Patent ID: 6360960
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: F02M

Abstract:
A fuel injector for use in a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, the fuel injector comprising:a body having an inlet, an outlet and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough; a valve seat located within the body and disposed proximate the outlet, the valve seat including a valve seat orifice and a sealing surface surrounding the orifice; a metering orifice connected to the body downstream of the valve seat, the metering orifice includes a plurality of metering openings; a needle being reciprocally located within the body along the longitudinal axis between a first position wherein the needle is displaced from the valve seat, allowing fuel flow past the needle, and a second position wherein the needle is biased against the valve seat, precluding fuel flow past the needle, the needle including a first portion having a first cross-sectional area and a second portion having a second cross-sectional area, the second cross-sectional area being larger than the first cross-sectional area, the second portion including an end face extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the end face being located upstream of the valve seat orifice; and a volume generally defined by the metering orifice, the end face and the valve seat orifice when the needle is in the second position, wherein a first virtual circle defined by a virtual extension of the valve seat onto the metering orifice has a smaller diameter than a second virtual circle defined by the plurality of metering openings.