Patent ID: 6209806
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: F02M

Abstract:
A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, comprising:an air supply inlet;a fuel supply inlet;a mixing chamber located at a discharge end of the fuel injector for mixing air and fuel;a control member for controlling the simultaneous introduction of air and fuel into said mixing chamber, the control member including:an armature/valve assembly movable between valve open and closed positions to admit or prevent air and fuel flow into the mixing chamber, the armature/valve assembly including:a fuel control valve having a hollow needle defining a central air passage for conveying air from a first axial end of said needle to a second axial end of said needle, said hollow needle being movable between valve open and closed positions to unseat or seat the second axial end of the needle from or against a valve seat to admit or prevent fuel flow into the mixing chamber;an air control valve head mounted on the first axial end of the hollow needle and said valve head being movable with the needle between open and closed positions to unseat or seat the valve head from or against an air valve seat to admit or prevent air flow into the central air passage; andan armature connected with said hollow needle and movable toward and away from a tubular stator to simultaneously open or close the fuel and air control valves and admit or prevent fuel and air flow into the mixing chamber;a coil assembly surrounding the tubular stator for generating electromagnetic forces to magnetically attract the armature/valve assembly to the stator to allow air and fuel to flow into the mixing chamber; andbiasing means for biasing the armature/valve assembly away from the stator toward the valve closed position to prevent air and fuel from flowing into the mixing chamber.