Patent ID: 8555647

Claim:
A method for shielding a fuel injector associated with a combustion device, the method comprising: providing at least one shield support device operable to mount to a tip of a fuel injector; mounting a plurality of shields to the at least one shield support device, the plurality of shields comprising a circumferential surface, wherein each of the plurality of shields is spaced apart from each respective adjacent shield by at least one segmentation, wherein each of the plurality of shields is operable to reduce heat exposure to the tip of the fuel injector, wherein the at least one segmentation comprises at least one of: a fault line, a perforation, a weakened portion, an etched line, an etched pattern, or a gap, and wherein the at least one segmentation facilitates shedding one or more adjacent shields when overheating or damage occurs to the one or more adjacent shields; and mounting to the at least one sheild support device at least one successive layer of shields to overlap the plurality of shields, wherein the at least one successive layer of shields comprises a circumferential surface of shields spaced apart from each respective adjacent shield by at least one layer segmentation comprising at least one of: a fault line, a perforation, a weakened portion, an etched line, an etched pattern, or a gap, and wherein the at least one layer segmentation facilitates shedding one or more adjacent shields from the at least one successive layer when overheating or damage occurs to the one or more adjacent shields of the at least one successive layer; and mounting a retaining device operable to maintain at least one position of the at least one shield support device with respect to the tip of the fuel injector, wherein the retaining device conforms with a cavity in an outer surface of the at least one shield support device, and the retaining device substantially extends circumferentially around the external circumferential surface of the fuel injector.