Patent ID: 8950694
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: F02M

Abstract:
1. A fuel injector comprising: (a) an injector body comprising a fuel chamber, a fuel inlet connected to the fuel chamber, a fuel outlet connected to the fuel chamber, and a valve seat around the fuel outlet; (b) a reciprocating valve extending through the fuel chamber and the fuel outlet and having a central longitudinal axis; (c) wherein the valve and injector body are arranged so that movement of the valve in a first direction relative to the injector body causes engagement of the valve and the valve seat and substantially prevents fuel flow through the fuel outlet; (d) wherein the valve and injector body are arranged so that movement of the valve in a second direction relative to the injector body, the second direction being opposite the first direction, causes disengagement of the valve and the valve seat and enables fuel flow through the fuel outlet; (e) wherein the fuel outlet comprises a spray-shaping surface of the valve body arranged in a ring around the valve and positioned and shaped to be struck by fuel flowing through the fuel outlet; (f) wherein the spray-shaping surface is rotationally asymmetric around the central longitudinal axis of the valve and includes at least a circumferential portion having lengths, extending along the spray-shaping surface radially from the central longitudinal axis, that vary continuously over the circumferential portion, to form an end of the spray-shaping surface that undulates in the longitudinal direction; and (g) whereby the deflection of the fuel flowing through the fuel outlet at one circumferential point along the circumferential portion results in a spray pattern relative to the central longitudinal axis at that circumferential point that is different from the spray pattern relative to the central longitudinal axis in which the fuel flowing through the fuel outlet is deflected at another circumferential point along the circumferential portion.