Air blocker ring assembly with radial retention

Abstract

An air blocker ring assembly includes a proximal end and a distal end, a blocker ring, and a blocker ring support. The blocker ring support includes at least one flange radially overlapping a portion of the blocker.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air blocker ring assembly, comprising:
 a proximal end and a distal end;   a blocker ring; and   a blocker ring support including at least one flange radially overlapping a portion of the blocker ring.   
     
     
         2 . The air blocker ring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the blocker ring support includes
 a circumferential body portion located radially outside the blocker ring, and   a circumferential proximal end portion extending from the body portion.   
     
     
         3 . The air blocker ring assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one flange extends distally from the proximal end portion of the blocker ring support. 
     
     
         4 . The air blocker ring assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the portion of the blocker ring overlapped by the at least one flange is part of a radial step in the blocker ring. 
     
     
         5 . The air blocker ring assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one flange axially abuts the radial step in the blocker ring. 
     
     
         6 . The air blocker ring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flange includes a plurality of flanges. 
     
     
         7 . The air blocker ring assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of flanges includes two flanges separated by a recess in the blocker ring support. 
     
     
         8 . The air blocker ring assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of flanges extend circumferentially around a majority of the blocker ring support. 
     
     
         9 . An air blocker ring assembly for an air inlet of a fuel injector, comprising:
 a proximal end and a distal end;   a blocker ring; and   a blocker ring support including at least one protrusion configured to restrict radial movement of the blocker ring.   
     
     
         10 . The air blocker ring assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the blocker ring support includes
 a circumferential body portion located radially outside the blocker ring, and   a circumferential proximal end portion extending from the body portion.   
     
     
         11 . The air blocker ring assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one protrusion extends distally from the proximal end portion of the blocker ring support. 
     
     
         12 . The air blocker ring assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the blocker ring includes a radial step and the at least one protrusion abuts the radial step. 
     
     
         13 . The air blocker ring assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one protrusion axially abuts the radial step in the blocker ring. 
     
     
         14 . The air blocker ring assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one protrusion includes a plurality of protrusions. 
     
     
         15 . The air blocker ring assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of protrusions includes two protrusions separated by a recess in the blocker ring support. 
     
     
         16 . The air blocker ring assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of protrusions extend circumferentially around a majority of the blocker ring support. 
     
     
         17 . The air blocker ring assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the blocker ring is axially restricted by the plurality of protrusions at the proximal end of the blocker ring assembly. 
     
     
         18 . A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
 a pilot body;   a swirler extension surrounding at least a portion of the pilot body;   an air blocker ring assembly coupled to a proximal end of the swirler extension, the air blocker ring assembly including:
 a proximal end and a distal end; 
 a blocker ring; and 
 a blocker ring support including a plurality of circumferential lip portions configured to restrict radial movement of the blocker ring. 
   
     
     
         19 . The fuel injector of  claim 18 , wherein the swirler extension includes a radial step, and the blocker ring is axially restricted by the radial step of the swirler extension at the distal end of the blocker ring assembly, and by the plurality of circumferential lip portions at the proximal end of the blocker ring assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The fuel injector of  claim 18 , wherein the blocker ring support includes an inner circumferential groove, and the swirler extension includes an outer circumferential groove, and a snap ring is located in both the inner and outer circumferential grooves.