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US 11,959,445 B1Granted
Isolation of plate thermal expansion between different expansion rate materials
AssigneeSolar Turbines Incorporated
InventorsMichael A. Lane, Ricardo Aleman, Robert Fanella
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a fuel injector, the temperature differential between a distributor plate, through which relatively cool fuel passes, and the manifold to which the distributor plate is bonded causes stresses and strains that can reduce the durability and longevity of the fuel injector. In disclosed embodiments, the distributor plate is bonded to an outer arm and inner arm. These arms act as levers to take up the stresses and strains caused by the temperature differential, thereby increasing the durability and longevity of the fuel injector.
Claims20
A fuel injector assembly comprising:
- a fuel gallery that is annular around an injector axis and includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter;
- an inner arm that is annular around the injector axis and positioned within the fuel gallery, wherein the inner arm includes a first axial portion, and wherein an inner diameter of the first axial portion is greater than the inner diameter of the fuel gallery, such that a first space exists between the first axial portion and a radially inner surface of the fuel gallery;
- an outer arm that is annular around the injector axis and positioned within the fuel gallery, wherein the outer arm includes a second axial portion, wherein an outer diameter of the second axial portion is less than the outer diameter of the fuel gallery, such that a second space exists between the second axial portion and a radially outer surface of the fuel gallery;
- and
- a distributor plate that is annular around the injector axis and positioned between the first axial portion and the second axial portion to divide the fuel gallery into a forward region and an aft region, wherein a radially inner edge of the distributor plate is bonded to the first axial portion, and wherein a radially outer edge of the distributor plate is bonded to the second axial portion.
2 more elements
A fuel injector comprising:
- a manifold that defines a fuel gallery that is annular around an injector axis, wherein the manifold comprises an outer wall, and an inner arm that is annular around the injector axis and positioned within the fuel gallery, wherein the inner arm includes a first axial portion, and a first curved portion that curves radially inward, relative to the first axial portion, to define a first space, between the first axial portion and a radially inner surface of the fuel gallery, with a sealed aft end;
- an outer arm that is annular around the injector axis and positioned within the fuel gallery, wherein the outer arm includes a second axial portion, and a second curved portion that curves radially outward, relative to the second axial portion, to define a second space, between the second axial portion and a radially outer surface of the fuel gallery, with a sealed aft end;
- and
- a distributor plate that is annular around the injector axis and positioned between the first axial portion and the second axial portion to divide the fuel gallery into a forward region and an aft region, wherein a radially inner edge of the distributor plate is bonded to the first axial portion, wherein a radially outer edge of the distributor plate is bonded to the second axial portion, wherein the distributor plate comprises a plurality of apertures extending from a forward side of the distributor plate to an aft side of the distributor plate, and wherein each of the plurality of apertures is configured to allow fuel to flow from the forward region to the aft region of the fuel gallery.
1 more element
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a compressor;
- a combustor downstream from the compressor, wherein the combustor includes a plurality of fuel injectors, and wherein each of the plurality of fuel injectors comprises
- a manifold that defines a fuel gallery that is annular around an injector axis, wherein the manifold comprises an inner arm that is annular around the injector axis and positioned within the fuel gallery, wherein the inner arm includes a first axial portion, and a first curved portion that curves radially inward, relative to the first axial portion, to define a first space, between the first axial portion and a radially inner surface of the fuel gallery, with a sealed aft end,
- an outer arm that is annular around the injector axis and positioned within the fuel gallery, wherein the outer arm includes a second axial portion, and a second curved portion that curves radially outward, relative to the second axial portion, to define a second space, between the second axial portion and a radially outer surface of the fuel gallery, with a sealed aft end, and
- a distributor plate that is annular around the injector axis and positioned between the first axial portion and the second axial portion to divide the fuel gallery into a forward region and an aft region, wherein a radially inner edge of the distributor plate is bonded to the first axial portion, wherein a radially outer edge of the distributor plate is bonded to the second axial portion, wherein the distributor plate comprises a plurality of apertures extending from a forward side of the distributor plate to an aft side of the distributor plate, and wherein each of the plurality of apertures is configured to allow fuel to flow from the forward region to the aft region of the fuel gallery;
- and
- a turbine downstream from the combustor.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.