Swirl injector plunger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10920727-B2
Application number	US-201616301497-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	May 16, 2016
Publication date	Feb 16, 2021
Grant date	Feb 16, 2021

Abstract

A fluid injector assembly extending along a longitudinal axis comprising a housing, and an injector positioned within the housing, the injector comprising a injector body having an interior cavity, a plunger positioned within the interior cavity and comprising a plunger body, a fluid delivery passage along at least a portion of the plunger body, and a plunger tip positioned at a downstream end of the plunger body, the fluid delivery passage comprising a longitudinal passage and at least one internal swirl passage, and the internal swirl passage being angled relative to the longitudinal axis and extending from the longitudinal passage to an opening upstream of the plunger tip, and a nozzle positioned at a downstream end of the injector body and including at least one nozzle passage, fluid being delivered from an upstream end of the injector to the at least one nozzle passage through the fluid delivery passage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid injector assembly extending along a longitudinal axis comprising:
a housing; and
an injector positioned within the housing, the injector comprising:
an injector body having an interior cavity;
a plunger positioned within the interior cavity of the injector body, the plunger having a plunger body, a fluid delivery passage along at least a portion of the plunger body, and a plunger tip positioned at a downstream end of the plunger body, wherein the fluid delivery passage comprises a longitudinal passage and at least one internal swirl passage, the at least one internal swirl passage being angled relative to the longitudinal axis and extending from the longitudinal passage to an opening upstream of the plunger tip, and each of the plunger tip, the opening, and a distal end of the longitudinal passage being adjacent a distal end of the plunger body; and
a nozzle positioned at a downstream end of the injector body, the nozzle having at least one nozzle passage, wherein fluid is delivered from an upstream end of the injector to the at least one nozzle passage of the nozzle through the fluid delivery passage.

2. The injector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal swirl passage defines a helical fluid passage.

3. The injector assembly of claim 2 , wherein the at least one internal swirl passage is angled downward relative to the longitudinal axis of the injector assembly.

4. The injector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal swirl passage extends diagonally outward from the longitudinal passage to the opening upstream of the plunger tip.

5. The injector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal swirl passage has an inlet diameter and an outlet diameter, the outlet diameter being smaller than the inlet diameter.

6. The injector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plunger further comprises a head including a retention member configured to inhibit rotation of the plunger during operation of the injector assembly.

7. A fluid injector comprising:
an injector body comprising an interior cavity; and
a plunger positioned within the interior cavity of the injector body, the plunger having a plunger body, a fluid delivery passage extending from an upstream end of the plunger to a downstream end of the plunger, and a plunger tip comprising an upstream end and a downstream end, wherein the fluid delivery passage includes an internal longitudinal passage, a plurality of swirl passages, and an opening; the plurality of swirl passages each extending about an exterior surface of the plunger tip from the upstream end to the downstream end; the opening being positioned upstream of the plunger tip; and the plunger tip, the opening, and a distal end of the internal longitudinal passage are adjacent a distal end of the plunger body.

8. The fluid injector of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of swirl passages includes a constant diameter from the upstream end to the downstream end.

9. The fluid injector of claim 7 , wherein a diameter of the plurality of swirl passages at the upstream end of the plunger tip is larger than a diameter of the plurality of swirl passages at the downstream end of the plunger tip.

10. The fluid injector of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of swirl passages extend helically about the exterior surface of the plunger tip.

11. A plunger for a fluid injector, comprising:
a head comprising a retention member;
a body coupled to the head and extending along a longitudinal axis of the plunger;
a tip coupled to the body; and
a fluid delivery passage angled relative to the longitudinal axis and including a longitudinal passage and an opening, the opening being positioned upstream of the tip, and each of the tip, the opening, and a distal end of the longitudinal passage being adjacent a distal end of the body.

12. The plunger of claim 11 , wherein the fluid delivery passage includes a first portion positioned within the body and a second portion angled relative to the longitudinal axis.

13. The plunger of claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the fluid delivery passage is positioned within the body.

14. The plunger of claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the fluid delivery passage is external to the body at the tip.

15. The plunger of claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the fluid delivery passage defines a helical flow passage.

16. The plunger of claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the fluid delivery passage has an inlet diameter and an outlet diameter, the outlet diameter being smaller than the inlet diameter.

17. The plunger of claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the fluid delivery passage has a constant diameter.

18. The plunger of claim 11 , wherein the retention member comprises at least one protrusion.

19. The plunger of claim 11 , wherein the retention member comprises at least one flat engagement surface.

20. The plunger of claim 11 further comprising a recessed portion coupled to the body, the tip being coupled to the body through the recessed portion and having a diameter greater than that of the recessed portion, wherein the fluid delivery passage includes a first portion positioned within the body and a second portion angled relative to the longitudinal axis and having an inlet in fluid communication with the first portion and an outlet, at least one of the inlet and the outlet being positioned within the recessed position.

21. A fluid injector assembly comprising:
an injector body;
the plunger of claim 11 ; and
a nozzle positioned at a downstream end of the injector body, the nozzle having at least one nozzle passage, wherein fluid is delivered from an upstream end of the injector body to the at least one nozzle passage of the nozzle through the fluid delivery passage.

Assignees

• Cummins Inc

Inventors

• Shaull Anthony
• Buchanan David L
• Peters Lester L
• Stroia Bradlee J
• Daniel William D

Classifications

• F02M61/08

  the valves opening in direction of fuel flow {(F02M61/047 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F02M63/0078

  Valve member details, e.g. special shape, hollow or fuel passages in the valve member · CPC title

• F02M61/162 Primary

  Means to impart a whirling motion to fuel upstream or near discharging orifices · CPC title

• F02M51/0682

  the body being hollow and its interior communicating with the fuel flow (F02M51/0675 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02M61/1866

  Valve seats or member ends having multiple cones · CPC title