The generation of a lateral directional swirl condition from the mass airflow stream within the induction conduit (or main port) of the typical Internal combustion (IC) engine generated during its intake cycle has long been recognized as a means to enhance certain desirable performance aspects therein. The goal is to find the perfect balance between the amplitude and/or angle of swirl generated and a reduction in the high end airflow dimension which results in reduced top end performance. Further, the optimal preferred lateral direction of the swirl, from either the left or the right, varies with different IC engine configurations. Vapor-phasing liquid fuel independent of excessive waste heat has also been shown to provide enhanced overall engine efficiency and environmental compatibility. Further, in port fuel injected engines, the location of the final fuel distribution point as well as the angle relative to the longitudinal center axis of a port fuel injector has been shown to be of value in maximizing the performance benefits of port fuel injection systems.
Many attempts to create fixed intra-port mass airflow diversion or swirl generators independent of direct fuel flow diversion and/or vapor-phasing have been made in the past. Further, Several attempts to create selectively variable intra-port swirl generators have been made such as Sakurai et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,669 to Toyota and Khalighi et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,883 to GM. These devices are also independent of direct fuel flow diversion and/or vapor-phasing capability. These devices are designed to allow for on the fly mass airflow directional variability, but, are very complicated and costly to implement and produce greatly limiting their overall market potential.
Klaski et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,158 to Bosch discloses a simple approach to injecting liquid fuel deeper into the induction conduit where it can then be deflected and/or dispersed in an advantageous manner. The Klaski device is very narrowly focused on the single task of redirecting post nozzle injected liquid fuel. As such the fundamental functions of the device are antithetical to those of the here disclosed invention in key aspects. Any diversion of mass air flow created by the Klaski device is incidental to the goal to shield a “cord-like jet” stream of injected liquid fuel from any disruption of its path, in full liquid form, to its final distribution point. The final distribution point is a physical obstruction placed in the path of the “cord-like jet” stream of injected liquid fuel. The only energy supplied for this distribution method is that from a fuel pump. Conversely, in the most preferred of several embodiments, the mufti-function flow diversion device disclosed herein is specifically designed to direct a portion of the induction mass air flow directly into the path of the injected liquid fuel flow and combine the energy of both a fuel pump AND the mass air flow to produce a far superior final fuel distribution outcome. Further, in light of the fundamentally antithetical goals, Klaski actually seeks to keep mass air flow diversion to an absolute minimum and not allow for any useful range of variability for generating swirl or any other purpose. Further, the Klaski device is not well suited for the aftermarket or aftermarket retro-fit as it requires a specially designed fuel injector nozzle not normally used in OEM fuel injectors.
Alternatively, the here disclosed invention is specifically designed to address the useful considerations of ease of selectively variable induction conduit mass air and/or air & fuel swirl and/or redirection, control and the amplitude of the same, combined with improved fuel delivery location and combustion efficient condition through vapor-phasing. All of this can be achieved with simplicity and extreme ease of implementation into OEM production, or, as an aftermarket upgrade, and, at a cost that ranges from low to less than zero (0). The here disclosed invention can take advantage of the main obstruction within an induction conduit, which is, the intake valve stem and guide boss, in most applications, to actually create potential for an increase in top end flow dimension. This may allow for some additional lateral directional swirl to be introduced and the benefits therefore realized without reducing top end flow dimension which can add additional top end performance. The here disclosed invention further allows, in certain situations, to actually reduce existing swirl and straighten the flow to affect higher top end flow dimension if so desired and to do so with ease.
This application is related to and a continuation of provisional patent application No. 62/176,270 dated Feb. 18, 2015 & No. 62/231,678 dated Jul. 13, 2015.
An Intra-Port Air and Fuel Flow Diversion Device:
The typical modern IC engine port fuel injection system utilizes an electromagnetic solenoid based port fuel injector for providing per-determined variably timed and metered injection of primarily liquid fuel into the mass inducted air stream on its way to the combustion chamber by way of a main port or induction conduit, primarily during the intake cycle. The port fuel injector is typically a small cylindrical tube like structure that accepts pressurized fuel at its inlet end and uses an electromagnetic solenoid within its main body to control an internal valve, that, when open, delivers pressurized fuel to the fuel spray nozzle tip end.
Such systems generally allow for ease of removal and installation of the port fuel injectors within and onto the top of the induction conduit or intake manifold by means of a mounting sub-port therein. Such systems generally allow for a significant range of free angled rotation of the fuel injector along its center longitudinal axis in the fully seated and installed position without impacting its performance or causing leaks or any other negative issue. By attaching a an airflow diverting blade like structure to the intra-port tip end of the fuel injector it is possible to take advantage of the typical fuel injector's externally selectively variable rotational angle range of motion to allow for ease post install of manual selection of the angle of the intra-port blade like structure and precisely and incrementally increase or decrease the amplitude and/or angle and/or direction of the air & fuel flow diversion and fuel swirl desired for each individual cylinder therein. These factors make the invention very well suited for very low cost and rapid OEM production and/or the aftermarket, but do not preclude other more complex and/or fixed adaptation of its novel combined functions. Post install externally visible indexing marks, as part of the adapted blade like flow diversion device OR as added to the OEM fuel injector itself, allows for the intra-port adjustable airflow diversion device to be precisely indexed relative to its coaxial engagement with the fuel injector itself and/or relative to the longitudinal induction conduit flow direction, in order to optimize performance and/or fuel efficiency with ease.
Further the opportunity to improve the fuel delivery location and combustion efficient condition through vapor-phasing is created. This is accomplished Through the addition of the carburetor like barrel and venturi arrangement which when combined with typical port fuel injection creates a Hybrid Fuel Injection (HFI) system. With this system it is possible to create the venturi effect without necessarily reproducing the typical carburetor like ID profile. HFI is capable of maximizing the potential of both systems simultaneously with a simple low cost device that has no moving parts and is self cleaning making it zero (0) maintenance and zero (0) service required for beyond the life of the engine. Early indications from real world application is that HFI may keep an engine internally cleaner than even port fuel injection which is far superior to Direct Injection (DI). HFI can provide much of the same benefits of DI without all the cost, complexity, safety and maintenance drawbacks.
The basic preferred structures for the Intra-port mass air OR mass air & fuel flow diversion and vapor-phasing devices includes elements that are selected or excluded and mixed and matched to form several useful versions of the fuel injection system disclosed herein which is not necessarily limited to and include:
The preferred “extended blade like structure” defined as a piece of solid material having a leading and a trailing edge (
The “mixing junction” is defined as the area, point, gap and/or structure located proximately in between the inlet end of the “hollow tubular” structure and fuel spray nozzle tip end of the port fuel injector wherein fractionally diverted mass airflow first converges with the injected fuel mixing the two (2) elements together and accelerating them both into and through the hollow tubular structure.
As disclosed herein functionally aligned engagement with a port fuel injector can be accomplished either by integrating an intra-port flow diverting blade type unit as integral to the final construction of a typical port fuel injector, OR, through the application of a separate flow diverting blade unit as the type depicted in
Retro-fit can also be achieved by arranging an integral per-determined proximate coaxial functional engagement of a basic or similar structure with the fuel injector nozzle tip end by attaching it to the intra-port side of the fuel injector mounting sub-port (
In preferred embodiment No. 1, a retro-fit version of an intra-port air and fuel flow diversion device includes a small protruding lip or flange incorporated at the top end of the collar (
As depicted in ,
As depicted in
To further aid in the final manipulation of the angle of the blade, relative to the fuel injector and/or the longitudinal direction of the induction conduit and relative to a predetermined neutral angle, visible angle markings upon the outer surface of the blade unit's collar can be applied as depicted in
In preferred embodiment No. 2, the retro-fit version of a flow diverting blade unit in preferred embodiment No. 1 does not include a gradient progressively partially constricted interior barrel structure and instead employs a solid blade structure as depicted in
It may also be possible to extend the relief area below the collar (
In preferred embodiment No. 3, whether integral or retro-fit, the vapor phasing function is not arranged in functional engagement with any blade like structure as defined herein. Many other shapes such a simple through hollow tube like structure (
In preferred embodiment No. 4, a retro-fit version of a blade unit includes a means by which the fuel injector's lower or nozzle end 0-ring seal arrangement is can be by-passed to allow an expanded open end collar section (
In preferred embodiment No. 5, whether integral or retro-fit, the said blade unit may be machined or forged or cast or formed of various preferred materials not limited to and including, aluminum, titanium, magnesium, steel, stainless steel, copper, bronze, brass, carbon fiber or plastic.
The blade section itself may be machined or forged or cast or formed in various preferred cross sectional shapes not limited to and including hexagonal (as depicted in
Said embodiments 1 and/or 3 and/or 4 including a means to divert fuel through all or a portion of the length of the blade section by means of a hollow internal barrel structure in various configurations machined therein as depicted in
Some said embodiments may include a notched relief at various points along the leading or trailing edge of the blade section in order to accommodate any intra-port obstructions such as the Chrysler HEMI engine requires (
Some said embodiments may include a blade section with an angled distal tip end as depicted in
Any and/or all embodiments may include a main fuel injector nozzle designed to inject fuel in a pattern designed to enhance the overall performance of the fully assembled system.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2016/000059 | 7/13/2016 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2017/034608 | 3/2/2017 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20180202403 A1 | Jul 2018 | US |