FUEL INJECTOR ARRANGEMENT

• US 20190316776A1
• Filed: 03/26/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2018
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: TENTORIO, Luca
• Application Number:
  US16/364,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20190316776A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/28 Supporting or mounting arrangements, e.g. for turbine casing
• CPC Class Codes: F23R 3/14 by using swirl vanes
• CPC Class Codes: F23R 3/283 Attaching or cooling of fuel injecting means including supports for fuel injectors, stems, or lances
• CPC Class Codes: F23R 3/286 having fuel-air premixing devices F23R3/30 takes precedence

Abstract

There is disclosed a fuel injector arrangement for a gas turbine engine, the fuel injector arrangement comprising: a fuel spray nozzle comprising an engaging feature; and a burner sleeve comprising a swirler; wherein the burner sleeve comprises a connecting feature. The engaging and connecting features are engageable so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler. A method of assembly of a fuel injector arrangement is also disclosed. The method comprises providing a fuel spray nozzle comprising an engaging feature; and providing a burner sleeve comprising a swirler; wherein the burner sleeve comprises a connecting feature. The method further comprises bringing the engaging and connecting features into engagement so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler.

Claims

1. A fuel injector arrangement for a gas turbine engine, the fuel injector arrangement comprising:

a fuel spray nozzle comprising an engaging feature; and

a burner sleeve comprising a swirler;

wherein the burner sleeve comprises a connecting feature;

wherein the engaging and connecting features are engageable so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler.

2. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the burner sleeve comprises a second connecting feature, and the fuel spray nozzle comprises a second engaging feature configured to engage with the second connecting feature so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle and the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler.

3. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the burner sleeve comprises an internal bore for receiving the fuel spray nozzle, the second engaging feature is arranged on the fuel spray nozzle substantially diametrically opposite the engaging feature, and the second connecting feature is arranged on the burner sleeve substantially diametrically opposite the connecting feature.

4. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the engaging feature and the second engaging feature define an axis about which the fuel spray nozzle can be rotated.

5. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the track comprises a receiving portion and a locking portion, wherein the locking portion of the track defines a locking region in which the protrusion is locked in position to inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler in at least one degree of freedom.

6. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the receiving portion has a narrowing width for guiding the protrusion to the locking portion.

7. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the receiving portion defines a movement path for the fuel spray nozzle in a first direction, and the locking portion defines a movement path for the fuel spray nozzle in a second direction different to the first direction.

8. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the burner sleeve comprises an internal bore for receiving the fuel spray nozzle.

9. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 1, wherein one of the connecting feature and the engaging feature comprises a track, and the other of the connecting feature and the engaging feature comprises a protrusion configured to be received and retained by the track.

10. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 9, wherein, the engaging feature and the second engaging feature define an axis about which the fuel spray nozzle can be rotated, the fuel spray nozzle is rotatable about the axis when the protrusion is located in at least a portion of the track.

11. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the connecting feature comprises the track and wherein the engaging feature comprises the protrusion.

12. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a combustor liner, and wherein the burner sleeve is disposed on the combustor liner.

13. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the combustor liner comprises a combustor head, and the burner sleeve is connected to the combustor head.

14. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the combustor head and the burner sleeve are connected so as to allow relative axial and radial movement between the combustor head and the burner sleeve.

15. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 13, wherein relative rotational movement between the burner sleeve and the combustor head is inhibited.

16. A fuel injector arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the fuel spray nozzle comprises a fuel spray nozzle stem and a fuel spray nozzle head, the fuel spray nozzle head comprising the engaging feature.

17. A gas turbine engine comprising a fuel injector arrangement according to claim 1.

18. A method of assembling a fuel injector arrangement for a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:

providing a fuel spray nozzle comprising an engaging feature; and

providing a burner sleeve comprising a swirler;

wherein the burner sleeve comprises a connecting feature;

wherein the method comprises bringing the engaging and connecting features into engagement so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler.

19. A method of assembling a fuel injector arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the burner sleeve comprises an internal bore, and wherein the fuel spray nozzle is received within the internal bore.

20. A method of assembling a fuel injector arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the burner sleeve comprises a second connecting feature, and the fuel spray nozzle comprises a second engaging feature, and wherein the second engaging and second connecting features are brought into engagement so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler.

21. Combustion equipment for a gas turbine engine, the combustion equipment comprising:

a combustion chamber defined by a combustor liner having a combustor head, the combustor head having an aperture;

a fuel spray nozzle comprising a fuel spray nozzle stem and a fuel spray nozzle head, the fuel spray nozzle head comprising an engaging feature; and

a burner sleeve comprising a swirler;

the burner sleeve being arranged in the aperture in the combustor head, wherein the burner sleeve comprises a connecting feature;

wherein the engaging and connecting features are engageable so as to removably couple the fuel spray nozzle to the burner sleeve and inhibit relative movement between the fuel spray nozzle and the swirler.