Patent Publication Number: US-RE40886-E

Title: Fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine equipped with a fuel jet adjusting plate for atomizing injected fuel is conventionally known. The fuel jet adjusting plate has nozzle holes arranged along circles coaxial with a central axis of a valve body. This type of fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine is disclosed, for instance, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 7-127550. This technology employs a large number of nozzle holes arranged along two circles coaxial with the central axis of the valve body. 
       FIG. 6  is a partial plan view of the fuel jet adjusting plate of the conventional fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine. Referring to  FIG. 6 , reference character L 0 ′ denotes the central axis of the valve body, C 1 ′ a first circle coaxial with the central axis L 0 ° C 2 ′ a second circle coaxial with the central axis L 0 ′ and having a diameter larger than that of the first circle, H 1 ′ first nozzle holes arranged at predetermined intervals along the first circle C 1 ′, and H 2 ′ second nozzle holes arranged at predetermined intervals along the second circle C 2 ′.  FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line VI—VI in FIG.  6 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , reference character  1 ′ denotes the fuel jet adjusting plate, F 1 ′ fuel spray injected through the first nozzle holes H 1 ′, F 2 ′ fuel spray injected through the second nozzle holes H 2 ′, D 1 ′ a diameter of the first nozzle holes H 1 ′, and D 2 ′ a diameter of the second nozzle holes H 2 ′. As can be seen from  FIGS. 6 and 7 , fuel flows toward the central axis L 0 ′ in a radially outside-to-inside direction as indicated by blank arrows and is then injected through the nozzle holes H 2 ′, H 2 ′. The fuel jet adjusting plate atomizes the fuel thus injected. 
     However, the flow rate of fuel becomes higher in the radially outside-to-inside direction. Thus, if the diameter D 1 ′ of the first nozzle holes H 1 ′ is equal to the diameter D 2 ′ of the second nozzle holes H 2 ′, the fuel spray F 2 ′ injected through the second nozzle holes H 2 ′ is not atomized as suitably as the fuel spray F 1 ′ injected through the first nozzle holes H 1 ′. In this case, the fuel spray F 2 ′ has a large particle diameter and may even take the shape of a column as illustrated in FIG.  7 . Thus, it is impossible to suitably atomize the fuel spray F 2 ′, whereby the performance of an internal combustion engine on which the fuel injection valve is mounted deteriorates. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been devised in consideration of the aforementioned problems. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a fuel injection valve capable of preventing deterioration of an internal combustion engine on which the fuel injection valve is mounted by suitably atomizing both fuel spray injected through radially outside nozzle holes and fuel spray injected through radially inside nozzle holes. 
     In order to achieve the aforementioned object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine including a valve body driven by a driving device between an open position and a closed position, a fuel jet adjusting plate for atomizing fuel injected when the valve body assumes the open position, a plurality of first nozzle holes formed in the fuel jet adjusting plate and arranged along a first circle coaxial with a central axis of the valve body, and a plurality of second nozzle holes formed in the fuel jet adjusting plate arranged along a second circle coaxial with the central axis and having a diameter larger than that of the circle, the second nozzle holes having an opening area smaller than that of the first nozzle holes. 
     In the first aspect of the present invention, the first nozzle holes arranged along the first, inner circle have an opening area larger than that of the second nozzle holes arranged the second, outer circle diameter. Thus, despite the fact that fuel flows at a lower rate upstream of the inlet portions of the second nozzle holes as compared to that upstream of the inlet portions of the first nozzle holes, it is possible to suitably atomize both the fuel spray injected through the first nozzle holes and the fuel spray injected through the second nozzle holes. Hence, preventing deterioration of the performance of an internal combustion engine on which the fuel injection valve is mounted. 
     In addition to the features of the first aspect of the present invention, a second aspect thereof proposes that an angle formed between hole axes of the first nozzle holes and a plane of the fuel jet adjusting plate be different from an angle formed between hole axes of the second nozzle holes and the plane of the fuel jet adjusting plate. Thus, the fuel spray injected through the first nozzle holes and the fuel spray injected through the second nozzle holes splash in different directions. As a result, it is possible to stabilize the fuel spray injected through the respective nozzle holes and suitably atomize the injected fuel. 
     In addition to the features of the second aspect of the present invention, a third aspect thereof proposes that an acute angle formed between the hole axes of the second nozzle holes and a plane perpendicular to the central axis be smaller than an acute angle formed between the hole axes of the first nozzle holes and the plane perpendicular to the central axis. 
     In the third aspect of the present invention, the fuel spray injected through the first nozzle holes is directed away from the fuel spray injected through the second nozzle holes. Therefore, the fuel spray injected through the first nozzle holes does not interfere with the fuel spray injected through the second nozzle holes. As a result, it is possible to stabilize the fuel spray injected through the respective nozzle holes and suitably atomize the injected fuel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial plan view of a fuel jet adjusting plate of a fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line II—II in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial sectional view of the fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial plan view of the fuel injection valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line IV—IV in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial plan view of a fuel jet adjusting plate of a conventional fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine; and 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line VI—VI in FIG.  6 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 1  is a partial plan view of a fuel jet adjusting plate of a fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the fuel jet adjusting plate having nozzle holes arranged along two circles coaxial with a central axis of a valve body. Referring to  FIG. 1 , reference character L 0  denotes the central axis of the valve body, C 1  a first circle coaxial with the central axis L 0 , C 2  a second circle coaxial with the central axis L 0  and having a diameter larger than the first circle, H 1  first nozzle holes arranged at predetermined intervals along the first circle C 1 , and H 2  second nozzle holes arranged at predetermined intervals along the second circle C 2 .  FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line II—II in FIG.  1 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , reference character  1  denotes a fuel jet adjusting plate, F 1  fuel spray injected through the first nozzle holes H 1 , F 2  fuel spray injected through the second nozzle holes H 2 , D 1  a diameter of the first nozzle holes H 1 , and D 2  a diameter of the second nozzle holes H 2 .  FIG. 3  is a partial sectional view of a fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine according to this embodiment, the fuel jet adjusting plate  1  being attached to the fuel injection valve. Referring to  FIG. 3 , reference character  2  denotes the valve body and reference character  3  a valve seat. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 3 , the valve body  2  is disposed above the fuel jet adjusting plate  1  and driven by driving means (not shown) between an open position and a closed position. When the valve body  2  assumes the open position, fuel supplied from top to bottom in  FIG. 2  reaches a location immediately upstream of the fuel jet adjusting plate  1  and flows toward the central axis L 0 , that is, in a radially outside-to-inside direction (See blank arrows in FIG.  2 ). In this case, the fuel flows toward the central axis L 0  at a lower rate upstream of inlet portions of the nozzle holes H 2  than upstream of inlet portions of the nozzle holes H 1 . That is, the flow rate of fuel becomes higher in the radially outside-to-inside direction. 
     Taking such characteristics into account, the fuel jet adjusting plate  1  of this embodiment has the nozzle holes H 1  arranged along the first circle C 1  and nozzle holes H 2  arranged along the second circle C 2 . The diameter D 2  of the second nozzle holes H 2  is smaller than the diameter D 1  of the first nozzle holes H 1 . 
     Thus, despite the fact that fuel flows toward the central axis L 0  at a lower rate upstream of inlet portions of the nozzle holes H 2  than upstream of inlet portions of the nozzle holes H 1 , the fuel jet adjusting plate  1  can suitably atomize the fuel spray F 1  injected through the first nozzle holes H 1  and the fuel spray F 2  injected through the second nozzle holes H 2  without inhibiting fuel flow upstream of the inlet portions of the nozzle holes H 1 . Hence, deterioration of the performance of an internal combustion engine on which the fuel injection valve is mounted can be prevented, whereby the amount of HC emissions can be reduced. 
     Although the nozzle holes H 1 , H 2  in the aforementioned embodiment have substantially circular cross section, those skilled in the art will understand that these holes H 1 , H 2  may alternatively have a cross section of any other shape. Instead of setting the diameter D 2  of the second nozzle holes H 2  smaller than the diameter D 1  of the first nozzle holes H 1 , an opening area of the nozzle holes H 2  need only be smaller than that of the nozzle holes H 1 . Although the total number of the nozzle holes H 1 , H 2  arranged along the circles C 1 , C 2  in the aforementioned embodiment is twelve, the number of the nozzle holes provided is not specified. The invention only requires that a plurality of nozzles holes be arranged along two or more circles. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial plan view of a fuel injection valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention with a fuel jet adjusting plate obtained by making modifications to that of the first embodiment.  FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line IV—IV in FIG.  4 . In  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4  and  5 , like components or parts are denoted by like reference characters. Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a plane that is perpendicular to the central axis L 0  is defined as a reference plane SB. The cross section as illustrated in  FIG. 5  consists of a plane SO perpendicular to the reference plane SB and including the central axis L 0 , planes S 1  perpendicular to the reference plane SB and including respective hole axes L 1  of the nozzle holes H 1 , and planes S 2  perpendicular to the reference plane SB and including respective hole axes L 2  of the nozzle holes H 2 . The fuel jet adjusting plate  1  is formed as a slab. 
     As with the first embodiment, the valve body is disposed in an upper part of  FIG. 5 , namely, above the fuel jet adjusting plate  1 . The valve body is driven by driving means (not shown) between an open position and a closed position. When the valve body assumes the open position, fuel supplied from top to bottom in  FIG. 5  reaches a location immediately upstream of the fuel jet adjusting plate  1  and flows toward the central axis L 0 , that is, in a radially outside-to-inside direction (See blank arrows in FIG.  5 ). In this case, the fuel flows toward the central axis L 0  at a lower rate upstream of inlet portions of the nozzle holes H 2  than upstream of inlet portions of the nozzle holes H 1 . That is, the flow rate of fuel becomes higher in the radially outside-to-inside direction. 
     Hence, as with the first embodiment, the fuel jet adjusting plate  1  of this embodiment has nozzle holes H 1  arranged along the first circle C 1  and nozzle holes H 2  arranged along the second circle C 2 . In addition, the diameter D 2  of the second nozzle holes H 2  is smaller than the diameter D 1  of the first nozzle holes H 1 . 
     Thus, despite the fact that fuel flows toward the central axis L 0  of the valve body at a lower rate upstream of the inlet portions of the nozzle holes H 2  than upstream of the inlet portions of the nozzle holes H 1 , the fuel jet adjusting plate  1  can suitably atomize the fuel spray F 1  injected through the first nozzle holes H 1  and the fuel spray F 2  injected through the second nozzle holes H 2  without inhibiting fuel from flowing upstream of the inlet portions of the nozzle holes H 1 . Hence, preventing deterioration of the performance of an internal combustion engine on which the fuel injection valve is mounted, whereby the amount of HC emissions can be reduced. 
     Referring further to  FIG. 5 , in this embodiment, the respective hole axes L 1  of the nozzle holes H 1  form an acute angle a 1  with the reference plane SB and the respective hole axes L 2  of the nozzle holes H 2  form an acute angle a 2  with the reference plane SB. The acute angle a 2  is smaller than the acute angle a 1 . 
     Hence, the fuel spray F 1  injected through the nozzle holes H 1  and the fuel spray F 2  injected through the nozzle holes H 2  are directed away from each other. Therefore, the fuel spray F 1  injected through the nozzle holes H 1  does not interfere with the fuel spray F 2  injected through the nozzle holes H 2 . As a result, it is possible to stabilize the fuel spray injected through the respective nozzle holes and suitably atomize the injected fuel. In addition, despite the fact that fuel flows at a lower rate upstream of the inlet portions of the nozzle holes H 2  than upstream of the inlet portions of the nozzle holes H 1 , the fuel spray F 2  injected through the nozzle holes H 2  can suitably be atomized. This is because the acute angle a 2  is smaller than the acute angle a 1 . 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to what are presently considered to be preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments or constructions. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements. In addition, while the various element of the disclosed invention are shown in various combinations and configurations, which are exemplary, other combinations and configurations, including more, less or only a single element, are also within the spirit and scope of the invention.