Patents by Inventor William G. Cummings

William G. Cummings 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: 11274829
    Abstract: A combustor adapted for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The combustor includes a metallic shell forming a cavity and a ceramic liner arranged in the cavity of the metallic shell. The ceramic liner defines a combustion chamber in which fuel is burned during operation of a gas turbine engine. The ceramic liner includes a plurality of ceramic tiles mounted to the metallic shell and arranged to shield the metallic shell from heat generated in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Charles B. Graves, Russell N. Bennett, William G. Cummings, III, Jun Shi
  • Publication number: 20200033005
    Abstract: A combustor adapted for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The combustor includes a metallic shell forming a cavity and a ceramic liner arranged in the cavity of the metallic shell. The ceramic liner defines a combustion chamber in which fuel is burned during operation of a gas turbine engine. The ceramic liner includes a plurality of ceramic tiles mounted to the metallic shell and arranged to shield the metallic shell from heat generated in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Charles B. Graves, Russell N. Bennett, William G. Cummings, III, Jun Shi
  • Patent number: 10458652
    Abstract: A combustor adapted for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The combustor includes a metallic shell forming a cavity and a ceramic liner arranged in the cavity of the metallic shell. The ceramic liner defines a combustion chamber in which fuel is burned during operation of a gas turbine engine. The ceramic liner includes a plurality of ceramic tiles mounted to the metallic shell and arranged to shield the metallic shell from heat generated in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Charles B. Graves, Russell N. Bennett, William G. Cummings, III, Jun Shi
  • Patent number: 10228139
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine during flight operation of the gas turbine engine in an aircraft may include measuring a gas temperature downstream of the combustor using a plurality of temperature measurement devices circumferentially disposed about an engine centerline and varying the output of at least one fuel injector in a first direction and the output of at least another fuel injector in a second direction, while maintaining a thrust output of the gas turbine engine during the flight operation. A gas turbine engine may include temperature measurement devices circumferentially disposed about an engine centerline and a system configured for varying the output of at least one fuel injector in a first direction and the output of at least another fuel injector in a second direction, while maintaining a power output of the gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: William G. Cummings, III
  • Patent number: 10151243
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, a turbine, and a combustor. The combustor includes a fuel injector and a vaporizer within the combustor positioned to receive liquid fuel from the fuel injector to vaporize the liquid fuel therein. The gas turbine engine includes an enclosed passage external to the combustor having a wall, a diffuser positioned to direct the air into the passage, causing the air to cool by transferring heat through the wall from the air within the passage to the vaporized fuel within the vaporizer, and a cooled cooling air passageway positioned to receive the air from the passage and direct the air after being cooled to at least one of the turbine and the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Duane A. Smith, William G. Cummings, III
  • Publication number: 20170146241
    Abstract: A combustor adapted for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The combustor includes a metallic shell forming a cavity and a ceramic liner arranged in the cavity of the metallic shell. The ceramic liner defines a combustion chamber in which fuel is burned during operation of a gas turbine engine. The ceramic liner includes a plurality of ceramic tiles mounted to the metallic shell and arranged to shield the metallic shell from heat generated in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Charles B. Graves, Russell N. Bennett, William G. Cummings, III, Jun Shi
  • Patent number: 9651258
    Abstract: A combustor for use in a gas turbine engine includes a liner with a plurality of tiles coupled to a shell via a plurality of fasteners. Each of the plurality of fasteners extends through at least one of the tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Charles B. Graves, William G. Cummings, III, Russell N. Bennett, Jun Shi
  • Patent number: 9458768
    Abstract: A method including providing a wet algae material having been subjected to a refinement process without a water separation phase; supplying the wet algae material including a water fraction and an algae-grown biofuel to a turbine engine; and operating the turbine engine with the wet algae material where a retained portion of the water fraction is retained in the wet biofuel during a manufacturing process not including a dehydration step and includes an amount sufficient to reduce generation of a quantity of nitrogen oxides, and where the turbine engine can further include a combustor capable of combusting the wet biofuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Cummings, III, Enrico Lo Gatto
  • Patent number: 9423129
    Abstract: A combustor adapted for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The combustor includes a metallic shell forming a cavity and a ceramic liner arranged in the cavity of the metallic shell. The ceramic liner defines a combustion chamber in which fuel is burned during operation of a gas turbine engine. The ceramic liner includes a plurality of ceramic tiles mounted to the metallic shell and arranged to shield the metallic shell from heat generated in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Charles B Graves, William G Cummings, III, Russell N Bennett, Jun Shi
  • Publication number: 20160186661
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, a turbine, and a combustor. The combustor includes a fuel injector and a vaporizer within the combustor positioned to receive liquid fuel from the fuel injector to vaporize the liquid fuel therein. The gas turbine engine includes an enclosed passage external to the combustor having a wall, a diffuser positioned to direct the air into the passage, causing the air to cool by transferring heat through the wall from the air within the passage to the vaporized fuel within the vaporizer, and a cooled cooling air passageway positioned to receive the air from the passage and direct the air after being cooled to at least one of the turbine and the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Duane A. Smith, William G. Cummings, III
  • Publication number: 20150330633
    Abstract: A combustor for use in a gas turbine engine includes a liner with a plurality of tiles coupled to a shell via a plurality of fasteners. Each of the plurality of fasteners extends through at least one of the tiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Charles B. Graves, William G. Cummings, III, Russell N. Bennett, Jun Shi
  • Publication number: 20150000291
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine having a combustor is disclosed in which a heat exchanger is disposed within the combustor. The heat exchanger can take the form of a fuel/air heat exchanger. In one form the heat exchanger includes a path for cooling air to be conveyed to a location external to the combustor. Cooled cooling air carried through the path can be created through action of heat transfer from the cooling air to a fuel flowing in the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can include a fuel vaporizer in one form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Duane A. Smith, William G. Cummings, III
  • Publication number: 20140360196
    Abstract: A combustor adapted for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The combustor includes a metallic shell forming a cavity and a ceramic liner arranged in the cavity of the metallic shell. The ceramic liner defines a combustion chamber in which fuel is burned during operation of a gas turbine engine. The ceramic liner includes a plurality of ceramic tiles mounted to the metallic shell and arranged to shield the metallic shell from heat generated in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Charles B. Graves, William G. Cummings, III, Russell N. Bennett, Jun Shi
  • Publication number: 20140260304
    Abstract: A method including providing a wet algae material having been subjected to a refinement process without a water separation phase; supplying the wet algae material including a water fraction and an algae-grown biofuel to a turbine engine; and operating the turbine engine with the wet algae material where a retained portion of the water fraction is retained in the wet biofuel during a manufacturing process not including a dehydration step and includes an amount sufficient to reduce generation of a quantity of nitrogen oxides, and where the turbine engine can further include a combustor capable of combusting the wet biofuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: William G. CUMMINGS, III, Enrico LO GATTO
  • Publication number: 20140238037
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is a unique method for operating a gas turbine engine during flight operation of the gas turbine engine in an aircraft. Another embodiment of the present disclosure is a unique gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: William G. Cummings, III
  • Patent number: 8590313
    Abstract: A precision counter-swirl combustor that includes an annular combustor having a forward end, an aft end opposite the forward end, and an interior. The aft end being proximal to a gas turbine. The combustor further includes a fuel inlet and swirler operatively connected to the forward end and at least one air inlet. The air inlet is equipped with a chute that extends into the interior of said combustor. The combustor is secured to a fixed structure proximate the forward end of the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Charles B. Graves, William G. Cummings
  • Publication number: 20100024427
    Abstract: A precision counter-swirl combustor that includes an annular combustor having a forward end, an aft end opposite the forward end, and an interior. The aft end being proximal to a gas turbine. The combustor further includes a fuel inlet and swirler operatively connected to the forward end and at least one air inlet. The air inlet is equipped with a chute that extends into the interior of said combustor. The combustor is secured to a fixed structure proximate the forward end of the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: CHARLES B. GRAVES, William G. Cummings
  • Patent number: 6474927
    Abstract: A freight transportation container can accept standardized pallets and is suitable for the transportation by land, sea, or air. The size and construction of the container permits the loading and removal of freight by a conventional fork lift truck, and allows placement of the container in standard-sized trucks and aircraft. Lockdown lips formed on the bottom of the container secure the container to the floors of trucks and aircraft. The freight container also is part of a system for transportation whereby the freight can be loaded, inventoried, locked, and sealed at a customer's premises, and remain under the custody of one entity throughout shipment of the freight to the consignee. An empty freight container can be delivered to a customer's premises on a truck having a cab and removable trailer, so that the container and trailer can remain there for loading, and then later be picked up by the cab and taken to holding areas, other trucks, ships, aircraft, or directly to the consignee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Federal Express Corporation
    Inventors: Allen C. McAdams, Bruce Thomas Bullion, III, William G. Cummings, James Harold Idell, Barry J. Atkins, Mark D. Yerger
  • Patent number: 6474006
    Abstract: An athletic shoe is provided which contributes to dynamic stability of the shoe during several athletic activities. The athletic shoe comprises a tapered lateral wedge section and may further include a lateral heel stabilizer, a medial heel wedge and a tapered lateral forefoot section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventors: William G. Cummings, Jay G. Levine
  • Patent number: RE40215
    Abstract: An athletic shoe is provided which contributes a dynamic stability of the shoe during several athletic activities. The athletic shoe comprises a tapered lateral wedge section and may further include a lateral heel stabilizer, a medial heel wedge and a tapered lateral forefoot section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Inventors: William G. Cummings, Jay G. Levine