Fuel injection system for a turbine engine

Claim 2

A fuel injection system for a turbine engine having a combustor with at least one start injector and a plurality of main injectors, said system comprising: a main control valve; at least one start fuel line adapted to be connected to a start injector; a plurality of main fuel lines adapted to be connected to respective main injectors; a first valve connected to said main fuel lines and openable to allow fuel to flow thereto; a purge fuel line; and valve means disposed between and connected to said main control valve and said first valve and connected to said start fuel line and said first valve for (a) allowing the flow of fuel to said start fuel line and said first valve and (b) connecting said start fuel line and said first valve to said purge line while halting flow to all of said main and start injectors.

Claim 3

The fuel injection system of claim 1 in combination with at least one start injector and a plurality of main injectors and wherein one of said main injectors and said start injector are located in a single injector barrel.

Claim 4

The fuel injection system of claim 2 wherein said single injector barrel includes a start fuel orifice means and a main fuel orifice means configured to allow a combined mass flow rate of fuel substantially equal to the mass flow rate of fuel through any other one of said main injectors for substantially identical fuel pressures.

Claim 5

The fuel injection system of claim 1 wherein said first valve is a two-way valve and said valve means constitutes a single three-way valve.

Claim 6

(Twice amended) A fuel injection system for a turbine engine having a combustor with at least one start injector and a plurality of main injectors, said system comprising: at least one start fuel injector; a plurality of main injectors; said start fuel injector and one of said main fuel injectors being combined in a single injector head having a start fuel orifice and a main fuel orifice, said orifices being sized to produce, under substantially identical fuel pressures, substantially the same mass flow rate of fuel as any other one of said main fuel injectors; a purge fuel line; and valve means operable to (a) allow fuel flow to said start fuel orifice only; (b) allow fuel flow to both said start and main fuel orifices and to said other main fuel injectors, and (c) halt fuel flow to all of said start and main injectors while connecting said start and main injectors to said purge line.

Claim 7

(Twice amended) A fuel injection system for a turbine engine having a combustor with at least one start injector and a plurality of main injectors, said system comprising: at least one start fuel injector; a plurality of main injectors; said start fuel injector and one of said main fuel injectors being combined in a single injector head having a start fuel orifice and a main fuel orifice, said orifices being sized to produce, under substantially identical fuel pressures, substantially the same mass flow rate of fuel as any other one of said main fuel injectors; a purge fuel line; and valve means operable to (a) allow fuel flow to said start fuel orifice only; (b) allow fuel flow to both said start and main fuel orifices and to said other main fuel injectors, and (c) halt fuel flow to all of said start and main injectors while connecting said start and main injectors to said purge line.

Claim 8

The fuel injection system of claim 5 wherein said valve means includes a three-way valve and a two-way valve.

Claim 9

The fuel injection system of claim 5 wherein said valves are serially connected with said two-way valve downstream of said three-way valve; and said start fuel orifice is in fluid communication with a point between said valves.

Claim 10

A fuel injection system for a turbine engine having a combustor with at least one start injector and a plurality of main injectors, said system comprising: a single main control valve; at least one start fuel injector; a plurality of main fuel injectors; at least one start fuel line connected to a said start fuel injector; a plurality of main fuel lines connected to respective main fuel injectors; said start fuel injector and one of said main fuel injectors being combined in a single injector head having a start fuel orifice and a main fuel orifice, said orifices being sized to produce, under substantially identical fuel pressures, substantially the same mass flow rate of fuel as any other one of said main fuel injectors; a two-way valve connected to said main fuel lines and openable to allow fuel to flow thereto for injection by said main fuel injector; a purge fuel line; and valve means disposed between and connected to said main control valve and said first valve and connected to said start fuel line and said first valve for (a) allowing the flow of fuel to said start fuel line for injection by said start fuel injector and to said first valve and (b) connecting said start fuel line and said first valve to said purge line; whereby said single main control valve may be modulated to regulate fuel flow to all said injectors.

Claim 11

A fuel injection system for a turbine engine having a combustor with at least one start injector and a plurality of main injectors, said system comprising: a single main control valve; at least one start fuel injector; a plurality of main fuel injectors; at least one start fuel line connected to a said start fuel injector; a plurality of main fuel lines connected to respective main fuel injectors; said start fuel injector and one of said main fuel injectors being combined in a single injector head having a start fuel orifice and a main fuel orifice, said orifices being sized to produce, under substantially identical fuel pressures, substantially the same mass flow rate of fuel as any other one of said main fuel injectors; a two-way valve connected to said main fuel lines and openable to allow fuel to flow thereto for injection by said main fuel injector; a purge fuel line; and valve means disposed between and connected to said main control valve and said first valve and connected to said start fuel line and said first valve for (a) allowing the flow of fuel to said start fuel line for injection by said start fuel injector and to said first valve and (b) connecting said start fuel line and said first valve to said purge line; whereby said single main control valve may be modulated to regulate fuel flow to all said injectors.