Fuel injection system with cross-flow nozzle for enhanced compressed natural gas jet spray

Abstract

An intake manifold system including an intake manifold and a compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel injector located between an inlet and an outlet of the intake manifold. The CNG fuel injector includes a housing, an inlet, an outlet, a seat, a closure member, and a nozzle. In a preferred embodiment, the inlet and outlet communicate a flow of gaseous fuel regulated by the closure member. The gaseous fuel passes through the seat, which is secured to a rim surface of a retainer portion of the nozzle, and into a flow passage that further communicates the flow of gaseous fuel into one or more flow channels. The orientation of the flow channels within the nozzle greatly affects the discharge pattern and mixing characteristics of the gaseous fuel within an intake manifold. A method of metering gaseous fuel in an intake manifold having a gaseous fuel supply coupled to a fuel injector is also described.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0001] In the case of internal combustion engines having injection systems, fuel injectors are conventionally used to provide a precise amount of fuel needed for combustion. Compressed natural gas (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “CNG”) is a common automotive fuel for commercial fleet vehicles and residential customers. In vehicles, the CNG is delivered to the engine in precise amounts through fuel injectors, hereinafter referred to as “CNG injectors”, or simply “fuel injectors.” CNG injectors of this type are described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,224, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. Typically, the CNG injector is required to deliver the precise amount of fuel per injection pulse and maintain this accuracy over the life of the injector. In order to improve the combustion of fuel, certain strategies are required in the design of CNG injectors. These strategies are keyed to the delivery of gaseous fuel into the int...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of metering gaseous fuel in an intake manifold having a gaseous fuel supply connected to a fuel injector is provided. The resulting discharge pattern of the gaseous fuel improves the mixing characteristics of the gaseous fuel within the intake manifold. T

Problems solved by technology

It is believed that some conventional CNG injector designs have failed to achieve suitable the combustion of gaseous fuel injected into the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine.

Specifically, such de

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