Slanted loading for line replaceable multipoint fuel injector arrays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12158108-B2
Application number	US-202318109622-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2023
Priority date	Feb 14, 2023
Publication date	Dec 3, 2024
Grant date	Dec 3, 2024

Abstract

A system includes an engine case for a gas turbine engine defined around a longitudinal axis. A plurality of access openings are defined through the engine case. A combustor is housed in the space inside the engine case. The inner annular wall of the combustor includes a first rail on an upstream end thereof with a radially outward opening slot. The outer annular wall of the combustor includes a second rail on an upstream end thereof. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart dome liners extending from the first rail to the second rail. Each dome liner extends tangentially in a direction oblique relative to a radius extending from the longitudinal axis. A plurality of multipoint fuel injector components are assembled across the first and second rails to from a combustor dome together with the dome liners.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
an engine case for a gas turbine engine defined around a longitudinal axis, wherein a plurality of access openings are defined through the engine case for access from outside the engine case to a space inside the engine case;
a combustor housed in the space inside the engine case, wherein the combustor includes an inner annular wall and an outer annular wall radially outboard from the inner annular wall, wherein the inner annular wall includes a first rail on an upstream end of the inner annular wall with a radially outward opening slot, wherein the outer annular wall includes a second rail on an upstream end of the outer annular wall, and wherein the combustor includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart dome liners extending from the first rail to the second rail, wherein each dome liner in the plurality of circumferentially spaced apart dome liners extends tangentially in a direction oblique relative to a radius extending from the longitudinal axis so a point where the dome liner meets the second rail is circumferentially offset from a point where the dome liner meets the first rail; and
a plurality of fuel injector components assembled across the first and second rails to form a combustor dome together with the plurality of circumferentially spaced apart dome liners at an upstream end of a combustion space defined between the inner and outer annular walls of the combustor,
wherein each access opening of the engine case is covered by a radially outward flange of a respective one of the fuel injector components, wherein the radially outward flange includes one or more manifold tubes extending circumferentially therethrough.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein each access opening of the engine case and the fuel injector components are configured so that the access opening is wide enough in a circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal axis to admit only one of the fuel injector components therethrough.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the fuel injector components includes an inner edge configured to seat in the radially outward opening slot, wherein each dome liner has a clockwise f acing slot and a counter-clockwise facing slot, and wherein each fuel injector component includes a first side edge seated in a respective one of the clockwise facing slots, and an opposed second side edge seated in a respective one of the counter-clockwise facing slots.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the fuel injector components includes an outer edge configured to seat against the second rail.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein each fuel injector component in the plurality of fuel injector components includes:
a combustor dome plate extending from a radially inner edge to a radially outer edge and extending circumferentially from a first side edge to a second side edge; and
a plurality of fuel injectors defined through the combustor dome plate, each fuel injector of the plurality of fuel injectors including passages for air and fuel injection into the combustion space.

6. The system as recited in claim 5 , wherein each fuel injector component in the plurality of fuel injector components includes:
a fuel tube tree extending radially inward from h radially outward flange of the fuel injector component, wherein the radially outward flange is configured to mount the fuel injector component to the engine case, wherein the fuel tube tree includes a respective branch connecting with each of the plurality of fuel injectors for fluid communication of fuel from the radially outward flange into the plurality of injectors.

7. The system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the fuel tube tree has a main stem connected in fluid communication with the one or more manifold tubes extending circumferentially through the radially outward flange.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the one or more manifold tubes of each circumferentially adjacent pair of the fuel injector components are connected in fluid communication with respective fuel transfer tube connectors.

9. The system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the main stem includes one or more fuel tubes in fluid communication with the fuel tube tree and with the one or more manifold tubes, wherein each of the one or more fuel tubes includes a coiled section for accommodating thermal expansion and contraction differentials between the engine case and the combustor.

10. The system as recited in claim 9 , further comprising an external fuel source connected in fluid communication with one or more transfer tubes and/or the one or more manifold tubes of one or more of the plurality of fuel injector components.

11. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein each fuel injector component in the plurality of fuel injector components includes a heat shield extending around the one or more fuel tubes from the radially outward flange.

12. The system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the radially outer edge of the combustor dome plate of each of the fuel injector components in the plurality of fuel injector components is captured against the second rail on an axially downstream side by a respective one of the clockwise slots and a respective one of the counter-clockwise slots.

13. The system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the plurality of fuel injector components form an injector pattern wherein:
a first sub-set of the plurality of fuel injectors form an outer circumferential ring of fuel injectors, wherein the first sub-set of the plurality of fuel injectors are evenly spaced apart circumferentially with a first spacing;
a second sub-set of the plurality of fuel injectors form a second circumferential ring of fuel injectors, radially inward from the outer circumferential ring of fuel injectors, wherein the second sub-set of the plurality of fuel injectors are evenly spaced apart circumferentially with a second spacing smaller than the first spacing, and wherein the second sub-set of the plurality of fuel injectors are circumferentially offset from the first sub-set of the plurality of fuel injectors; and
a third sub-set of the plurality of fuel injectors form an inner circumferential ring of fuel injectors, radially inward from the second circumferential ring of fuel injectors, wherein the third sub-set of the plurality of fuel injectors are evenly spaced apart circumferentially with a third spacing smaller than the second spacing, and wherein the third sub-set of the plurality of fuel injectors are circumferentially offset from the first and second sub-sets of the plurality of fuel injectors.

Assignees

• Collins Engine Nozzles Inc

Inventors

• Ryon Jason A
• Williams Brandon P

Classifications

• F05D2240/35

  Combustors or associated equipment · CPC title

• F02M61/14

  Arrangements of injectors with respect to engines; Mounting of injectors · CPC title

• F02M53/046

  with thermally-insulating means · CPC title

• F02C7/222 Primary

  Fuel flow conduits, e.g. manifolds · CPC title

• F23R3/10

  for primary air (F23R3/06, F23R3/045 take precedence) · CPC title