Paul G Hicks

US Patent:

7827795, Nov 9, 2010

Filed:

Sep 19, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/233697

Inventors:

Paul G. Hicks - Holland MI, US
Fei Philip Lee - Holland MI, US

Assignee:

Woodward Governor Company - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

F02C 1/00

US Classification:

60728, 60 3983

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.

US Patent:

7832377, Nov 16, 2010

Filed:

Sep 19, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/233671

Inventors:

Fei Philip Lee - Holland MI, US
Paul G. Hicks - Holland MI, US

Assignee:

Woodward Governor Company - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

F02M 61/14
F02M 61/18

US Classification:

123470, 60740

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.

US Patent:

20100051724, Mar 4, 2010

Filed:

Aug 27, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/199404

Inventors:

Paul G. Hicks - Holland MI, US
Fei Philip Lee - Holland MI, US

Assignee:

WOODWARD GOVERNOR COMPANY - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

F02M 61/00

US Classification:

23953312

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.

US Patent:

20100051728, Mar 4, 2010

Filed:

Aug 27, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/199376

Inventors:

Paul G. Hicks - Holland MI, US

Assignee:

WOODWARD GOVERNOR COMPANY - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

B05B 1/00

US Classification:

239597

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.

US Patent:

20110108639, May 12, 2011

Filed:

Nov 9, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/615073

Inventors:

Paul G. Hicks - Holland MI, US

Assignee:

WOODWARD GOVERNOR COMPANY - Fort Collins CO

International Classification:

F02M 61/20
B05B 1/26
F02M 61/00

US Classification:

2395339, 239501, 23953312

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.

US Patent:

20120138710, Jun 7, 2012

Filed:

Dec 1, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/957744

Inventors:

Paul G. Hicks - Holland MI, US
Robert J. Pederson - Thousand Oaks CA, US

Assignee:

Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Inc. - Canoga Park CA
Woodward FST, Inc. - Rockford IL

International Classification:

B05B 1/32

US Classification:

239455

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.

US Patent:

20160003069, Jan 7, 2016

Filed:

Jul 1, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/321211

Inventors:

- Orlando FL, US
William M. Kieffer - Loxahatchee FL, US
Paul G. Hicks - Jupiter FL, US

International Classification:

F01D 9/02
F01D 25/28

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.