Abstract: A fuel delivery system and fuel injector is disclosed. The fuel delivery system includes a bore (18) which is formed in the head (10) of the engine and a fuel injector (21) is located in the bore (18). The bore (18) has an open end. The heating chamber (40) is defined between the fuel injector and the wall (18a) of the bore (18). The injector has a fuel storage section which is located within the heating chamber and during a compression stroke of the piston of the engine, gas in the combustion chamber of the engine is compressed and forced through the open end of the bore into the chamber to heat the fuel storage section of the injector. In an alternative arrangement, the injector is provided with an enlarged end region (110) which fits into the bore of the engine and makes contact with the peripheral wall of the bore so that heat is conducted from the engine via the peripheral wall of the bore into the enlarged section of the injector to heat the fuel within the end region of the injector.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system for an IC engine includes an injector (240) which is heated as its region to elevate the temperature of the fuel in the end region and so that when the fuel is ejected from the end region, it immediately converts to vapour. Heating of the end region is performed either by direct conduction from the engine or by an electrical heating element. A gasket (22) of heat conducting material is provided between the cylinder head and the inlet manifold (200) so heat is conducted to the inlet manifold (200) and then to injector (240). An electrical heating element (320, 380) is provided surrounding the end region of the injector so that it can heat up the end region immediately without having to wait for the engine to reach operating temperature.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system is disclosed which includes an injector (40) having an end region (43). The end region (43) is provided from heat conducting material such as metal so that the end region can be heated by exhaust gas to heat the temperature of fuel in the injector end region so that the increase in temperature and pressure within the end region causes the fuel to flash into a vapour state immediately the fuel is ejected from the injector. The exhaust gas is supplied by an exhaust gas supply line (70, 402) and can be returned by an exhaust return line (405).