Patents by Inventor David Lloyd Ripley

David Lloyd Ripley 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: 10287028
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to system and method for detecting fuel shutoff valve failures in a system including multiple fuel shutoff valves connected in series. By commanding different fuel shutoff valves to close and detecting changes in the system operating conditions, the system and method may determine if any of the fuel shutoff valves are not working properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Lloyd Ripley, Michael E. Mehrer
  • Patent number: 10208672
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine assembly is provided having a gas turbine engine and a fuel supply in flow communication with the gas turbine engine. An accumulator is positioned in flow communication between the fuel supply and the gas turbine engine to store fuel pressure in fuel flowing from the fuel supply to the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: David Lloyd Ripley
  • Patent number: 9926848
    Abstract: An example method of fuel delivery to a turbomachine includes reaching a light-off speed of a turbomachine and delivering fuel to a combustor of the turbomachine at a first rate. The method also increases the rate of the delivery. The combustor achieves light-off at a fuel flow rate on or in-between the first rate and a second rate that is greater than the first rate. An example turbomachine fuel delivery assembly includes a fuel delivery component and a controller configured to adjust the fuel pump to increase a rate of fuel delivery from a fuel supply to a combustor of a turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstand Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Winston, Andre M. Ajami, David Lloyd Ripley
  • Publication number: 20160325843
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to system and method for detecting fuel shutoff valve failures in a system including multiple fuel shutoff valves connected in series. By commanding different fuel shutoff valves to close and detecting changes in the system operating conditions, the system and method may determine if any of the fuel shutoff valves are not working properly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: David Lloyd Ripley, Michael E. Mehrer
  • Publication number: 20160298547
    Abstract: A fuel system for a gas turbine engine includes a fuel conditioner. The fuel conditioner has an ice debris separator, a fuel pump, a heat exchanger, and an air oil cooler. The ice debris separator has a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet. The fuel pump connects to the fuel outlet of the ice and debris separator for receiving a fuel flow, pressurizing the fuel flow, and providing the pressurized fuel flow to an outlet of the fuel pump. The heat exchanger is connected to receive pressurized fuel from the fuel pump outlet and has an oil inlet for receiving heated oil, an oil outlet for discharging cooled oil, and a fuel outlet for discharging heated fuel. The air oil cooler is connected to the heat exchanger oil outlet and has an air cooled body configured for further cooling oil from the heat exchanger using an air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: David Lloyd Ripley, Taylor Fausett
  • Publication number: 20160230667
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine assembly is provided having a gas turbine engine and a fuel supply in flow communication with the gas turbine engine. An accumulator is positioned in flow communication between the fuel supply and the gas turbine engine to store fuel pressure in fuel flowing from the fuel supply to the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventor: David Lloyd Ripley
  • Patent number: 9316157
    Abstract: A fuel system for an auxiliary power unit includes a mechanical fuel pump, an electric fuel pump, and a controller. The mechanical fuel pump provides fuel flow to the auxiliary power unit and has an output dependent upon an operational speed of the auxiliary power unit. The electric fuel pump provides fuel flow to the auxiliary power unit, and is located in flow series with the mechanical fuel pump. The controller causes the electric fuel pump to provide fuel flow during starting of the auxiliary power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: David Lloyd Ripley, Behzad Hagshenas
  • Patent number: 9206775
    Abstract: A fuel system for an auxiliary power unit includes a mechanical fuel pump, an electric fuel pump, and a controller. The mechanical fuel pump provides fuel flow to the auxiliary power unit and has an output dependent upon an operational speed of the auxiliary power unit. The electric fuel pump is located in flow series with the mechanical fuel pump. The controller causes the electric fuel pump to circulate and thereby warm fuel prior to start up of the auxiliary power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David Lloyd Ripley, Behzad Hagshenas
  • Publication number: 20140174409
    Abstract: A fuel system is disclosed. The fuel system may include a fuel supply, a fuel supply conduit fluidly connecting the fuel supply to an engine, and a fuel pump in fluid communication with the fuel supply conduit. The fuel system may also include a bypass conduit including a first end fluidly connected to the fuel supply conduit proximate an inlet of the fuel pump, and a second end fluidly connected to the fuel supply conduit proximate an outlet of the fuel pump. The fuel system may also include a bypass valve in fluid communication with the bypass conduit. The bypass valve may be configured to allow fuel to flow from the first end to the second end of the bypass conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: United Techologies Corporation
    Inventor: David Lloyd Ripley
  • Publication number: 20130192244
    Abstract: A fuel system for an auxiliary power unit includes a mechanical fuel pump, an electric fuel pump, and a controller. The mechanical fuel pump provides fuel flow to the auxiliary power unit and has an output dependent upon an operational speed of the auxiliary power unit. The electric fuel pump provides fuel flow to the auxiliary power unit, and is located in flow series with the mechanical fuel pump. The controller causes the electric fuel pump to provide fuel flow during starting of the auxiliary power unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Lloyd Ripley, Behzad Hagshenas
  • Publication number: 20130192679
    Abstract: A fuel system for an auxiliary power unit includes a mechanical fuel pump, an electric fuel pump, and a controller. The mechanical fuel pump provides fuel flow to the auxiliary power unit and has an output dependent upon an operational speed of the auxiliary power unit. The electric fuel pump is located in flow series with the mechanical fuel pump. The controller causes the electric fuel pump to circulate and thereby warm fuel prior to start up of the auxiliary power unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Lloyd Ripley, Behzad Hagshenas
  • Publication number: 20130036722
    Abstract: A fuel system includes a fuel control unit having a fuel passage that extends between an inlet to at least one pump stage and an outlet at a metering valve that is operable to control fuel supply. A portion of the fuel passage extends through a heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Behzad Hashenas, David Lloyd Ripley, Ayman Battikha
  • Publication number: 20120174594
    Abstract: An example method of fuel delivery to a turbomachine includes reaching a light-off speed of a turbomachine and delivering fuel to a combustor of the turbomachine at a first rate. The method also increases the rate of the delivery. The combustor achieves light-off at a fuel flow rate on or in-between the first rate and a second rate that is greater than the first rate. An example turbomachine fuel delivery assembly includes a fuel delivery component and a controller configured to adjust the fuel pump to increase a rate of fuel delivery from a fuel supply to a combustor of a turbomachine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Winston, Andre M. Ajami, David Lloyd Ripley