Devices, systems, and methods for orienting fuel injector nozzle spray holes

A nozzle assembly for a fuel injector, the nozzle assembly comprising:

• a nozzle that is configured to be in sealing engagement with a fuel injector body, the nozzle includes a plurality of spray holes, a downstream nozzle end, and an upstream nozzle end;
• and
• an alignment ring coupling the nozzle to the fuel injector body, the alignment ring comprising a ring body that includes an upstream ring end, a downstream ring end, and a sidewall extending between the upstream and downstream ring ends such that the sidewall includes an outer sidewall surface and an inner sidewall surface that is opposite the outer sidewall surface, the sidewall further includes a plurality of alignment guides configured to be received by complementary alignment features in both the nozzle and the fuel injector body so as to align the nozzle to the fuel injector body in a desired orientation relative to each other,
• wherein the plurality of alignment guides includes a primary alignment guide and at least one secondary alignment guide that is different from the primary alignment guide and each alignment guide in the plurality of alignment guides is equally spaced apart about the inner sidewall surface.

A method of assembling a nozzle assembly on a fuel injector with a fuel injector body that has upstream and downstream injector body ends, the nozzle assembly including:

• a nozzle with an upstream nozzle end and a downstream nozzle end, and
• an alignment ring with a plurality of alignment guides that includes a primary alignment guide and at least one secondary alignment guide that is different from the primary alignment guide and each alignment guide in the plurality of alignment guides is equally spaced apart about an inner sidewall surface of the alignment ring;
• the method comprising:
• positioning the upstream nozzle end in a position that is proximate to or in contact with the downstream injector body end of the fuel injector body, and
• coupling the nozzle to the fuel injector body in a desired orientation as facilitated by the plurality of alignment guides of the alignment ring disallowing undesired orientations.