Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine includes a valve body 14. A valve seat 18 is associated with the valve body. The valve seat defines an outlet opening 24 through which fuel may flow. An armature 38 is associated with the valve body and is movable with respect to the valve body between a first position and a second position. The armature is associated with a closure member 24 proximate the outlet opening and contiguous to the valve seat when in the first position, and spaced from the valve seat when in the second position. An electromagnetic coil 44 is energizable to provide magnetic flux that moves the armature between the first and second positions to control liquid fuel flow through the outlet opening. A heating coil 50 is energizable to provide heat and thereby vaporize liquid fuel as it exits the outlet opening.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a common coil that both actuates a pole-piece and provides inductive heating to a fuel flow path. In one example, a first magnetic field is generated to move the pole-piece in response to a DC signal. A structure within the fuel injector near the fuel flow path is excited and heated in response to a AC signal to the coil that generates a second magnetic field.

Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine includes a valve body 14. A valve seat 18 is associated with the valve body. The valve seat defines an outlet opening 24 through which fuel may flow. An armature 38 is associated with the valve body and is movable with respect to the valve body between a first position and a second position. The armature is associated with a closure member 24 proximate the outlet opening and contiguous to the valve seat when in the first position, and spaced from the valve seat when in the second position. An electromagnetic coil 44 is energizable to provide magnetic flux that moves the armature between the first and second positions to control liquid fuel flow through the outlet opening. A heating coil 50 is energizable to provide heat and thereby vaporize liquid fuel as it exits the outlet opening.

Abstract: A fuel injector that provides fuel targeting and fuel spray distribution with non-angled metering orifices at higher than normal fuel flow rates is described. In a preferred embodiment, the fuel injector includes a housing, an inlet, an outlet, a seat, a metering disc, and a closure member. The seat is disposed proximate to the outlet and includes a sealing surface and a seat orifice extending through the seat from the sealing surface along the longitudinal axis to a tapered surface that extends obliquely from the seat orifice about the longitudinal axis to define a first volume. The metering disc includes a first surface disposed about the longitudinal axis and having a portion contiguous to a plane and a second surface that extends from the first surface away from the inlet and bounds a portion of the plane to define a second volume. The plurality of metering orifices is located outside a projection of the seat orifice that defines a first virtual circle on the second surface.