Patents by Inventor Paul G. Hicks

Paul G. Hicks 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: 10082292
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine with a piston having a piston head with a resonance cavity opening onto the head, and where a fuel nozzle located in a cylinder head is positioned to inject a fuel such as natural gas into the combustion chamber where resonance formed within the resonance cavity will ignite the fuel without the need of a spark plug. Inlet and exhaust ports in the cylinder head allow for air and combustion gas enter or leave the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J Miller, Paul G Hicks
  • Patent number: 10024180
    Abstract: An arrangement for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor for producing a working medium by combustion of a mixture of fuel and an oxidant, a turbine section comprising a stationary vane carrier on which a first row of stationary vanes is arranged, and a transition duct for leading the working medium from the combustor to the turbine section. The transition duct has a forward end that adjoins the combustor and an aft end that adjoins the stationary vane carrier. The transition duct has a transition duct axis extending from the forward end to the aft end along a straight line. The transition duct axis is normal to a vane axis of a stationary vane in the first row of stationary vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Paul G. Hicks, William W. Pankey
  • Patent number: 9822977
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine with a piston having a piston head with a resonance cavity opening onto the head, and where a fuel nozzle located in a cylinder head is positioned to inject a fuel such as natural gas into the combustion chamber where resonance formed within the resonance cavity will ignite the fuel without the need of a spark plug. Inlet and exhaust ports in the cylinder head allow for air and combustion gas enter or leave the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J Miller, Paul G Hicks
  • Patent number: 9702258
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine which has at least a combustor section and a turbine cylinder section, wherein the combustor section includes a transition piece coupled to a vane carrier assembly, wherein the vane carrier assembly includes a plurality of holes that correspond with one or more holes of the transition piece, and wherein at least one of the pluralities of holes is adapted to receive a pin-type member therein for shifting the transition piece toward an upstream or downstream end. A system and method for shifting a transition piece in a gas turbine engine includes at least moving a pin-type member from a first position to a second position, where the movement shifts the transition piece in a direction towards an upstream end or a downstream end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Clinton A. Mayer, William M. Kieffer, Paul G. Hicks
  • Patent number: 9683739
    Abstract: A fuel injector having a body with a bore, which defines a fuel manifold. The injector also has a variable-area injector arrangement having a pintle with a conical head and a pintle spring connected to the body. The pintle spring urges a tip of the pintle to seal against an exit orifice of the body, such that application of pressurized fuel within the body causes the pintle to move. Above some threshold pressure, the pressurized fuel causes the conical head to move out of contact with the exit orifice of the body. This, in turn, provides a corresponding variable area for passage of the pressurized fuel through the exit orifice about the conical head of the pintle. The injector further includes a swirler configured to create a swirling action in the flow of pressurized fuel through the fuel manifold, wherein the manifold is upstream of the exit orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul G. Hicks
  • Publication number: 20160146026
    Abstract: An arrangement for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor for producing a working medium by combustion of a mixture of fuel and an oxidant, a turbine section comprising a stationary vane carrier on which a first row of stationary vanes is arranged, and a transition duct for leading the working medium from the combustor to the turbine section. The transition duct has a forward end that adjoins the combustor and an aft end that adjoins the stationary vane carrier. The transition duct has a transition duct axis extending from the forward end to the aft end along a straight line. The transition duct axis is normal to a vane axis of a stationary vane in the first row of stationary vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Paul G. Hicks, William W. Pankey
  • Patent number: 9291139
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a fuel injection nozzle. The fuel injection nozzle includes a nozzle body, with the nozzle body defining a central bore. A fuel atomizer is disposed in the central bore. The fuel atomizer defines a spill-return bore and a swirl chamber. The swirl chamber is in fluid communication with the central bore. The spill-return bore includes a return swirler approximate the swirl chamber. An air supply pump is coupled to the fuel atomizer and is in fluid communication with the spill-return bore. The air supply pump is configured to selectively inject air into the swirl chamber through the spill-return bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Hicks, Fei Philip Lee
  • Publication number: 20160003069
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including an adjustable transition assembly is disclosed. The gas turbine engine includes at least a combustor section and a turbine cylinder section, wherein the combustor section includes a transition piece coupled to a vane carrier assembly. The vane carrier assembly includes a plurality of holes that correspond with one or more holes of the transition piece, wherein at least one of the plurality of holes is adapted to receive a transition adjustable means therein for shifting the transition piece toward an upstream or downstream end. Also provided is a method for shifting a transition piece in a gas turbine engine, the method including at least the step of moving a transition adjustable means from a first position to a second position, where the movement shifts the transition piece in a direction towards an upstream end or a downstream end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Clinton A. Mayer, William M. Kieffer, Paul G. Hicks
  • Patent number: 8800895
    Abstract: An improved fuel injection apparatus and method have a variable area injector arrangement in which a pintle defines a pilot orifice extending through a tip of the pintle for supplying a pilot flow of fuel through the fuel injector at low fuel pressures, and in particular when the pintle tip is sealed against a variable flow orifice of the variable area injector arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Hicks, Robert J. Pederson
  • Publication number: 20120138710
    Abstract: A hybrid variable area fuel injector is provided. The fuel injector includes a main body portion and a head portion carried by the main body portion. The fuel injector defines a fixed area port provided by the head portion for use during low flow conditions. The fuel injector defines a variable area port for use during high flow conditions. The variable area port is provided between the main body portion and the head portion. The area of the variable area port is adjustable due to the position of the head portion relative to the main body portion. The fuel injector also includes a shield portion surrounding at least a portion of the head portion. The shield portion reduces the amount of cross-flow that impinges on the head portion to reduce heat transfer to the head portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicants: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Inc., Woodward FST, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Hicks, Robert J. Pederson
  • Publication number: 20110108639
    Abstract: A fuel injector having a body with a bore, which defines a fuel manifold. The injector also has a variable-area injector arrangement having a pintle with a conical head and a pintle spring connected to the body. The pintle spring urges a tip of the pintle to seal against an exit orifice of the body, such that application of pressurized fuel within the body causes the pintle to move. Above some threshold pressure, the pressurized fuel causes the conical head to move out of contact with the exit orifice of the body. This, in turn, provides a corresponding variable area for passage of the pressurized fuel through the exit orifice about the conical head of the pintle. The injector further includes a swirler configured to create a swirling action in the flow of pressurized fuel through the fuel manifold, wherein the manifold is upstream of the exit orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: WOODWARD GOVERNOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Paul G. Hicks
  • Patent number: 7832377
    Abstract: A fuel injector is provided. The fuel injector includes an injector support and a heat shield coupled to the injector support. The heat shield only interacts with the injector support by way of contacts such as point contacts, line contacts or surface contacts. Further, the heat shield includes a body portion, a radially extending flared end portion and a radially directed shoulder interposed between the body portion and the flared end portion. The shoulder portion acts as a flexure point that flexes and absorbs thermal expansion of the heat shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Woodward Governor Company
    Inventors: Fei Philip Lee, Paul G. Hicks
  • Patent number: 7827795
    Abstract: A fuel injector and turbine engine incorporating the fuel injector are provided. The fuel injector includes an active cooling system that insulates fuel flowing through the fuel injector from heat energy within the turbine engine. The cooling system includes a cooling air passage that includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet and outlet are in fluid communication with the interior of an engine case of the turbine engine. The inlet is at a higher air pressure location than the outlet such that air is siphoned through the cooling air passage. A portion of the cooling air passage includes a heat exchanger for extracting heat energy from the cooling air. The cooling air passes through the fuel injector after it has passed through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is positioned external to the engine case and in thermal communication with the ambient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Woodward Governor Company
    Inventors: Paul G. Hicks, Fei Philip Lee
  • Publication number: 20100071666
    Abstract: A fuel injector is provided. The fuel injector includes an injector support and a heat shield coupled to the injector support. The heat shield only interacts with the injector support by way of contacts such as point contacts, line contacts or surface contacts. Further, the heat shield includes a body portion, a radially extending flared end portion and a radially directed shoulder interposed between the body portion and the flared end portion. The shoulder portion acts as a flexure point that flexes and absorbs thermal expansion of the heat shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: WOODWARD GOVERNOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Fei Philip Lee, Paul G. Hicks
  • Publication number: 20100071667
    Abstract: A fuel injector and turbine engine incorporating the fuel injector are provided. The fuel injector includes an active cooling system that insulates fuel flowing through the fuel injector from heat energy within the turbine engine. The cooling system includes a cooling air passage that includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet and outlet are in fluid communication with the interior of an engine case of the turbine engine. The inlet is at a higher air pressure location than the outlet such that air is siphoned through the cooling air passage. A portion of the cooling air passage includes a heat exchanger for extracting heat energy from the cooling air. The cooling air passes through the fuel injector after it has passed through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is positioned external to the engine case and in thermal communication with the ambient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: WOODWARD GOVERNOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul G. Hicks, Fei Philip Lee
  • Publication number: 20100051724
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a fuel injection nozzle. The fuel injection nozzle includes a nozzle body, with the nozzle body defining a central bore. A fuel atomizer is disposed in the central bore. The fuel atomizer defines a spill-return bore and a swirl chamber. The swirl chamber is in fluid communication with the central bore. The spill-return bore includes a return swirler approximate the swirl chamber. An air supply pump is coupled to the fuel atomizer and is in fluid communication with the spill-return bore. The air supply pump is configured to selectively inject air into the swirl chamber through the spill-return bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: WOODWARD GOVERNOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul G. Hicks, Fei Philip Lee
  • Publication number: 20100051728
    Abstract: An improved fuel injection apparatus and method have a variable area injector arrangement in which a pintle defines a pilot orifice extending through a tip of the pintle for supplying a pilot flow of fuel through the fuel injector at low fuel pressures, and in particular when the pintle tip is sealed against a variable flow orifice of the variable area injector arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: WOODWARD GOVERNOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Paul G. Hicks