Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Including valve means in flow line – Reciprocating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-11
2001-04-03
Scherbel, David A. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Including valve means in flow line
Reciprocating
C239S406000, C239S407000, C239S416400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209806
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to air assist fuel injectors used in internal combustion engines and in particular to a fuel injector with a pulsed air assist atomizer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known in the art relating to fuel injectors to atomize the fuel injected through the nozzle of a fuel injector. In such fuel injection systems, fuel is atomized into a finely divided spray of small droplets by mixing air with the fuel upon discharge of the mixture from the fuel injector. Air assist atomization of the fuel injected from the fuel injector is used to produce a homogeneous air-fuel mixture. The homogeneity of the air-fuel mixture and gasification of fuel droplets in the combustion space affect the efficiency of the combustion process. A better mixture of air and fuel will produce both a cleaner and a more efficient combustion process. Therefore, it is desirable to obtain a fuel injector that has optimum atomization and accurate fuel spray targeting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a fuel injector which supplies pulsed air, rather than a continuous supply of air through the fuel injector. By supplying pulsed air, the atomization and fuel spray targeting are improved. The fuel injector includes air inlet means, fuel inlet means, a mixing chamber and control means for simultaneously controlling introduction of air and fuel into the mixing chamber.
In one embodiment, the fuel injector includes two electromagnetically actuated valves that are used to control an air jet that impacts fuel flowing into a mixing chamber. The controlled air and fuel flows provide atomization of the fuel before discharge of the air-fuel mixture from the injector. The two valves are part of an armature/valve assembly. The assembly includes an armature, air control valve head and hollow needle which forms part of a fuel control valve. The armature is connected to the hollow needle. The air control valve head is mounted on a first axial inlet end of the hollow needle.
In a closed position, the valve head and a second axial outlet end of the needle are seated against an air valve seat and fuel valve seat, respectively, to prevent air and fuel flow into the mixing chamber. Upon energization of an electromagnetic coil, the armature is attracted to a stator and the valve head and needle are lifted from their seats to allow air and fuel flow into the mixing chamber. As the fuel enters the mixing chamber, it is impacted by the air jet resulting in a finely atomized spray. Then the air-fuel mixture is discharged from the fuel injector through a central opening in the fuel valve seat.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the invention taken together with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1402749 (1922-01-01), Du Pont
patent: 1627727 (1927-05-01), Charter
patent: 4971254 (1990-11-01), Daly et al.
patent: 5048497 (1991-09-01), Kishida et al.
patent: 5119792 (1992-06-01), Gu
Pace Jeff B.
Warner Vernon R.
Kim Christopher S.
Scherbel David A.
Siemens Automotive Corporation
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