Patents by Inventor Donald M. Wicksall

Donald M. Wicksall 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).

  • Counter swirl doublet combustor
    Patent number: 9765969
    Abstract: An improved combustor for a gas turbine is operable to provide high combustion efficiency in a compact combustion chamber. The combustor includes a counter swirl doublet for improved fuel/air mixing. The enhanced combustor assembly and method of operation improves operation of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Charles B. Graves, Donald M. Wicksall, Thomas F. Richardson, Jr.
  • Multi-passage diffuser with reactivated boundary layer
    Patent number: 9574575
    Abstract: A diffuser is disclosed that includes a splitter having a blunt forebody useful in re-starting a boundary layer. The blunt forebody can be used to create a static pressure bow wave and interaction with a passing fluid stream that reduces a thickness of boundary layer formed on an opposing wall. The re-start in boundary layer can be used in a way that allows an upstream portion of the diffuser to be sized approaching a separation limit and a downstream portion of the diffuser to also be sized approaching a separation limit. In some forms the passages split by the blunt forebody can be sized relative to each other to balance flow between the branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Charles B. Graves, Stuart M. Bloom, Donald M. Wicksall, Jacob E. Determan
  • COUNTER SWIRL DOUBLET COMBUSTOR
    Publication number: 20150040576
    Abstract: An improved combustor for a gas turbine is operable to provide high combustion efficiency in a compact combustion chamber. The combustor includes a counter swirl doublet for improved fuel/air mixing. The enhanced combustor assembly and method of operation improves operation of the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Charles B. Graves, Donald M. Wicksall, Thomas F. Richardson, JR.
  • MULTI-PASSAGE DIFFUSER WITH REACTIVATED BOUNDARY LAYER
    Publication number: 20140260289
    Abstract: A diffuser is disclosed that includes a splitter having a blunt forebody useful in re-starting a boundary layer. The blunt forebody can be used to create a static pressure bow wave and interaction with a passing fluid stream that reduces a thickness of boundary layer formed on an opposing wall. The re-start in boundary layer can be used in a way that allows an upstream portion of the diffuser to be sized approaching a separation limit and a downstream portion of the diffuser to also be sized approaching a separation limit. In some forms the passages split by the blunt forebody can be sized relative to each other to balance flow between the branches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Charles B. Graves, Stuart M. Bloom, Donald M. Wicksall, Jacob E. Determan