Siemens Automotive Corporation

Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation

Continental Automotive Systems Corporation

Other

Continental Automotive Systems Us, Inc.

John F Nally, Jr

William A Peterson, Jr

Hamid Sayar

Wei-Min Ren

John S Bright

Frank Zimmermann

Michael Joseph Hornby

Perry Robert Czimmek

Jerry Edward Nines

Vernon R Warner

Michael J Frick

Christoph Kendlbacher

Debora E Nally

Jingming Jim Shen

Jeffrey B Pace

Jeff B Pace

Farid Heidari Miandoab

A fuel injector assembly includes a first coil that induces a time varying magnetic field into a second coil that is utilized to heat fuel flowing through the fuel injector. A first coil receives a first signal from a driver to generate a first magnetic field that moves an armature between an open and closed position. The second coil generates a second magnetic field generated by a current induced by the first coil into the second coil. The induced current is generated by an alternating current signal that is interposed onto a direct current signal sent to the first coil. The alternating current signal produces a time varying second magnetic field that induces heating of a magnetically active component with the fuel flow that in turn heats the fuel.

Inductive heated injector using voltage transformer technology

A fuel injector assembly includes a first coil driven by a direct current driver and a second coil driven by an alternating current driver where both the first coil and the second coil share a common connection to reduce the number of external terminal connections. The second coil generates a second magnetic field that is utilized to heat a component in thermal contact with the fuel flow that in turn heats fuel before exiting the fuel injector.

Inductive heated injector using a three wire connection

A fuel injector assembly includes a first coil that induces a time varying magnetic field into a second coil that is utilized to heat fuel flowing through the fuel injector. The second coil generates a second magnetic field generated by a current induced by the first coil into the second coil. The induced current is generated by an alternating current signal that is interposed onto a direct current signal sent to the first coil. The second coil also is electrically connected to pass current induced from the first coil into a component in thermal contact with the flowing fuel. The current from the secondary coil resistibly heats the component to provide an alternate mode of heating fuel flow.

Inductive heated injector using additional coil

A fuel injector that includes a housing, a seat, a metering disc and a closure member. The metering orifices can be located on a first virtual circle greater than a second virtual circle as defined by a projection of a sealing surface converging at a virtual apex projected on the metering disc. The metering disc can be dimpled to increase the spray angle. Various parameters can be utilized to achieve a desired cone size and spray angle. A method of controlling spray targeting of a fuel injector is also described.

Spray pattern control with non-angled orifices formed on a generally planar metering disc and reoriented on subsequently dimpled fuel injection metering disc

Spray pattern control with non-angled orifices formed on a dimpled fuel injection metering disc having a sac volume reducer

Spray pattern control with non-angled orifices formed on dimpled fuel injection metering disc having a sac volume reducer

A method and apparatus for measuring and controlling the temperature of fuel inside a fuel injector is provided. A first resistive element having a resistance that varies with temperature is positioned proximal the fuel within a fuel injector and a second resistive element having a known resistance is placed in series with the first resistive element and connected at a node. When a known voltage is applied across the resistor-divider network, the voltage generated at the node corresponds to the temperature of the fuel within the fuel injector. The first resistive element may also be used to heat the fuel within the injector to a predetermined temperature. Logic circuitry prevents energizing the first resistive heating element if any fuel injector coils are energized, thereby ensuring full voltage is available to drive the fuel injector coils.

Apparatus and method of control for a heated tip fuel injector

A fuel injector is disclosed. The fuel injector has an upstream end, a downstream end, and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The fuel injector also has a body and a cylindrical needle. The needle is reciprocably located within the body between an open configuration adapted for permitting delivery of fuel from the downstream end and a closed configuration adapted for preventing delivery of the fuel from the downstream end. The fuel injector further includes a seat disposed proximate the downstream end. The seat includes a sealing surface engageable with the needle when the needle is in the closed configuration. The sealing surface has a seating diameter. The seat also includes a seat opening extending therethrough along the longitudinal axis. The seat opening has an opening diameter such that a ratio between the opening diameter and the seating diameter is less than 0.6. A method of generating turbulent flow in a fuel injector is also provided.

Wall effect injector seat

A method of heating fuel includes providing a fuel injector having an internal heater and a reciprocable needle valve; providing fuel to the fuel injector; passing the fuel through at least one flow-disturbing element; and heating the fuel.

Method of enhancing heat transfer in a heated tip fuel injector

A fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine includes an armature assembly including an injector needle reciprocable between a closed position and an open position; a needle seat for receiving the injector needle in the closed position, the needle seat including a central opening therethrough; a discharge orifice disk disposed downstream of the needle seat, the discharge orifice disk directing fuel toward a desired location; and a turbulence generator disposed upstream of the discharge orifice disk.

Fuel injector with turbulence generator for fuel orifice

A heated tip fuel injector includes a housing having a bore formed therein for receiving fuel under pressure; a valve seat mounted at one end of the housing, the valve seat including an orifice; a needle valve having one end mounted to an armature and another end which contacts the valve seat to close off fuel outflow from the bore and which is lifted from the valve seat to inject fuel; a heater disposed in the housing upstream of the valve seat and extending around the needle valve; and at least one flow disturbing element disposed upstream of the heater. The flow-disturbing element enhances heat transfer from the heater to the fuel.

Heated tip fuel injector with enhanced heat transfer

A method of preheating fuel in a fuel injector with an internal heater energized to reduce emissions. The heater being a ceramic hollow cylinder disposed within a valve body just upstream of a valve seat where fuel is injected through an orifice into the engine. Conductors for energizing the heater extend into the valve body and are sealed against the escape of pressurized fuel. In one version, the conductors are extended through an O-ring to be sealed. In another version the conductors include pins extending through the valve body sidewall with glass seals fused to the valve body and the pins. The conductors may comprise flat foil strips clamped between the O-ring and an elastomeric washer. The conductors also may be molded into the magnetic coil bobbin and sealed where the conductors emerge into the fuel cavity. The heater has metallized surfaces to create current flow through its wall thickness, and the conductors are electrically connected respectively to the inner end and outer surfaces of the hollow cylinder by metallization patterns enabling both mechanical contacts to be made on the outside of the heater.

Method of preheating fuel with an internal heater

A fuel injector has an internal heater energized during cold starting to reduce emissions, the heater being a ceramic hollow cylinder disposed within a valve body just upstream of a valve seat where fuel is injected through an orifice into the engine. Conductors for energizing the heater extend into the valve body and are sealed against the escape of pressurized fuel. In one version, the conductors extend through an O-ring to be sealed. In another version the conductors include pins extending through the valve body sidewall with glass seals fused to the valve body and the pins. The conductors may comprise flat foil strips clamped between the O-ring and an elastomeric washer. The conductors also may be molded into the magnetic coil bobbin and sealed where the conductors emerge into the fuel cavity. The heater has metallized surfaces to create current flow through its wall thickness, and the conductors are electrically connected respectively to the inner end and outer surfaces of the hollow cylinder by metallization patterns enabling both mechanical contacts on the outside of the heater.

Fuel injector with internal heater

A shroud member for converting an extending tip fuel injector into an air assist fuel injector wherein the air metering is performed at a distance remote from the O-ring seals holding the injector into the engine manifold.

Extended tip air assist fuel injector

Multiple orifice disks are stacked and include one or more swirl disks. The effect of the stack of disks is to impart swirl to the fuel stream being ejected from the injector in a relatively short axial length. The geometry of the disks in the stack are such that the fuel from the top disk enters the bottom disk at the end of a pattern which operates to impart a swirl component to the fuel. The pattern in the bottom disk is typically a two layered pattern wherein the top layer is one half the thickness of the thin disk and the bottom layer is the second half of the thickness of the thin disk.

Growing community of inventors

Williamsburg, VA, United States of America

John F Nally, Jr