Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

Elliot F Olster

Dennis Joseph Peterlin

Thomas Dannenhoffer

John E Holowczak

Willard H Sutton

An erosion resistant ceramic component is synthesized from a silicon oxynitride precursor powder with a sintering aide. The sintering aide, preferably aluminum oxide and/or lutetium oxide are added to the silicon oxynitride precursor powder and ball milled. The composition is then decanted, dried and granulated. The composition is then formed into the shape of the desired component by hot pressing in a graphite die. A heat treatment process may also be applied after hot pressing to further improve erosion resistance by crystallizing amorphous grain boundary phases to provide a ceramic component having sand erosion characteristics superior to electro-formed nickel. The component provides a dielectric constant which is much lower than the dielectric constant of an electro-formed nickel component. The erosion resistant ceramic components are particularly applicable to leading edge components of main rotor blades, however, erosion protection of tail rotor blades, engine propellers, turbine blades, and other such components where high levels of erosion protection, and a low dielectric constant are desired will also benefit.

Low dieletric constant erosion resistant material

A processed fiber is used to distribute energy from an electromagnetic (EM) energy source to a material in which the fiber is embedded. The electromagnetic energy source supplies electromagnetic energy to the fiber and the fibers emit portions of the EM energy along the length of the fiber. The sealant material absorbs a quantity of the electromagnetic energy sufficient to cure the sealant material and propagates excess electromagnetic energy through the sealant material without significant additional absorption. This prevents the sealant material from over-curing. Additionally, a fully cured material can be used to generate thermal energy and thereby serve as a heat blanket that can be used to de-ice aircraft.

Processed fiber for emission of energy into a medium and method therefor

An apparatus and method for mapping surfaces of an object, such as a structure or vehicle, that utilizes transceivers mounted on portable support structures to orient a probe to form a local global positioning satellite (GPS) system. The probe is placed on reference points of the object and information related to the reference point is input into a data processor. The processor uses the reference points are used to identify and orient the object, and a model of the object is retrieved from memory. Additional position data of the object is gathered and processed to generate a graphical image of the object being mapped. The model is compared to the mapped image of the object and structural damage is assessed. Information relating to repair procedures is output to a workstation and the area under repair can be mapped to evaluate the success of the repair procedure.

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Hamden, CT, United States of America

Elliot F Olster