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US 6,279,842 B1Granted
Magnetostrictively actuated fuel injector
AssigneeRodi Power Systems, Inc.
InventorByron Spain
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments of a fuel injector are provided for use in an internal combustion engine. Each embodiment uses an assembly that incorporates a magnetostrictive rod to extend and retract a needle to control fuel expulsion from the injector. In one embodiment, the fuel injector includes an actuation assembly and a nozzle assembly releasably connected thereto In another embodiment, the fuel injector includes a pintle-style needle tip. In yet other embodiments, the fuel injector includes a long-stem style needle tip.
Claims24
A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine, the fuel injector comprising:
- (a) an actuation assembly including an elongate injector body having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal bore;
- a housing having open first and second ends, an end cap closing off the housing first end;
- an electrically conductive coil, a magnetostrictive rod, and an insulator, the rod being positioned within the insulator, the insulator being positioned within the coil, the coil being positioned within the housing, and the housing being positioned within the body longitudinal bore;
- electrical components adapted to bring electric current into the housing and to the conductive coil;
- an output rod located at the housing second end and in direct contact with the magnetostrictive rod;
- and a rod-biasing spring;
- and
- (b) a nozzle assembly including a nozzle body with first and second ends, a needle having first and second ends, fuel expulsion holes formed in the nozzle body second end, and components to bias the needle in an specific direction within the nozzle body;
- and a fuel input port and passage being formed in the nozzle body and adapted to direct high pressure fuel to the fuel expulsion holes;
- wherein the nozzle body first end is releasably connected to the injector body second end and the rod-biasing spring is positioned to compress the magnetostrictive rod when the nozzle body and injector body are so connected;
- and
- wherein during use, application of electric current to the coil causes expansion of the magnetostrictive rod against the output rod and the rod-biasing spring;
- in doing so, the output rod further moves the needle and the components that are biasing the needle such that the fuel expulsion holes are opened, thus allowing high pressure fuel to exit the nozzle body.
10 more elements
A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine, the fuel injector comprising:
- (a) an actuation assembly including an elongate injector body having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal bore;
- a housing having open first and second ends, an end cap closing off the housing first end;
- an electrically conductive coil, a magnetostrictive rod, and an insulator, the rod being positioned within the insulator, the insulator being positioned within the coil, the coil being positioned within the housing, and the housing being positioned within the body longitudinal bore;
- electrical components adapted to bring electric current into the housing and to the conductive coil;
- and an output rod located at the housing second end and in direct contact with the magnetostrictive rod;
- and a rod-biasing spring;
- and
- (b) a nozzle assembly including a nozzle body with first and second ends, a needle having first and second ends, components to bias the needle in an upward direction within the nozzle body, fuel expulsion holes formed in the nozzle body second end, and a fuel input port and passage formed in the nozzle body and adapted to direct high pressure fuel to the fuel expulsion holes;
- wherein the nozzle body first end is connected to the actuation assembly second end, the rod-biasing spring being positioned to compress the magnetostrictive rod when the nozzle body and injector body are so connected;
- and the needle fit end contacts the output rod;
- wherein during use, application of electric current to the coil causes expansion of the magnetostrictive rod against the output rod and the rod-biasing spring;
- in doing so, the output rod further pushes against the needle thus overcoming the components biasing the needle in the upward direction and causing the needle to move longitudinally downward;
- downward motion of the needle second end allowing high pressure fuel to exit fuel expulsion holes in the nozzle body second end.
10 more elements
A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine, the fuel injector comprising:
- (a) an actuation assembly including an elongate injector body having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal bore;
- a housing having open first and second ends, an end cap closing off the housing first end;
- an electrically conductive coil, a magnetostrictive rod, and an insulator, the rod being positioned within the insulator, the insulator being positioned within the coil, the coil being positioned within the housing, and the housing being positioned within the body longitudinal bore;
- electrical components adapted to bring electric current into the housing and to the conductive coil;
- and an output rod located at the housing second end and in direct contact with the magnetostrictive rod;
- and a rod-biasing spring;
- and
- (b) a nozzle assembly including a nozzle body with fit and second ends, a needle having first and second ends, components to bias the needle in a downward direction within the nozzle body, fuel expulsion holes formed in the nozzle body second end, and a fuel input port and passage formed in the nozzle body and adapted to direct high pressure fuel to the fuel expulsion holes;
- wherein the nozzle body first end is connected to the actuation assembly second end, the rod-biasing spring being positioned to compress the magnetostrictive rod when the nozzle body and injector body are so connected;
- and the needle first end contacts the output rod;
- wherein during use, application of electric current to the coil causes expansion of the magnetostrictive rod against the output rod and the rod-biasing spring;
- in doing so, the output rod further pushes against the needle thus overcoming the components biasing the needle in the downward direction and causing the needle to move longitudinally upward;
- upward motion of the needle second end allowing high pressure fuel to exit fuel expulsion holes in the nozzle body second end.
10 more elements
A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine, the fuel injector comprising:
- (a) an elongate housing having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal bore extending therebetween, fuel expulsion holes located at the housing second end, and a fuel input port and passage formed in the housing and adapted to direct high pressure fuel to the fuel expulsion holes;
- an injector cap having a lower surface cavity;
- the injector cap closing off the housing fist end;
- (b) an actuation container, an electrically conductive coil, a magnetostrictive rod, an insulator, and an elongate needle having first and second ends;
- the elongate needle extending through the magnetostrictive rod, the rod being positioned within the insulator, the insulator being positioned within the coil, the coil being positioned within the container, and the container being positioned within the housing longitudinal bore;
- electrical components adapted to bring electric current into the container and to the conductive coil;
- (c) an output rod located at the container first end and in direct contact with the upper surface of the magnetostrictive rod;
- (d) a rod-biasing spring held in compression between the injector cap and the output rod;
- the rod-biasing spring providing sufficient compressive force to compress the magnetostrictive rod;
- (e) a needle-biasing spring held in compression in the injector cap lower surface cavity and pressing against a retainer nut attached to the first end of the elongate needle, the retainer nut pressing downward against the output rod;
- wherein during use, application of electric current to the coil causes expansion of the magnetostrictive rod upward against the output rod and the rod-biasing spring;
- in doing so, the output rod further pushes against the needle retainer nut thus overcoming the compressive force of the needle-biasing spring in the cavity and causing the needle to move longitudinally upward;
- upward motion of the needle second end allowing high pressure fuel to exit fuel expulsion holes in the nozzle body second end.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.