises a silicon matrix which is continuous and predominantly surrounds the fibrous structure, which has been initially predominantly coated with elemental carbon and subsequently predominantly coated with at least one ceramic material. The matrix which has a fine grain crystalline structure of predominantly 20 microns or less in size. The at least one ceramic material is discontinuous within that matrix. The fibrous material pulls out of the elemental carbon, which initially predominantly coats that fibrous structure, when the composite is subjected to fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventors: Sai-Kwing Lau, Salvatore J. Calandra, Thomas D. Nixon, Edward R. Stover
  • Publication number: 20040058154
    Abstract: The present invention is a composite material and process to produce same. That material comprises a fibrous structure which is initially predominantly coated with elemental carbon; that fibrous structure is then subsequently predominantly coated with at least one ceramic material, e.g., boron carbide, which is non-reactive with silicon. The composite material also comprises a silicon matrix which is continuous and predominantly surrounds the fibrous structure, which has been initially predominantly coated with elemental carbon and subsequently predominantly coated with at least one ceramic material. The matrix which has a fine grain crystalline structure of predominantly 20 microns or less in size. The at least one ceramic material is discontinuous within that matrix. The fibrous material pulls out of the elemental carbon, which initially predominantly coats that fibrous structure, when the composite is subjected to fracture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Sai-Kwing Lau, Salvatore J. Calandra, Thomas D. Nixon, Edward R. Stover
  • Patent number: 6635355
    Abstract: Disclosed is a ferrous metal article having a protective, adherent, wear resistant coating of metallic oxides and a method of forming a protective, adherent, wear resistant coating of metallic oxides on an iron-chrome article. The coating desirably has a thickness of from about 12.7 to about 102 microns (½ mil to about 4 mils) and is formed by exposure of the article to an oxidizing atmosphere, preferably air, preferably during heat treatment of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: The B.F.Goodrich Company
    Inventors: Robert Bianco, Thomas D. Nixon, John P. Swank
  • Publication number: 20030138648
    Abstract: Disclosed is a ferrous metal article having a protective, adherent, wear resistant coating of metallic oxides and a method of forming a protective, adherent, wear resistant coating of metallic oxides on an iron-chrome article. The coating desirably has a thickness of from about 12.7 to about 102 microns (½ mil to about 4 mils) and is formed by exposure of the article to an oxidizing atmosphere, preferably air, preferably during heat treatment of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Robert Bianco, Thomas D. Nixon, John P. Swank