Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Lehtinen

Jeffrey Lehtinen 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: 11655979
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine of an aircraft having a fuel nozzle including a fuel swirler and/or an outer air swirler. The fuel swirler may include a manifold for receiving fuel from a fuel conduit, and a plurality of fuel passages to direct fuel from the manifold to discharge orifices that direct fuel with swirling flow. The fuel swirler may be configured to provide uniform spray while minimizing recirculation zones; reduce residence time as fuel enters the manifold; minimize flow disruptions, boundary layer growth, and/or pressure drop as fuel flows through the fuel passages; reduces coking internally of the nozzle; reduces thermal stresses; and is simple and low-cost to manufacture. The outer air swirler may include first and second outer air swirler portions with respective vanes and air passages that provide swirling air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Luther Wirtz, Jeffrey Lehtinen, Adel Mansour, David Tibbs, Robert Pelletier, Jon Stockill
  • Publication number: 20230071579
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine of an aircraft having a fuel nozzle including a fuel swirler and/or an outer air swirler. The fuel swirler may include a manifold for receiving fuel from a fuel conduit, and a plurality of fuel passages to direct fuel from the manifold to discharge orifices that direct fuel with swirling flow. The fuel swirler may be configured to provide uniform spray while minimizing recirculation zones; reduce residence time as fuel enters the manifold; minimize flow disruptions, boundary layer growth, and/or pressure drop as fuel flows through the fuel passages; reduces coking internally of the nozzle; reduces thermal stresses; and is simple and low-cost to manufacture. The outer air swirler may include first and second outer air swirler portions with respective vanes and air passages that provide swirling air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Luther Wirtz, Jeffrey Lehtinen, Adel Mansour, David Tibbs, Robert Pelletier, Jon Stockill
  • Patent number: 11391463
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine of an aircraft having a fuel nozzle including a fuel swirler and/or an outer air swirler. The fuel swirler may include a manifold for receiving fuel from a fuel conduit, and a plurality of fuel passages to direct fuel from the manifold to discharge orifices that direct fuel with swirling flow. The fuel swirler may be configured to provide uniform spray while minimizing recirculation zones; reduce residence time as fuel enters the manifold; minimize flow disruptions, boundary layer growth, and/or pressure drop as fuel flows through the fuel passages; reduces coking internally of the nozzle; reduces thermal stresses; and is simple and low-cost to manufacture. The outer air swirler may include first and second outer air swirler portions with respective vanes and air passages that provide swirling air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Luther Wirtz, Jeffrey Lehtinen, Adel Mansour, David Tibbs, Robert Pelletier, Jon Stockill
  • Publication number: 20210131665
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine of an aircraft having a fuel nozzle including a fuel swirler and/or an outer air swirler. The fuel swirler may include a manifold for receiving fuel from a fuel conduit, and a plurality of fuel passages to direct fuel from the manifold to discharge orifices that direct fuel with swirling flow. The fuel swirler may be configured to provide uniform spray while minimizing recirculation zones; reduce residence time as fuel enters the manifold; minimize flow disruptions, boundary layer growth, and/or pressure drop as fuel flows through the fuel passages; reduces coking internally of the nozzle; reduces thermal stresses; and is simple and low-cost to manufacture. The outer air swirler may include first and second outer air swirler portions with respective vanes and air passages that provide swirling air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Luther Wirtz, Jeffrey Lehtinen, Adel Mansour, David Tibbs, Robert Pelletier, Jon Stockill
  • Patent number: 10955138
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine of an aircraft having a fuel nozzle including a fuel swirler and/or an outer air swirler. The fuel swirler may include a manifold for receiving fuel from a fuel conduit, and a plurality of fuel passages to direct fuel from the manifold to discharge orifices that direct fuel with swirling flow. The fuel swirler may be configured to provide uniform spray while minimizing recirculation zones; reduce residence time as fuel enters the manifold; minimize flow disruptions, boundary layer growth, and/or pressure drop as fuel flows through the fuel passages; reduces coking internally of the nozzle; reduces thermal stresses; and is simple and low-cost to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Luther Wirtz, Jeffrey Lehtinen, Adel Mansour, David Tibbs, Robert Pelletier, Jon Stockill
  • Patent number: 10920984
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine of an aircraft having a fuel nozzle including a fuel swirler and/or an outer air swirler. The fuel swirler may include a manifold for receiving fuel from a fuel conduit, and a plurality of fuel passages to direct fuel from the manifold to discharge orifices that direct fuel with swirling flow. The fuel swirler may be configured to provide uniform spray while minimizing recirculation zones; reduce residence time as fuel enters the manifold; minimize flow disruptions, boundary layer growth, and/or pressure drop as fuel flows through the fuel passages; reduces coking internally of the nozzle; reduces thermal stresses; and is simple and low-cost to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Luther Wirtz, Jeffrey Lehtinen, Adel Mansour, David Tibbs, Robert Pelletier, Jon Stockill
  • Publication number: 20180304281
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine of an aircraft having a fuel nozzle including a fuel swirler and/or an outer air swirler. The fuel swirler may include a manifold for receiving fuel from a fuel conduit, and a plurality of fuel passages to direct fuel from the manifold to discharge orifices that direct fuel with swirling flow. The fuel swirler may be configured to provide uniform spray while minimizing recirculation zones; reduce residence time as fuel enters the manifold; minimize flow disruptions, boundary layer growth, and/or pressure drop as fuel flows through the fuel passages; reduces coking internally of the nozzle; reduces thermal stresses; and is simple and low-cost to manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Luther Wirtz, Jeffrey Lehtinen, Adel Mansour, David Tibbs, Robert Pelletier, Jon Stockill
  • Patent number: 8327649
    Abstract: Fuel injector assemblies with frictionally damped fuel supply members, including fuel feed strips. More particularly, the invention provides friction dampers and/or assemblies that frictionally damp movement of fuel supply members in at least one direction. Some of the embodiments provide a friction damper that is easily serviceable, and can be installed after final assembly of a fuel injector. Aspects of the invention are applicable to other components of fuel injectors and gas turbine engines in addition to fuel supply members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Fady Bishara, Jeffrey Lehtinen
  • Patent number: 8312727
    Abstract: Fuel injector assemblies with frictionally damped fuel supply members, including fuel feed strips. More particularly, the invention provides friction dampers and/or assemblies that frictionally damp movement of fuel supply members in at least one direction as a function of frequency. Accordingly, low frequency vibration can be undamped, while vibration above a prescribed frequency can be damped. Some of the embodiments provide a friction damper that is easily serviceable, and can be installed after final assembly of a fuel injector. Aspects of the invention are applicable to other components of fuel injectors and gas turbine engines in addition to fuel supply members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Fady Bishara, Jeffrey Lehtinen
  • Publication number: 20110167830
    Abstract: Fuel injector assemblies with frictionally damped fuel supply members, including fuel feed strips. More particularly, the invention provides friction dampers and/or assemblies that frictionally damp movement of fuel supply members in at least one direction. Some of the embodiments provide a friction damper that is easily serviceable, and can be installed after final assembly of a fuel injector. Aspects of the invention are applicable to other components of fuel injectors and gas turbine engines in addition to fuel supply members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Fady Bishara, Jeffrey Lehtinen
  • Patent number: 7966819
    Abstract: Fuel injector assemblies with frictionally damped fuel supply members, including fuel feed strips. More particularly, the invention provides friction dampers and/or assemblies that frictionally damp movement of fuel supply members in at least one direction. Some of the embodiments provide a friction damper that is easily serviceable, and can be installed after final assembly of a fuel injector. Aspects of the invention are applicable to other components of fuel injectors and gas turbine engines in addition to fuel supply members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Fady Bishara, Jeffrey Lehtinen
  • Patent number: 7921649
    Abstract: A method for increasing and/or suppressing a natural frequency of a fuel injector feed strip while increasing in the axial direction the flexibility of the feed strip, without the use of additional structure or damping devices. More particularly, and by way of example, the present invention provides a fuel feed strip that is shaped in a shape corresponding to a first vibration mode (e.g., a bow shape) of a fuel feed strip of a desired shape (e.g., a straight fuel feed strip). By forming the fuel feed strip in a shape corresponding to a first vibration mode of the fuel feed strip of a desired shape, a vibration mode of the fuel feed strip is suppressed while the axial flexibility of the fuel feed strip is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lehtinen, Fady Bishara
  • Publication number: 20090293483
    Abstract: Fuel injector assemblies with frictionally damped fuel supply members, including fuel feed strips. More particularly, the invention provides friction dampers and/or assemblies that frictionally damp movement of fuel supply members in at least one direction. Some of the embodiments provide a friction damper that is easily serviceable, and can be installed after final assembly of a fuel injector. Aspects of the invention are applicable to other components of fuel injectors and gas turbine engines in addition to fuel supply members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Fady Bishara, Jeffrey Lehtinen
  • Publication number: 20080245901
    Abstract: Fuel injector assemblies with frictionally damped fuel supply members, including fuel feed strips. More particularly, the invention provides friction dampers and/or assemblies that frictionally damp movement of fuel supply members in at least one direction as a function of frequency. Accordingly, low frequency vibration can be undamped, while vibration above a prescribed frequency can be damped. Some of the embodiments provide a friction damper that is easily serviceable, and can be installed after final assembly of a fuel injector. Aspects of the invention are applicable to other components of fuel injectors and gas turbine engines in addition to fuel supply members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Fady Bishara, Jeffrey Lehtinen
  • Publication number: 20070039325
    Abstract: A method for increasing and/or suppressing a natural frequency of a fuel injector feed strip while increasing in the axial direction the flexibility of the feed strip, without the use of additional structure or damping devices. More particularly, and by way of example, the present invention provides a fuel feed strip that is shaped in a shape corresponding to a first vibration mode (e.g., a bow shape) of a fuel feed strip of a desired shape (e.g., a straight fuel feed strip). By forming the fuel feed strip in a shape corresponding to a first vibration mode of the fuel feed strip of a desired shape, a vibration mode of the fuel feed strip is suppressed while the axial flexibility of the fuel feed strip is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lehtinen, Fady Bishara