Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Bronson
Thomas J. Bronson 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).
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Patent number: 9897320Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor is provided. An inner liner has an upstream end and a downstream end and extends in an axial direction between the upstream and downstream ends. A dual wall outer liner has a hot wall, a cold wall at least partially surrounding the hot wall, an upstream end, and a downstream end. The outer liner extends in the axial direction between the upstream and downstream ends. A dome assembly is coupled between the upstream ends of the inner and outer liners to define a combustion chamber between the inner liner and the hot wall of the outer liner. Effusion cooling holes are disposed in the hot wall, including a first row disposed at a tangential angle of between about 70° and about 90° and a second row disposed at a tangential angle of between about 0° and about 20°.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2009Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Thomas J. Bronson, Frank Joseph Zupanc, Paul Yankowich, Nagaraja Rudrapatna
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Patent number: 9625156Abstract: A fuel injector assembly includes a fuel injector and a fuel injector shroud housing the fuel injector. The fuel injector includes a body and a nozzle coupled to the body. The fuel injector shroud includes a swirler device defining a center opening proximate to the nozzle of the fuel injector and a plurality of swirler holes surrounding the center opening, a body section with an air inlet configured to admit a flow of air into the fuel injector shroud and a dome section defining a mount for securing the swirler device to the body section, and at least one interior rib positioned on an interior surface of the dome section configured to direct the flow of air to the swirler holes of the swirler device such that the flow of air exiting through the swirler is mixed with the flow of fuel exiting the nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2013Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Nagaraja S. Rudrapatna, Thomas J. Bronson, Donald G. Godfrey
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Publication number: 20150113993Abstract: A fuel injector assembly includes a fuel injector and a fuel injector shroud housing the fuel injector. The fuel injector includes a body and a nozzle coupled to the body. The fuel injector shroud includes a swirler device defining a center opening proximate to the nozzle of the fuel injector and a plurality of swirler holes surrounding the center opening, a body section with an air inlet configured to admit a flow of air into the fuel injector shroud and a dome section defining a mount for securing the swirler device to the body section, and at least one interior rib positioned on an interior surface of the dome section configured to direct the flow of air to the swirler holes of the swirler device such that the flow of air exiting through the swirler is mixed with the flow of fuel exiting the nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventors: Nagaraja S. Rudrapatna, Thomas J. Bronson, Donald G. Godfrey
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Patent number: 8616004Abstract: A combustor for a turbine engine includes an outer liner having a first group of air admission holes and defining a plurality of outer liner regions. The combustor further includes an inner liner circumscribed by the outer liner and forming a combustion chamber therebetween, the inner liner having a second group of air admission holes and defining a plurality of inner liner regions. The combustor further includes a plurality of fuel injectors extending into the combustion chamber and configured to deliver an air-fuel mixture to the combustion chamber, each of the plurality of fuel injectors being associated with one of the outer liner regions and one of the inner liner regions. The first group within a respective outer liner region includes air admission holes that circumferentially alternate between approximately a first size and approximately a second size, the first size being different than the second size.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2009Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Frank J. Zupanc, Thomas J. Bronson
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Patent number: 8584466Abstract: A combustor for a turbine engine is provided. The combustor includes a first liner; a second liner positioned relative to the first liner to form a combustion chamber therebetween, the combustion chamber configured to receive a fuel-air mixture; an igniter positioned relative to the combustion chamber and configured to ignite the fuel-air mixture; a first group of air admission holes positioned in the first liner and forming a regular circumferential pattern around the first liner; and a second group of air admission holes positioned in the first liner at a first circumferential position corresponding to the igniter, the second group of air admission holes departing from the regular circumferential pattern.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2010Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Bronson, Frank J. Zupanc
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Patent number: 8171740Abstract: A combustor may include an outer liner having a first group of air admission holes and defining a plurality of outer liner regions. The combustor may further include an inner liner having a second group of air admission holes and defining a plurality of inner liner regions. The first group of air admission holes within a respective outer liner region may include a first plunged air admission hole approximately axially aligned with the respective fuel injector, a second plunged air admission hole approximately on the outer boundary line between the respective outer liner region and a first adjacent outer liner region, the first air admission hole being downstream of the second air admission hole, and a third plunged air admission hole approximately on the outer boundary line between the respective outer liner region and a second adjacent outer liner region.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Bronson, Frank Joseph Zupanc
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Patent number: 8141365Abstract: A combustor may include an outer liner having a first row and a second row of circumferentially distributed air admission holes. The second row of the outer liner may be downstream of the first row of the outer liner, and the air admission holes of the first row of the outer liner may be larger than the air admission holes of the second row of the outer liner. An inner liner is circumscribed by the outer liner and has a third and fourth row of circumferentially distributed air admission holes. The air admission holes of the third row of the inner liner may be larger than the air admission holes of the fourth row of the inner liner. The inner and outer liners may form a combustion chamber, and at least a portion of the air admission holes of the first, second, third, or fourth rows may be plunged.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Bronson, Frank Joseph Zupanc
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Publication number: 20110219774Abstract: A combustor for a turbine engine is provided. The combustor includes a first liner; a second liner positioned relative to the first liner to form a combustion chamber therebetween, the combustion chamber configured to receive a fuel-air mixture; an igniter positioned relative to the combustion chamber and configured to ignite the fuel-air mixture; a first group of air admission holes positioned in the first liner and forming a regular circumferential pattern around the first liner; and a second group of air admission holes positioned in the first liner at a first circumferential position corresponding to the igniter, the second group of air admission holes departing from the regular circumferential pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2010Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Thomas J. Bronson, Frank J. Zupanc
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Publication number: 20110185739Abstract: A combustor for a turbine engine includes a hot wall and a cold wall forming a dual walled liner and a liner cavity with the hot wall. The cold wall defines a plurality of impingement cooling holes configured to deliver an impingement cooling flow. A first downstream end terminates the hot wall and is configured to receive the impingement cooling flow from the plurality of impingement cooling holes, and a second downstream end terminates the cold wall and is longer in a generally downstream direction than the first downstream end. A combustion chamber is formed with the dual walled liner and the liner and faces an opposite side of the hot wall relative to the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber has a longitudinal axis and is configured to receive an air-fuel mixture in the generally downstream direction along the longitudinal axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2010Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Thomas J. Bronson, Nagaraja S. Rudrapatna
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Publication number: 20110023495Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor is provided. An inner liner has an upstream end and a downstream end and extends in an axial direction between the upstream and downstream ends. A dual wall outer liner has a hot wall, a cold wall at least partially surrounding the hot wall, an upstream end, and a downstream end. The outer liner extends in the axial direction between the upstream and downstream ends. A dome assembly is coupled between the upstream ends of the inner and outer liners to define a combustion chamber between the inner liner and the hot wall of the outer liner. Effusion cooling holes are disposed in the hot wall, including a first row disposed at a tangential angle of between about 70° and about 90° and a second row disposed at a tangential angle of between about 0° and about 20°.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2009Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Thomas J. Bronson, Frank Joseph Zupanc, Paul Yankowich, Nagaraja Rudrapatna
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Publication number: 20100218503Abstract: A combustor may include an outer liner having a first row and a second row of circumferentially distributed air admission holes. The second row of the outer liner may be downstream of the first row of the outer liner, and the air admission holes of the first row of the outer liner may be larger than the air admission holes of the second row of the outer liner. An inner liner is circumscribed by the outer liner and has a third and fourth row of circumferentially distributed air admission holes. The air admission holes of the third row of the inner liner may be larger than the air admission holes of the fourth row of the inner liner. The inner and outer liners may form a combustion chamber, and at least a portion of the air admission holes of the first, second, third, or fourth rows may be plunged.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2009Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Thomas J. Bronson, Frank Joseph Zupanc
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Publication number: 20100218504Abstract: A combustor may include an outer liner having a first group of air admission holes and defining a plurality of outer liner regions. The combustor may further include an inner liner having a second group of air admission holes and defining a plurality of inner liner regions. The first group of air admission holes within a respective outer liner region may include a first plunged air admission hole approximately axially aligned with the respective fuel injector, a second plunged air admission hole approximately on the outer boundary line between the respective outer liner region and a first adjacent outer liner region, the first air admission hole being downstream of the second air admission hole, and a third plunged air admission hole approximately on the outer boundary line between the respective outer liner region and a second adjacent outer liner region.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2009Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Thomas J. Bronson, Frank Joseph Zupanc
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Publication number: 20100212324Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes an inner liner and an outer liner circumscribing the inner liner and forming a combustion chamber with the inner liner. The outer liner is a dual walled liner with a first wall and a second wall. The combustor includes a fuel igniter comprising a tip portion configured to ignite an air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber and an igniter tube positioning the fuel igniter relative to the combustion chamber. The igniter tube includes a plurality of holes configured to direct cooling air toward the tip portion of the fuel igniter.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2009Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Thomas J. Bronson, Nagaraja Rudrapatna, Jon Kettinger, Frank Joseph Zupanc
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Publication number: 20100162712Abstract: A combustor for a turbine engine includes an outer liner having a first group of air admission holes and defining a plurality of outer liner regions. The combustor further includes an inner liner circumscribed by the outer liner and forming a combustion chamber therebetween, the inner liner having a second group of air admission holes and defining a plurality of inner liner regions. The combustor further includes a plurality of fuel injectors extending into the combustion chamber and configured to deliver an air-fuel mixture to the combustion chamber, each of the plurality of fuel injectors being associated with one of the outer liner regions and one of the inner liner regions. The first group within a respective outer liner region includes air admission holes that circumferentially alternate between approximately a first size and approximately a second size, the first size being different than the second size.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2009Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Frank J. Zupanc, Thomas J. Bronson
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Patent number: 7665306Abstract: A combustor includes an inner liner; an outer liner circumscribing the inner liner and forming a combustion chamber with the inner liner; a combustor dome coupled to the inner and outer liners; and a plurality of heat shields coupled to combustor dome. Each of the heat shields includes a heat shield plate defined by a first edge facing the inner liner and a second edge facing the outer liner; and a plurality of baffles extending from the heat shield plate. Each of the plurality of baffles includes two ribs and a connection portion connecting the two ribs to form a closed portion and an opposite open portion. The open portion of each of the plurality of baffles faces the first edge or the second edge.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2007Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Bronson, Rodolphe Dudebout
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Publication number: 20080314044Abstract: A combustor includes an inner liner; an outer liner circumscribing the inner liner and forming a combustion chamber with the inner liner; a combustor dome coupled to the inner and outer liners; and a plurality of heat shields coupled to combustor dome. Each of the heat shields includes a heat shield plate defined by a first edge facing the inner liner and a second edge facing the outer liner; and a plurality of baffles extending from the heat shield plate. Each of the plurality of baffles includes two ribs and a connection portion connecting the two ribs to form a closed portion and an opposite open portion. The open portion of each of the plurality of baffles faces the first edge or the second edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2007Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Thomas J. Bronson, Rodolphe Dudebout