Fuel injector testing device and method

A device for determining the fuel flow condition of a fuel injector while said fuel injector is in its operating position in an engine, which comprises,

• a liquid reservoir;
• a measuring chamber;
• a conduit providing passage for said liquid from said reservoir to said measuring chamber and from said chamber to the fuel inlet of said fuel injector;
• said chamber to retain a predetermined initial quantity of said liquid;
• pressurization means connected to said chamber to maintain the liquid in said chamber under substantially constant pressure;
• and
• an activatable power source electrically connected to said fuel injector to open said fuel injector to liquid flow for at least one predetermined time interval;
• said power source when activated opening said fuel injector to the flow of a portion of said initial quantity of said liquid under said constant pressure from said chamber through said fuel injector during said time interval, the amount of said portion of said liquid, relative to the amount of like liquid passed in an equal time interval through a like reference fuel injector, being indicative of said fuel flow condition of said fuel injector.

A method of determining the fuel flow condition of a fuel injector while the fuel injector remains in its operating position in an engine, which comprises:

• a. containing an initial quantity of liquid under constant pressure in a measuring chamber and in a liquid conduit connecting said chamber to said subject fuel injector;
• b. passing a portion of said quantity of said liquid through said fuel injector under substantially the same constant pressure during at least one predetermined time interval;
• and
• c. determining by reference to said measuring chamber the volume of liquid which has passed through said fuel injector during said time interval;
• and
• d. comparing said volume of said portion of said liquid passed through said fuel injector with the volume of like liquid which passes through a reference fuel injector in an equal time interval, the comparison between the two volumes being indicative of the fuel flow condition of said subject fuel injector.