Fuel injector

Abstract

A fuel injector is disclosed that includes a valve body with a plurality of nozzle holes for injecting fuel in a hollow spray from the fuel injector. The plurality of nozzle holes each include an outlet. The valve body also includes at least one air-introducing aperture with an air outlet port positioned between the outlets of the plurality of nozzle holes. The air-introducing aperture is operable for introducing air into a hollow area of the hollow spray.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numbers and in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of a fuel injector according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a tip part of the fuel injector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tip part taken on line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the tip part in a second embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the tip part in a third embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the tip part of the fuel injector according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the tip part of the fuel injector according to a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the tip part taken on line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the tip part in a sixth embodiment.

Claims

1. A fuel injector comprising: a valve body with a plurality of nozzle holes for injecting fuel in a hollow spray from the fuel injector, the plurality of nozzle holes each including an outlet;wherein the valve body also includes at least one air-introducing aperture with an air outlet port provided between the outlets of the plurality of nozzle holes, the air introducing aperture for introducing air into a hollow area of the hollow spray.

2. A fuel injector according to claim 1, wherein the air introducing aperture also includes an air inlet port in a side surface of the valve body, and wherein the air outlet port is provided on a tip face of the valve body.

3. A fuel injector according to claim 1, wherein the valve body defines an axis, and wherein the air introducing aperture and the nozzle holes are offset in a circumferential direction in relation to each other and in relation to the axis.

4. A fuel injector according to claim 1, wherein the air-introducing aperture is a groove that extends between the outlet of the plurality of nozzle holes.

5. A fuel injector according to claim 4, wherein the groove extends from a side surface of the valve body to a tip face of the valve body.

6. A fuel injector according claim 1, further comprising a plurality of air outlet ports, wherein the plurality of nozzle holes are arranged in a plurality of groups of at least three, and wherein each of the air outlet ports is provided between the outlets of one group of the nozzle holes.

7. A fuel injector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of nozzle holes are arranged in an inner peripheral-side nozzle hole group and an outer peripheral-side nozzle hole group, wherein the inner peripheral-side nozzle hole group is encompassed by the outer peripheral-side nozzle hole group, and wherein the air outlet port is provided between the outlets of the inner peripheral-side nozzle hole group and the outlets of the outer peripheral-side nozzle hole group.

8. A fuel injector according to claim 7, wherein fuel injected from the inner peripheral-side nozzle hole group and the outer peripheral-side nozzle hole group forms a double hollow spray.

9. A fuel injector according to claim 1, further comprising a fuel passage in the valve body, a valve member provided in the fuel passage, and a valve seat in the valve body, wherein the valve member seats on and moves away from the valve seat, wherein a space is defined between the valve member and the valve seat when the valve member is seated on the valve seat, and wherein the plurality of nozzle holes are in fluid communication with the space.

10. A fuel injector according to claim 9, further comprising a housing supporting an outer periphery of the valve body.

11. A fuel injector according to claim 1, wherein: the fuel injector is employed in an internal combustion engine including a combustion chamber for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber;the valve body of the fuel injector exposed to the combustion chamber; andair in the combustion chamber circulates by flowing into an air inlet port of the air-introducing aperture and out of the air outlet port of the air-introducing aperture.