Abstract:
A fuel injector for a combustor of a gas turbine engine comprises an injector housing having a fuel discharge passage for receiving pressurized fuel and communicated to the combustor for discharging the fuel thereto and an air discharge passage for receiving pressurized air and communicated to the combustor for discharging the air thereto to atomize the discharged fuel. A purge passage in the housing is communicated to the fuel discharge passage at one end and communicated to the air discharge passage at another end. The end of the purge passage is communicated to the air discharge passage by opening directly to the air discharge passage or, alternately, indirectly vis a duct member on the injector housing extending from a region proximate the end of the purge passage to the air passage. A valve in the housing is operable during fuel flow to the fuel injector for blocking communication between the purge passage and the fuel discharge passage while the purge passage and air discharge passage are communicated and, operable upon interruption of fuel flow to communicate the purge passage and fuel discharge passage to provide purge air from the air discharge passage through the purge passage to purge fuel residing in the fuel passage to the combustor.