Patents by Inventor Nigel Davenport

Nigel Davenport 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).

  • Publication number: 20210348764
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine comprises an inner annular liner wall and an outer annular liner wall cooperating to form a combustion chamber of the combustor. A first dome wall has a circumferential array of first fuel injection bores. A second dome has a circumferential array of second fuel injection bores. An intermediate wall extends between the first dome wall and the second dome wall. A first combustion stage is defined by the inner liner wall forward end, the first dome wall and the intermediate wall. A second combustion stage is defined at least by the outer liner wall forward end, the second dome wall and the intermediate wall, the first combustion stage communicating with the first fuel injection bores, the second combustion stage communicating with the second fuel injection bores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Eduardo Hawie, Nigel Davenport
  • Patent number: 10801415
    Abstract: A seal for sealing a combustor heat shield against an interior surface of a combustor shell, the seal comprising: a first sealing surface on the interior surface of the combustor shell; and a second sealing surface on a rail on an edge of a heat shield, wherein each of the first and second sealing surfaces include first and second projections defining a non-linear leakage path between the projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Nigel Davenport, Yen-Wen Wang
  • Patent number: 10697365
    Abstract: A rotary engine having an insert in a peripheral wall of the stator body, the insert being made of a material having a greater heat resistance than that of the peripheral wall, having a subchamber defined therein and having an inner surface, the subchamber communicating with the cavity through at least one opening defined in the inner surface and having a shape forming a reduced cross-section adjacent the opening, a pilot fuel injector having a tip received in the subchamber, an ignition element having a tip received in the subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the stator body and having a tip communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the insert. The subchamber has a volume corresponding to from 5% to 25% of a sum of the minimum volume and the volume of the subchamber. A method of injecting heavy fuel into a Wankel engine is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Nigel Davenport, Eugene Gekht
  • Patent number: 10598374
    Abstract: A method of inducing swirl in pressurized air flowing through an air passageway of a fuel nozzle of a gas turbine engine includes inducing swirl in the pressurized air at an exit of the air passageway, by directing the pressurised air through helicoidal grooves formed at a downstream end of the air passageway. The swirling pressurized air exiting the air passageway is then directed into a mixing zone at a downstream end of the fuel nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Yen-Wen Wang, Nigel Davenport
  • Patent number: 10578012
    Abstract: A non-Wankel rotary engine having an insert in the peripheral wall of the outer body, the insert being made of a material having a greater heat resistance than that of the peripheral wall, having a subchamber defined therein and having an inner surface bordering the cavity, the subchamber communicating with the cavity through at least one opening defined in the inner surface and having a shape forming a reduced cross-section adjacent the opening, a pilot fuel injector having a tip received in the subchamber, an ignition element having a tip received in the subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the housing and having a tip communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Nigel Davenport, Eugene Gekht
  • Patent number: 10557407
    Abstract: A rotary engine including a rotor sealingly received within an internal cavity of an outer body to define a plurality of combustion chambers having a variable volume, a pilot subchamber located in a wall of the outer body, the pilot subchamber in fluid communication with the internal cavity via at least two spaced apart transfer holes defining a flow restriction between the pilot subchamber and the internal cavity, a pilot fuel injector in fluid communication with the pilot subchamber, an ignition element configured for igniting fuel in the pilot subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the stator body and communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the pilot subchamber. A method of combusting fuel in a rotary engine is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Serge Dussault, Andre Julien, Michael Lanktree, Edwin Schulz, Jean Thomassin, Nigel Davenport, Eugene Gekht
  • Patent number: 10364988
    Abstract: A method for delivering fuel from a fuel nozzle of a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes directing fuel from a fuel source through a flow splitter to provide at least two concentric fuel flows, filming the concentric two fuel flows on concentrically arranged inwardly facing filming surfaces that are disposed downstream of the flow splitter, and atomizing the concentric fuel flows into a core air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eduardo David Hawie, Nigel Davenport, Yen-Wen Wang
  • Publication number: 20190226681
    Abstract: A method of delivering fuel from a fuel nozzle of a gas turbine engine includes carrying by a fuel passageway of the fuel nozzle a film of pressurised fuel, the fuel passageway being disposed radially outwardly from an air passageway carrying a flow of pressurised air, and directing the film of pressurised fuel onto an inside surface of an exit lip of an outer wall of the fuel passageway and thinning the film of pressurised fuel as it travels therealong. The exit lip generally increases in diameter as it extends downstream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Yen-Wen WANG, Nigel DAVENPORT, Eduardo HAWIE
  • Patent number: 10317083
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a body defining an axial direction and a radial direction, an air passageway defined axially in the body, and a fuel passageway defined axially in the body radially outwardly from the air passageway. The fuel passageway has an outer wall including an exit lip at a downstream portion of the outer wall. The lip generally increases in diameter as it extends downstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Yen-Wen Wang, Nigel Davenport, Eduardo Hawie
  • Publication number: 20190055882
    Abstract: A rotary engine having an insert in a peripheral wall of the stator body, the insert being made of a material having a greater heat resistance than that of the peripheral wall, having a subchamber defined therein and having an inner surface, the subchamber communicating with the cavity through at least one opening defined in the inner surface and having a shape forming a reduced cross-section adjacent the opening, a pilot fuel injector having a tip received in the subchamber, an ignition element having a tip received in the subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the stator body and having a tip communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the insert. The subchamber has a volume corresponding to from 5% to 25% of a sum of the minimum volume and the volume of the subchamber. A method of injecting heavy fuel into a Wankel engine is also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Jean THOMASSIN, Nigel DAVENPORT, Eugene GEKHT
  • Patent number: 10125676
    Abstract: A rotary engine having an insert in a peripheral wall of the stator body, the insert being made of a material having a greater heat resistance than that of the peripheral wall, having a subchamber defined therein and having an inner surface, the subchamber communicating with the cavity through at least one opening defined in the inner surface and having a shape forming a reduced cross-section adjacent the opening, a pilot fuel injector having a tip received in the subchamber, an ignition element having a tip received in the subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the stator body and having a tip communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the insert. The subchamber has a volume corresponding to from 5% to 25% of a sum of the minimum volume and the volume of the subchamber. A method of injecting heavy fuel into a Wankel engine is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Nigel Davenport, Eugene Gekht
  • Publication number: 20180187593
    Abstract: A non-Wankel rotary engine having an insert in the peripheral wall of the outer body, the insert being made of a material having a greater heat resistance than that of the peripheral wall, having a subchamber defined therein and having an inner surface bordering the cavity, the subchamber communicating with the cavity through at least one opening defined in the inner surface and having a shape forming a reduced cross-section adjacent the opening, a pilot fuel injector having a tip received in the subchamber, an ignition element having a tip received in the subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the housing and having a tip communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Jean THOMASSIN, Nigel DAVENPORT, Eugene GEKHT
  • Patent number: 10006358
    Abstract: A non-Wankel rotary engine having an insert in the peripheral wall of the outer body, the insert being made of a material having a greater heat resistance than that of the peripheral wall, having a subchamber defined therein and having an inner surface bordering the cavity, the subchamber communicating with the cavity through at least one opening defined in the inner surface and having a shape forming a reduced cross-section adjacent the opening, a pilot fuel injector having a tip received in the subchamber, an ignition element having a tip received in the subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the housing and having a tip communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Nigel Davenport, Eugene Gekht
  • Publication number: 20180080371
    Abstract: A rotary engine including a rotor sealingly received within an internal cavity of an outer body to define a plurality of combustion chambers having a variable volume, a pilot subchamber located in a wall of the outer body, the pilot subchamber in fluid communication with the internal cavity via at least two spaced apart transfer holes defining a flow restriction between the pilot subchamber and the internal cavity, a pilot fuel injector in fluid communication with the pilot subchamber, an ignition element configured for igniting fuel in the pilot subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the stator body and communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the pilot subchamber. A method of combusting fuel in a rotary engine is also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Serge DUSSAULT, Andre JULIEN, Michael LANKTREE, Edwin SCHULZ, Jean THOMASSIN, Nigel DAVENPORT, Eugene GEKHT
  • Publication number: 20180058694
    Abstract: A method for delivering fuel from a fuel nozzle of a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes directing fuel from a fuel source through a flow splitter to provide at least two concentric fuel flows, filming the concentric two fuel flows on concentrically arranged inwardly facing filming surfaces that are disposed downstream of the flow splitter, and atomizing the concentric fuel flows into a core air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Eduardo David HAWIE, Nigel DAVENPORT, Yen-Wen WANG
  • Publication number: 20170370590
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a body defining an axial direction and a radial direction, an air passageway defined axially in the body, and a fuel passageway defined axially in the body radially outwardly from the air passageway. The fuel passageway has an outer wall including an exit lip at a downstream portion of the outer wall. The exit lip has a surface treatment including a swirl-inducing relief. A gas turbine engine and a method of inducing swirl in at least one of pressurised fuel and air exiting a fuel nozzle of a gas turbine engine are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Yen-Wen WANG, Nigel DAVENPORT, Eduardo HAWIE
  • Patent number: 9822980
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a body defining an axial direction and a radial direction, a primary air passageway centrally defined axially in the body, and a plurality of concentrically-arranged nozzle tip projections disposed at a downstream portion of the body. Each of the plurality of nozzle tip projections has a radially inwardly facing fuel filming surface communicating with respective fuel passages. The fuel filming surfaces are disposed radially outwardly of an outlet of the primary air passageway. A method for delivering fuel from a fuel nozzle of a combustor of a gas turbine engine is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eduardo Hawie, Nigel Davenport, Yen-Wen Wang
  • Publication number: 20170328558
    Abstract: A method of inducing swirl in pressurized air flowing through an air passageway of a fuel nozzle of a gas turbine engine includes inducing swirl in the pressurized air at an exit of the air passageway, by directing the pressurised air through helicoidal grooves formed at a downstream end of the air passageway. The swirling pressurized air exiting the air passageway is then directed into a mixing zone at a downstream end of the fuel nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Yen-Wen WANG, Nigel DAVENPORT
  • Patent number: 9765974
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a body defining an axial direction and a radial direction, an air passageway defined axially in the body, and a fuel passageway defined axially in the body radially outwardly from the air passageway. The fuel passageway has an outer wall including an exit lip at a downstream portion of the outer wall. The exit lip has a surface treatment including a swirl-inducing relief. A gas turbine engine and a method of inducing swirl in at least one of pressurised fuel and air exiting a fuel nozzle of a gas turbine engine are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Yen-Wen Wang, Nigel Davenport, Eduardo Hawie
  • Patent number: 9752774
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a body defining an axial direction and a radial direction, an air passageway defined axially in the body, and a fuel passageway defined axially in the body radially outwardly from the air passageway. The air passageway has a swirl-inducing relief defined at an exit lip of an outer wall of the air passageway. A gas turbine engine and a method of inducing swirl in an air passageway of a fuel nozzle of a gas turbine engine are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Yen-Wen Wang, Nigel Davenport