The Boeing Company

Stephen Edward Lehman

Vann Heng

Randall C Schubert

Alan Jon Jacobsen

Brennan D Yahata

Jonathan David Embler

Thomas R Pinney

Joanna A Kolodziejska

Adam J Lang

George P Halamandaris

Keith G Rackers

Geoffrey P McKnight

Tobias A Schaedler

William B Carter

Robert E Doty

Geoffrey P Mcknight

Kayleigh Porter

William Bernard Carter

Joanna Kolodziejska

Insulating ceramic panels and methods of forming insulating ceramic panels are disclosed herein. The insulating ceramic panels include a plurality of hollow particles and an oxide binder. The plurality of hollow particles are formed from a hollow particle material that includes a metal oxide. The plurality of hollow particles defines an average equivalent particle diameter of at least 10 micrometers (μm) and at most 500 μm. In addition, the plurality of hollow particles defines an average wall thickness that is at least 3% and at most 30% of the average equivalent particle diameter. The oxide binder material attaches each hollow particle to at least one other hollow particle and differs from the hollow particle material. The insulating ceramic panels define a particle-enclosed void volume fraction, which is enclosed within the plurality of hollow particles, and an interstitial void volume fraction, which is defined within an interstitial space among the plurality of hollow particles.

Insulating ceramic panels and methods of forming insulating ceramic panels

An extruder includes a receptacle for containing material to be extruded. The extruder further includes a dispersion blade positioned within the receptacle and a nozzle secured to the receptacle. The nozzle defines a first opening positioned within an interior of the receptacle, defines a second opening positioned outside of the receptacle and defines a channel which extends from the first opening through the nozzle to the second opening defining a flow path which extends from the first opening, through the channel and to the second opening. The nozzle extends through a wall of the receptacle and into the interior of the receptacle such that the first opening is positioned spaced apart from the wall.

Apparatus for extruding ceramic slurry

A mechanically attached thermal protection system (MATPS) includes an insulating tile having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of access holes that extend through the insulating tile from the top surface to the bottom surface. A plurality of brackets include a first end attached to the insulating tile and a second end including a mounting hole therethrough, the second end being positioned proximate the bottom surface of the insulating tile. A plurality of fasteners are positioned proximate the bottom surface of the insulating tile and at least partially positioned within one of the access holes so as to be accessible from the top surface of the insulating tile through one of the plurality of access holes. A MATPS including a plurality of air channels within the insulating tile and a method for sealing these air channels to those within an adjacent structure is also described herein.

Mechanically attached thermal protection system

A precursor material is provided for additive manufacturing of a low-density, high-porosity ceramic part. The precursor material includes a body of refractory fibers and a binder in admixture with the body of refractory fibers. The precursor material further includes a viscosity control additive in admixture with the binder and the body of refractory fibers to provide an overall mixture with a viscosity between about 0.3 centipoise and about 150,000 centipoise.

Precursor material for additive manufacturing of low-density, high-porosity ceramic parts and methods of producing the same

A precursor material is provided for additive manufacturing of a low-density, high-porosity ceramic part. The precursor material comprises a body of refractory fibers and a binder in admixture with the body of refractory fibers. The precursor material further comprises a viscosity control additive in admixture with the binder and the body of refractory fibers to provide an overall mixture with a viscosity between about 0.3 centipoise and about 150,000 centipoise. The overall mixture can be extruded through a nozzle to manufacture the low-density, high porosity ceramic part. The precursor material is produced by obtaining a refractory fiber slurry, and adding a viscosity control additive to the slurry to provide the slurry with a viscosity that is suitable for extrusion through a nozzle to manufacture a low-density, high-porosity ceramic part.

An apparatus for maintaining a temperature differential between a component and a source of heat is described. The apparatus includes a micro-truss structure having a plurality of nodes and members which define a first surface and a second surface. The second surface is operable for attachment to the component. The apparatus further includes a skin material attached to the first surface of the micro-truss structure such that the skin material is operable for placement between the heat source and the micro-truss structure. The skin material defines at least a portion of a fluid flow path through the micro-truss structure. A skin material is not utilized with certain configurations of the micro-truss structure.

Methods and apparatus for a micro-truss based structural insulation layer

A high temperature structural insulation layer is disclosed. A micro-truss structure comprises a porous lattice structure, and a protected substructure comprises at least one hole. At least one fiber non-adhesively couples the micro-truss structure to the protected substructure via the at least one fiber passing through one or more spaces within the porous lattice structure.

Growing community of inventors

Golden Eagle, IL, United States of America

Stephen Edward Lehman