Patent ID: 6550696
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: F23D,F23R

Abstract:
An injector assembly for dispensing fuel for ignition in a combustion chamber, said injector assembly comprising:a plurality of flat plates of etchable material, and a plurality of injectors formed in said plates, each of said injectors including: a fuel metering set including a bowl-shaped fuel swirl chamber shaped by etching formed in a first side of one of said plates, such that fuel to be sprayed from the injector can move therein in a vortex motion toward the center of the fuel swirl chamber; a spray orifice in fluid communication with the center of the fuel swirl chamber and extending substantially co-axial therewith to a second side of said plate such that fuel to be sprayed from the injector can move from the fuel swirl chamber to the spray orifice and then exit the spray orifice through the second side in a spray for ignition in the combustion chamber; at least one fuel feed slot in fluid communication with the fuel swirl chamber and extending in non-radial relation thereto for supplying fuel to be sprayed through the injector; and an air swirler assembly including a cylindrical air swirler passage shaped by etching through at least one other of the plates, a plate of the air swirler assembly in adjacent relation to the second side of the plate of the fuel metering set, the cylindrical air swirler passage located in co-axial relation to the spray orifice of the plate of the fuel metering set such that fuel directed through the spray orifice passes through the air swirler passage and swirling air can be imparted to the fuel to cause the fuel to have a swirling component of motion before ignition; at least one air feed slot extending in the plane of one of the plates of the air swirler assembly in fluid communication with the air swirler passage and extending in non-radial relation thereto for supplying air to be swirled in the air swirler passage; and an air supply passage which feeds the at least one air feed slot, the air supply passage extending through at least a portion of a plate of the air swirler assembly to a downstream end wherein a plate of the air swirler assembly encloses the downstream end of the air supply passage and separates the air supply passage from the combustion chamber.