Patents by Inventor Jeffrey W. Willis

Jeffrey W. Willis 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: 6960840
    Abstract: The invention provides integrated turbogenerators having a turbine wheel, a compressor impeller, and a motor generator mounted to or mechanically constrained to a common shaft, and improved components and configurations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Willis, Paul Berner, Guillermo Pont, Joel Wacknov
  • Patent number: 6804946
    Abstract: Upon shutdown of a liquid fuel turbine engine, the liquid fuel supply is turned off and compressed air is passed through the fuel lines and fuel injectors to purge all remaining liquid fuel into the combustion chamber to be combusted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Willis, Guillermo Pont, Edward C. Edelman, Gunther Linzner
  • Publication number: 20040144098
    Abstract: A low emissions combustion method wherein, in an embodiment, a plurality of tangential fuel injectors introduce a fuel/air mixture at the combustor dome end of an annular combustion chamber in two spaced injector planes. Each of the spaced injector planes includes multiple tangential fuel injectors delivering premixed fuel and air into the annular combustor. A generally skirt-shaped flow control baffle extends from the tapered inner liner into the annular combustion chamber downstream of the fuel injector planes. A plurality of air dilution holes in the tapered inner liner underneath the flow control baffle introduce dilution air into the annular combustion chamber while another plurality of air dilution holes in the cylindrical outer liner introduces more dilution air downstream from the flow control baffle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Willis, Guillermo Pont, Benjamin E. Toby, Robert D. McKeirnan
  • Publication number: 20040103669
    Abstract: The invention provides integrated turbogenerators having a turbine wheel, a compressor impeller, and a motor generator mounted to or mechanically constrained to a common shaft, and improved components and configurations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Willis, Paul Berner, Guillermo Pont, Joel Wacknov
  • Publication number: 20040100101
    Abstract: The invention provides integrated turbogenerators having a turbine wheel, a compressor impeller, and a motor generator mounted to or mechanically constrained to a common shaft, and improved components and configurations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Willis, Paul Berner, Guillermo Pont, Joel Wacknov
  • Publication number: 20040074223
    Abstract: Upon shutdown of a liquid fuel turbine engine, the liquid fuel supply is turned off and compressed air is passed through the fuel lines and fuel injectors to purge all remaining liquid fuel into the combustion chamber to be combusted therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Willis, Guillermo Pont, Edward C. Edelman, Gunther Linzner
  • Patent number: 6684642
    Abstract: A low emissions combustion system with a plurality of tangential fuel injectors to introduce a fuel/air mixture at the combustor dome end of an annular combustion chamber in two spaced injector planes. Each of the spaced injector planes includes multiple tangential fuel injectors delivering premixed fuel and air into the annular combustor. A generally skirt-shaped flow control baffle extends from the tapered inner liner into the annular combustion chamber downstream of the fuel injector planes. A plurality of air dilution holes in the tapered inner liner underneath the flow control baffle introduce dilution air into the annular combustion chamber while another plurality of air dilution holes in the cylindrical outer liner introduces more dilution air downstream from the flow control baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Willis, Guillermo Pont, Benjamin E. Toby, Robert D. McKeirnan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6675583
    Abstract: Upon shutdown of a liquid fuel turbine engine, the liquid fuel supply is turned off and compressed air is passed through the fuel lines and fuel injectors to purge all remaining liquid fuel into the combustion chamber to be combusted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Willis, Guillermo Pont, Edward C. Edelman, Gunther Linzner
  • Publication number: 20020166324
    Abstract: The invention provides integrated turbogenerators having a turbine wheel, a compressor impeller, and a motor generator mounted to or mechanically constrained to a common shaft, and improved components and configurations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Applicant: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Willis, Paul Berner, Guillermo Pont, Joel Wacknov
  • Publication number: 20020148231
    Abstract: A low emissions combustion system with a plurality of tangential fuel injectors to introduce a fuel/air mixture at the combustor dome end of an annular combustion chamber in two spaced injector planes. Each of the spaced injector planes includes multiple tangential fuel injectors delivering premixed fuel and air into the annular combustor. A generally skirt-shaped flow control baffle extends from the tapered inner liner into the annular combustion chamber downstream of the fuel injector planes. A plurality of air dilution holes in the tapered inner liner underneath the flow control baffle introduce dilution air into the annular combustion chamber while another plurality of air dilution holes in the cylindrical outer liner introduces more dilution air downstream from the flow control baffle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Willis, Guillermo Pont, Benjamin E. Toby, Robert D. McKeirnan
  • Publication number: 20020148232
    Abstract: A low emissions combustion system with a plurality of tangential fuel injectors to introduce a fuel/air mixture at the combustor dome end of an annular combustion chamber in two spaced injector planes. Each of the spaced injector planes includes multiple tangential fuel injectors delivering premixed fuel and air into the annular combustor. A generally skirt-shaped flow control baffle extends from the tapered inner liner into the annular combustion chamber downstream of the fuel injector planes. A plurality of air dilution holes in the tapered inner liner underneath the flow control baffle introduce dilution air into the annular combustion chamber while another plurality of air dilution holes in the cylindrical outer liner introduces more dilution air downstream from the flow control baffle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Willis, Guillermo Pont, Benjamin E. Toby, Robert D. McKeirnan
  • Publication number: 20020148229
    Abstract: A system and method for modular control of a multi-fuel turbogenerator include separate controllers for controlling fuel supplied to the combustor and power output from the generator. The power controller generates a fuel command based on the required turbine exhaust temperature, where the fuel command is independent of the particular fuel being used. Fuels may include natural gas, diesel, propane, waste gas, or gasoline, for example. The power controller communicates the fuel command and the airflow or calculated air/fuel ratio to the fuel controller which selects an appropriate mode of operation for the injectors. Injector operating modes include one or more pilot modes where fuel is not mixed with air prior to combustion, and one or more premix modes where fuel is highly mixed with air prior to combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Guillermo Pont, James Brian Dickey, Ed Edelman, Mark G. Gilbreth, Jeffrey W. Willis
  • Publication number: 20020129609
    Abstract: A system and method for modular control of a multi-fuel turbogenerator include separate controllers for controlling fuel supplied to the combustor and power output from the generator. The power controller generates a fuel command based on the required turbine exhaust temperature, where the fuel command is independent of the particular fuel being used. Fuels may include natural gas, diesel, propane, waste gas, or gasoline, for example. The power controller communicates the fuel command and the airflow or calculated air/fuel ratio to the fuel controller which selects an appropriate mode of operation for the injectors. Injector operating modes include one or more pilot modes where fuel is not mixed with air prior to combustion, and one or more premix modes where fuel is highly mixed with air prior to combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Applicant: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Guillermo Pont, James Brian Dickey, Ed Edelman, Mark G. Gilbreth, Jeffrey W. Willis
  • Patent number: 6438937
    Abstract: A system and method for modular control of a multi-fuel turbogenerator include separate controllers for controlling fuel supplied to the combustor and power output from the generator. The power controller generates a fuel command based on the required turbine exhaust temperature, where the fuel command is independent of the particular fuel being used. Fuels may include natural gas, diesel, propane, waste gas, or gasoline, for example. The power controller communicates the fuel command and the airflow or calculated air/fuel ratio to the fuel controller which selects an appropriate mode of operation for the injectors. Injector operating modes include one or more pilot modes where fuel is not mixed with air prior to combustion, and one or more premix modes where fuel is highly mixed with air prior to combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Guillermo Pont, James Brian Dickey, Ed Edelman, Mark G. Gilbreth, Jeffrey W. Willis
  • Patent number: 6405522
    Abstract: A system and method for modular control of a multi-fuel turbogenerator include separate controllers for controlling fuel supplied to the combustor and power output from the generator. The power controller generates a fuel command based on the required turbine exhaust temperature, where the fuel command is independent of the particular fuel being used. Fuels may include natural gas, diesel, propane, waste gas, or gasoline, for example. The power controller communicates the fuel command and the airflow or calculated air/fuel ratio to the fuel controller which selects an appropriate mode of operation for the injectors. Injector operating modes include one or more pilot modes where fuel is not mixed with air prior to combustion, and one or more premix modes where fuel is highly mixed with air prior to combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Guillermo Pont, James Brian Dickey, Ed Edelman, Mark G. Gilbreth, Jeffrey W. Willis
  • Publication number: 20020063479
    Abstract: A turbogenerator having a compressor configured to compress a fuel oxidizer, a combustor connected to an exhaust of the compressor and configured both to receive the fuel oxidizer and a fuel and to combust the fuel and the fuel oxidizer into a combusted gas, a fuel supplier configured to control fuel droplet sizes of the fuel supplied into the combustor to prevent flameout of the turbogenerator, a turbine connected to an exhaust of the combustor and configured to convert heat from the combusted gas into rotational energy, a motor/generator configured to convert the rotational energy into electrical energy, and a common shaft connecting the turbine, the compressor, and the motor/generator. The common shaft is configured to rotate the turbine, the compressor, and the motor/generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: CAPSTONE TURBINE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Mitchell, Jeffrey W. Willis, Guillermo Pont
  • Publication number: 20020059791
    Abstract: Upon shutdown of a liquid fuel turbine engine, the liquid fuel supply is turned off and compressed air is passed through the fuel lines and fuel injectors to purge all remaining liquid fuel into the combustion chamber to be combusted therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Willis, Guillermo Pont, Edward C. Edelman, Gunther Linzner
  • Patent number: 6213234
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle powered by a combination fuel cell and a gas turbine driven generator. The fuel cell is sized relative to the gas turbine and the vehicle such that up to about 50 percent of the vehicle's maximum sustainable power is supplied by the fuel cell electrical power output. This relative power source size achieves improved fuel consumption compared to vehicles powered by combustion engines without the cost penalty associated with a fuel cell large enough to power the vehicle. At low power requirements, the fuel cell efficiently provides all or most of the vehicle's power requirements. As the power requirements increase, additional fuel is burned in the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Harold A. Rosen, Jeffrey W. Willis
  • Patent number: 6016658
    Abstract: A low emissions combustion system for a gas turbine engine, including a generally annular combustor with a plurality of tangential fuel injectors to introduce a fuel/air mixture. The annular combustor includes a skirt shaped flow control baffle from the inner liner and air dilution holes in the inner liner underneath the flow control baffle and also in the cylindrical outer liner. The fuel injectors extend through the recuperator housing and into the combustor through an angled tube and then through a tangential guide in the cylindrical outer liner of the combustor housing. The fuel injectors generally comprise an elongated injector tube with the outer end including a coupler having at least one fuel inlet tube. Compressed combustion air is provided to the interior of the elongated injector tube from either holes or slits therein which receive compressed air from the angled tube around the fuel injector which is open to the space between the recuperator housing and the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Willis, Guillermo Pont, Bruce L. Alder, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5894720
    Abstract: A low emissions combustion system for a gas turbine engine, including a generally annular combustor with a plurality of tangential fuel injectors to introduce a fuel/air mixture. The annular combustor includes a skirt shaped flow control baffle from the inner liner and air dilution holes in the inner liner underneath the flow control baffle and also in the cylindrical outer liner. The fuel injectors extend through the recuperator housing and into the combustor through an angled tube and then through a tangential guide in the cylindrical outer liner of the combustor housing. The fuel injectors generally comprise an elongated injector tube with the outer end including a coupler having at least one fuel inlet tube. Compressed combustion air is provided to the interior of the elongated injector tube from either holes or slits therein which receive compressed air from the angled tube around the fuel injector which is open to the space between the recuperator housing and the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Willis, Guillermo Pont, Bruce L. Alder, Jr.