Fluid-cooled injector

• US 6,279,603 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1998
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ambac International Co., Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ambac International Co., Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Knapper, Curtis J., DiCarlo, Jeffrey P., Czarnik, Richard J., Simard, Thomas C., Tarabulski, Theodore J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knode, Marian C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VARCOE JR, FREDERICK T
• Application Number:
  US09/164,304
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 602/74, 123/461, 123/470, 123/472, 422/177, 422/180, 239/87, 239/88, 239/89, 239/90, 239/91, 239/93, 239/95, 239/99, 239/106, 239/110, 239/124, 239/125, 239/132, 239/132.5, 251/318, 251/324, 251/325, 251/129.15, 137/340, 137/339
• US Class Current: 137/339
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/06 of the anterior pituitary hormones, e.g. TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH, PRL, GH
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/8625 Nitrogen oxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/90 Injecting reactants
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2260/024 using a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/02 the substance being ammonia or urea
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/11 the substance or part of the dosing system being cooled
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1453 Sprayers or atomisers; Arrangement thereof in the exhaust apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2066 Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/10 of nitrous oxide (N2O)
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6552 With diversion of part of fluid to heat or cool the device or its contents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6579 Circulating fluid in heat exchange relationship

Abstract

An injector for delivery of a fluid into a stream of hot gas is disclosed. The injector has a valve body with an elongated chamber in fluid communication with an orifice. A valve seat surrounds the orifice. A valve plunger is disposed within the chamber, an end of the plunger being adapted to sealingly interengage the seat. The plunger is slidably movable between an open and a closed position to open and close the orifice. A fluid inlet and an outlet are disposed within the valve body to deliver fluid to an annular fluid passageway in the chamber adjacent to the valve seat. Fluid is circulated through the annular passageway to cool the valve and a portion of the fluid is expelled through the orifice when the orifice is opened. The plunger is biased into the closed position by a coil spring and movable into the open position by a solenoid actuator mounted atop the valve body. The injector is mounted on an exhaust conduit of an internal combustion engine with the orifice in fluid communication with the exhaust gases. A heat shield surrounding the orifice is interposed between the exhaust gases and the valve body, a radiant heat reflector is positioned between exposed parts of the injector and the exhaust conduit, and an atomizing hook is positioned in a spaced apart relation facing the orifice to control the dispersion characteristics of the expelled fluid.

Claims

1. A fluid cooled injector comprising:

a valve body having a chamber arranged therein;

an orifice located in said valve body at a first end of said chamber;

a valve seat positioned within said chamber surrounding said orifice;

a valve member arranged within said chamber and being sealingly interengagable with said valve seat to close said orifice, said valve member being movable between a closed position wherein said valve member sealingly interengages said valve seat, and an open position, wherein said valve member is removed from interengagement with said valve seat to open said orifice;

an actuator mounted on said valve body and connected to said valve member for moving said valve member between said closed and open positions;

a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet extending through said valve body and communicating with said chamber, said fluid outlet intersecting said chamber at a position adjacent to said valve seat; and

said inlet and said outlet providing a flow path for fluid through said chamber independent of the position of said valve member, thereby cooling said injector, a portion of the fluid being released from said chamber through said orifice when said valve member is in said open position.

2. An injector according to claim 1, further comprising a heat shield surrounding said orifice, said heat shield having an aperture therethrough aligned with said orifice, thereby allowing fluid released from said chamber to pass through said heat shield.

3. An injector according to claim 2, wherein said heat shield comprises a metal plate surrounding said orifice and defining said aperture, said heat shield further comprising a layer of insulating material interposed between said plate and said valve body, said aperture passing through said insulating material layer.

4. An injector according to claim 1, further comprising an atomizing hook mounted on said valve body and having an end surface positioned in a spaced apart relation facing said orifice, said end surface being located within a path of the fluid released from said injector through said orifice for controlling dispersion characteristics of the fluid.

5. An injector according to claim 4, wherein said fluid inlet intersects said chamber at a position removed from said valve seat.

6. An injector according to claim 1 wherein said chamber has a cylindrical bore having a first diameter and said valve member comprises an elongated cylindrical plunger comprising:

a first plunger portion having a diameter of a dimension allowing for slidable motion of said plunger with said bore;

a second plunger portion extending coaxially from said first plunger portion toward said valve seat and having a diameter less than said first diameter thereby forming an annular fluid circulating space within said chamber adjacent to said valve seat, at least one of said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet intersecting said chamber at said annular space;

said second plunger portion having a coaxially disposed seat portion for interengagement with said valve seat, said plunger being slidably movable within said chamber between said closed position, wherein said seat portion sealingly interengages said valve seat to close said orifice, and said open position wherein said seat portion is removed from sealing interengagement with said valve seat to open said orifice.

7. An injector according to claim 1, wherein said valve body and said valve member are made of stainless steel.

8. An injector according to claim 6, further comprising a biasing member located within said valve body for biasing said plunger into said closed position.

9. An injector according to claim 8, wherein said actuator comprises a solenoid having an armature attached to said first plunger portion, said solenoid armature effecting sliding motion of said plunger against said biasing member when said solenoid is energized and thereby moving said plunger from said closed to said open position within said chamber and means for energizing said solenoid to release the portion of the fluid from said chamber through said orifice.

10. An injector according to claim 9, wherein said biasing member comprises a coil spring coaxially arranged with said plunger.