Patents by Inventor Brandon P. Williams

Brandon P. Williams 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: 11753996
    Abstract: A fuel injector assembly can include a manifold defining a manifold channel and a nozzle extending from the manifold. The nozzle can be configured to direct flow from the manifold channel into a combustor. The nozzle can define a fuel inlet open to the manifold channel, a fuel outlet configured to be open to a combustor, and a throat fluidly connecting the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet. The assembly can include a trim device inserted into the manifold. The trim device can be configured to adjust flow between the manifold channel and the fuel inlet to adjust flow through the throat and out of the fuel outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Brandon P. Williams, Andy W. Tibbs
  • Patent number: 11754289
    Abstract: An embodiment of a combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor case, a combustor liner disposed within the combustor case, a fuel nozzle at an upstream end of the combustor liner, a torch igniter within the combustor case, and a removable fuel injector. The torch igniter includes a combustion chamber, a cap configured to receive a removable fuel injector and a surface igniter, a tip, an annular igniter wall extending from the cap to the tip and defining a radial extent of the combustion chamber, a structural wall coaxial with and surrounding the igniter wall, and an outlet passage within the tip which fluidly connects the combustion chamber to the combustor. The removable fuel injector extends through a fuel injector opening of the combustor case. The diameter of the fuel injector opening is wider than a fuel injector diameter of the removable fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Delavan, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Brandon P. Williams, Lev Alexander Prociw
  • Publication number: 20230235703
    Abstract: A method comprising applying braze to a joint location of two work pieces and applying local heating to the joint location of the two work pieces until braze melting temperature is achieved to melt the braze while maintaining temperature of more remote portions of each work piece. The method includes reducing heating of the braze to form a braze joint joining the joint location of the two work pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Brandon P. Williams, Troy Finton
  • Publication number: 20230213196
    Abstract: An embodiment of a combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor case, a combustor liner disposed within the combustor case, a fuel nozzle, and a torch igniter within the combustor case. The torch igniter includes a combustion chamber, a cap defining the upstream end of the combustion chamber and configured to receive a fuel injector and a surface igniter, a tip defining the downstream end of the combustion chamber, an annular igniter wall extending from the cap to the tip and defining a radial extent of the combustion chamber, a structural wall coaxial with and surrounding the igniter wall, and an outlet passage within the tip that fluidly connects the combustion chamber to the combustor. The torch igniter is situated such that the tip is mounted through the combustor liner, the combustion chamber is within the combustor case, and the cap extends through the combustor case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Brandon P. Williams, Lev Alexander Prociw
  • Patent number: 11680528
    Abstract: A torch igniter for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes an igniter body and an igniter head. The igniter body is disposed within a high-pressure case of a gas turbine engine and extends primarily along a first axis, and includes an annular wall and an outlet wall. The annular wall surrounds the first axis and defines a radial extent of a combustion chamber therewithin. The outlet wall is disposed at a downstream end of the annular wall, defines a downstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an outlet fluidly communicating between the combustion chamber and an interior of the combustor. The igniter head is removably attached to the igniter body at an upstream end of the annular wall, wherein the igniter head defines an upstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an ignition source and a fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Steve Myers, Andy M. Tibbs, Brandon P. Williams
  • Patent number: 11643971
    Abstract: A torch igniter for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes an igniter body and an igniter head. The igniter body is disposed within a high-pressure case of a gas turbine engine and extends primarily along a first axis, and includes an annular wall and an outlet wall. The annular wall surrounds the first axis and defines a radial extent of a combustion chamber therewithin. The outlet wall is disposed at a downstream end of the annular wall, defines a downstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an outlet fluidly communicating between the combustion chamber and an interior of the combustor. The igniter head is removably attached to the igniter body at an upstream end of the annular wall, wherein the igniter head defines an upstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an ignition source and a fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Steve Myers, Andy M. Tibbs, Brandon P. Williams
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20230097301
    Abstract: An injection system includes an inner nozzle body defining a first air path along a longitudinal axis. The first air path defines a converging-diverging section between an upstream portion of the first air path and an outlet orifice of the first air path. A main orifice is defined at a narrowest portion of the converging-diverging section. A fuel circuit wall is outboard of the inner nozzle body. A fuel path is defined between the fuel circuit wall and the inner nozzle body. An outer nozzle body outboard of the fuel circuit wall has a second air path defined through the inner nozzle body for communication of air from the outer nozzle body into the first air path, wherein the second air path meets the first air path at a second orifice in the first air path downstream of the main orifice of the inner nozzle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Lev A. Prociw, Brandon P. Williams
  • Patent number: 11525580
    Abstract: An embodiment of a combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor case, a combustor liner disposed within the combustor case, a fuel nozzle at an upstream end of the combustor liner, a torch igniter within the combustor case, and a removable fuel injector. The torch igniter includes a combustion chamber, a cap configured to receive a removable fuel injector and a surface igniter, a tip, an annular igniter wall extending from the cap to the tip and defining a radial extent of the combustion chamber, a structural wall coaxial with and surrounding the igniter wall, and an outlet passage within the tip which fluidly connects the combustion chamber to the combustor. The removable fuel injector extends through a fuel injector opening of the combustor case. The diameter of the fuel injector opening is wider than a fuel injector diameter of the removable fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Delavan, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Brandon P. Williams, Lev Alexander Prociw
  • Patent number: 11486309
    Abstract: An embodiment of a combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor case, a combustor liner disposed within the combustor case, a fuel nozzle at an upstream end of the combustor liner, a torch igniter at least partially within the combustor case, and a removable surface igniter. The torch igniter includes a combustion chamber, a cap configured to receive a fuel injector, a tip, an annular igniter wall extending from the cap to the tip and defining a radial extent of the combustion chamber, an aperture, a structural wall coaxial with and surrounding the igniter wall, and an outlet passage within the tip which fluidly connects the combustion chamber to the combustor. The torch igniter is configured to receive the removable surface igniter through the aperture. An internal end of the removable surface igniter extends through the aperture into the combustion chamber of the torch igniter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Brandon P. Williams
  • Publication number: 20220316400
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for a turbine engine. This turbine engine apparatus includes a fuel nozzle. The fuel nozzle includes a nozzle passage and a nozzle orifice. The nozzle passage extends longitudinally along a centerline within the fuel nozzle to the nozzle orifice. The nozzle passage has a solid polygonal cross-sectional geometry at the nozzle orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Binek, Sean R. Jackson, Timothy S. Snyder, Anthony Van, Randolph T. Lyda, Brandon P. Williams
  • Publication number: 20220195934
    Abstract: An embodiment of a combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor case, a combustor liner disposed within the combustor case, a fuel nozzle at an upstream end of the combustor liner, a torch igniter at least partially within the combustor case, and a removable surface igniter. The torch igniter includes a combustion chamber, a cap configured to receive a fuel injector, a tip, an annular igniter wall extending from the cap to the tip and defining a radial extent of the combustion chamber, an aperture, a structural wall coaxial with and surrounding the igniter wall, and an outlet passage within the tip which fluidly connects the combustion chamber to the combustor. The torch igniter is configured to receive the removable surface igniter through the aperture. An internal end of the removable surface igniter extends through the aperture into the combustion chamber of the torch igniter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Brandon P. Williams
  • Publication number: 20220195935
    Abstract: An embodiment of a combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor case, a combustor liner disposed within the combustor case, a fuel nozzle, and a torch igniter within the combustor case. The torch igniter includes a combustion chamber, a cap defining the upstream end of the combustion chamber, a tip defining the downstream end of the combustion chamber, an annular igniter wall extending from the cap to the tip and defining a radial extent of the combustion chamber, a structural wall coaxial with and surrounding the igniter wall, and an outlet passage within the tip that fluidly connects the combustion chamber to the combustor. The tip is mounted through the combustor liner, the cap is downstream of the tip, and the torch igniter is downstream of the fuel nozzle and disposed radially between the combustor liner and the combustor case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Brandon P. Williams
  • Publication number: 20220195933
    Abstract: An embodiment of a combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor case, a combustor liner disposed within the combustor case, a fuel nozzle, and a torch igniter within the combustor case. The torch igniter includes a combustion chamber, a cap defining the upstream end of the combustion chamber and configured to receive a fuel injector and a surface igniter, a tip defining the downstream end of the combustion chamber, an annular igniter wall extending from the cap to the tip and defining a radial extent of the combustion chamber, a structural wall coaxial with and surrounding the igniter wall, and an outlet passage within the tip that fluidly connects the combustion chamber to the combustor. The torch igniter is situated such that the tip is mounted through the combustor liner, the combustion chamber is within the combustor case, and the cap extends through the combustor case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Brandon P. Williams, Lev Alexander Prociw
  • Publication number: 20220195937
    Abstract: A torch igniter for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes an igniter body and an igniter head. The igniter body is disposed within a high-pressure case of a gas turbine engine and extends primarily along a first axis, and includes an annular wall and an outlet wall. The annular wall surrounds the first axis and defines a radial extent of a combustion chamber therewithin. The outlet wall is disposed at a downstream end of the annular wall, defines a downstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an outlet fluidly communicating between the combustion chamber and an interior of the combustor. The igniter head is removably attached to the igniter body at an upstream end of the annular wall, wherein the igniter head defines an upstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an ignition source and a fuel injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Steve Myers, Andy M. Tibbs, Brandon P. Williams
  • Publication number: 20220195936
    Abstract: An embodiment of a combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor case, a combustor liner disposed within the combustor case, a fuel nozzle at an upstream end of the combustor liner, a torch igniter within the combustor case, and a removable fuel injector. The torch igniter includes a combustion chamber, a cap configured to receive a removable fuel injector and a surface igniter, a tip, an annular igniter wall extending from the cap to the tip and defining a radial extent of the combustion chamber, a structural wall coaxial with and surrounding the igniter wall, and an outlet passage within the tip which fluidly connects the combustion chamber to the combustor. The removable fuel injector extends through a fuel injector opening of the combustor case. The diameter of the fuel injector opening is wider than a fuel injector diameter of the removable fuel injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Brandon P. Williams, Lev Alexander Prociw
  • Publication number: 20220154932
    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: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Brandon P. Williams
  • Publication number: 20220136446
    Abstract: An embodiment of a system for measuring fuel ignition within a torch igniter for a combustor in a gas turbine engine includes a housing surrounding and defining a combustion chamber, a first glow plug received through the housing, and control circuitry. An innermost end of the first glow plug extends into the combustion chamber while an outermost end opposite the innermost end extends away from the combustion chamber. The control circuitry is connected to the outermost end of the glow plug and is configured to measure a temperature of the innermost end of the glow plug based on electrical resistance of the glow plug. The control circuitry is further configured to determine an operational parameter of the torch igniter based on the temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Brandon P. Williams, Roger A. Seei
  • Patent number: 11286862
    Abstract: A combustor system for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor case, a combustor liner disposed within the combustor case and defining a main combustion chamber, a dome defining an upstream end of the main combustion chamber, and at least one torch injector attached to the dome of the main combustion chamber configured to inject combustion gases into the main combustion chamber. Each torch injector includes a torch injector housing defining and surrounding a torch combustion chamber configured to house a combustion reaction, an outlet passage defined by the torch injector housing, an electrothermal ignition source extending at least partially into the torch combustion chamber, and a fuel injector configured to inject fuel into the torch combustion chamber to at least partially impinge on the electrothermal ignition source and generate the combustion gases. The outlet passage directly fluidly connects the torch combustion chamber to the main combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Brandon P. Williams
  • Patent number: 11226103
    Abstract: A torch ignitor system provides a continuous flame to ignite fuel within a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The torch ignitor system includes a torch ignitor, a housing, a flow channel, and an outlet nozzle. The torch ignitor system is configured to receive high-pressure air from the high-pressure compressor region of a gas turbine engine to increase operational characteristics of the torch ignitor system, including fuel atomization, cooling of the torch ignitor system, and circulation of combustion air within the torch ignitor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Brandon P. Williams