Repairable fuel nozzle

Abstract

A repairable fuel nozzle is disclosed, comprising an adaptor configured to direct a fuel flow from at least one flow passage in a fuel distributor to a pilot assembly comprising a fuel swirler.

1 . A repairable fuel nozzle comprising:
 an adaptor configured to direct a fuel flow from at least one flow passage in a fuel distributor to a pilot assembly comprising a fuel swirler.   
   
   
       2 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 1  wherein the adaptor is coupled to the fuel distributor. 
   
   
       3 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 2  wherein the adaptor is coupled to the fuel distributor by brazing. 
   
   
       4 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 1  wherein the adaptor is coupled to the pilot assembly. 
   
   
       5 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 4  wherein the adaptor is coupled to the pilot assembly by brazing. 
   
   
       6 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 1  wherein the adaptor is configured to direct a fuel flow from two flow passages in the fuel distributor to a pilot assembly comprising two pilot flow orifices. 
   
   
       7 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 1  wherein the fuel distributor is made using a rapid manufacturing process. 
   
   
       8 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 7  wherein the rapid manufacturing process is a laser sintering process. 
   
   
       9 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 1  further comprising an air swirler having a plurality of vanes. 
   
   
       10 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 9  wherein the pilot assembly is located radially inward in the swirler. 
   
   
       11 . A repairable fuel nozzle comprising:
 a pilot assembly comprising a fuel swirler and at least one opening for ejecting a fuel therethrough located in a primary orifice, wherein the pilot assembly is configured to be capable of being coupled to the fuel nozzle during a repair of the fuel nozzle.   
   
   
       12 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 11  wherein the pilot assembly comprises an annular primary orifice located substantially coaxially with an annular secondary orifice. 
   
   
       13 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 12  wherein the annular secondary orifice comprises an inner-step on a radially inner side to locate the primary orifice within the secondary orifice. 
   
   
       14 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 11  wherein the pilot assembly is located radially inboard in an air swirler. 
   
   
       15 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 11  wherein the air swirler is made using a rapid manufacturing process. 
   
   
       16 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 15  wherein the rapid manufacturing process is a laser sintering process. 
   
   
       17 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 11  wherein the pilot assembly comprises an outer-step on a radially outer side to locate the pilot assembly within fuel nozzle during assembly. 
   
   
       18 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 11  wherein the pilot assembly is coupled to a fuel distributor in the fuel nozzle. 
   
   
       19 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 12  wherein the pilot assembly is coupled to a fuel distributor by brazing. 
   
   
       20 . A repairable fuel nozzle according to  claim 11  wherein the pilot assembly is in flow communication with a fuel distributor and an adaptor in the fuel nozzle.