Patents by Inventor Lisa M. SIMPKINS

Lisa M. SIMPKINS 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: 9328924
    Abstract: A first orifice on a first inner surface of a first annular zone of a forward-bounded annular combustor provides for injecting air forward and radially outwards thereinto, from a location aft of a fuel slinger/injector. A radial dimension of a first outer surface of the first annular zone exceeds that of a corresponding first inner surface. A radial dimension of a second outer surface of a second annular zone of the annular combustor—aft of the first annular zone—exceeds that of a corresponding second inner surface. The first and second outer surfaces, and the first and second inner surfaces, are respectively coupled by transitional outer and inner surfaces of an annular transition zone located therebetween. The radial dimensions of the transitional outer and inner surfaces at the junctions with the corresponding second surfaces exceed the corresponding radial dimensions at the junctions with the corresponding first surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: WILLIAMS INTERNATIONAL CO., LLC
    Inventors: Jamey J. Condevaux, Lisa M. Simpkins, John Sordyl
  • Patent number: 8746613
    Abstract: A first trailing edge portion of a scarfed jet engine exhaust nozzle aft of a second trailing edge portion relative to a central axis of an associated exhaust duct causes an automatic nozzle-pressure-ratio responsive transverse deflection of the associated exhaust flow away from the first trailing edge portion. When offset from both the center of gravity (CG) and the central longitudinal axis of an aircraft, at a relatively low nozzle pressure ratio, e.g. during takeoff, the thrust vector from the exhaust flow acts relatively close to the CG, whereas at a relatively high nozzle pressure ratio, e.g. during relatively high-speed cruise, the scarfed exhaust nozzle deflects the exhaust flow so that the resulting thrust vector is relatively parallel to the path of the aircraft. With the final portion of the exhaust duct skewed, the primary axis of the jet engine can be relatively parallel to the path of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Williams International Co., L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mark E. Suchezky, Lisa M. Simpkins
  • Publication number: 20140116055
    Abstract: A first orifice on a first inner surface of a first annular zone of a forward-bounded annular combustor provides for injecting air forward and radially outwards thereinto, from a location aft of a fuel slinger/injector. A radial dimension of a first outer surface of the first annular zone exceeds that of a corresponding first inner surface. A radial dimension of a second outer surface of a second annular zone of the annular combustor—aft of the first annular zone—exceeds that of a corresponding second inner surface. The first and second outer surfaces, and the first and second inner surfaces, are respectively coupled by transitional outer and inner surfaces of an annular transition zone located therebetween. The radial dimensions of the transitional outer and inner surfaces at the junctions with the corresponding second surfaces exceed the corresponding radial dimensions at the junctions with the corresponding first surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: WILLIAMS INTERNATIONAL, CO., L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jamey J. CONDEVAUX, Lisa M. SIMPKINS, John SORDYL
  • Patent number: 8640464
    Abstract: Fuel and air are injected in a first poloidal flow in a first poloidal direction within a first annular zone of an annular combustor. A first combustion gas from the at least partial combustion of the fuel and air is discharged into an annular transition zone of the annular combustor and transformed to a second combustion gas therein within an at least partial second poloidal flow followed by an at least partial third poloidal flow in the annular transition zone, wherein the direction of the second poloidal flow is opposite to that of the first and third poloidal flows. The second combustion gas is discharged into a second annular zone of the annular combustor, and then transformed to a third combustion gas therein before being discharged therefrom, responsive to which a back pressure is generated in the annular combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Williams International Co., L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jamey J. Condevaux, Lisa M. Simpkins, John Sordyl
  • Publication number: 20100212325
    Abstract: Fuel and air are injected in a first poloidal flow in a first poloidal direction within a first annular zone of an annular combustor. A first combustion gas from the at least partial combustion of the fuel and air is discharged into an annular transition zone of the annular combustor and transformed to a second combustion gas therein within an at least partial second poloidal flow followed by an at least partial third poloidal flow in the annular transition zone, wherein the direction of the second poloidal flow is opposite to that of the first and third poloidal flows. The second combustion gas is discharged into a second annular zone of the annular combustor, and then transformed to a third combustion gas therein before being discharged therefrom, responsive to which a back pressure is generated in the annular combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: WILLIAMS INTERNATIONAL, CO., L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jamey J. CONDEVAUX, Lisa M. SIMPKINS, John SORDYL
  • Publication number: 20100212288
    Abstract: A first trailing edge portion of a scarfed jet engine exhaust nozzle aft of a second trailing edge portion relative to a central axis of an associated exhaust duct causes an automatic nozzle-pressure-ratio responsive transverse deflection of the associated exhaust flow away from the first trailing edge portion. When offset from both the center of gravity (CG) and the central longitudinal axis of an aircraft, at a relatively low nozzle pressure ratio, e.g. during takeoff, the thrust vector from the exhaust flow acts relatively close to the CG, whereas at a relatively high nozzle pressure ratio, e.g. during relatively high-speed cruise, the scarfed exhaust nozzle deflects the exhaust flow so that the resulting thrust vector is relatively parallel to the path of the aircraft. With the final portion of the exhaust duct skewed, the primary axis of the jet engine can be relatively parallel to the path of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: WILLIAMS INTERNATIONAL CO., L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mark L. SUCHEZKY, Lisa M. SIMPKINS