Inductive heated injector using voltage transformer technology

• US 8,967,124 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vitesco Technologies USA, LLC (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Hornby, Michael J., Nally, John F. Jr., Sayar, Hamid, Czimmek, Perry Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Bastianelli, John
• Application Number:
  US11/689,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20070221874A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,904 Days
• Field of Search: 137/331, 137/334, 123/549, 123/557, 251/129.01, 251/129.21, 239/135, 239/585.1
• US Class Current: 123/549
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 51/0617 having two or more electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 51/0682 the body being hollow and its interior communicating with the fuel flow F02M51/0675 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 53/02 with fuel-heating means, e.g. for vaporising
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0651 the fluid passing through the solenoid coil
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0665 with valve member being at least partially ball-shaped F16K31/0662 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0675 Electromagnet aspects, e.g. electric supply therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 49/002 Electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6416 With heating or cooling of the system

Abstract

A fuel injector assembly includes a first coil that induces a time varying magnetic field into a second coil that is utilized to heat fuel flowing through the fuel injector. A first coil receives a first signal from a driver to generate a first magnetic field that moves an armature between an open and closed position. The second coil generates a second magnetic field generated by a current induced by the first coil into the second coil. The induced current is generated by an alternating current signal that is interposed onto a direct current signal sent to the first coil. The alternating current signal produces a time varying second magnetic field that induces heating of a magnetically active component with the fuel flow that in turn heats the fuel.

Claims

1. A method of heating fuel in a fuel injector assembly comprising the steps of:

generating a first magnetic field in a first coil responsive to a first signal;

generating a second magnetic field through induction without a wired connection in a second coil responsive to a second signal transmitted to the first coil; and

inductively heating a tube portion of an armature moveable within a flow of fuel with the second magnetic field generated by the second coil.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, including the step of inducing the second magnetic field in the second coil with the second signal to the first coil.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second coil is disposed within the flow of fuel.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first signal is a direct current signal and the second signal is an alternating current interposed onto the direct current signal.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, including generating the second magnetic field as a time varying magnetic field with the alternating current signal.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, including the step of moving an armature responsive to generation of the first magnetic field.

7. A fuel injector assembly comprising:

a first coil for generating a first magnetic field responsive to a first signal;

a second coil generating a second magnetic field that is induced without a wired connection between the first coil and the second coil responsive to a second signal sent to the first coil; and

a component within a fuel flow path inductively heated by the second magnetic field generated by the second coil, wherein the component comprises an armature movable responsive to the first magnetic field for controlling a flow of fuel, wherein a tube portion of the armature is inductively heated by the second magnetic field.

8. The assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the first signal comprises a direct current and the second signal comprises an alternating current superimposed onto the first direct current signal.

9. The assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the first signal and the second signal operate independent of each other.

10. The assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the armature is movable within a tube that defines an annular fuel flow channel between the armature and the tube.

11. The assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the second coil is disposed within the fuel flow path.

12. The assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the second coil is nested within the first coil.

13. The assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the first coil is disposed adjacent the second coil.

14. The assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the second magnetic field comprises a time varying magnetic field that induces hysteretic and eddy current loses within the component within the fuel flow path.

15. A fuel injector assembly comprising:

a first coil for generating a first magnetic field responsive to a first signal;

a second coil for generating a second magnetic field, the second magnetic field is generated by a current induced by a second signal sent to the first coil, wherein the second coil is sealed within a sealed compartment; and

a component within a fuel flow path is inductively heated by the second magnetic field generated by the second coil wherein the component comprises an armature movable responsive to the first magnetic field for controlling a flow of fuel, wherein the armature includes a tube portion that is inductively heated by the second magnetic field.