Patents by Inventor Fei Philip Lee

Fei Philip Lee 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: 10883719
    Abstract: A turbine combustor assembly includes a fuel/air mixer assembly having a plurality of fuel/air mixer elements and a fuel injector coupled to the fuel/air mixer assembly. Each of the fuel/air mixer elements includes: a fuel/air mixer body having an internal cavity extending axially between an air inlet and an air outlet; and a prefilmer residing within an interior cavity of the fuel/air mixer body, the prefilmer including an axial inner air flow passage extending coaxially with an axial centerline of the internal cavity of the fuel/air mixer body and a radial fuel injection port into the air flow passage. The fuel injector is arranged to direct fuel into a plurality of the fuel/air mixer elements via the fuel injection port of the prefilmer of each fuel/air mixer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Fei Philip Lee
  • Patent number: 10711699
    Abstract: A torch igniter includes an auxiliary fuel injector; an ignition source; and an igniter body carrying the auxiliary fuel injector and the ignition source. The igniter body includes an auxiliary combustion chamber having a side wall extending axially from a first end wall to a second end wall. In some examples, at least a portion of the side wall includes a distributed pattern of cooling apertures, with each of the cooling apertures extending obliquely from an outer surface of the side wall to an inner surface of the side wall. In some examples, the second end wall defines a fluid outlet leading to an outlet tube in fluid communication with the primary combustion chamber, at least a portion of the outlet tube including a distributed pattern of dilution apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Bidhan Dam, Jimroy McCormack, Fei Philip Lee, Conor Riordan, Logan Oonk, Erik Pederson, Michael Stratton
  • Patent number: 10704469
    Abstract: A torch igniter includes an auxiliary fuel injector; an ignition source; and an igniter body carrying the auxiliary fuel injector and the ignition source. The igniter body includes an auxiliary combustion chamber having a side wall extending axially from a first end wall to a second end wall, the side wall defining an interior cavity between the first and second end walls. The igniter body further includes a premixing cup residing within the interior cavity including a cylindrical wall radially surrounding the auxiliary fuel injector and an auxiliary air inlet, the cylindrical wall of the premixing cup protruding axially outward relative to the first end wall of the auxiliary combustion chamber through a portion of the interior cavity to delineate a premixing zone radially inward of the cylindrical wall and a recirculation zone radially outward of the cylindrical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Bidhan Dam, Jimroy McCormack, Fei Philip Lee, Conor Riordan, Logan Oonk, Erik Pederson, Michael Stratton
  • Publication number: 20200141582
    Abstract: A turbine combustor assembly includes a fuel/air mixer assembly having a plurality of fuel/air mixer elements and a fuel injector coupled to the fuel/air mixer assembly. Each of the fuel/air mixer elements includes: a fuel/air mixer body having an internal cavity extending axially between an air inlet and an air outlet; and a prefilmer residing within an interior cavity of the fuel/air mixer body, the prefilmer including an axial inner air flow passage extending coaxially with an axial centerline of the internal cavity of the fuel/air mixer body and a radial fuel injection port into the air flow passage. The fuel injector is arranged to direct fuel into a plurality of the fuel/air mixer elements via the fuel injection port of the prefilmer of each fuel/air mixer element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Fei Philip Lee
  • Patent number: 10584639
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor assembly includes a primary combustion chamber in fluid communication with a primary fuel injector and a primary air inlet. A torch igniter is carried by the primary combustion chamber, and includes an auxiliary combustion chamber housing comprising a mixing chamber and a throat region converging downstream of the mixing chamber. An air swirler including a plurality of swirl openings surrounding an outlet of an auxiliary fuel injector is coupled to the auxiliary combustion chamber proximate the mixing chamber. An ignition source projects into the mixing chamber of the auxiliary combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Bidhan Dam, Jimroy McCormack, Erik Pederson, Fei Philip Lee, Paul Hicks
  • Patent number: 10415832
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor assembly has a fuel/air mixer assembly with a plurality of fuel/air mixer elements. Each fuel/air mixer element defines an air flow passage therethrough. A fuel injector is coupled to the fuel/air mixer assembly. The fuel injector has a tip portion with a plurality of fuel outlets arranged to direct fuel into the air flow passages of the air/fuel mixer elements. Each of the fuel/air mixer elements has at least one outlet arranged to supply fuel to the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Fei Philip Lee
  • Patent number: 10408454
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor assembly includes a fuel injector, a dome stator around the fuel injector, and a dome sleeve coupled to the dome stator. The dome sleeve defines an air inlet opening with the dome stator, and is carried to move with respect to the dome stator to change a flow area of the air inlet opening. The dome sleeve also defines a nozzle sloping downstream from the air inlet opening toward an outlet of the combustor assembly. The sloping nozzle defines an annular pinch gap adjacent an outlet of the fuel injector, and is coupled to move with the dome sleeve to change a flow area through the pinch gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Fei Philip Lee, Hukam Chand Mongia, Kathleen M. Tacina, Chi-Ming Lee, Daniel L. Bulzan
  • Patent number: 10267524
    Abstract: A turbine combustor assembly includes a fuel/air mixer assembly having a plurality of fuel/air mixer elements and a fuel injector coupled to the fuel/air mixer assembly. Each of the fuel/air mixer elements includes: a fuel/air mixer body having an internal cavity extending axially between an air inlet and an air outlet; and a prefilmer residing within an interior cavity of the fuel/air mixer body, the prefilmer including an axial inner air flow passage extending coaxially with an axial centerline of the internal cavity of the fuel/air mixer body and a radial fuel injection port into the air flow passage. The fuel injector is arranged to direct fuel into a plurality of the fuel/air mixer elements via the fuel injection port of the prefilmer of each fuel/air mixer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Fei Philip Lee
  • Publication number: 20190010873
    Abstract: A torch igniter includes an auxiliary fuel injector; an ignition source; and an igniter body carrying the auxiliary fuel injector and the ignition source. The igniter body includes an auxiliary combustion chamber having a side wall extending axially from a first end wall to a second end wall. In some examples, at least a portion of the side wall includes a distributed pattern of cooling apertures, with each of the cooling apertures extending obliquely from an outer surface of the side wall to an inner surface of the side wall. In some examples, the second end wall defines a fluid outlet leading to an outlet tube in fluid communication with the primary combustion chamber, at least a portion of the outlet tube including a distributed pattern of dilution apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Bidhan Dam, Jimroy McCormack, Fei Philip Lee, Conor Riordan, Logan Oonk, Erik Pederson, Michael Stratton
  • Publication number: 20190010872
    Abstract: A torch igniter includes an auxiliary fuel injector; an ignition source; and an igniter body carrying the auxiliary fuel injector and the ignition source. The igniter body includes an auxiliary combustion chamber having a side wall extending axially from a first end wall to a second end wall, the side wall defining an interior cavity between the first and second end walls. The igniter body further includes a premixing cup residing within the interior cavity including a cylindrical wall radially surrounding the auxiliary fuel injector and an auxiliary air inlet, the cylindrical wall of the premixing cup protruding axially outward relative to the first end wall of the auxiliary combustion chamber through a portion of the interior cavity to delineate a premixing zone radially inward of the cylindrical wall and a recirculation zone radially outward of the cylindrical wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Bidhan Dam, Jimroy McCormack, Fei Philip Lee, Conor Riordan, Logan Oonk, Erik Pederson, Michael Stratton
  • Patent number: 10006637
    Abstract: In some aspects, a gas turbine combustor assembly is arranged around a longitudinal axis. The gas turbine combustor comprises a first fuel/air mixer assembly, the mixer assembly comprising a first fuel injector and a plurality of first mixer elements, each mixer element defining an air flow passage therethrough having an outlet in a first plane. A second fuel/air mixer assembly comprises a second fuel injector and a plurality of second mixer elements, and each second mixer element defines an air flow passage therethrough having an outlet in a second plane, longitudinally offset from the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Fei Philip Lee
  • Publication number: 20170328570
    Abstract: In some aspects, a gas turbine combustor assembly is arranged around a longitudinal axis. The gas turbine combustor comprises a first fuel/air mixer assembly, the mixer assembly comprising a first fuel injector and a plurality of first mixer elements, each mixer element defining an air flow passage therethrough having an outlet in a first plane. A second fuel/air mixer assembly comprises a second fuel injector and a plurality of second mixer elements, and each second mixer element defines an air flow passage therethrough having an outlet in a second plane, longitudinally offset from the first plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventor: Fei Philip Lee
  • Publication number: 20170299184
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor assembly has a fuel/air mixer assembly with a plurality of fuel/air mixer elements. Each fuel/air mixer element defines an air flow passage therethrough. A fuel injector is coupled to the fuel/air mixer assembly. The fuel injector has a tip portion with a plurality of fuel outlets arranged to direct fuel into the air flow passages of the air/fuel mixer elements. Each of the fuel/air mixer elements has at least one outlet arranged to supply fuel to the element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventor: Fei Philip Lee
  • Publication number: 20170074518
    Abstract: A turbine combustor assembly includes a fuel/air mixer assembly having a plurality of fuel/air mixer elements and a fuel injector coupled to the fuel/air mixer assembly. Each of the fuel/air mixer elements includes: a fuel/air mixer body having an internal cavity extending axially between an air inlet and an air outlet; and a prefilmer residing within an interior cavity of the fuel/air mixer body, the prefilmer including an axial inner air flow passage extending coaxially with an axial centerline of the internal cavity of the fuel/air mixer body and a radial fuel injection port into the air flow passage. The fuel injector is arranged to direct fuel into a plurality of the fuel/air mixer elements via the fuel injection port of the prefilmer of each fuel/air mixer element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Fei Philip Lee
  • Patent number: 9587833
    Abstract: In some aspects, a gas turbine combustor assembly is arranged around a longitudinal axis. The gas turbine combustor comprises a first fuel/air mixer assembly, the mixer assembly comprising a first fuel injector and a plurality of first mixer elements, each mixer element defining an air flow passage therethrough having an outlet in a first plane. A second fuel/air mixer assembly comprises a second fuel injector and a plurality of second mixer elements, and each second mixer element defines an air flow passage therethrough having an outlet in a second plane, longitudinally offset from the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Fei Philip Lee
  • Patent number: 9482433
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor assembly has a fuel/air mixer assembly with a plurality of fuel/air mixer elements. Each fuel/air mixer element defines an air flow passage therethrough. A fuel injector is coupled to the fuel/air mixer assembly. The fuel injector has a tip portion with a plurality of fuel outlets arranged to direct fuel into the air flow passages of the air/fuel mixer elements. Each of the fuel/air mixer elements has at least one outlet arranged to supply fuel to the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Fei Philip Lee
  • Publication number: 20160138807
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor assembly includes a fuel injector, a dome stator around the fuel injector, and a dome sleeve coupled to the dome stator. The dome sleeve defines an air inlet opening with the dome stator, and is carried to move with respect to the dome stator to change a flow area of the air inlet opening. The dome sleeve also defines a nozzle sloping downstream from the air inlet opening toward an outlet of the combustor assembly. The sloping nozzle defines an annular pinch gap adjacent an outlet of the fuel injector, and is coupled to move with the dome sleeve to change a flow area through the pinch gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Hukam Chand Mongia, Chi-Ming Lee, Daniel L. Bulzan, Fei Philip Lee, Kathleen M. Tacina
  • Patent number: 9291139
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a fuel injection nozzle. The fuel injection nozzle includes a nozzle body, with the nozzle body defining a central bore. A fuel atomizer is disposed in the central bore. The fuel atomizer defines a spill-return bore and a swirl chamber. The swirl chamber is in fluid communication with the central bore. The spill-return bore includes a return swirler approximate the swirl chamber. An air supply pump is coupled to the fuel atomizer and is in fluid communication with the spill-return bore. The air supply pump is configured to selectively inject air into the swirl chamber through the spill-return bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Hicks, Fei Philip Lee
  • Publication number: 20160047318
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor assembly includes a primary combustion chamber in fluid communication with a primary fuel injector and a primary air inlet. A torch igniter is carried by the primary combustion chamber, and includes an auxiliary combustion chamber housing comprising a mixing chamber and a throat region converging downstream of the mixing chamber. An air swirler including a plurality of swirl openings surrounding an outlet of an auxiliary fuel injector is coupled to the auxiliary combustion chamber proximate the mixing chamber. An ignition source projects into the mixing chamber of the auxiliary combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Bidhan Dam, Jimroy McCormack, Erik Pederson, Fei Philip Lee
  • Publication number: 20150211742
    Abstract: In some aspects, a gas turbine combustor assembly is arranged around a longitudinal axis. The gas turbine combustor comprises a first fuel/air mixer assembly, the mixer assembly comprising a first fuel injector and a plurality of first mixer elements, each mixer element defining an air flow passage therethrough having an outlet in a first plane. A second fuel/air mixer assembly comprises a second fuel injector and a plurality of second mixer elements, and each second mixer element defines an air flow passage therethrough having an outlet in a second plane, longitudinally offset from the first plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Fei Philip Lee