Combustion apparatus

Claim 2

A combustion apparatus including, in combination: a hollow body defining a combustion chamber therein, said hollow body formed with an opening at one end thereof; conduit means carried by said hollow body and communicating with said opening for delivery of air into said chamber; a fuel nozzle having a discharge end generally centrally disposed in said conduit means for delivery of a fuel spray to said conduit means and hence into said chamber, the discharge end of said nozzle being disposed upstream of the junction of said conduit and said hollow body; a closure member for restricting the flow of air through said conduit, said closure member extending between said nozzle discharge end and said conduit and formed with a plurality of generally radially elongated slots for passage of air therethrough; said closure member being formed with a peripheral flange and a central opening adapted to slidingly receive the discharge end of said fuel nozzle, said peripheral flange floatingly received within a peripheral groove defined, at least in part, by said conduit whereby said closure member is accurately located relative to said fuel spray and unrestricted relative movement may occur between said fuel nozzle, said closure member and said conduit during periods of thermal expansion an contraction.

Claim 3

A combustion apparatus including, in combination: a hollow body having a generally closed upstream end and defining an annular combustion chamber therein, said hollow body upstream end formed with a plurality of angularly spaced openings; a generally cylindrical conduit for each said opening, each said conduit connected, in flow communication with its respective opening, to said upstream end of said hollow body and extending upstream thereof; a fuel nozzle for each said conduit, each fuel nozzle having a discharge end generally centrally disposed in its respective conduit, in axial spaced relationship to said opening, for delivery of a fuel spray into said conduit; and a closure member extending between said discharge end of said fuel nozzle and the upstream end of said conduit and formed with an annular array of generally axially extending slots sized to deliver at least 25 percent of the air required for stoichiometric combustion of its respective fuel spray, each said slot defined, in part, by generally parallel, radially extending sidewalls, whereby said air is delivered as a plurality of radially elongated discrete streams about said fuel spray which dissipate in a region of turbulent interaction to thereby promote mixing of the air and fuel in a manner producing low smoke combustion.

Claim 4

A combustion apparatus including, in combination: a hollow body having a generally closed upstream end and defining an annular combustion chamber therein, said hollow body upstream end formed with a plurality of angularly spaced openings; a generally cylindrical conduit for each said opening, each said conduit connected, in flow communication with its respective opening, to said upstream end of said hollow body and extending upstream thereof; a fuel nozzle for each said conduit, each fuel nozzle having a discharge end generally centrally disposed in its respective conduit, in axial spaced relationship to said opening, for delivery of a fuel spray into said conduit; and a closure member extending between said discharge end of said fuel nozzle and the upstream end of said conduit and formed with an annular array of generally axially extending slots sized to deliver at least 25 percent of the air required for stoichiometric combustion of its respective fuel spray, each said slot defined, in part, by generally parallel, radially extending sidewalls, whereby said air is delivered as a plurality of radially elongated discrete streams about said fuel spray which dissipate in a region of turbulent interaction to thereby promote mixing of the air and fuel in a manner producing low smoke combustion.