Patents by Inventor Randal G. McKinney

Randal G. McKinney 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: 11143407
    Abstract: A combustor a gas turbine engine includes an axial fuel injection system in communication with a combustion chamber, the axial fuel injection system operable to supply between about 10%-35% of a combustion airflow. A radial fuel injection system communicates with the combustion chamber downstream of the axial fuel injection system, where the radial fuel injection system is operable to supply between about 30%-60% of the combustion airflow. A multiple of dilution holes are in communication with a combustion chamber downstream of said radial fuel injection system, where the multiple of dilution holes are operable to supply between about 5%-20% of the combustion airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Hoke, Randal G. McKinney, Albert K. Cheung
  • Patent number: 11112115
    Abstract: A wall assembly for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a support shell with a first inner periphery along an axis and a liner panel with a second inner periphery along the axis. The second inner periphery is smaller than the first inner periphery. Another wall assembly for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes an annular grommet mounted between the support shell and the liner panel. The annular grommet defines a contoured inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Stanislav Kostka, Jr., Randal G. McKinney, James B. Hoke, Timothy S. Snyder, Frank J. Cunha
  • Patent number: 10935243
    Abstract: A liner panel for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine, the liner panel including a liner panel with a perimeter rail and a multiple of intermediate rails. A combustor for a gas turbine engine including a support shell and a multiple of liner panels mounted to the support shell via a multiple of studs, each of the multiple of liner panels having a multiple of intermediate rails to form a multiple of circumferential cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mark F. Zelesky, Randal G. McKinney
  • Patent number: 10907833
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine comprises a combustion chamber having a pilot injector at one end and at least one main injector spaced radially from the pilot injector. The main injector includes a fluid flow path with a plug that restricts flow at least at an interior portion of the flow path. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Zhongtao Dai, Adam Takashi Holley, Randal G. McKinney
  • Patent number: 10816209
    Abstract: A fuel injection system may comprise a mixer and a fuel injector disposed within the mixer. The mixer may comprise an outer housing with an exit port and a bluff body extending across the exit port of the outer housing. A flared surface of the mixer may match a contour of the bluff body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Albert K. Cheung, James B. Hoke, Randal G. McKinney
  • Patent number: 10794595
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for a turbine engine. This turbine engine assembly includes a combustor wall with a shell and a heat shield. The combustor wall defines a quench aperture therethrough. The combustor wall also defines a cavity between the shell and the heat shield. The shell defines a first aperture through which air is directed into the cavity. The heat shield includes a rail that at least partially defines a second aperture configured to direct at least some of the air within the cavity out of the combustor wall and towards the quench aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Randal G. McKinney, Frank J. Cunha, Stanislav Kostka, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10697636
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for a turbine engine. A combustor wall of the turbine engine assembly includes a shell and a heat shield. The combustor wall defines a quench aperture through the shell and the heat shield. The heat shield defines an effusion outlet a distance from the quench aperture equal to between about twenty-five times and about seventy-five times a width of the effusion outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Stanislav Kostka, Jr., Randal G. McKinney
  • Publication number: 20200025376
    Abstract: A method of tailoring a combustor flow for a gas turbine engine includes controlling an airflow into a swirler to be generally uniform and controlling an airflow into a quench zone to provide a desired pattern factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy S. Snyder, Randal G. McKinney, James B. Hoke
  • Patent number: 10260748
    Abstract: A method of tailoring a combustor flow for a gas turbine engine includes controlling an airflow into a swirler to be generally uniform and controlling an airflow into a quench zone to provide a desired pattern factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy S. Snyder, Randal G. McKinney, James B. Hoke
  • Publication number: 20180266686
    Abstract: A liner panel for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine, the liner panel including a liner panel with a perimeter rail and a multiple of intermediate rails. A combustor for a gas turbine engine including a support shell and a multiple of liner panels mounted to the support shell via a multiple of studs, each of the multiple of liner panels having a multiple of intermediate rails to form a multiple of circumferential cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mark F. Zelesky, Randal G. McKinney
  • Patent number: 10066836
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems and methods involving enhanced fuel dispersion are provided. In this regard, a representative method for operating a gas turbine engine includes: providing a gas path through the engine; introducing a spray of fuel along the gas path downstream of a turbine of the engine; and impinging the spray of fuel with a relatively higher velocity flow of air such that atomization of the fuel is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy S. Snyder, Steven W. Burd, Randal G. McKinney, George F. Titterton, III
  • Publication number: 20180003387
    Abstract: A fuel injection system may comprise a mixer and a fuel injector disposed within the mixer. The mixer may comprise an outer housing with an exit port and a bluff body extending across the exit port of the outer housing. A flared surface of the mixer may match a contour of the bluff body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Albert K. Cheung, James B. Hoke, Randal G. McKinney
  • Patent number: 9797601
    Abstract: A combustor is provided. The combustor may include an axial fuel injection system, and a radial fuel injection system aft of the axial fuel injection system. The axial fuel injection system includes a mixer having a bluff body at an exit port of the mixer, and a fuel injector disposed within the mixer. A fuel and air mixer is also provided and comprises an outer housing with an exit port and a bluff body. The bluff body extends across the exit port of the outer housing. A fuel injection system is also provided. The systems comprise a mixer having a bluff body at an exit port of the mixer and a fuel injector disposed within the mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Albert K. Cheung, James B. Hoke, Randal G. McKinney
  • Publication number: 20170009987
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for a turbine engine. This turbine engine assembly includes a combustor wall with a shell and a heat shield. The combustor wall defines a quench aperture therethrough. The combustor wall also defines a cavity between the shell and the heat shield. The shell defines a first aperture through which air is directed into the cavity. The heat shield includes a rail that at least partially defines a second aperture configured to direct at least some of the air within the cavity out of the combustor wall and towards the quench aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Randal G. McKinney, Frank J. Cunha, Stanislav Kostka, JR.
  • Publication number: 20160320063
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine comprises a combustion chamber having a pilot injector at one end and at least one main injector spaced radially from the pilot injector. The main injector includes a fluid flow path with a plug that restricts flow at least at an interior portion of the flow path. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Zhongtao Dai, Adam Takashi Holley, Randal G. McKinney
  • Publication number: 20160298843
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for a turbine engine. A combustor wall of the turbine engine assembly includes a shell and a heat shield. The combustor wall defines a quench aperture through the shell and the heat shield. The heat shield defines an effusion outlet a distance from the quench aperture equal to between about twenty-five times and about seventy-five times a width of the effusion outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Stanislav Kostka, Jr., Randal G. McKinney
  • Publication number: 20160209039
    Abstract: A combustor is provided. The combustor may include an axial fuel injection system, and a radial fuel injection system aft of the axial fuel injection system. The axial fuel injection system includes a mixer having a bluff body at an exit port of the mixer, and a fuel injector disposed within the mixer. A fuel and air mixer is also provided and comprises an outer housing with an exit port and a bluff body. The bluff body extends across the exit port of the outer housing. A fuel injection system is also provided. The systems comprise a mixer having a bluff body at an exit port of the mixer and a fuel injector disposed within the mixer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Albert K. Cheung, James B. Hoke, Randal G. McKinney
  • Publication number: 20160186998
    Abstract: A wall assembly for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a support shell with a first inner periphery along an axis and a liner panel with a second inner periphery along the axis. The second inner periphery is smaller than the first inner periphery. Another wall assembly for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes an annular grommet mounted between the support shell and the liner panel. The annular grommet defines a contoured inner wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Stanislav Kostka, Jr., Randal G. McKinney, James B. Hoke, Timothy S. Snyder, Frank J. Cunha
  • Publication number: 20160123596
    Abstract: A combustor a gas turbine engine includes an axial fuel injection system in communication with a combustion chamber, the axial fuel injection system operable to supply between about 10%-35% of a combustion airflow. A radial fuel injection system communicates with the combustion chamber downstream of the axial fuel injection system, where the radial fuel injection system is operable to supply between about 30%-60% of the combustion airflow. A multiple of dilution holes are in communication with a combustion chamber downstream of said radial fuel injection system, where the multiple of dilution holes are operable to supply between about 5%-20% of the combustion airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: James B. Hoke, Randal G. McKinney, Albert K. Cheung
  • Publication number: 20150316000
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems and methods involving enhanced fuel dispersion are provided. In this regard, a representative method for operating a gas turbine engine includes: providing a gas path through the engine; introducing a spray of fuel along the gas path downstream of a turbine of the engine; and impinging the spray of fuel with a relatively higher velocity flow of air such that atomization of the fuel is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Timothy S. Snyder, Steven W. Burd, Randal G. McKinney, George F. Titterton, III