VARIABLE RATE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD, AND ATOMIZATION NOZZLE THEREFOR

摘要

A system (10) for delivering atomized fuel to a combustion chamber in a home heating unit includes a spray nozzle (12) and a control assembly (14) that controls the delivery of fuel from a supply (16) to the nozzle (12). The control assembly (14) includes a pump (20) and a valve (26) that is controllable to provide a variable rate of fuel flow. The nozzle (12) includes a body (52) with a fuel passage (34), a cap (62) securable to the body (52), and a swirler plate (36) between the body (52) and the cap (62). The swirler plate (36) has an aperture (70) that cooperates with at least one of the body (52) and the cap (62) to define a fuel channel (72) that extends from a radially outer region (74) to a radially inner region (76). The outer region (74) communicates with an outlet (35) of the fuel passage (34), and the inner region (76) communicates with a swirl chamber (40). From the swirl chamber (40), atomizing fuel is dispensed through an outlet orifice (42) in the cap (62).