Importance

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Abstract

A fuel injector employs at least one sensing device for sensing changes in the thermodynamic properties of the fuel within the injector to thereby monitor injector performance during usage. In some embodiments, advantageously placed temperature sensors are employed to detect the release of thermal energy which occurs when the potential energy of a fuel at high-pressure is suddenly converted into kinetic energy by lowering the pressure of the fuel. Other embodiments of the instant invention employ advantageously placed pressure sensors to detect sudden changes in fuel pressure which occur during the course of the injection cycle. Whereas the sensing devices of the instant invention can be placed at a variety of locations, they are preferably placed to detect changes in the thermodynamic properties of the fuel flowing within an injector where such changes are appreciably large during injector usage. Preferably, injectors of the instant invention are compatible with microprocessor-based fuel-injection control systems to maintain near-ideal injector performance.

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First Claim