# US 12,601,487 B2 · Injector head for fuel injector

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- Number: US 12,601,487 B2
- Document ID: US12601487B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/394,029
- Filed: 2023-12-22
- Published: 2025-06-26
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2023-12-22
- Assignees: Solar Turbines Incorporated
- Applicants: Solar Turbines Incorporated
- Inventors: Ryan Ehlig; Anthony Fahme; Stephen Paul Burke; Parker Erik Lappin; Vu Minh Phi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12601487B2

## CPC

- F23R 3/283: {Attaching or cooling of fuel injecting means including supports for fuel injectors, stems, or lances}
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- F02C 7/22: Fuel supply systems
- F23R 3/14: by using swirl vanes
- F23R 3/286: {having fuel-air premixing devices (F23R3/30 takes precedence)}
- F05D 2230/50: Building or constructing in particular ways
- F05D 2260/22141: using fins or ribs
- F23R: GENERATING COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OF HIGH PRESSURE OR HIGH VELOCITY, e.g. GAS-TURBINE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS (fluidised bed combustion apparatus specially adapted for operation at superatmospheric pressures F23C10/16)
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00)
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS

## Abstract

An injector head for a fuel injector of an engine includes an injector body configured to be coupled with a fuel stem of the fuel injector. The injector body extends orthogonally relative to the fuel stem. The injector body extends axially along a central axis and circumferentially about the central axis. The injector head also includes a central fuel assembly. The central fuel assembly includes a tip portion disposed proximal to a downstream end of the injector body. The tip portion includes an end portion, an intermediate portion, a plurality of support pins extending between the end portion and the intermediate portion, and a plurality of fins extending radially-outward and from the intermediate portion along the central axis. The injector head is formed by additive layer manufacturing. The plurality of support pins and the plurality of fins provide support for forming the injector head by additive layer manufacturing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An injector head for a fuel injector of an engine, the fuel injector including a fuel stem, the injector head comprising:
an injector body configured to be coupled with the fuel stem and extending orthogonally relative to the fuel stem, the injector body extending axially along a central axis and circumferentially about the central axis, the injector body defining an upstream end and a downstream end;
a central fuel assembly extending circumferentially about the central axis and concentrically disposed within the injector body, the central fuel assembly including a tip portion disposed proximal to the downstream end of the injector body, wherein the tip portion includes:
an end portion defining a fuel opening;
an intermediate portion axially spaced apart from the end portion along the central axis;
a plurality of support pins extending between the end portion and the intermediate portion; and
a plurality of fins extending radially-outward and from the intermediate portion along the central axis towards the upstream end of the injector body,
wherein the injector head is formed by additive layer manufacturing, and
wherein the plurality of support pins and the plurality of fins provide support for forming the injector head by additive layer manufacturing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The injector head of claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion and at least some of the plurality of fins defines a plurality of cooling holes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The injector head of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of support pins includes a first portion, wherein a cross-section of the first portion of each of the plurality of support pins tapers along the central axis from the end portion towards the intermediate portion, and wherein the first portion is integral with the end portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The injector head of claim 3, wherein at least some of the plurality of support pins further includes a second portion, wherein the second portion includes a uniform cross-section, and wherein the second portion extends from the first portion towards the intermediate portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The injector head of claim 1, wherein the injector body further includes:
a plurality of swirler vanes radially extending between the injector body and the central fuel assembly, each of the plurality of swirler vanes defining a passage therein; and
an annular fuel gallery formed in a wall of the injector body and disposed in fluid communication with the passage of each of the plurality of swirler vanes.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The injector head of claim 5, wherein the central fuel assembly further includes:
a plenum extending along the central axis and disposed in fluid communication with the passage of each of the plurality of swirler vanes; and
a pilot tube extending along the central axis and that is in fluid communication with the plenum.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The injector head of claim 6, wherein the pilot tube defines a first opening disposed proximal to the upstream end of the injector body and a second opening disposed proximal to the downstream end of the injector body, wherein the first opening facilitates removal of powder from at least a portion of the central fuel assembly, and wherein the second opening is in fluid communication with the fuel opening of the end portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The injector head of claim 7, wherein the central fuel assembly further includes a central body concentrically disposed between the injector body and the pilot tube, and wherein a leading edge of each of the plurality of fins extends between the central body and the pilot tube at an angle between 35 degrees and 50 degrees relative to the central axis.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The injector head of claim 1, wherein the injector head includes at least one parent material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The injector head of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of support pins have different sizes.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The injector head of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of support pins have the same size.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The injector head of claim 1, wherein the fuel injector is disposed in a gas turbine engine.

### Claim 13

A method of manufacturing an injector head for a fuel injector of an engine by additive layer manufacturing, the method comprising:
forming an injector body of the injector head, wherein the injector body extends axially along a central axis and circumferentially about the central axis, and wherein the injector body defines an upstream end and a downstream end;
forming a central fuel assembly of the injector head, the central fuel assembly extending circumferentially about the central axis and concentrically disposed within the injector body;
forming a plurality of fins of a tip portion of the central fuel assembly, wherein the tip portion is disposed proximal to the downstream end of the injector body;
forming an intermediate portion of the tip portion, such that the plurality of fins are integral with the intermediate portion and disposed at a first side of the intermediate portion;
forming a plurality of support pins of the tip portion, such that the plurality of support pins are integral with the intermediate portion and disposed at a second side of the intermediate portion, the second side of the intermediate portion being opposite the first side of the intermediate portion; and
forming an end portion of the tip portion, the end portion defining a fuel opening, wherein the end portion is axially spaced apart from the intermediate portion along the central axis, and wherein the plurality of support pins extend between the end portion and the intermediate portion.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the step of forming the intermediate portion of the tip portion further includes defining a plurality of cooling holes in the intermediate portion and at least some of the plurality of fins.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the step of forming the plurality of support pins of the tip portion further includes forming a first portion of the each of the plurality of support pins, wherein a cross-section of the first portion of each of the plurality of support pins tapers along the central axis from the end portion towards the intermediate portion, and wherein the first portion is integral with the end portion.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the step of forming the plurality of support pins of the tip portion further includes forming a second portion of at least some of the plurality of support pins, wherein the second portion includes a uniform cross-section, and wherein the second portion extends from the first portion towards the intermediate portion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the step of forming the injector body of the injector head further includes:
forming a plurality of swirler vanes of the injector body, the plurality of swirler vanes radially extending between the injector body and the central fuel assembly, each of the plurality of swirler vanes defining a passage therein; and
forming an annular fuel gallery in a wall of the injector body, the annular fuel gallery being disposed in fluid communication with the passage of each of the plurality of swirler vanes.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the step of forming the central fuel assembly of the injector head further includes:
forming a plenum extending along the central axis and disposed in fluid communication with the passage of each of the plurality of swirler vanes; and
forming a pilot tube extending along the central axis and that is in fluid communication with the plenum.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the pilot tube defines a first opening disposed proximal to the upstream end of the injector body and a second opening disposed proximal to the downstream end of the injector body, wherein the second opening is in fluid communication with the fuel opening of the end portion, and wherein the method further includes removing, via the first opening, residual powder after forming the injector head.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the central fuel assembly further includes a central body concentrically disposed between the injector body and the pilot tube, and wherein each of the plurality of fins are formed such that a leading edge of each of the plurality of fins extends between the central body and the pilot tube at an angle between 35 degrees and 50 degrees relative to the central axis.