Patents by Inventor Mark A. Caples

Mark A. Caples 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: 11486580
    Abstract: A spacer for a fluid nozzle can include a body configured to fit within a sheath of the fluid nozzle such that a fluid tube positioned within the sheath is held bent over its longitudinal dimension by the body thereby altering a natural frequency of the fuel tube compared to if the fuel tube were not held bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Caples, Andy W. Tibbs, Patrick Leer
  • Publication number: 20210231306
    Abstract: A spacer for a fluid nozzle can include a body configured to fit within a sheath of the fluid nozzle such that a fluid tube positioned within the sheath is held bent over its longitudinal dimension by the body thereby altering a natural frequency of the fuel tube compared to if the fuel tube were not held bent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Caples, Andy W. Tibbs, Patrick Leer
  • Publication number: 20200088409
    Abstract: An injector includes a mounting flange having a mounting lug with fastener bore therethrough that passes through the mounting flange. A support beam extends along an outer surface of the mounting flange from the mounting lug to a hub of the mounting flange. The support beam includes an outer surface spaced apart from the outer surface of the mounting flange and two opposed lateral surfaces each extending from the outer surface of the support beam toward the outer surface of the mounting flange. The outer surface of the support beam includes a contour and/or the support beam includes a stiffening beam that is wider than the width between the opposed lateral surfaces of the support beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Jacob Greenfield, Dustin Andrew Borror, Mark A. Caples
  • Patent number: 10480790
    Abstract: An injector includes a mounting flange having a mounting lug with fastener bore therethrough that passes through the mounting flange. A support beam extends along an outer surface of the mounting flange from the mounting lug to a hub of the mounting flange. The support beam includes an outer surface spaced apart from the outer surface of the mounting flange and two opposed lateral surfaces each extending from the outer surface of the support beam toward the outer surface of the mounting flange. The outer surface of the support beam includes a contour and/or the support beam includes a stiffening beam that is wider than the width between the opposed lateral surfaces of the support beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Greenfield, Dustin Andrew Borror, Mark A. Caples
  • Patent number: 10436448
    Abstract: An injector includes a feed arm extending from an inlet fitting to a nozzle body opposite the inlet fitting. The nozzle body includes a spray outlet in fluid communication with the inlet fitting for issuing a spray of fluid supplied at the inlet fitting. The inlet fitting of the feed arm includes a receptacle therein for receiving a fluid supply manifold inside the inlet fitting of the feed arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Brett A. Pfeffer, Mark A. Caples, Daniel E. Bleeker
  • Patent number: 10378446
    Abstract: An injector for a gas turbine engine includes a feed arm including a primary and a secondary fluid passage. An inlet assembly is fixed at an upstream end of the feed arm having at least one inlet in fluid communication with the primary and the secondary fluid passages. A tip assembly is fixed at a downstream end of the feed arm having a fluid outlet in communication with the primary and secondary fluid passages for issuing a spray of fluid. The primary and secondary fluid passages are monolithically formed within the feed arm. At least one of the primary and secondary fluid passages includes a nonlinear section configured to provide increased residence time for cooling fluid in the first and second fluid passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Delavan Inc
    Inventor: Mark A. Caples
  • Publication number: 20190120490
    Abstract: An injector includes a mounting flange having a mounting lug with fastener bore therethrough that passes through the mounting flange. A support beam extends along an outer surface of the mounting flange from the mounting lug to a hub of the mounting flange. The support beam includes an outer surface spaced apart from the outer surface of the mounting flange and two opposed lateral surfaces each extending from the outer surface of the support beam toward the outer surface of the mounting flange. The outer surface of the support beam includes a contour and/or the support beam includes a stiffening beam that is wider than the width between the opposed lateral surfaces of the support beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Jacob Greenfield, Dustin Andrew Borror, Mark A. Caples
  • Patent number: 10202871
    Abstract: A strainer body strainer body has a conical or bullet-like shape and includes a tip portion, a midsection, and a base portion. The midsection connects the tip portion to the base portion such that the tip portion, midsection, and base portion are aligned with one another along a straining axis defined by the strainer body. The strainer body includes a plurality of layers fused to one another and angled relative to the straining axis. The plurality of layers define flow passages that extend through the strainer body to impound particulate entrained in fluid traversing the strainer body through the flow passages of the strainer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Brett A. Pfeffer, Mark A. Caples
  • Patent number: 10001280
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a fuel injector for a gas turbine engine. The fuel injector has an inlet fitting for receiving fuel. The fuel injector also has an outlet fitting for delivering fuel through a nozzle to a combustor of the gas turbine engine. An injector support extends between the inlet fitting and the outlet fitting and has an internal bore therethrough. A fuel tube extends from the inlet fitting through the internal bore of the injector support to the outlet fitting. The injector support has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the fuel tube. At room temperature the fuel tube is under compressive stress such that the fuel tube is buckled. As a result of differential thermal expansion of the fuel tube and the injector support during engine operation the fuel tube is relieved of compressive stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Caples
  • Publication number: 20170204746
    Abstract: A strainer body strainer body has a conical or bullet-like shape and includes a tip portion, a midsection, and a base portion. The midsection connects the tip portion to the base portion such that the tip portion, midsection, and base portion are aligned with one another along a straining axis defined by the strainer body. The strainer body includes a plurality of layers fused to one another and angled relative to the straining axis. The plurality of layers define flow passages that extend through the strainer body to impound particulate entrained in fluid traversing the strainer body through the flow passages of the strainer body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Brett A. Pfeffer, Mark A. Caples
  • Publication number: 20170176010
    Abstract: An injector includes a feed arm extending from an inlet fitting to a nozzle body opposite the inlet fitting. The nozzle body includes a spray outlet in fluid communication with the inlet fitting for issuing a spray of fluid supplied at the inlet fitting. The inlet fitting of the feed arm includes a receptacle therein for receiving a fluid supply manifold inside the inlet fitting of the feed arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Brett A. Pfeffer, Mark A. Caples, Daniel E. Bleeker
  • Publication number: 20170176011
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a fuel injector for a gas turbine engine. The fuel injector has an inlet fitting for receiving fuel. The fuel injector also has an outlet fitting for delivering fuel through a nozzle to a combustor of the gas turbine engine. An injector support extends between the inlet fitting and the outlet fitting and has an internal bore therethrough. A fuel tube extends from the inlet fitting through the internal bore of the injector support to the outlet fitting. The injector support has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the fuel tube. At room temperature the fuel tube is under compressive stress such that the fuel tube is buckled. As a result of differential thermal expansion of the fuel tube and the injector support during engine operation the fuel tube is relieved of compressive stress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventor: Mark Caples
  • Publication number: 20170138266
    Abstract: An injector for a gas turbine engine includes a feed arm including a primary and a secondary fluid passage. An inlet assembly is fixed at an upstream end of the feed arm having at least one inlet in fluid communication with the primary and the secondary fluid passages. A tip assembly is fixed at a downstream end of the feed arm having a fluid outlet in communication with the primary and secondary fluid passages for issuing a spray of fluid. The primary and secondary fluid passages are monolithically formed within the feed arm. At least one of the primary and secondary fluid passages includes a nonlinear section configured to provide increased residence time for cooling fluid in the first and second fluid passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventor: Mark A. Caples
  • Patent number: 9625155
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a fuel injector for a gas turbine engine. The fuel injector has an inlet fitting for receiving fuel. The fuel injector also has an outlet fitting for delivering fuel through a nozzle to a combustor of the gas turbine engine. An injector support extends between the inlet fitting and the outlet fitting and has an internal bore therethrough. A fuel tube extends from the inlet fitting through the internal bore of the injector support to the outlet fitting. The injector support has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the fuel tube. At room temperature the fuel tube is under compressive stress such that the fuel tube is buckled. As a result of differential thermal expansion of the fuel tube and the injector support during engine operation the fuel tube is relieved of compressive stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Caples
  • Publication number: 20170080361
    Abstract: A strainer has a strainer body with a width and a height. The height of the strainer body is smaller than the width of the strainer body. The strainer body has a serpentine cross-sectional profile to provide rigidity and straining area. A fuel injector includes a strainer as described and a nozzle body with a fuel circuit defined therein. The strainer is integrally coupled to the nozzle body and is in fluid communication with the fuel circuit to remove entrained particulate from fuel traversing the strainer prior to the fuel reaching the fuel circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Brett A. Pfeffer, Mark A. Caples
  • Patent number: 9581121
    Abstract: A nozzle for a fuel injector can include an outer air swirler having an inner surface with the outer air swirler having a groove on the inner surface and a prefilmer located concentrically within the outer air swirler with the prefilmer having at least one detent finger to engage the groove on the inner surface of the outer air swirler. The nozzle can also include a fuel swirler located concentrically within the prefilmer and configured to convey fuel to a forward end of the nozzle with the fuel swirler having at least one tab extending axially at an aft end, and an inner air swirler having a cylindrical forward end located concentrically within the fuel swirler and an aft support extending radially outward to contact the outer air swirler with the cylindrical forward end contacting at least one tab of the fuel swirler to hold the fuel swirler in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Mark Caples, John David Canny, Nicole L. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20160115926
    Abstract: A nozzle for a fuel injector can include an outer air swirler having an inner surface with the outer air swirler having a groove on the inner surface and a prefilmer located concentrically within the outer air swirler with the prefilmer having at least one detent finger to engage the groove on the inner surface of the outer air swirler. The nozzle can also include a fuel swirler located concentrically within the prefilmer and configured to convey fuel to a forward end of the nozzle with the fuel swirler having at least one tab extending axially at an aft end, and an inner air swirler having a cylindrical forward end located concentrically within the fuel swirler and an aft support extending radially outward to contact the outer air swirler with the cylindrical forward end contacting at least one tab of the fuel swirler to hold the fuel swirler in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Mark Caples, John David Canny, Nicole L. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20150192299
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a fuel injector for a gas turbine engine. The fuel injector has an inlet fitting for receiving fuel. The fuel injector also has an outlet fitting for delivering fuel through a nozzle to a combustor of the gas turbine engine. An injector support extends between the inlet fitting and the outlet fitting and has an internal bore therethrough. A fuel tube extends from the inlet fitting through the internal bore of the injector support to the outlet fitting. The injector support has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the fuel tube. At room temperature the fuel tube is under compressive stress such that the fuel tube is buckled. As a result of differential thermal expansion of the fuel tube and the injector support during engine operation the fuel tube is relieved of compressive stress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: Delavan Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Caples
  • Patent number: 9068510
    Abstract: A machined spring for injector applications includes opposed first and second spring bases separated apart along a longitudinal axis. A spring body connects the first and second spring bases. The spring body includes a generally annular wall with a plurality of spring channels defined therethrough, such as machined channels. Exemplary applications for such machined springs include liquid strainers, valve components, and structural components for accommodating thermal expansion in injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Delavan, Inc
    Inventors: Brett A. Pfeffer, Mark A. Caples
  • Publication number: 20130126641
    Abstract: A machined spring for injector applications includes opposed first and second spring bases separated apart along a longitudinal axis. A spring body connects the first and second spring bases. The spring body includes a generally annular wall with a plurality of spring channels defined therethrough, such as machined channels. Exemplary applications for such machined springs include liquid strainers, valve components, and structural components for accommodating thermal expansion in injectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Delavan Inc
    Inventors: Brett A. Pfeffer, Mark A. Caples