EP0718492B1 - Fuel injector - Google Patents

Fuel injector Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0718492B1
EP0718492B1 EP95203088A EP95203088A EP0718492B1 EP 0718492 B1 EP0718492 B1 EP 0718492B1 EP 95203088 A EP95203088 A EP 95203088A EP 95203088 A EP95203088 A EP 95203088A EP 0718492 B1 EP0718492 B1 EP 0718492B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fuel
atomizing air
director plate
streams
injector
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP95203088A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0718492A1 (en
Inventor
Michael Brian Lavan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Motors Liquidation Co
Original Assignee
Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Motors Liquidation Co filed Critical Motors Liquidation Co
Publication of EP0718492A1 publication Critical patent/EP0718492A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0718492B1 publication Critical patent/EP0718492B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M69/00—Low-pressure fuel-injection apparatus ; Apparatus with both continuous and intermittent injection; Apparatus injecting different types of fuel
    • F02M69/04—Injectors peculiar thereto
    • F02M69/047—Injectors peculiar thereto injectors with air chambers, e.g. communicating with atmosphere for aerating the nozzles
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M51/00—Fuel-injection apparatus characterised by being operated electrically
    • F02M51/06—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle
    • F02M51/061—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means
    • F02M51/0625—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means characterised by arrangement of mobile armatures
    • F02M51/0664—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means characterised by arrangement of mobile armatures having a cylindrically or partly cylindrically shaped armature, e.g. entering the winding; having a plate-shaped or undulated armature entering the winding
    • F02M51/0671—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means characterised by arrangement of mobile armatures having a cylindrically or partly cylindrically shaped armature, e.g. entering the winding; having a plate-shaped or undulated armature entering the winding the armature having an elongated valve body attached thereto

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an electromagnetic fuel injector for an internal combustion engine.
  • Electromagnetic fuel injectors used in internal combustion engines are capable of effectively delivering metered quantities of fuel per unit time to the engine. Proper atomization of the injected fuel results in a homogeneous fuel/air mixture with a resultant reduction of fuel deposition, or wetting of the manifold walls. Such improved atomization and reduced manifold wall wetting should aid in achieving a reduction in the emission of regulated exhaust constituents, improved combustion stability, and better cold engine operation.
  • Air assisted injection systems are known which deliver a continuous flow of atomization air through the injectors without regard for the timing of the injection event or other engine operating parameters.
  • the continuous flow of air may, in certain instances, result in less than optimum transient fuel control affecting the operation of the engine across its operating range.
  • Fuel injection systems may rely on the throttle plate position to vary the quantity of atomization air passing through the injector for a given set of engine parameters. In such cases, air flow is initiated by the differential pressure between the intake manifold and atmospheric pressure.
  • air assist systems may be addressed through the application of means for varying air flow through the injector, based on engine operating parameters, injector tip wetting may be encountered when atomization air flow is reduced and fuel spray impinges on the inoperative air assist mechanism downstream of the fuel outlets.
  • Dual spray injectors are known to use a flow divider which directs fuel through two orifices within which atomizing air is introduced to improve atomization of the fuel. These designs have been known to drip fuel excessively when atomizing air is not present and, in addition, excessive pressure differentials may result in the downstream merging of the dual sprays thereby increasing manifold wall wetting and resulting in reduced engine performance.
  • DE-A-4 129 834 discloses a fuel injector in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.
  • the present invention relates to an electromagnetic fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine.
  • an injector delivers metered fuel through an outlet in a fuel director plate, used to divide the fuel into a desired spray pattern.
  • Atomizing air may be introduced to the fuel stream downstream of the fuel outlet through an air director plate surrounding the injector fuel outlet.
  • Such an atomizing air director configuration allows a precisely targeted series of air jets to impinge upon the fuel spray stream for the purpose of enhancing spray configuration.
  • fuel sprays pass through the annular air director plate without disruption of the flow thereby limiting fuel wetting and resultant engine performance degradation.
  • the injector of the present invention may include an annular air director plate, downstream of the fuel outlet of the fuel injector having a series of atomizing air outlets positioned to preferentially target separate fuel streams exiting the fuel director plate outlets of a multiple fuel stream injector. Preferential targeting of the individual fuel streams by atomizing air outlets allows a portion of the atomizing air to impact the fuel stream for greater fuel atomization while a portion of the air is utilized to jacket and separate the fuel streams, thereby preserving defined fuel sprays.
  • a fuel injector designated generally as 10, operatively mounted in an intake manifold 12 of an internal combustion engine 14.
  • the injector 10 is operative to inject a pair of discreet spray cones of fuel 16 and 18 through orifices 19 in a fuel director plate 20, operatively mounted within the lower end of the injector 10, as viewed in Figures 2 and 3.
  • the spray cones 16,18 are accurately targeted to project, with minimal manifold wall wetting, through discrete passages 22,24 of intake port 26 partitioned by a septum 28 onto separate intake valves 30 and 32 of a cylinder 34 of the engine 14.
  • a preferred form of the fuel injector has a solenoid assembly 36 with a generally cylindrical and stepped diameter shell 38 having a skirt portion 40 at the lower end thereof, as viewed in Figure 2, that receives the upper end of a fuel nozzle assembly 42 which has a cylindrical, stepped diameter main casing 44.
  • the annular end of the skirt portion 40 of the shell 38 is crimped inwardly to grip the enlarged head portion 46 of the fuel nozzle assembly 42 to the lower end of the injector shell to rigidly secure the two assemblies together.
  • a reciprocably movable and elongated valve element 48 having at its lower end a semi-spherical core ball 50 which is adapted to be moved from a seated and fuel sealing engagement position with a cooperating valve seat 52 of valve body 54 to define a flow passage through nozzle assembly 42.
  • the valve element 48 is controlled in its movement by the electromagnetic force of a periodically energizable coil 56 of solenoid assembly 36 operatively mounted in the injector shell 38 and opposing the return force of a helical return spring 58.
  • the upper end of the valve element 48 is fixed within an armature 60 which strokes with radial clearance within the spacer ring 62 which operates as an outer pole piece in the magnetic circuit of the solenoid assembly 36.
  • Valve lift occurs on energization of the coil 56, which is wound about a hollow, elongate solenoid stator that forms the center pole piece 64 of the solenoid assembly 36.
  • the lower end of the center pole piece 64 terminates at working surface 66 which contacts, and limits the upward lift of, the armature 60 and attached valve element 48.
  • the center pole piece 64 accommodates the flow of fuel through the injector 10 by a centralized fuel flow passage 68 leading from injector fuel inlet 70 at its upper end to radial, intermediate flow passages 72. Fuel flows from the radial passages 72 through the annular passage 74 surrounding the lower portion of the center pole piece 64 and through the axial passages 76 in the spacer ring 62 to the fuel chamber 78 where it passes through the open valve seat 52 for distribution across the upper surface 53 of fuel director plate 20 and discharge through orifices 19.
  • the shell 38 is encased within an insulated polymer material 80 which is formed with an elongated side socket 82 having electrical leads 84, one of which is shown in Figure 2, that operatively connect the coil 56 to a control source of electrical power (not shown). Electrical pulses from the control are fed through leads 84 to the coil 56 to thereby affect the electromagnetic operation of the injector.
  • the fuel inlet end of the injector is configured for leak-free attachment to a source of fuel, in a conventional manner.
  • the fuel director plate 20 is supported in a fixed position between the lower end of the valve body 54 and an annular land 86 depending from the upper surface 88 of an atomizing air director plate 90.
  • the atomizing air director plate 90 is positioned below the fuel director plate 20 by cylindrical nozzle insert 92 which is adjustably threaded into an inner diameter 94 of stepped main casing 44 of fuel nozzle assembly 42.
  • the upper end 96 of the cylindrical nozzle insert 92 includes an annular shoulder 98 in which the atomizing air director plate 90 is seated and which is operable to position the air director plate, relative to the fuel director plate 20.
  • the annular land 86 defines annular space 100 between the fuel director plate 20 and the atomizing air director plate 90.
  • the space 100 communicates with atomizing air inlets 102, formed in main casing 44 of the fuel nozzle assembly 42, through openings 91.
  • the air inlets 102 in casing 44 communicate with a source of pressurized air such that an annular air chamber 104 which, as is illustrated in Figures 2 and 5, may be defined between the outer surface of main casing 44, the intake manifold 12, and resilient sealing members 106 and 108 seated in annular grooves 110 and 112 in the casing 44.
  • the annular air chamber 104 may be supplied with atomization air through the air supply passage 114 in intake manifold 12.
  • Pressurized air from passage 114 enters the injector 10 through the openings 102 in casing 44 and 91 in atomizing air director plate 90 and is distributed through space 100 for discharge through atomizing air orifices in air director plate 90.
  • the discharge of atomizing air is through orifices 116 which are located so as to impinge upon one of the fuel streams 16,18 departing the injector 10 through the fuel director plate 20. Impingement of the atomizing air from orifices 116 with a fuel stream will assist in atomization of the fuel.
  • air exiting the orifices 116 may be targeted so as to jacket the fuel sprays 16,18 to further define the fuel spray pattern exiting injector 10.
  • additional air may be discharged through orifices 118 in the air director plate 90.
  • the orifices 118 are configured to discharge pressurized air streams in a pattern which bisects the fuel streams 16,18 to thereby improve the separation of the streams at high flow rates. Assuring separation of the fuel streams 16,18 is desirable for minimizing fuel wetting of the walls in intake passages 22 and 24.
  • the number of orifices 116 and 118, discharging air through director plate 90, will depend on the desired level of fuel spray atomization and control of targeting and fuel spray configuration.
  • the atomizing air director plate 90 with a central fuel passage 120 defined by annular land 86, allows unimpeded fuel flow from injector 10 at all air flow rates. Fuel exiting injector 10 through fuel outlets 19 in fuel director plate 20, in instances of little or no atomizing air flow, passes through the central passage 120 in the atomizing air plate 90 without further contact with the injector body. As a result, wetting of the injector tip and subsequent dripping of the injector, a problem in prior art air assist injector designs used in multi-valve engines, is eliminated.
  • fuel exiting the injector 10 through director plate 20 in the presence of high atomizing air flow passes through central fuel passage 120 in the atomizing air plate 90 where it is further atomized and configured by the air streams exiting the orifices 116 and 118.
  • fuel delivery to the engine 14 is optimized at all atomizing air flow rates and, as such, across the entire engine operating range.
  • FIG 6 illustrates an additional embodiment of the present invention which is useful in engines having intake manifolds which lack the capability for internal air distribution.
  • fuel injector 10A includes an outer, air supply housing 130 which is received over the lower end, as viewed in Figure 6, of the injector 10A to define an annular air distribution chamber 132.
  • An inlet 134 is connected to a supply of atomization air, such as hose 136. The inlet 134 conducts atomization air from hose 136 into annular air distribution chamber 132 where it is distributed to the air inlet openings 102A in the injector casing 44A.
  • the present invention discloses a fuel injector useful for supplying highly atomized and targeted fuel to the intake system of an internal combustion engine.
  • a preferred embodiment of the fuel injector utilizes a nonintrusive, atomizing air director plate which is operable to direct variously targeted air streams which enhance both the atomization and the configuration of the fuel departing the injector.
  • the director plate may be configured to allow injector operation at all rates of atomizing air flow by allowing fuel flow through a central opening to prevent wetting of the injector tip and by injecting atomization air, when present, through a series of perimeter orifices.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Fuel-Injection Apparatus (AREA)
EP95203088A 1994-12-22 1995-11-13 Fuel injector Expired - Lifetime EP0718492B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US36141894A 1994-12-22 1994-12-22
US361418 1994-12-22

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0718492A1 EP0718492A1 (en) 1996-06-26
EP0718492B1 true EP0718492B1 (en) 1999-12-29

Family

ID=23421969

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95203088A Expired - Lifetime EP0718492B1 (en) 1994-12-22 1995-11-13 Fuel injector

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0718492B1 (pt)
AT (1) ATE188275T1 (pt)
BR (1) BR9505920A (pt)
DE (1) DE69514203T2 (pt)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5577666A (en) * 1995-08-15 1996-11-26 Siemens Automotive Corporation Air assist atomizer for a split stream fuel injector
GB2487934B (en) * 2011-02-08 2015-07-08 Bosch Gmbh Robert Fuel injection apparatus comprising a fuel atomisation system
DE102016200700A1 (de) 2016-01-20 2017-07-20 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Verfahren zum Betreiben einer direkteinspritzenden Brennkraftmaschine und fremdgezündete Brennkraftmaschine zur Durchführung eines derartigen Verfahrens

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4121372A1 (de) * 1991-05-31 1992-12-03 Bosch Gmbh Robert Vorrichtung zur einspritzung eines brennstoff-gas-gemisches
DE4129834A1 (de) * 1991-09-07 1993-03-11 Bosch Gmbh Robert Vorrichtung zur einspritzung eines brennstoff-gas-gemisches

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE188275T1 (de) 2000-01-15
DE69514203D1 (de) 2000-02-03
DE69514203T2 (de) 2000-05-11
BR9505920A (pt) 1997-12-23
EP0718492A1 (en) 1996-06-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4570598A (en) Air assist fuel distributor type fuel injection system
US5884611A (en) Effervescent injector for diesel engines
EP0201190B1 (en) Orifice director plate for electromagnetic fuel injector
US4274598A (en) Electromagnetic fuel injection valve for internal combustion engines
JP3109600B2 (ja) 燃料インジェクタの空気補給アトマイザ
JP2669819B2 (ja) 燃焼室を有する火花点火式内燃機関に液体燃料を噴射する方法
US5323966A (en) Apparatus for injecting a fuel-air mixture
US4771948A (en) Combination of a fuel injection valve and a nozzle
KR930004967B1 (ko) 전자식 연료 분사밸브
JP3478920B2 (ja) 筒内燃料噴射装置およびそれを搭載した内燃機関
US6499674B2 (en) Air assist fuel injector with multiple orifice plates
US5044562A (en) Dual spray director using an "H" annulus
US7677478B2 (en) Fuel injection valve
US5232163A (en) Apparatus for injecting a fuel/gas mixture
KR20010015858A (ko) 가압된 와류 연료 인젝터를 위한 플랫 니들
EP1020639B1 (en) Pulsed air assist fuel injector
JPH01310163A (ja) 燃料噴射器
JPH07259701A (ja) 電磁式燃料噴射弁
EP0718492B1 (en) Fuel injector
US6764031B2 (en) Fuel injection valve
EP0966606B1 (en) Air assist fuel injector
KR20010034747A (ko) 공기압력하에서 연료를 분무하기 위하여 다공성요소를구비한 연료인젝터
US5666920A (en) Fuel supply system for use with internal combustion engine
WO1996012095A2 (en) Single point fuel injection system
JP2771254B2 (ja) 電磁式燃料噴射弁

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT DE FR GB

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19961227

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19980424

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT DE FR GB

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 188275

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 20000115

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69514203

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20000203

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20021108

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20021115

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20021216

Year of fee payment: 8

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20031113

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040602

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20031113

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040730

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 20041110

Year of fee payment: 10

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20051113