Patents by Inventor Gregory Zink

Gregory Zink 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: 11906167
    Abstract: A combustor dome system includes an annular combustor dome defining a main axis therethrough. The combustor dome includes opposed upstream and downstream faces, wherein the upstream face is configured to face upstream toward a compressor discharge space, wherein the downstream face is configured to face downstream toward a combustor space. The downstream face has a curved cross-sectional profile. A plurality of nozzles extends at least partially through the combustor dome from the upstream face to the downstream face for injection of fuel into the combustor space. A fuel manifold is in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Lev A. Prociw, Gregory A. Zink
  • Patent number: 11898493
    Abstract: A system includes an air manifold, a fuel manifold, and a plurality of fuel injectors. At least one of the fuel injectors includes a heat exchanger portion for supplying compressed, cooled air form the heat exchanger portion to the air manifold. An air valve is operatively connected to an outlet of the air manifold for controlling release of air from the air manifold. A controller is operatively connected to the air valve, wherein the controller includes machine readable instructions configured to control the air valve to regulate flow of air through the air valve based on fuel temperatures in the fuel channel. The machine readable instructions can be configured to cause the controller to flow air through the air valve in a heat exchange mode if a fuel temperature in the fuel injectors is below a predetermined fuel temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Gregory A. Zink, Brandon P. Williams, Lev A. Prociw
  • Patent number: 11846422
    Abstract: A system includes an air manifold, a fuel manifold, and a plurality of fuel injectors. At least one of the fuel injectors includes a heat exchanger portion for supplying compressed, cooled air form the heat exchanger portion to the air manifold. An air valve is operatively connected to an outlet of the air manifold for controlling release of air from the air manifold. A controller is operatively connected to the air valve, wherein the controller includes machine readable instructions configured to control the air valve to regulate flow of air through the air valve based on fuel temperatures in the fuel channel. The machine readable instructions can be configured to cause the controller to flow air through the air valve in a heat exchange mode if a fuel temperature in the fuel injectors is below a predetermined fuel temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Gregory A. Zink, Brandon Phillip Williams, Lev A. Prociw
  • Publication number: 20230358172
    Abstract: A multipoint fuel injection system comprises an injection system segment including a circumferentially extending outer support defining a fuel manifold with a plurality of manifold passages extending circumferentially therethrough. A first connector is included at a first circumferential end of the outer support and a second connector is included at a second circumferential end of the outer support opposite the first circumferential end. The first and second connectors are each configured to connect each manifold passage with a manifold passages of a respective outer support of a circumferentially adjacent injection system segment. The system includes a circumferentially extending inner support and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart feed arms extending radially between the inner support and the outer support. A plurality of outlet openings extend in an axial direction from each feed arm for feeding respective injection nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Lev A. Prociw, Gregory A. Zink
  • Publication number: 20230296051
    Abstract: A system includes an air manifold, a fuel manifold, and a plurality of fuel injectors. At least one of the fuel injectors includes a heat exchanger portion for supplying compressed, cooled air form the heat exchanger portion to the air manifold. An air valve is operatively connected to an outlet of the air manifold for controlling release of air from the air manifold. A controller is operatively connected to the air valve, wherein the controller includes machine readable instructions configured to control the air valve to regulate flow of air through the air valve based on fuel temperatures in the fuel channel. The machine readable instructions can be configured to cause the controller to flow air through the air valve in a heat exchange mode if a fuel temperature in the fuel injectors is below a predetermined fuel temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Gregory A. Zink, Brandon P. Williams, Lev A. Prociw
  • Patent number: 11713717
    Abstract: A multipoint fuel injection system comprises an injection system segment including a circumferentially extending outer support defining a fuel manifold with a plurality of manifold passages extending circumferentially therethrough. A first connector is included at a first circumferential end of the outer support and a second connector is included at a second circumferential end of the outer support opposite the first circumferential end. The first and second connectors are each configured to connect each manifold passage with a manifold passages of a respective outer support of a circumferentially adjacent injection system segment. The system includes a circumferentially extending inner support and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart feed arms extending radially between the inner support and the outer support. A plurality of outlet openings extend in an axial direction from each feed arm for feeding respective injection nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev A. Prociw, Gregory A. Zink
  • Publication number: 20230235702
    Abstract: A method includes joining a fuel plurality of injection components to a fuel manifold, wherein for each fuel injection component in the plurality of fuel injection components, a metallic joint is formed joining and sealing the fuel injection component to the manifold. A system includes a fuel manifold. A plurality of fuel injection components are connected in fluid communication with the fuel manifold with metallic joints sealing between each of the plurality of fuel injection components and the fuel manifold to prevent leakage from between the manifold and the plurality of fuel injection components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Gregory A. Zink, Brandon Phillip Williams, Lev A. Prociw
  • Patent number: 11692487
    Abstract: A fuel injector system includes an outer support and an inner support, with a feed arm extending radially between the inner support and the outer support. A plurality of outlet openings extend in an axial direction from the feed arm for feeding respective injection nozzles. The outer support and feed arm define a plurality of fuel passages therethrough to convey fluid from an external source through the outer support and feed arm to the outlet openings. A heat shield extends around the feed arm from the outer support to the inner support. The heat shield is spaced apart from the feed arm with an insulative gap therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Lev A. Prociw, Gregory A. Zink
  • Patent number: 11674687
    Abstract: A fuel injection system includes an outer support defining a fuel manifold and an inner support, with a feed arm extending radially between the inner support and the outer support. A plurality of outlet openings extending in an axial direction from the feed arm for feeding respective injection nozzles. The feed arm defines a plurality of fuel passages therethrough in fluid communication with the fuel manifold and outlet openings to supply fuel from the fuel manifold to the outlet openings. A heat shield extends from the outer support to the inner support and extends about the outer support and the feed arm to provide heat shielding to the fuel manifold and the fuel passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev A. Prociw, Gregory A. Zink
  • Patent number: 11635210
    Abstract: A heat shielded assembly includes a fuel structure of a combustor of a gas turbine engine and a woven heat shield at least partially conformally surrounding the fuel structure and spaced from an exterior of the fuel structure by a distance where it surrounds the fuel structure. The fuel structure is configured to deliver fuel to the combustor. The woven heat shield comprises a first set of strands, a second set of strands interwoven with the first set of strands, and a weave pattern comprising the first set of strands and the second set of strands. Each strand of the first set of strands extends in a first direction, each strand of the second set of strands extends in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and the first set of strands and the second set of strands are not attached where they intersect in the weave pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Gregory Zink, Lev Alexander Prociw
  • Publication number: 20230057936
    Abstract: A system includes an air manifold, a fuel manifold and plurality of fuel injectors. Each fuel injector includes a fixture portion, a nozzle outlet, and a heat exchanger portion connecting between the fixture portion and the nozzle outlet. An air channel and a fuel channel are in thermal communication with one another for heat exchange between fuel and air passing through the heat exchanger portion. The respective inlet of the fuel channel of each of the fuel injectors in the plurality of fuel injectors is connected to the fuel manifold for fluid communication of fuel from the fuel manifold to the nozzle outlets for combustion. The respective outlet of the air channel of each of the fuel injectors in the plurality of fuel injectors is connected to the air manifold for fluid communication of air from the heat exchanger portions into the air manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Gregory A. Zink, Brandon Phillip Williams, Lev A. Prociw
  • Publication number: 20230053527
    Abstract: A system includes an air manifold, a fuel manifold, and a plurality of fuel injectors. At least one of the fuel injectors includes a heat exchanger portion for supplying compressed, cooled air form the heat exchanger portion to the air manifold. An air valve is operatively connected to an outlet of the air manifold for controlling release of air from the air manifold. A controller is operatively connected to the air valve, wherein the controller includes machine readable instructions configured to control the air valve to regulate flow of air through the air valve based on fuel temperatures in the fuel channel. The machine readable instructions can be configured to cause the controller to flow air through the air valve in a heat exchange mode if a fuel temperature in the fuel injectors is below a predetermined fuel temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Gregory A. Zink, Brandon Phillip Williams, Lev A. Prociw
  • Patent number: 11585275
    Abstract: A multipoint injection system includes a manifold with a plurality of flow passages defined through the manifold in the circumferential direction. The flow passages are spaced apart from one another in an axial direction. A plurality of feed arms extends radially inward from the manifold. Feed arm portions of the flow passages extend through each of the feed arms to respective outlets. The feed arm portions of the flow passages are within the axial width of the manifold. A plurality of injection nozzles are included, each in fluid communication with a respective one of the outlets. Each injection nozzle includes an air passage therethrough with an air inlet. The feed arms each follow a path that is circumferentially offset from the air inlets so each of the feed arms is clear from a flow path directly upstream in the axial direction of each of the air inlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Lev A. Prociw, Gregory A. Zink, Joseph Samo
  • Patent number: 11555450
    Abstract: A method of producing compressed air for use onboard an aircraft includes receiving compressor discharge air into an air channel of a fuel injector. The method also includes cooling the compressor discharge air within the air channel by heat exchange with fuel flowing in the fuel injector, and issuing cooled air from the internal air channel out of an engine case as a source of compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Gregory A. Zink, Brandon Phillip Williams, Lev A. Prociw
  • Publication number: 20220412264
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for a gas turbine engine includes a first plurality of fuel nozzles arrayed in a circular pattern. Each of the nozzles in the first plurality of fuel nozzles includes a first airflow area defined therethrough. A second plurality of fuel nozzles radially inward from the first plurality of fuel nozzles. Each of the nozzles in the second plurality of fuel nozzles includes a second airflow area defined therethrough. The first airflow area is larger than the second airflow area. A third plurality of fuel nozzles can be radially inward from the second plurality of fuel nozzles. Each of the nozzles in the third plurality of fuel nozzles can include a third airflow area defined therethrough. The second airflow area can be larger than the third airflow area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Gregory A. Zink, Lev A. Prociw
  • Patent number: 11408609
    Abstract: A tile for a combustor dome of a gas turbine engine includes a tile body defining an upstream surface and an axially opposed downstream surface with at least one injection orifice defined through the tile body from the upstream surface to the downstream surface. The tile body extends in a radial direction from a radially inner surface to a radially outer surface. The radially inner and outer surfaces define circular arcs that are concentric with one another. The tile body extends circumferentially from a first end face to a second end face. The first end face follows a sigmoid profile and the second end face follows a sigmoid profile configured to interlock with the sigmoid profile of the first end face of another identical tile body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Lev Alexander Prociw, Jason A. Ryon, Gregory A. Zink
  • Publication number: 20220195930
    Abstract: A heat shielded assembly includes a fuel structure of a combustor of a gas turbine engine and a woven heat shield at least partially conformally surrounding the fuel structure and spaced from an exterior of the fuel structure by a distance where it surrounds the fuel structure. The fuel structure is configured to deliver fuel to the combustor. The woven heat shield comprises a first set of strands, a second set of strands interwoven with the first set of strands, and a weave pattern comprising the first set of strands and the second set of strands. Each strand of the first set of strands extends in a first direction, each strand of the second set of strands extends in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and the first set of strands and the second set of strands are not attached where they intersect in the weave pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Gregory Zink, Lev Alexander Prociw
  • Publication number: 20220136443
    Abstract: A fuel injector system includes an outer support and an inner support, with a feed arm extending radially between the inner support and the outer support. A plurality of outlet openings extend in an axial direction from the feed arm for feeding respective injection nozzles. The outer support and feed arm define a plurality of fuel passages therethrough to convey fluid from an external source through the outer support and feed arm to the outlet openings. A heat shield extends around the feed arm from the outer support to the inner support. The heat shield is spaced apart from the feed arm with an insulative gap therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Lev A. Prociw, Gregory A. Zink
  • Publication number: 20220065167
    Abstract: A multipoint fuel injection system comprises an injection system segment including a circumferentially extending outer support defining a fuel manifold with a plurality of manifold passages extending circumferentially therethrough. A first connector is included at a first circumferential end of the outer support and a second connector is included at a second circumferential end of the outer support opposite the first circumferential end. The first and second connectors are each configured to connect each manifold passage with a manifold passages of a respective outer support of a circumferentially adjacent injection system segment. The system includes a circumferentially extending inner support and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart feed arms extending radially between the inner support and the outer support. A plurality of outlet openings extend in an axial direction from each feed arm for feeding respective injection nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev A. Prociw, Gregory A. Zink
  • Patent number: 11255270
    Abstract: A fuel injector system includes an outer support and an inner support, with a feed arm extending radially between the inner support and the outer support. A plurality of outlet openings extend in an axial direction from the feed arm for feeding respective injection nozzles. The outer support and feed arm define a plurality of fuel passages therethrough to convey fluid from an external source through the outer support and feed arm to the outlet openings. A heat shield extends around the feed arm from the outer support to the inner support. The heat shield is spaced apart from the feed arm with an insulative gap therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Gregory A. Zink