Modular Injector Bolt With Spiral Nozzle for Easy Engine Service
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel injectors for gas turbine engines are cumbersome to install and require significant disassembly for inspection, maintenance, and replacement, and integral configurations complicate replacement without altering the engine casing.
Innovation Solution
A modular fuel injector design with a threaded interface and spiral nozzle passage, allowing for easy installation and removal from the engine exterior, and a splash plate for even fuel dispersion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional fuel injector design is used, then the injector can be installed in the engine, but it requires significant engine disassembly for inspection, maintenance and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel injector system is segmented into two independent parts: the injector body that remains installed in the engine, and the removable injector bolt containing the nozzle. This allows the nozzle to be replaced by simply removing the bolt from the exterior, without disassembling the engine structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle assembly is extracted into a separate removable component (the injector bolt) that can be taken out from the engine exterior. This extraction enables maintenance personnel to access and replace the nozzle without having to disassemble the engine casing or other internal components.
2Ease of manufacture
If an integral fuel injector configuration is used, then the injector is simplified as a unitary body, but the fuel injector cannot be replaced without replacing or modifying the engine casing
Solution Approach 1:
The integral injector design is segmented into a permanent engine casing portion and a removable injector bolt portion. The injector bolt contains all necessary functional elements (nozzle, fuel passage, seal) as a pre-assembled unit that can be manufactured separately and installed externally, enabling replacement without engine casing modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The injector bolt is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component. Instead of replacing the entire engine casing when the nozzle wears out, only the relatively simple and inexpensive injector bolt needs to be replaced, significantly reducing maintenance costs and complexity.
3Ease of operation
If a modular injector design with threaded interface is used, then the injector can be easily installed and removed from engine exterior, but additional threading components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The threading interface is merged into the injector bolt itself, which is a standard engine component anyway. The bolt threads directly into a corresponding threaded hole in the engine casing, combining the fastening function with the fuel delivery function in a single integrated component that requires no additional hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The injector bolt serves multiple functions: it acts as a fastener (threaded bolt), a fuel conduit (contains fuel passage), a nozzle holder (mounts the nozzle), and a seal element (includes sealing features). This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall interface design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates quick and efficient installation, maintenance, and replacement of fuel injectors without disassembling the engine, enhancing fuel burn efficiency and reducing carbon formation.
Implementation Method 1
The nozzle passage spirals about the centerline within the fuel injector towards the nozzle outlet
Implementation Method 2
The fuel injector is configured to direct fuel, received by the nozzle passage from the fuel supply passage, out of the fuel nozzle to impinge against the frustoconical splash plate surface
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly is provided for an engine. This engine assembly includes an engine structure and a fuel injector. The engine structure includes an injector receptacle and a fuel supply passage. The injector receptacle extends longitudinally through the engine structure along a centerline. The fuel supply passage extends laterally within the engine structure to the injector receptacle. The fuel injector is mated with the injector receptacle. The fuel injector includes a nozzle passage and a nozzle outlet. The nozzle passage spirals about the centerline within the fuel injector towards the nozzle outlet. The nozzle passage fluidly couples the nozzle outlet to the fuel supply passage.