Claims
- 1. An ultrasonic, unitized fuel injector apparatus for injection of pressurized liquid fuel into an internal combustion engine that actuates the injector by at least one overhead cam contacting a cam follower, the apparatus comprising:
a valve body defining:
a cavity configured to receive therein at least a first portion of an injector needle, said cavity being defined at least in part by a wall that is transparent to magnetic fields changing at ultrasonic frequencies, a discharge plenum communicating with said cavity and configured for receiving pressurized liquid fuel and at least a second portion of said injector needle, a fuel pathway communicating with said discharge plenum and configured to supply the pressurized liquid fuel to said discharge plenum, and an exit orifice communicating with said discharge plenum and configured to receive the pressurized liquid fuel from said discharge plenum and pass the liquid fuel out of said valve body; a means for applying within said cavity a magnetic field changing at ultrasonic frequencies, said means being carried at least in part by said valve body; an injector needle having a first portion disposed in said cavity and a second portion disposed in said discharge plenum, said first portion of said injector needle being formed of magnetostrictive material responsive to magnetic fields changing at ultrasonic frequencies; a sensor configured to signal when the injector is injecting pressurized liquid fuel into the internal combustion engine; and a control connected to said sensor and to said means for applying within said cavity a magnetic field changing at ultrasonic frequencies, said control being configured to activate said means for applying within said cavity a magnetic field changing at ultrasonic frequencies when said sensor signals that the injector is injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wall includes ceramic material.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said means for applying within said cavity a magnetic field changing at ultrasonic frequencies includes an electrically conducting coil disposed around said wall.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said valve body is composed of a metal section and a non-metal section, and said non-metal section includes said wall of said cavity.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said wall of said cavity is defined by an insert composed of ceramic material.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said insert is configured as a cylindrical annular member.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said means for applying within said cavity a magnetic field changing at ultrasonic frequencies includes an electrically conducting coil disposed around said ceramic insert.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said non-metal section of said valve body includes potting material embedding said electrically conducting coil therein.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for applying within said cavity a magnetic field changing at ultrasonic frequencies includes a power source and an electrically conducting coil disposed around said ceramic insert.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said means for applying within said cavity a magnetic field changing at ultrasonic frequencies includes an electrically conducting coil disposed around said wall of said cavity, and said non-metal section of said valve body includes potting material embedding said electrically conducting coil therein.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for applying within said cavity a magnetic field changing at ultrasonic frequencies is disposed at least in part within said valve body.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensor includes a piezoelectric transducer that is disposed to detect a predetermined magnitude of pressure from contact by at least one of the cams with a cam follower.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for applying within said cavity a magnetic field changing at ultrasonic frequencies includes an electrically conducting coil disposed around said cavity.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of exit orifices, each said exit orifice being configured and disposed to communicate with said discharge plenum and to receive the pressurized liquid fuel from said discharge plenum and pass the liquid fuel out of said valve body.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic frequencies range from about 15 kHz to about 500 kHz.
- 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic frequencies range from about 15 kHz to about 60 kHz.
- 17. An internal combustion engine, wherein said engine includes the apparatus of claim 1.
- 18. A vehicle, comprising: the engine of claim 17.
- 19. An electric generator, comprising: the engine of claim 17.
- 20. An ultrasonic, unitized fuel injector apparatus for injection of pressurized liquid fuel into an internal combustion engine that actuates the injector by overhead cams, the apparatus comprising:
a valve body defining:
a cavity configured to receive therein at least a first portion of an injector needle, a discharge plenum communicating with said cavity and configured for receiving pressurized liquid fuel and at least a second portion of said injector needle, a fuel pathway communicating with said discharge plenum and configured to supply the pressurized liquid fuel to said discharge plenum, and an exit orifice communicating with said discharge plenum and configured to receive the pressurized liquid fuel from said discharge plenum and pass the liquid fuel out of said valve body; a means for applying within said cavity a magnetic field changing at ultrasonic frequencies, said means being carried at least in part by said valve body; an injector needle having a first portion disposed in said cavity and a second portion disposed in said discharge plenum, said first portion of said injector needle being formed of magnetostrictive material responsive to magnetic fields changing at ultrasonic frequencies; a sensor configured to signal when the injector is injecting pressurized liquid fuel into the internal combustion engine; and a control connected to said sensor and to said means for applying within said cavity a magnetic field changing at ultrasonic frequencies, said control being configured to activate said means for applying within said cavity a magnetic field changing at ultrasonic frequencies when said sensor signals that the injector is injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine.
- 21. A method of retrofitting an ultrasonic, unitized fuel injector apparatus for injection of pressurized liquid fuel into an internal combustion engine that actuates the injector by overhead cams, this injector including a needle valve that can be biased in the valve's closed position as the valve seat is sealed against one end of the needle while the opposite end of the needle engages an overhead cam that actuates the opening and closing of the needle valve, and thus controls the supply of fuel through the exit orifices of the injector into the combustion chamber that is served by the injector, the method comprising:
removing the injector's needle and substituting therefor a needle that has an elongated portion that is composed of magnetostrictive material; hollowing out the portion of the injector's body surrounding the magnetostrictive portion of the retrofitted needle; providing an annular shaped insert that defines a wall that is transparent to magnetic fields oscillating at ultrasonic frequencies and disposing said insert into said hollowed out the portion of the injector's body so that said insert surrounds said magnetostrictive portion of the retrofitted needle; surrounding the exterior of said wall by a coil that is capable of inducing a changing magnetic field in the region occupied by the magnetostrictive portion and thus causing the magnetostrictive portion to vibrate at ultrasonic frequencies; and disposing on the injector a sensor that is configured to detect when at least one of the cams is actuating the injector to inject fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine.
- 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:
electrically connecting said coil to an ultrasonic power source; electrically connecting said sensor to a control that is electrically connected to said power source and that is configured to activate said power source only when said sensor signals that said one of the cams is actuating the injector to inject fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine.
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] The present application hereby claims priority based on provisional application Serial No. 60/254,683, which was filed on Dec. 11, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60254683 |
Dec 2000 |
US |