Tapered fuel gallery for a fuel nozzle

Abstract

A fuel injector is provided for a turbine engine. This fuel injector includes a fuel nozzle, and the fuel nozzle includes a gallery, one or more feed passages and a plurality of exit passages. The gallery extends within the fuel nozzle circumferentially around an axis between a first end of the gallery and a second end of the gallery. A size of the gallery changes as the gallery extends circumferentially around the axis between the first end of the gallery and the second end of the gallery. The one or more feed passages extend within the fuel nozzle to the gallery. The one or more feed passages are configured to supply fuel to the gallery. The exit passages extend within the fuel nozzle from the gallery. The exit passages are configured to receive the fuel from the gallery.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fuel injector for a turbine engine, comprising:
 a fuel nozzle comprising a gallery, a feed passage and a plurality of exit passages;   the gallery extending within the fuel nozzle circumferentially around an axis between a first end of the gallery and a second end of the gallery, a size of the gallery decreasing as the gallery extends circumferentially around the axis from an intermediate location towards the first end of the gallery, and the size of the gallery decreasing as the gallery extends circumferentially around the axis from the intermediate location towards the second end of the gallery;   the feed passage extending within the fuel nozzle to the gallery, and the feed passage configured to supply fuel to the gallery; and   the plurality of exit passages extending within the fuel nozzle from the gallery, and the plurality of exit passages configured to receive the fuel from the gallery.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel injector of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate location is about circumferentially midway between the first end of the gallery and the second end of the gallery. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel injector of  claim 1 , wherein the feed passage extends to and is fluidly coupled with the gallery at the intermediate location. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel injector of  claim 1 , wherein a first set of the plurality of exit passages extend from and are fluidly coupled with the gallery circumferentially between the first end of the gallery and the intermediate location. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel injector of  claim 4 , wherein a second set of the plurality of exit passages extend from and are fluidly coupled with the gallery circumferentially between the second end of the gallery and the intermediate location. 
     
     
         6 . A fuel injector for a turbine engine, comprising:
 a fuel nozzle comprising a gallery, a feed passage and a plurality of exit passages;   the gallery extending within the fuel nozzle circumferentially around an axis less than one-hundred and eighty degrees between a first end of the gallery and a second end of the gallery, a size of the gallery changing as the gallery extends circumferentially around the axis between the first end of the gallery and the second end of the gallery;   the feed passage extending within the fuel nozzle to the gallery, and the feed passage configured to supply fuel to the gallery; and   the plurality of exit passages extending within the fuel nozzle from the gallery, and the plurality of exit passages configured to receive the fuel from the gallery.   
     
     
         7 . The fuel injector of  claim 6 , wherein
 the size of the gallery decreases as the gallery extends circumferentially around the axis away from an intermediate location towards the first end of the gallery;   the size of the gallery decreases as the gallery extends circumferentially around the axis away from the intermediate location towards the second end of the gallery; and   the feed passage is fluidly coupled to the gallery at the intermediate location.   
     
     
         8 . A fuel injector for a turbine engine, comprising:
 a fuel nozzle comprising a gallery, a plurality of feed passages and a plurality of exit passages;   the gallery extending within the fuel nozzle circumferentially around an axis between a first end of the gallery and a second end of the gallery, a size of the gallery decreasing as the gallery extends in a first direction circumferentially around the axis from an intermediate location towards the first end of the gallery, and the size of the gallery decreasing as the gallery extends in a second direction circumferentially around the axis from the intermediate location towards the second end of the gallery;   the plurality of feed passages extending within the fuel nozzle to the gallery, and the plurality of feed passages configured to supply fuel to the gallery; and   the plurality of exit passages extending within the fuel nozzle from the gallery, and the plurality of exit passages configured to receive the fuel from the gallery.   
     
     
         9 . The fuel injector of  claim 8 , wherein an axial height of the gallery changes as the gallery extends circumferentially around the axis between the first end of the gallery and the second end of the gallery. 
     
     
         10 . The fuel injector of  claim 8 , wherein a radial width of the gallery changes as the gallery extends circumferentially around the axis between the first end of the gallery and the second end of the gallery. 
     
     
         11 . The fuel injector of  claim 8 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the gallery changes as the gallery extends circumferentially around the axis between the first end of the gallery and the second end of the gallery. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel injector of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of feed passages is fluidly coupled to the gallery at the intermediate location. 
     
     
         13 . The fuel injector of  claim 8 , wherein the gallery extends, more than two-hundred and seventy degrees and less than three-hundred and sixty degrees, circumferentially around the axis from the first end of the gallery to the second end of the gallery. 
     
     
         14 . The fuel injector of  claim 8 , wherein the gallery extends, less than one-hundred and eighty degrees, circumferentially around the axis from the first end of the gallery to the second end of the gallery. 
     
     
         15 . The fuel injector of  claim 8 , wherein a first of the plurality of exit passages extends along a centerline that is non-parallel with the axis.