Patents Assigned to Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20230258198
    Abstract: A method of making an impeller includes building the impeller in a layer by layer process in a build direction along the rotational axis starting from a base of the hub. The plurality of blades includes a plurality of perforated blades that support the shroud during additively manufacturing the impeller. The method can include installing the impeller in a fuel pump, air compressor, or the like, without removing the perforated blades from the impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Jacob Greenfield, Adrian L. Stoicescu
  • Patent number: 11713717
    Abstract: A multipoint fuel injection system comprises an injection system segment including a circumferentially extending outer support defining a fuel manifold with a plurality of manifold passages extending circumferentially therethrough. A first connector is included at a first circumferential end of the outer support and a second connector is included at a second circumferential end of the outer support opposite the first circumferential end. The first and second connectors are each configured to connect each manifold passage with a manifold passages of a respective outer support of a circumferentially adjacent injection system segment. The system includes a circumferentially extending inner support and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart feed arms extending radially between the inner support and the outer support. A plurality of outlet openings extend in an axial direction from each feed arm for feeding respective injection nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev A. Prociw, Gregory A. Zink
  • Patent number: 11708793
    Abstract: An embodiment of a torch ignitor system for combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a torch ignitor, the torch ignitor having a combustion chamber oriented about an axis, the combustion chamber having axially upstream and downstream ends defining a flow direction through the combustion chamber, along the axis. The torch ignitor system also includes a cap defining the axially upstream end of the combustion chamber and oriented about the axis, wherein the cap is configured to receive a fuel injector and at least one glow plug, a tip at a downstream end of the combustion chamber, and a passage for pressurized oxygen containing gas passing through the cap from an exterior of the combustion chamber and in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. An embodiment of a method for starting a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Brandon Phillip Williams
  • Patent number: 11701820
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing device includes a recoater configured to push powder onto a build platform. The recoater defines an advancing direction for pushing powder. A first baffle is mounted to a first end of a leading edge of the recoater and a second baffle mounted to a second end of the leading edge of the recoater opposite the first end. Each of the first and second baffles includes a base mounted to the recoater, a first wall that extends obliquely ahead of and laterally outward from the base relative to the advancing direction, and a second wall opposite the first wall. The second wall extends obliquely ahead of and laterally inward from the base relative to the advancing direction. A volume is defined between the first and second wall with capacity to collect powder as the recoater advances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Diana Giulietti, David W. Morganson
  • Patent number: 11701726
    Abstract: A method of making a fluid injector for a gas turbine engine includes depositing material onto a piece of tube stock. The method includes machining the deposited material into a fluid injector component. Depositing can include laser cladding the material onto the piece of tube stock. The method can include placing or flowing braze into a braze joint location between the deposited material and another fluid injector component and forming the braze into a braze joint in the braze joint location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett A. Pfeffer, Jason Ryon, Pete J. Schnoebelen
  • Patent number: 11692487
    Abstract: A fuel injector system includes an outer support and an inner support, with a feed arm extending radially between the inner support and the outer support. A plurality of outlet openings extend in an axial direction from the feed arm for feeding respective injection nozzles. The outer support and feed arm define a plurality of fuel passages therethrough to convey fluid from an external source through the outer support and feed arm to the outlet openings. A heat shield extends around the feed arm from the outer support to the inner support. The heat shield is spaced apart from the feed arm with an insulative gap therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Lev A. Prociw, Gregory A. Zink
  • Publication number: 20230201943
    Abstract: A method of making a fluid injector for a gas turbine engine includes depositing material onto a piece of tube stock. The method includes machining the deposited material into a fluid injector component. Depositing can include laser cladding the material onto the piece of tube stock. The method can include placing or flowing braze into a braze joint location between the deposited material and another fluid injector component and forming the braze into a braze joint in the braze joint location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett A. Pfeffer, Jason A. Ryon, Pete J. Schnoebelen
  • Patent number: 11686252
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a fuel nozzle configured to issue a spray of fuel from a fuel outlet in a downstream direction along an injection axis. The fuel nozzle defines a main flow passage therethrough. An injection fuel line is in fluid communication with the fuel nozzle to supply fuel to the fuel nozzle. A torch ignitor has a flame outlet opening into the main flow passage of the fuel nozzle for issuing flame into the main flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Lev A. Prociw, Brandon Phillip Williams
  • Patent number: 11686475
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an outer body and an inner body. The outer body extends about an axis and has a radially inner surface and a retention groove defined in the inner surface of the outer body. The inner body is positioned within the outer body has an outer surface and a retention tab. The retention tab retains the inner body relative to the outer body by engagement of the retention tab within the retention groove. A is axially offset from the retention tab and fixes the inner body within the outer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventor: Dustin Andrew Borror
  • Patent number: 11679435
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing build plate system includes a plate body defining a build surface and a rear surface opposite the build surface. A peripheral surface extends between the rear surface and the build surface. At least one gripping feature is defined in the peripheral surface, extending inwardly into the plate body between the build surface and the rear surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Lukas Shea, Joseph Samo
  • Patent number: 11680527
    Abstract: A nozzle includes a nozzle body defining a liquid circuit extending from a liquid inlet to a liquid outlet. The liquid circuit includes a plurality of spiral liquid passages spiraling radially inward relative to a spray axis. The spiral liquid passages all lie in a plane normal to the spray axis. A manifold assembly includes a plurality of such nozzles. A manifold ring is in fluid communication with the liquid inlet of each of the nozzles to deliver liquid to the nozzles. The nozzles are circumferentially spaced apart around the manifold ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Lev A. Prociw, Jason A. Ryon
  • Patent number: 11674687
    Abstract: A fuel injection system includes an outer support defining a fuel manifold and an inner support, with a feed arm extending radially between the inner support and the outer support. A plurality of outlet openings extending in an axial direction from the feed arm for feeding respective injection nozzles. The feed arm defines a plurality of fuel passages therethrough in fluid communication with the fuel manifold and outlet openings to supply fuel from the fuel manifold to the outlet openings. A heat shield extends from the outer support to the inner support and extends about the outer support and the feed arm to provide heat shielding to the fuel manifold and the fuel passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev A. Prociw, Gregory A. Zink
  • Patent number: 11674445
    Abstract: A torch ignitor system includes a torch wall defining a combustion chamber therein with a flame outlet passing out of the torch wall downstream of the combustion chamber. A fuel injector is mounted to the torch wall to issue fuel into the combustion chamber. At least one ignitor is mounted to the torch wall, positioned to ignite fuel issued from the fuel injector. A film cooler is defined through the torch wall and is operative to issue a film of cooling air from outside the torch wall along an interior surface of the combustion chamber for cooling the torch wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev A. Prociw
  • Patent number: 11674446
    Abstract: A torch ignitor system includes a torch wall defining a combustion chamber therein with a flame outlet passing out of the torch wall downstream of the combustion chamber. A fuel nozzle is mounted to the torch wall to issue fuel into the combustion chamber. An ignitor is mounted to the torch wall, extending into the combustion chamber to ignite fuel issued from the fuel nozzle. A cooling passage is in thermal communication with the ignitor for cooling the ignitor with fluid passing through the cooling passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev A. Prociw
  • Patent number: 11649830
    Abstract: A method of making an impeller includes building the impeller in a layer by layer process in a build direction along the rotational axis starting from a base of the hub. The plurality of blades includes a plurality of perforated blades that support the shroud during additively manufacturing the impeller. The method can include installing the impeller in a fuel pump, air compressor, or the like, without removing the perforated blades from the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Jacob Greenfield, Adrian L. Stoicescu
  • Patent number: 11635027
    Abstract: A torch igniter system for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a housing defining a combustion chamber, an ignition source disposed at least partially in the combustion chamber, a fuel injector, a first fluid path connecting a first fuel source to the fuel injector, a second fluid path connecting an air source to the fuel injector, and a third fluid path connecting a second fuel source to the combustion chamber. The fuel injector is configured to inject fuel, air, or a mixture of fuel and air into the combustion chamber and to impinge on the ignition source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Brandon P. Williams
  • Patent number: 11635210
    Abstract: A heat shielded assembly includes a fuel structure of a combustor of a gas turbine engine and a woven heat shield at least partially conformally surrounding the fuel structure and spaced from an exterior of the fuel structure by a distance where it surrounds the fuel structure. The fuel structure is configured to deliver fuel to the combustor. The woven heat shield comprises a first set of strands, a second set of strands interwoven with the first set of strands, and a weave pattern comprising the first set of strands and the second set of strands. Each strand of the first set of strands extends in a first direction, each strand of the second set of strands extends in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and the first set of strands and the second set of strands are not attached where they intersect in the weave pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Gregory Zink, Lev Alexander Prociw
  • Patent number: 11628455
    Abstract: An atomizer includes an atomizer body with a plurality of air passages defined therethrough from an upstream end of the atomizer body to a downstream end thereof. The air passages together define an air circuit through the atomizer body. A fuel circuit is defined in the atomizer body extending from a fuel inlet to a respective fuel outlet opening into each air passage. The air passages can be arranged circumferentially about a central axis defined by the atomizer body. The fuel circuit can include a manifold extending circumferentially about the atomizer body in fluid communication with a fuel opening in each respective air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Philip E. O. Buelow, Steven L. Smith, Lev Alexander Prociw
  • Publication number: 20230112356
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a fuel nozzle configured to issue a spray of fuel from a fuel outlet in a downstream direction along an injection axis. The fuel nozzle defines a main flow passage therethrough. An injection fuel line is in fluid communication with the fuel nozzle to supply fuel to the fuel nozzle. A torch ignitor has a flame outlet opening into the main flow passage of the fuel nozzle for issuing flame into the main flow passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Lev A. Prociw, Brandon Phillip Williams
  • Patent number: 11619388
    Abstract: A pilot nozzle for a dual fuel turbine engine includes an inner air circuit, a gaseous fuel circuit radially outward from the inner air circuit, a liquid fuel circuit radially outward from the inner air circuit, an outer air circuit radially outward from the liquid fuel circuit and the gaseous fuel circuit, and a shroud radially outward from the outer air circuit. The shroud is configured to stabilize a pilot re-circulation zone downstream from outlets of the inner and outer air circuits and the liquid and gaseous fuel circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Lev Alexander Prociw, Jason A. Ryon, Jacob Greenfield