Fuel injector for gaseous fuel and valve assembly for the same
AssigneeCummins Inc.
InventorsRaymond V. Primus, Ross A. Phillips, Anthony Allan Shaull, Andrew Jacob Laska
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel injector for gaseous fuel is provided. The fuel injector includes a valve assembly with a fuel flow valve and a second valve. The fuel flow valve is actively controlled to permit and prohibit gaseous fuel flow through the fuel injector. The second valve is spaced from the fuel flow valve and passively controlled to open in response to the gaseous fuel flow though the fuel flow valve, and to close when the gaseous fuel flow is terminated by closing the fuel flow valve.
Claims20
A fuel injector for providing gaseous fuel to a combustion chamber, the fuel injector comprising:
- an elongated injector body defining a longitudinally extending fuel passage therein, the fuel passage extending from a gas inlet end to a gas outlet end of the injector body;
- a fuel flow valve that is selectively opened and closed to control gaseous fuel flow through the fuel passage to the combustion chamber, wherein the fuel flow valve includes:
- a valve seat that includes a seat passage, the seat passage in fluid communication with the fuel passage, wherein the valve seat includes an outer seat member including an outer inlet end, an inner seat member including an inner inlet end and located at least partially within the outer seat member, and the seat passage is between the outer seat member and the inner seat member;
- and
- a plunger including a sealing member, wherein the sealing member sealingly engages the valve seat to prevent gaseous fuel from flowing through the seat passage to the gas outlet end of the fuel injector body;
- and
- an actuator coupled to the plunger, wherein the actuator is operable longitudinally displace the plunger from the valve seat to open the seat passage and permit gaseous fuel flow though the valve seat to the gas outlet end.
A valve assembly in an axially extending gaseous fuel passage of a fuel injector for providing gaseous fuel to a combustion chamber through a gas outlet end of the fuel injector, the valve assembly comprising:
- a first valve in the gaseous fuel passage, the first valve including a first valve seat and a first plunger, wherein the first plunger is actuatable between an open position in which the first plunger is axially spaced from the first valve seat to allow gaseous fuel flow through the first valve and a closed position in which the first plunger is in sealing contact with the first valve seat to prevent gaseous fuel flow through the first valve;
- and
- a second valve in the gaseous fuel passage, the second valve axially spaced from the first valve along the gaseous fuel passage, the second valve including a second valve seat downstream of the first valve seat to receive gaseous fuel flow from the first valve seat when the first plunger is in an open position, the second valve including a second plunger that engages with the second valve seat to inhibit combustion gases from flowing upstream through the second valve to reach the first valve seat, wherein the first plunger is moved toward the gas outlet end to open the first valve and the second plunger is moved toward the gas outlet end to open the second valve.
A valve assembly in an axially extending gaseous fuel passage of a fuel injector for providing gaseous fuel to a combustion chamber through a gas outlet end of the fuel injector, the valve assembly comprising:
- a first valve in the gaseous fuel passage, the first valve including a first valve seat and a first plunger, wherein the first plunger is actuatable between an open position in which the first plunger is axially spaced from the first valve seat to allow gaseous fuel flow through the first valve and a closed position in which the first plunger is in sealing contact with the first valve seat to prevent gaseous fuel flow through the first valve, wherein the first valve seat includes:
- an outer seat member, the outer seat member including an outer inlet end in sealing contact with the first plunger while the first valve is in the closed position;
- an inner seat member located at least partially within the outer seat member, the inner seat member including an inner inlet end in sealing contact with the second plunger while the first valve is in the closed position;
- and
- a seat passage extends between the outer seat member and the inner seat member, the seat passage configured to allow gaseous fuel flow through the first valve seat while the first valve is in the open position;
- and
- a second valve in the gaseous fuel passage, the second valve axially spaced from the first valve along the gaseous fuel passage, the second valve including a second valve seat and a second plunger that engages with the second valve seat to inhibit combustion gases from reaching the first valve, wherein the first plunger is moved toward the gas outlet end to open the first valve and the second plunger is moved toward the gas outlet end to open the second valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.