Brian C Stephens

US Patent:

8234990, Aug 7, 2012

Filed:

Jul 31, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/183187

Inventors:

Ming Xie - Beavercreek OH, US
Brian Stephens - Cincinnati OH, US
Johnny Ray Gentry - Bellbrook OH, US
Elliott Schulte - Cincinnati OH, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

D05B 23/00
B32B 3/06
D04H 13/00

US Classification:

11247517, 11247508, 112415, 428102, 28140

Abstract:

Methods for making a self-conforming non-crimp fabric involving tailoring at least a first parameter to anchor the fabric and at least a second parameter to provide conformability of the fabric, the first and second parameters selected from stitch type, stitch spacing, stitch density, stitch material, stitch weight, stitch tension, and combinations of the same.

US Patent:

20100028644, Feb 4, 2010

Filed:

Jul 31, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/183198

Inventors:

MING XIE - Beavercreek OH, US
BRIAN STEPHENS - Cincinnati OH, US
JOHNNY RAY GENTRY - Bellbrook OH, US
ELLIOTT SCHULTE - Cincinnati OH, US

International Classification:

B32B 5/02

US Classification:

428221

Abstract:

Self-conforming non-crimp fabric having at least one conforming region including a first tailored parameter selected from stitch type, stitch spacing, stitch density, stitch material, stitch weight, stitch tension, and combinations thereof.

US Patent:

20130042475, Feb 21, 2013

Filed:

Dec 22, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/334616

Inventors:

Michael Dominic Schulte - Montgomery OH, US
Eric Joseph Aho - Cincinnati OH, US
Peter Kennedy Davis - Niskayuna NY, US
Wendy Wen-Ling Lin - Niskayuna NY, US
Michael Joseph O'Brien - Clifton Park NY, US
Brian Dominic Stephens - Cincinnati OH, US

Assignee:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B23P 15/04
B29C 67/20
C08G 59/02
B29C 47/00

US Classification:

298892, 264 41, 521178

Abstract:

Polymer-based materials and processes suitable for producing panels, for example, panels for use in a fan shroud abradable seal of a turbofan engine. Such a process includes introducing constituents of an expandable foam material into a continuous forming apparatus that continuously compounds the constituents into a partially-cured compounded polymeric material, which is then continuously formed with the continuous forming apparatus to produce a continuous form having a constant cross-sectional shape transverse to a continuous forming direction of the continuous forming apparatus. A portion of the continuous form is then deformed to produce a preform, and the preform is cured within a restricted volume to cause the preform to expand and produce the panel.

US Patent:

20130045370, Feb 21, 2013

Filed:

Dec 21, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/332456

Inventors:

Eric Joseph Aho - Cincinnati OH, US
Curt Brian Curtis - Nesbit MS, US
Scott Alan Garten - Liberty Township OH, US
Randall Maurice Prather - Cincinnati OH, US
James Timothy Sanchez - Los Lunas NM, US
Michael Dominic Schulte - Montgomery OH, US
Brian Dominic Stephens - Cincinnati OH, US

Assignee:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B32B 5/18
B32B 7/02
B23P 17/04
B29C 44/06

US Classification:

428213, 264 451, 4283044, 298883

Abstract:

Processes for producing near net-shape panels and panels formed thereby. The processes include forming a preform to comprise a stack of multiple plies that contain an uncured expandable foam material. The preform has regions that differ from each other by the number and/or volume of the plies therein. The preform and its plies are then cured within a restricted volume to produce a near net-shape panel. The curing step causes the expandable foam material to expand, and the restricted volume is sized so that the number and volume of the plies within the regions of the preform cause zones within the panel to have different densities and/or thicknesses.