Flat spray fuel injectors

Abstract

A fuel injector assembly has a fuel nozzle including a radial feed arm with an elongated axially extending nozzle portion having a central axis extending therethrough, the elongated nozzle portion has a distal spray tip with a frusto-conical outer surface and a planar front surface, wherein a primary pressure atomizer port is centrally provided in the planar front surface of the distal spray tip and a set of circumferentially spaced apart secondary flat spray slots are provided in the frusto-conical outer surface of the distal spray tip.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fuel injector assembly for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
 a fuel nozzle including a radial feed arm with an elongated axially extending nozzle portion having a central axis extending therethrough, the elongated nozzle portion having a distal spray tip with a frusto-conical outer surface and a planar front surface, wherein a primary pressure atomizer port is centrally provided in the planar front surface of the distal spray tip and a set of circumferentially spaced apart secondary flat spray slots are provided in the frusto-conical outer surface of the distal spray tip.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the primary pressure atomizer port is operatively associated with a primary pressure atomizer within the distal spray tip of the nozzle portion of the fuel nozzle, wherein the primary pressure atomizer includes an atomizing tip portion which the primary pressure atomizer port extends through, and a fuel swirler surrounded by the atomizing tip portion. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the fuel swirler has a front surface which abuts an inner wall of the atomizing tip portion, wherein the fuel swirler has a plurality of offset slots and a main swirler, wherein fuel exits the plurality of offset slots and is directed into the main swirler by the inner wall of the primary pressure atomizer and through the primary pressure atomizer port. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a set of circumferentially spaced apart tertiary flat spray slots are provided in the frusto-conical outer surface rearward of the set of circumferentially spaced apart secondary flat spray slots. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a primary fuel supply circuit extends through the fuel nozzle for supplying fuel to the primary pressure atomizer port. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a secondary fuel supply circuit extends through the fuel nozzle for supplying fuel to the set of circumferentially spaced apart secondary flat spray slots. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 4 , wherein a tertiary fuel supply circuit extends through the fuel nozzle for supplying fuel to the set of circumferentially spaced apart tertiary flat spray slots. 
     
     
         8 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the each flat spray slot in the set of circumferentially spaced apart secondary flat spray slots is a splash plate style spray slot. 
     
     
         9 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the each flat spray slot in the set of circumferentially spaced apart tertiary flat spray slots is a splash plate style spray slot. 
     
     
         10 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the each flat spray slot in the set of circumferentially spaced apart secondary flat spray slots is a pressure washer style spray slot. 
     
     
         11 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the each flat spray slot in the set of circumferentially spaced apart tertiary flat spray slots is a pressure washer style spray slot. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the set of circumferentially spaced apart secondary flat spray slots includes at least three circumferentially spaced apart secondary flat spray slots. 
     
     
         13 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the set of circumferentially spaced apart tertiary flat spray slots includes at least three circumferentially spaced apart tertiary flat spray slots. 
     
     
         14 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the set of circumferentially spaced apart secondary flat spray slots and the set of circumferentially spaced apart tertiary flat spray slots are axially aligned with one another relative to the central axis of the elongated nozzle portion. 
     
     
         15 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the set of circumferentially spaced apart secondary flat spray slots and the set of circumferentially spaced apart tertiary flat spray slots are axially offset from one another relative to the central axis of the elongated nozzle portion. 
     
     
         16 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising an air swirler operatively associated with the distal spray tip. 
     
     
         17 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary flat spray slots have non-uniform flow rates. 
     
     
         18 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the air swirler is a dome air swirler. 
     
     
         19 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the air swirler is an air swirler cup. 
     
     
         20 . The fuel injector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the primary pressure atomizer port is adapted and configured to issue a conic fuel spray.