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A fuel nozzle with a ring of fuel spray orifices directing fuel jets at a fuel vortex generator having a fuel deflecting surface disposed downstream a distance from each fuel spray orifice. A mixing chamber is defined between the fuel spray orifices and the fuel deflecting surface having a surface c

A fuel nozzle with a ring of fuel spray orifices directing fuel jets at a fuel vortex generator having a fuel deflecting surface disposed downstream a distance from each fuel spray orifice. A mixing chamber is defined between the fuel spray orifices and the fuel deflecting surface having a surface contour oriented to deflect fuel jets into the mixing chamber in counter-rotating adjacent pairs of fuel laden vortices. An air inlet supplies air to the mixing chamber via an airflow vortex generator having an airflow deflecting surface with a surface contour oriented to deflect airflow into the mixing chamber in counter-rotating adjacent pairs of airflow vortices. A fuel-air mixture outlet downstream from the mixing chamber releases the fuel-air mixture into a combustor for ignition.

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1. A fuel nozzle comprising:a fuel inlet in communication with a plurality of fuel spray orifices; a fuel vortex generator having a fuel deflecting surface disposed downstream a distance from each fuel spray orifice, a mixing chamber being defined between the fuel spray orifices and the fuel deflect

1. A fuel nozzle comprising:a fuel inlet in communication with a plurality of fuel spray orifices; a fuel vortex generator having a fuel deflecting surface disposed downstream a distance from each fuel spray orifice, a mixing chamber being defined between the fuel spray orifices and the fuel deflecting surface, the fuel deflecting surface having a surface contour oriented to deflect fuel jets sprayed from the fuel orifices into the mixing chamber in a plurality of counter-rotating adjacent pairs of fuel laden vortices, the vortices having axes generally transverse to a line along which the fuel jets are directed into the fuel deflecting surface; an air inlet in communication with the mixing chamber; and a fuel-air mixture outlet downstream from the mixing chamber. 2. A fuel nozzle according to claim 1, comprising:an airflow vortex generator, disposed between the air inlet and the mixing chamber, having an airflow deflecting surface with a surface contour oriented to deflect airflow into the mixing chamber in a plurality of counter-rotating adjacent pairs of airflow vortices. 3. A fuel nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the counter-rotating adjacent pairs of airflow vortices are deflected in a transverse direction relative to the fuel jets.4. A fuel nozzle according to claim 3, wherein the nozzle has a central axis, the fuel jets are directed axially downstream and the counter-rotating adjacent pairs of airflow vortices are directed radially inwardly.5. A fuel nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the fuel deflecting surface of the fuel vortex generator includes a cusp pointed toward each fuel spray orifice.6. A fuel nozzle according to claim 5, wherein the fuel deflecting surface includes a concave arc extending between adjacent cusps.7. A fuel nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the airflow deflecting surface of the airflow vortex generator includes a flow separation edge disposed between adjacent fuel spray orifices.8. A fuel nozzle according to claim 7, wherein the airflow deflecting surface includes a concave arc extending between adjacent flow separation edges.9. A fuel nozzle according to claim 1, comprising:an annular airflow outlet disposed about the fuel-air mixture outlet and in communication with the air inlet. 10. A fuel nozzle according to claim 1, comprising:a fuel distribution gallery disposed between the fuel inlet and each fuel spray orifice. 11. A fuel nozzle according to claim 10, comprising:a plurality of fuel spray tubes having a proximal end in communication with the fuel gallery and having a fuel spray orifice in a distal end; and an air assist gallery, in communication with the air inlet, disposed about each fuel spray tube, the air assist gallery including a cover plate through which the fuel tubes extend each surrounded by an annular air assist opening in the cover plate. 12. A fuel nozzle according to claim 11, comprising:an external shield, in communication with the air inlet and airflow outlet, and defining an annular air supply passage between: the external shield; and the fuel gallery; air assist gallery; fuel vortex generator; and airflow vortex generator, internally housed therein. 13. A fuel nozzle according to claim 1, further comprising an airflow vortex generator having at least one airflow deflecting surface adapted to generate a plurality of counter-rotating adjacent pairs of airflow vortices air in the mixing chamber coming from the air inlet.14. A fuel nozzle according to claim 13, wherein the nozzle has a central axis, the fuel jets are directed axially downstream and the counter-rotating adjacent pairs of airflow vortices are directed radially inwardly.15. A gas turbine engine comprising:a combustor; and a plurality of fuel nozzles mounted to the combustor, each fuel nozzle having: a fuel inlet in communication with a plurality of fuel spray orifices; a fuel vortex generator having a fuel deflecting surface disposed downstream a distance from each fuel spray orifice, a mixing chamber being defined between the fuel spray orifices and the fuel deflecting surface, the fuel deflecting surface having a surface contour oriented to deflect fuel jets sprayed from the fuel orifices into the mixing chamber in a plurality of counter-rotating adjacent pairs of fuel laden vortices; an air inlet in communication with the mixing chamber and oriented generally transversely relative to the fuel deflecting surface; an airflow vortex generator having at least one airflow deflecting surface adapted to generate a plurality of counter-rotating adjacent pairs of air vortices in the mixing chamber in air from the air inlet; and a fuel-air mixture outlet downstream from the mixing chamber. 16. A gas turbine engine according to claim 15 whereinthe airflow vortex generator, is oriented to deflect airflow into plurality of counter-rotating adjacent pairs of airflow vortices. 17. A gas turbine engine according to claim 16, wherein each nozzle has a central axis, the fuel jets are directed axially downstream and the counter-rotating adjacent pairs of airflow vortices are directed radially inwardly.