Patent ID: 6371387
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: F02M

Abstract:
An air-assisted fuel injector having a nozzle from which fuel is injected into an induction air system of an internal combustion engine and an air assist module fitted onto the nozzle for directing assist air to flow axially along the outside of the nozzle and then radially inwardly toward injected fuel that has just left the nozzle to assist in atomizing the fuel, the fuel injector having a housing, the air assist module comprising:a shroud member disposed over the nozzle, the shroud member having a side wall cooperating with the nozzle to form an axially extending air passage extending therethrough, the shroud member having an end wall extending radially inwardly from the side wall to form an aperture through which the injected fuel that has just left the nozzle passes; and a backup washer having a longitudinal axis and a downstream end in contact with the shroud member, the housing retaining the backup washer, the backup washer having a radially extending air passage communicating with the axially extending passage and the nozzle, the radially extending air passage maintaining a direction of the assist air from the axially extending air passage to the nozzle in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.