Patent ID: 8074895
Filing Date: 2011-12-13
Classification: C01B,F02M,H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A fuel injector comprising: an injector housing; a piezoelectric atomizer body mounted in the injector housing and disposed along a central axis of the injector housing, the atomizer body having a narrowed stem portion with a broadened atomizing tip; a fuel flow passage formed within the injector housing; a fuel jet in fluid communication with the fuel flow passage; a plurality of gas flow passages formed within the injector housing, the plurality of gas flow passages comprising at least an outer gas flow passage and an inner gas flow passage, the outer gas flow passage being farther away from the central axis than the inner gas flow passage; an outer swirler in fluid communication with the outer gas flow passage, the outer swirler having an angled vane configured to direct the gas exiting the outer gas flow passage toward the atomizing face; and an ultrasonic transducer in mechanical communication with the atomizer body, the ultrasonic transducer being configured to cause the atomizer body to resonate at a resonant frequency to atomize the fuel; wherein the fuel jet and the swirler are positioned such that gases exiting the swirler mix with fuel exiting the fuel jet; and wherein the gases direct the fuel toward an atomizing surface of the broadened atomizing tip where atomization of the fuel occurs.