Methods and systems for a fuel injector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11300085-B2
Application number	US-201816122719-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 5, 2018
Priority date	Sep 5, 2018
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a fuel injector. In one example, a system may include an injector comprising two or more passages shaped to flow a mixture in opposite directions before injecting the mixture.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
an injector comprising a first passage shaped to flow a mixture in a first direction, a second passage fluidly coupled to the first passage and shaped to flow the mixture in a second direction, and a third passage fluidly coupled to the second passage and shaped to flow the mixture in a third direction, wherein the third passage is fluidly coupled to a venturi passage, wherein a venturi outlet of the venturi passage ejects the mixture from the injector, and wherein the second passage is configured to flow the mixture along exterior surfaces of the venturi passage, including an exterior surface of the venturi outlet that is perpendicular to a central axis of the injector and is exposed to the second passage, where the venturi outlet is positioned closer to a combustion chamber than a venturi inlet,
wherein a width of the first passage increases in the first direction, toward the venturi outlet of the injector, and wherein the width of the first passage is largest at an end of the first passage that is closest to the venturi outlet, and
wherein the first direction and the third direction are identical to one another and opposite to the second direction.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first passage is arranged distal to the central axis of the injector relative to the second passage and the third passage, wherein an inlet to the first passage is arranged upstream in the injector of the second passage and the third passage so that the first passage receives the mixture before the second and third passages, wherein the first passage extends in the first direction toward a plurality of lower openings arranged adjacent to the venturi outlet, wherein the plurality of lower openings form an inlet to the second passage from the first passage, and wherein a line normal to the lower openings is arranged perpendicular to the central axis of the injector so that the mixture flows in a fourth direction parallel to the line normal to the plurality of lower openings, the fourth direction perpendicular to the first direction.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second passage is arranged closer to the central axis of the injector than the first passage, the second passage extending in the second direction, away from the plurality of lower openings and toward a plurality of upper openings arranged further inward in the injector than the plurality of lower openings, wherein a line normal to the plurality of upper openings is arranged perpendicular to each of the first, second, and third directions and parallel to the fourth direction so that the mixture flows in a fifth direction through the plurality of upper openings, the fifth direction arranged parallel to the fourth direction, and wherein the plurality of upper openings form an inlet into the third passage from the second passage, the third passage arranged closer to the central axis of the injector than the first and second passages.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third directions are parallel to one another and wherein the mixture is a fuel mixture.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second passage is arranged between the first passage and the third passage, and wherein the venturi passage is the only passage shaped to flow the mixture out of the injector, with the venturi outlet arranged at an extreme end of the venturi passage and the injector.

6. A fuel injector, comprising:
an undulating fuel flow path, comprising:
a first passage shaped to receive a fuel mixture from an end arranged distal to a combustion chamber, wherein the first passage is shaped to flow the fuel mixture in a first direction toward the combustion chamber;
a second passage shaped to receive the fuel mixture via one or more lower openings fluidly coupling the second passage to the first passage at a position proximal to the combustion chamber, wherein the second passage is shaped to flow the fuel mixture in a second direction away from the combustion chamber; and
a third passage shaped to receive the fuel mixture via one or more upper openings fluidly coupling the third passage to the second passage at a position distal to the combustion chamber, wherein the third passage is shaped to flow the fuel mixture in a third direction toward the combustion chamber, and wherein the third passage is fluidly coupled to a nozzle outlet that is a part of a nozzle passage, the nozzle outlet comprising a venturi shape, wherein the nozzle outlet includes the venturi inlet and a venturi outlet with a venturi throat positioned between the venturi inlet and the venturi outlet, and wherein the nozzle passage is configured to eject the fuel mixture directly to the combustion chamber,
wherein the second passage is configured to flow the fuel mixture along exterior surfaces of the nozzle passage, including an exterior surface of the venturi outlet that is perpendicular to a central axis of the fuel injector and is exposed to the second passage, where the venturi outlet is positioned closer to the combustion chamber than the venturi inlet,
wherein a width of the first passage increases in the first direction, toward the venturi outlet of the injector, and wherein the width of the first passage is largest at an end of the first passage that is closest to the venturi outlet.

7. The fuel injector of claim 6 , further comprising an injector needle positioned within the third passage, where the fuel mixture flow from the third passage to the nozzle outlet is adjusted via a position of the injector needle, wherein the injector is adjustable between a closed position where a head of the injector needle is positioned against a venturi inlet of the nozzle outlet and an open position where the head of the injector needle is positioned away from the venturi inlet, and wherein the fuel mixture is stopped from flowing to the nozzle outlet when the injector needle is in the closed position and the fuel mixture flows to and through the nozzle outlet when the injector needle is in the open position.

8. The fuel injector of claim 7 , wherein the venturi throat is narrower than each of the venturi inlet and the venturi outlet.

9. The fuel injector of claim 6 , wherein the first, second, and third passages are concentric relative to a central axis of the fuel injector.

10. The fuel injector of claim 6 , wherein the undulating fuel flow path comprises no additional inlets or other outlets other than the first passage and the nozzle outlet.

11. A system, comprising:
an injector comprising a first passage shaped to flow a mixture in a first direction, a second passage fluidly coupled to the first passage and shaped to flow the mixture in a second direction, and a third passage fluidly coupled to the second passage and shaped to flow the mixture in a third direction, wherein the third passage is fluidly coupled to a venturi passage, wherein a venturi outlet of the venturi passage ejects the mixture from the injector, and wherein the second passage is configured to flow the mixture along exterior surfaces of the venturi passage, including the venturi outlet,
wherein a width of the first passage increases in the first direction, toward the venturi outlet of the injector, and wherein the width of the first passage is largest at an end of the first passage that is closest to the venturi outlet, and
wherein an interior surface of an outer body of the injector is directly exposed to the first passage.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the exterior surfaces of the venturi passage include an exterior surface of the venturi outlet that are perpendicular to a central axis of the injector, and where the venturi outlet is positioned clo

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Zhang Xiaogang
• Meinhart Mark
• Basmaji Joseph F
• Yi Jianwen James

Classifications

• F02M61/1833 Primary

  Discharge orifices having changing cross sections, e.g. being divergent · CPC title

• F02M61/042

  The valves being provided with fuel passages · CPC title

• F02M53/06 Primary

  with fuel-heating means, e.g. for vaporising · CPC title

• F02M61/188

  Spherical or partly spherical shaped valve member ends · CPC title

• F02M61/1886

  Details of valve seats not covered by groups F02M61/1866 - F02M61/188 · CPC title