Patent ID: 12203434

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Shown inFIG.1is an embodiment of a throttle body100having fuel rails110aligned horizontally near the bottom surface of the throttle body100. The fuel rails110provide pressurized fuel to the fuel injectors120, which couple to the throttle body100at fuel ports210(not shown). In some embodiments the fuel injectors120may be aligned horizontally in respect to the throttle body100. In other embodiments the fuel injectors120may be aligned at an angle above or below horizontal in respect to the throttle body100.

As shown inFIGS.2-7, each fuel rail110may be coupled to one or more fuel injectors120. Each fuel injector120provides fuel through a fuel port210into an annular ring240positioned in an air intake220of the throttle body100below the throttle plate230. The annular ring240includes an annular fuel channel250for distributing fuel around the annular ring240to a plurality of fuel discharge orifices260and270. The plurality of fuel discharge orifices260and270are configured to atomize and spray the fuel into the air intake220from multiple directions.

In some embodiments there may be a larger primary fuel discharge orifice260aligned in front of the fuel port210along with a plurality of smaller secondary fuel discharge orifices270aligned radially around the annular ring240. In various embodiments the secondary fuel discharge orifices270may vary in size and shape as desired. In some embodiments the fuel discharge orifices260and270may be of circular, ovular, elliptical, and/or polygonal shapes.

In one embodiment the primary fuel discharge orifice260may be a 0.25 inch diameter circular orifice. In other embodiments the primary fuel discharge orifice260may be a 0.28 to 0.40 inch wide by 0.155 ovular-slot orifice.

In one embodiment the secondary fuel discharge orifices270may be 0.047 to 0.100 inch diameter circular orifices. The secondary fuel discharge orifices270may be spaced radially around the annular ring240at angular separations of 20 to 38 degrees from adjacent orifices.

In a preferred embodiment the annular ring240includes a 0.28 inch wide by 0.155 inch ovular-slot high primary fuel discharge orifice260and thirteen 0.047 inch diameter circular secondary fuel discharge orifices270radially spaced at 20-38 degrees apart from adjacent orifices, and centered on the primary fuel discharge orifice260, as shown inFIG.8.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the primary fuel discharge orifice260and the secondary fuel discharge orifices270may each be a variety of shapes having close to the same orifice opening areas as those described in the various embodiments of the invention.

During operation, air enters the throttle body100through an air intake220. The flow rate of the air through the air intake220is regulated by the throttle plate230, which may be controlled electromechanically by an ECU (not shown), or mechanically. Pressurized fuel flows through a fuel rail110and into a fuel injector120controlled by the ECU, which regulates the amount of fuel flowing through the fuel port210into the air intake220. As shown inFIG.9, the fuel flow exits the fuel port210a portion of the fuel enters the air flow920in the air intake220through the primary fuel discharge orifice260as atomized fuel910. The remainder of the fuel enters the annular fuel channel250and exits the annular fuel channel250through the secondary fuel discharge orifices270and enters the air flow920in the air intake220as atomized fuel910.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, 40% to 60% of the fuel enters the air intake220though the primary fuel discharge orifice260.

In various embodiments the throttle body100may have one or more air intakes220with each air intake220including a throttle plate230, a fuel injector120, and an annular ring240.

In some embodiments of the throttle body100, the annular fuel channel250may be a part of the throttle body100rather than of part of the annular ring240. In other embodiments the throttle body100and annular ring240may include complimentary portions of the annular fuel channel250.

In some embodiments the inner wall air intake220may have a larger diameter equal to the outer diameter of the annular ring240near the bottom to accommodate the annular ring240so the inner wall of the air intake220and the annular ring240form a smooth continuous surface to aid air flow.

In some embodiments the annular ring240may include an annular groove410or other means to aid the installing and/or removing the annular ring240from the throttle body100.

In various embodiments the annular ring240may be coupled to the throttle body100by one or more of a press fit, threads, a friction fit, mechanical fasteners, adhesives, and welds.

In various embodiments the annular ring240may be made of aluminum, steel, cast iron, other metals, plastics, composites, or other materials and/or combinations of materials suitable for throttle body applications.

In the preceding specification, various preferred exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional exemplary embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.