Multi-fuel injector and method
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsDana R. Coldren, Lifeng Wang, Eric L. Schroeder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel injector capable of injecting a plurality of different fuels in a single fuel injection event includes a body including a primary fuel path and a pilot fuel path and a first plunger in fluid communication with the pilot fuel path. The fuel injector also includes a second plunger in fluid communication with the primary fuel path and with the pilot fuel path, a hydraulic control chamber within the pilot fuel path, and an injection valve at which the primary fuel path and the pilot fuel path connect to each other.
Claims20
A fuel injector capable of injecting a plurality of different fuels in a single fuel injection event, the fuel injector comprising:
- a body including a primary fuel path and a pilot fuel path;
- a first plunger in fluid communication with the pilot fuel path;
- a second plunger in fluid communication with the primary fuel path and with the pilot fuel path;
- a pilot fuel connection configured to be positioned within a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine when the fuel injector is installed in the internal combustion engine;
- a hydraulic control chamber within the pilot fuel path;
- and
- an injection valve at which the primary fuel path and the pilot fuel path connect to each other.
A fuel injection method, comprising:
- receiving a primary fuel with a primary fuel path within a body of a fuel injector;
- receiving a pilot fuel with a pilot fuel path within the body of the fuel injector, the pilot fuel having a higher cetane number as compared to a cetane number of the primary fuel;
- pressurizing pilot fuel within a hydraulic control chamber in the pilot fuel path;
- supplying primary fuel to a nozzle of the fuel injector with a primary fuel plunger connected to the hydraulic control chamber;
- supplying pilot fuel to the nozzle of the fuel injector;
- and
- injecting the pilot fuel and the primary fuel from the nozzle of the fuel injector.
A fuel injector, comprising:
- a body;
- a primary fuel connection configured to receive primary fuel;
- a pilot fuel connection configured to receive pilot fuel, the pilot fuel connection being positioned within a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine when the fuel injector is installed in the internal combustion engine;
- a plunger that is isolated from the primary fuel;
- a hydraulic chamber defined in part with the plunger, the hydraulic chamber being in fluid communication with the pilot fuel connection;
- and
- a second plunger that, when actuated, is configured to deliver the primary fuel to a nozzle of the fuel injector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.