Cold start fuel injector with heater

Abstract

A cold start fuel injector is disclosed for use with an internal combustion engine of the type having an intake manifold and a fuel injection system. The cold start fuel injector includes a housing having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet. An outlet contained within the housing is fluidly connected to the fuel inlet and, when provided pressurized fuel at its inlet, generates a fuel spray into the intake manifold. A tubular and cylindrical heater is provided around the outlet from the nozzle so that the fuel spray from the nozzle passes through the heater and, in doing so, is vaporized for better fuel combustion and, thus, reduced emissions. Additionally, a mesh is preferably provided within the interior of the heater. This mesh which is optionally heated prevents large droplets of fuel from contacting and unduly cooling the heater. Similarly, fuel at a reduced pressure is provided to the nozzle of the cold start fuel injector. This relatively low fuel pressure also minimizes cooling of the heater during operation of the cold start fuel injector.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.