Fuel injector for an internal combustion engine
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsZhongyi Liu, Michael P. Balogh, Nicholas P. Irish, Matthew T. Hamilton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle component includes a surface that is configured to contact a fuel containing ethanol and zinc ions. A sacrificial carbon layer is disposed on the surface. The sacrificial carbon layer has a thickness of greater than or equal to about 250 nm to less than or equal to about 5 μm. The sacrificial carbon layer includes carbon that is configured to complex and solubilize ZnO deposited on the surface, wherein the ZnO forms from the zinc ions carried by the fuel.
Claims20
A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an injector body having an inlet, an outlet, and a passageway for fuel to flow from the inlet to the outlet;
- a movable valve portion disposed in the passageway that translates between an open position and a closed position, wherein the movable valve portion defines a seat contacting element having an outermost exposed surface that comprises a sacrificial carbon layer;
- and
- a valve seat defined at the outlet, wherein in the closed position, the movable valve portion sealingly engages with the valve seat and in the open position, the movable valve portion is spaced from the valve seat to open the fuel injector permitting fuel to flow through the outlet.
A vehicle component comprising:
- a surface that is configured to contact a fuel comprising ethanol and zinc ions;
- and
- a sacrificial carbon layer disposed on the surface, the sacrificial carbon layer having a thickness of greater than or equal to about 250 nm to less than or equal to about 5 μm, wherein the sacrificial carbon layer comprises carbon that is configured to complex with and solubilize ZnO deposited on the surface, wherein the ZnO forms from the zinc ions carried by the fuel.
A method of protecting a vehicle component from corrosion resulting from contact with fuel comprising ethanol, the method comprising:
- disposing a sacrificial carbon layer on a surface of a vehicle component that is configured to contact fuel comprising ethanol and zinc ions;
- and
- contacting the surface of the vehicle part having the sacrificial carbon layer to fuel comprising ethanol, wherein the sacrificial carbon layer comprises carbon that complexes and solubilizes ZnO deposited on the surface, wherein the ZnO forms from the zinc ions carried by the fuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.