Fuel injector with weld integrity arrangement

A shell for a fuel injector having a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, a fuel passageway extending from the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet, and a body with an exterior surface, the shell comprising:

• a first end;
• a second end;
• and
• an interior surface disposed between the first end and the second end, the interior surface comprising at least one cut-out, wherein the second end of the shell is welded to the exterior surface of the body and the interior surface of the shell is configured to cincture the exterior surface of the body such that fluid communicates between the exterior surface of the body and the fuel passageway through the at least one cut-out for particular weld integrities between the second end of the shell and the exterior surface of the body.

A method of forming a fuel injector including a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, and a fuel passageway extending from the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet, the method allowing weld integrity evaluation between a body and a shell of the fuel injector, comprising the step of:

• constructing the body comprising an inlet portion, an outlet portion, a body passage extending from the inlet portion to the outlet portion along a longitudinal axis, and an exterior surface;
• installing an armature adjacent the inlet portion of the body;
• connecting a needle to the armature such that the needle is positionable by the armature to permit or prohibit fuel flow through the fuel outlet;
• constructing the shell comprising a first end, a second end, and an interior surface, wherein the interior surface is disposed between the first end and the second end;
• and
• welding the second end of the shell to the exterior surface of the body.