US3221546A

US3221546A - Fuel nozzle spray testing box

Info

Publication number: US3221546A
Application number: US327157A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard A Heath
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-11-29
Filing date: 1963-11-29
Publication date: 1965-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1982-12-07

Description

Dec. 7, 1965 R. A. HEATH 3,221,546

FUEL NOZZLE SPRAY TESTING BOX Filed NOV. 29, 1963 INVENTOR RICHARD A. H EATH MMM/ A TTORNE Y ff t The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to test apparatus, and mo-re particularly to such apparatus for checking the operation of nozzles, such as the fuel nozzles in a jet engine.

In the overhaul and maintenance of jet engines it is necessary periodically to check the operation of the fuel nozzles for defects; the clogging of nozzles and associated filters; and generally to check the conguration of the spray pattern emitting from the nozzles. Irregularities in the spray pattern might cause hot spots in the combustion chamber liner. Faulty nozzles can seriously affect the operation of the jet engine with possible injury to personnel and equipment.

The fuel nozzles of most jet engines are arranged in clusters, an assembly of clusters being connected to one manifold. In the past, the procedure for testing the nozzles was to test only one nozzle cluster in the assembly at a time requiring the capping of all the remaining nozzles in the clusters. The caps snap-tit over the nozzles, and being made of plastic were subject to wear. This resulted in constant leakage from the nozzles which creates a lire hazard. Furthermore, the spray pattern from the nozzles that were being tested could not be readily observed.

Frequently, this method of testing the nozzles requires the entire separation of the jet engine by removal of the turbine section, to obtain access to the nozzles, a time consuming task if not required for other maintenance work.

The present invention provides a test box which is sealably and detachably secured to the jet engine at the fuel manifold section. Disassembly of the engine is not required as the test box can be attached from one side of the engine. The back wall of the box has openings to receive the jet nozzles which sealably tit therein to permit the nozzle llow to be discharged directly into the test box. The test iluid can be withdrawn from the test box leliminating a dangerous fire condition that would otherwise exist if the liquid were vented or leaked on the floor. The remaining walls of the box are preferably transparent to permit observation of th'e nozzles when the test iluid is discharged therefrom enabling the engine technician to determine the quality of operation of each nozzle, and the configuration of the spray pattern emitting from the nozzles.

One object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for testing the operation of a group of jet nozzles.

A further object is to enable the nozzles of a jet engine to be tested without requiring complete separation of the jet engine for access to the nozzles.

Another object is to provide such apparatus for observing the operation of a jet nozzle; and a corollary object is to enable such tests to be conducted in a safe and expedient manner.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a manifold assembly section of a l-57 jet engine, looking forward from the engine exhaust end, the turbine section having been reatet 3,221,546 Patented Dec. 7, 1965 moved for the purpose of showing the novel test spray box attached to the right hand manifold assembly;

FIG. 2 is a side View taken along line II-II of FIG. l, partially in section, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of one of the nozzles mounted in the back wall of the test box.

Referring to the drawing where like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the ligures ther'e is shown in FIG. 1 a I-57 jet engine lll separated at the fuel manifold section 12 by removal of the turbine section, not shown, although a-s will be later developed the engine need not be completely separated to employ the invention apparatus.

Manifold section 12 is the type referred to as a splitmanifold and includes two arcuate

jet fuel manifolds

14 and 16, each manifold having four clusters 18 of jet nozzles, each cluster having six nozzles 20. The two arcuate fuel manifolds are arranged in end-toend relation to form a complete ring within concentric engine casing flange 22 by which the turbine section (not shown) is secured. The fuel ow to the nozzles is controlled by a pressurizing and dump valve, not shown. The structure thus far described is conventional in a J-57 jet engine.

The novel fuel nozzle spray testing box of this invention is indicated at 26. The spray box is semi-annular in configuration to accommodate the four clusters 18 of jet nozzles in each

manifold

14 and 16. As shown in FIG. 1 test box 26 is attached to the right hand manifold 16, replacing the combustion chamber cover and burner cans not shown, by means of straps 28 which ar-e fixed at one end to the test box, the other ends of the straps detachably secured to flange 22. It is apparent that other means for securing the test box to the manifold section could be substituted for the straps.

Test box Zo comprises front and rear walls 3l) and 32,

concentric side walls

34 and 36, respectively, and end Walls 38 and 4U, the walls being sealably secured together at their abutting ends by screws, adhesive or the like, Rear wall 32 may be constructed of sheet metal and is provided with a plurality of openings 42, one for 'each of the 2d nozzles in each manifold section. To ensure a liquid tight connection, each opening d2 may be provided with a lip 44 to house an O-ring 4.6 which functions as a gasket for sealably engaging the nozzle 2i) when inserted through the respective opening.

Front wall 3l] and

side walls

34 and 36 are constructed of transparent material, preferably of a plastic composition to afford visibility of the spray pattern 47, although glass could be used if desired. Side wall 3d and end walls 3S and 40 can be constructed of opaque material, such as sheet metal, if desired. End walls 38 and 4t) are each provided with a depressed wall area housing a drain plug d8 and 50, respectively, whereby the test solvent liquid can be drained from the test box. Drain plug El), being at a low point in the test box, is used when the test box is attach'ed to the right hand manifold assembly 16, as illustrated. When the testing of assembly 16 is completed, and the test box is inverted and installed on the left hand manifold assembly 14, drain plug 48 becomes the low point in the test box and is utilized to drain the test solvent liquid when the test box is in that position.

In the test operation of the nozzle spray patterns, the pressurizing and dump valve, not shown, which normally controls the fuel flow to the nozzles is removed, and an adapter is installed in its place having four inlet quick disconnects, two for primary How to the manifold and two for secondary ow to the manifold. The primary iiow to the manifold is concerned with the starting jet operation, whereas the secondary flow is to supplement the primary flow for main jet engine operation. Test fluid pressure is applied to the nozzles by means of a conventional test stand, which provides p.s.i. fluid pressure for primary ow. After the primary How is checked, and with the test stand turned off, the test stand is connected to the secondary side of the adapter, and the test stand provides test fluid at p.s.i. The fluid is removed from the test box 26 through drain plug 5i? without spillage insuring a safe operation.

After the nozzles on the right hand manifold i6 have thus been checked, test box 26 is removed and fastened in a similar manner to the left hand manifold M, and the operation duplicated. In this position, drain plug 48 enables the test box to be drained of the test solvent liquid in the same manner as plug 5@ when the test box was inverted.

The novel test box of this invention enables the test of an entire fuel manifold assembly of a jet engine instead of individual nozzles or clusters of nozzles. The test flow out of the nozzles is readily visible to the technician who can determine any faulty operation due to clogging of the nozzles and/ or filters; and at the same time check the character of the nozzle flow pattern. By witnessing simultaneously the fuel flow from all four clusters of the fuel nozzles, a better comparison, one with the other, can be made to improve evaluation. Capturing the test solvent in the test box and draining avoids spillage and assures a safer operation. In addition, the time expended for the test can be greatly decreased, improving the efficiency of the test operation.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for testing jet engine fuel nozzle spray patterns comprising:

a spray box conforming to the configuration of a fuel manifold assembly of a jet engine;

detachable means for securing said spray box to the jet engine;

said spray box having an opening for each of the jet engine nozzles respectively to be tested to enable test uid discharged from the nozzle to be exhausted into the spray box;

means for draining said spray box of the discharged test duid;

at least a portion of said box being made of transparent material; whereby the test uid flow pattern from each nozzle of the assembly in the spray box can be observed through said transparent portion.

Z. Apparatus for testing jet engine fuel nozzle spray patterns comprising:

an annular spray box conforming to the configuration of a fuel manifold assembly of a jet engine; detachable means for securing said spray box to the jet engine;

said spray box having an opening for each of the jet engine nozzles respectively to be tested to enable test fluid discharged from the nozzle to be exhausted into the spray box;

means for draining said spray box of the discharged test uid;

at least a portion of said box being made of transparent material;

d whereby the test iiuid liow pattern from each nozzle of the assembly in the spray box can be observed during operation through said transparent portion.

3. Apparatus for testing jet engine fuel nozzle spray patterns comprising:

a semi-annular spray box conforming to the configuration of a fuel manifold assembly of a jet engine; detachable means for securing said spray box to the jet engine; said spray box having an opening for each of the jet engine nozzles respectively to be tested to enable test fluid discharged from the nozzle to be exhausted into the spray box; means for draining said spray box of the discharged test fluid; p at least a portion of said box being made of transparent material; whereby the test fiuid ow pattern from each nozzle of the assembly in the spray box can be observed during operation through said transparent portion.

Apparatus for testing jet engine fuel nozzle spray patterns comprising:

a semi-annular spray box conforming to the configuration of a fuel manifold assembly of a jet engine; detachable means for securing said spray box to the jet engine; said spray box having an opening for each of the jet engine nozzles respectively to be tested to enable test fluid discharged from the nozzle to be exhausted into the spray box; means for draining said spray box of the discharged test fiuid discharged from said jet nozzles, said lastnamed means located at each end of the spray box; at least one wall portion of said box being made of transparent material; whereby the test fluid flow pattern of each nozzle of the assembly in the spray box can be observed during operation through said transparent wall.

5. Apparatus for testing jet engine fuel nozzle spray patterns comprising:

a semi-circular spray box conforming to the Configuration of a fuel manifold assembly of a jet engine; means for securing said spray box to the jet engine; said box having a face plate, side walls and a cover;

said face plate having an opening for each of the jet engine nozzles respectively to be tested to enable the nozzle to be exhausted into the spray box; means for draining the ends of the spray box of the test uid discharged from said jet nozzles; said cover and side walls of said box being made of transparent material; whereby the test uid flow pattern of each nozzle of the assembly in the spray box can be observed during operation through said box.

References Cited by the Examiner FORElGN PATENTS l 1/ 1958 France.

4/1961 Germany.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR TESTING JET ENGINE FUEL NOZZLE SPRAY PATTERNS COMPRISING: A SPRAY BOX CONFORMING TO THE CONFIGURATION OF A FUEL MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY OF A JET ENGINE; DETACHABLE MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SPRAY BOX TO THE JET ENGINE; SAID SPRAY HAVING AN OPENING FOR EACH OF THE JET ENGINE ZONES RESPECTIVELY TO BE TESTED TO ENABLE TEST FLUID DISCHARGED FROM THE NOZZLE TO BE EXHAUSTED INTO THE SPRAY BOX;