US3811278A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel injection apparatus
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1973-02-01
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Granted: 1974-05-21
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Expires: 1993-02-01
Abstract
Abstract An improved fuel injection apparatus of the type employing a system of counter-rotating primary and secondary air swirl vanes is provided. Fuel from a low pressure source is first accelerated through an involute swirl passage by an inflow of high velocity pressurized air. The pre-swirled fuel-air mixture is then discharged into a centrifuging air stream where it is atomized and circumferentially dispersed in a uniform manner. An additional counter-rotating air stream in cooperation with the initial centrifuging air stream develops high shear stresses to further atomize and uniformly disperse the fuel-air mixture for burning in a combustion chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 J Taylor
- 👤 Bell T Du
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:28
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23R; F23R3/00; F23R3/02; F23R3/04; F23R3/10; F23R3/12; F23R3/14; F23R3/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A fuel injection apparatus comprising: a housing having generally cylindrical chamber therein in flow communication with a fuel inlet port by means of an involute passage, said cylindrical chamber being open at one end a generally cylindrical centerbody of smaller diameter than the cylindrical chamber disposed concentric to the chamber so as to define an annular air passage therebetween, a generally cylindrical primary shroud coaxially spaced apart from the open end of the cylindrical chamber defining a central core air passage, primary air swirl means disposed intermediate the housing and primary shroud to impart a circumferential swirl component to the flow through the core, and secondary air swirl means disposed downstream of the primary swirl means to impart a circumferential swirl component in the direction opposing that of the primary swirl means such that fuel reaching the downstream end of the primary shroud is atomized by the shear stresses developed by the counterrotating aerodynamic forces at the confluence of the primary and secondary swirls.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A fuel injection apparatus comprising: a housing having generally cylindrical chamber therein in flow communication with a fuel inlet port by means of an involute passage, said cylindrical chamber being open at one end a generally cylindrical centerbody of smaller diameter than the cylindrical chamber disposed concentric to the chamber so as to define an annular air passage therebetween, a generally cylindrical primary shroud coaxially spaced apart from the open end of the cylindrical chamber defining a central core air passage, primary air swirl means disposed intermediate the housing and primary shroud to impart a circumferential swirl component to the flow through the core, and secondary air swirl means disposed downstream of the primary swirl means to impart a circumferential swirl component in the direction opposing that of the primary swirl means such that fuel reaching the downstream end of the primary shroud is atomized by the shear stresses developed by the counterrotating aerodynamic forces at the confluence of the primary and secondary swirls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The fuel injection apparatus of claim 1 including: a fuel delivery conduit having a discharge end disposed in flow communication with the fuel inlet port wherein the discharge end of the conduit and inlet port are cooperatively arranged to permit the entrance of a high velocity air flow which acts to push the fuel through the involute passage to the annular air passage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The fuel injection apparatus of claim 2 wherein: the discharge end of the fuel delivery conduit is interposed within the Fuel inlet port and spaced apart therefrom to define an air passage therebetween for receipt of the high velocity air.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The fuel injection apparatus of claim 2 wherein: the involute passage is defined by an outer involute wall spaced apart from an inner involute wall, both of which progress with decreasing radius from the fuel inlet port to the cylindrical chamber with the axial limits of the involute passage defined by two generally planar, spaced apart end walls which are peripherally joined to the outer and inner involute walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The fuel injection apparatus of claim 4 wherein: the involute passage is flaired in a manner which maintains a substantially constant cross-sectional area throughout the length thereof, such that the radius of the outer involute wall decreases more rapidly than the radius of the inner involute wall and the end walls diverge along the decreasing radius of the involute passage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
The fuel injection apparatus of claim 2 wherein means for purging the downstream end of the cylindrical centerbody from carbon accumulation thereon include: a flat transverse partition internal to the centerbody and having a plurality of small holes circumferentially spaced therearound for receiving an outside airflow through a central passage, an internal chamber adjacent the flat partition for receiving airflow from the small holes and directing such airflow through a central opening at the downstream end of the centerbody thereby purging the end of the centerbody from carbon accumulation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
The fuel injection apparatus of claim 2 wherein: the primary air swirl means includes a first plurality of circumferentially spaced swirl vanes disposed intermediate a first radially extending circumferential wall member formed integral to the housing and a second axially spaced apart radially extending circumferential wall member formed integral to the primary shroud wherein the swirl vanes are arranged to impart a circumferential swirl velocity in the same direction as that of decreasing radius for the involute passage, and the secondary air swirl means includes a second plurality of circumferentially spaced swirl vanes disposed intermediate the second wall member and a third axially spaced apart radially extending circumferential wall member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
The fuel injection apparatus of claim 7 including: means for purging the interior surface of the primary shroud from the accumulation of carbon wherein the purge means include at least one additional air swirl means disposed between the primary and secondary swirl means and in flow communication with the core for imparting a swirl component to the flow therethrough in the same circumferential direction as that imparted by the primary swirl means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-20 | 1977-11-19 | 1978-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-20 | 1981-11-19 | 1982-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-20 | 1985-11-19 | 1986-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |