Patents by Inventor Daniel A. Nickolaus

Daniel A. Nickolaus 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: 9404658
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine device is disclosed for mixing fuel and air prior to a combustion. The device includes a pilot mixer and a main mixer each having a fuel opening for the delivery of fuel to one or more passages. In one form the main mixer includes an inner passage and an outer passage and in which a fuel opening delivers fuel to the inner passage. The main mixer can include swirlers in the inner and/or outer passages. The pilot mixer can also include a swirler. In one embodiment the main mixer includes a converging flow path and/or a diverging flow path. The pilot mixer can also include a converging and/or diverging flow path and in one form is sheltered from an exit of the device. The main mixer fuel opening can be disposed between an upstream end and a downstream end of the mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Nickolaus
  • Publication number: 20150167985
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine device is disclosed for mixing fuel and air prior to a combustion. The device includes a pilot mixer and a main mixer each having a fuel opening for the delivery of fuel to one or more passages. In one form the main mixer includes an inner passage and an outer passage and in which a fuel opening delivers fuel to the inner passage. The main mixer can include swirlers in the inner and/or outer passages. The pilot mixer can also include a swirler. In one embodiment the main mixer includes a converging flow path and/or a diverging flow path. The pilot mixer can also include a converging and/or diverging flow path and in one form is sheltered from an exit of the device. The main mixer fuel opening can be disposed between an upstream end and a downstream end of the mixer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Nickolaus
  • Patent number: 6986255
    Abstract: A fuel injector system that reduces and/or eliminates combustion instability. The fuel injector system includes a pilot fuel injector, a pilot swirler that swirls air past the pilot fuel injector, a main airblast fuel injector having an aft end, inner and outer main swirlers that swirl air past the main airblast fuel injector, and an air splitter located between the pilot swirler and the inner main swirler. The air splitter includes at least one aft end cone angled radially outboard and axially positioned downstream of the main airblast fuel injector aft end. The air splitter divides a pilot air stream exiting the pilot swirler from an inner main air stream exiting the inner main swirler to create a bifurcated recirculation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Clifford E. Smith, Daniel A. Nickolaus
  • Publication number: 20040079086
    Abstract: A fuel injector system that reduces and/or eliminates combustion instability. The fuel injector system includes a pilot fuel injector, a pilot swirler that swirls air past the pilot fuel injector, a main airblast fuel injector having an aft end, inner and outer main swirlers that swirl air past the main airblast fuel injector, and an air splitter located between the pilot swirler and the inner main swirler. The air splitter includes at least one aft end cone angled radially outboard and axially positioned downstream of the main airblast fuel injector aft end. The air splitter divides a pilot air stream exiting the pilot swirler from an inner main air stream exiting the inner main swirler to create a bifurcated recirculation zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce, plc
    Inventors: Clifford E. Smith, Daniel A. Nickolaus
  • Publication number: 20020011064
    Abstract: A gas turbine fuel injection system of the lean direct injector type designed to reduce nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions is provided. The configuration includes a pilot fuel injector for injecting a pilot fuel stream, and a pilot swirler for providing a swirling pilot air stream to atomize and entrain the pilot fuel stream. A main airblast fuel injector is located concentrically about the pilot fuel injector, for injecting a main fuel stream concentrically about the pilot fuel stream. Inner and outer main swirlers provide a swirling main air stream to atomize and entrain the main fuel stream. An air splitter is located between the pilot swirler and the main swirler. The air splitter is so arranged and constructed as to divide the pilot air stream exiting the pilot swirler and the air splitter, from the main air stream exiting the inner main swirler, whereby a bifurcated recirculation zone is created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: David S. Crocker, Daniel A. Nickolaus, Clifford E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6272840
    Abstract: A gas turbine fuel injection system of the lean direct injector type designed to reduce nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions is provided. The configuration includes a pilot fuel injector for injecting a pilot fuel stream, and a pilot swirler for providing a swirling pilot air stream to atomize and entrain the pilot fuel stream. A main airblast fuel injector is located concentrically about the pilot fuel injector, for injecting a main fuel stream concentrically about the pilot fuel stream. Inner and outer main swirlers provide a swirling main air stream to atomize and entrain the main fuel stream. An air splitter is located between the pilot swirler and the main swirler. The air splitter is so arranged and constructed as to divide the pilot air stream exiting the pilot swirler and the air splitter, from the main air stream exiting the inner main swirler, whereby a bifurcated recirculation zone is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: CFD Research Corporation
    Inventors: David S. Crocker, Daniel A. Nickolaus, Clifford E. Smith