Patents by Inventor Deke R. Pyle

Deke R. Pyle 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: 11994077
    Abstract: Embodiments of a metering valve for a fuel nozzle are disclosed. The metering valve includes a fitting having an interior cavity and an inlet, a liner disposed within the interior cavity, and a spool having an orifice. The liner includes inlet ports, and the spool is disposed within the liner. The spool is configured to slide within the liner to control flow between the inlet and the orifice. The spool has an open position in which the spool uncovers the inlet ports, a closed position in which the spool is seated against the fitting, and a lifted off position in which the spool is not seated against the fitting and covers the inlet ports. A dribble flow path through at least one of the spool or the liner provides fluid communication between the inlet and the orifice when the spool is in the lifted off position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Sander G. Niemeyer, Deke R. Pyle
  • Publication number: 20230374946
    Abstract: Embodiments of a metering valve for a fuel nozzle are disclosed. The metering valve includes a fitting having an interior cavity and an inlet, a liner disposed within the interior cavity, and a spool having an orifice. The liner includes inlet ports, and the spool is disposed within the liner. The spool is configured to slide within the liner to control flow between the inlet and the orifice. The spool has an open position in which the spool uncovers the inlet ports, a closed position in which the spool is seated against the fitting, and a lifted off position in which the spool is not seated against the fitting and covers the inlet ports. A dribble flow path through at least one of the spool or the liner provides fluid communication between the inlet and the orifice when the spool is in the lifted off position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Sander G. Niemeyer, Deke R. Pyle
  • Patent number: 11149950
    Abstract: A tip for a nozzle of a fuel injector and an associated method are provided. The tip includes a tip body and a swirler. The swirler includes a plurality of pre-swirl passages which fluidly communicate an internal cavity of the swirler with a feed annulus. The swirler also includes a plurality of swirl chamber passages which fluidly communicate a swirl chamber with the feed annulus. Methods include manufacturing at least a portion of the swirler by additive manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Sander G. Niemeyer, Deke R. Pyle
  • Publication number: 20190376690
    Abstract: A tip for a nozzle of a fuel injector and an associated method are provided. The tip includes a tip body and a swirler. The swirler includes a plurality of pre-swirl passages which fluidly communicate an internal cavity of the swirler with a feed annulus. The swirler also includes a plurality of swirl chamber passages which fluidly communicate a swirl chamber with the feed annulus. Methods include manufacturing at least a portion of the swirler by additive manufacturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Sander G. Niemeyer, Deke R. Pyle