Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A fuel injector, system and method comprising means for ejecting fuel directly into a cylinder (14) an engine through a non-conductive, heat storing element. The element including a nozzle (44) portion comprising a preferably ceramic body having a narrow, first passage (158) in communication with a conical second portion (164). The two portions cooperating to cause the fuel to flow turbulently therethrough. The nozzle further includes a heater (174) for elevating the temperature to the nozzle to a predetermined temperture. In this manner, as the fuel contacts the heated nozzle it is atomized. In one embodiment of the invention a solid ceramic body is employed. In another embodiment, the nozzle (178) is formed by a plurality of stacked ceramic disks which include a central opening (182) therethrough and a plurality of heating elements (184), one for each disk. The openings (182) are sized to approximate the continuous conical portion of the solid body nozzle. A control (45) is provided for electrically heating the nozzle (44,178) during certain operating intervals of the engine and a method of operating the engine is described which permits the removal of the electrical energy and permits the nozzle to thereafter be heated by the heat of the combustion process in the cylinder.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim