Claims:CLAIMS
We Claim:
1. A fuel injector (10) for a fuel injection system, said fuel injector (10) comprising:
a housing (12) comprising an outer surface (14) and an inner surface (16);
at least one spray hole (18) extending from the outer surface (14) of said housing (12) to the inner surface (16) of said housing (12), said at least one spray hole (18) adapted to spray pressurized fuel into an engine; characterized in that:
a fuel flow cylinder (20) positioned within the inner surface (16) of said housing (12), the fuel flow cylinder (20) comprising a fuel inlet (22) in flow communication with a fuel source and at least one fuel outlet (24), said at least one fuel outlet (24) adapted to supply pressurized fuel to said at least one spray hole (18).

2. The fuel injector (10) for the fuel injection system in accordance with Claim 1 wherein fuel flow from said fuel source to said fuel inlet (22) is controlled by means of a valve element.

3. The fuel injector (10) for the fuel injection system in accordance with Claim 1 further comprising:
a first armature plate (26a) and a second armature plate (26b) coupled to said fuel flow cylinder (20), said first armature plate (26a) and second armature plate (26b) adapted to facilitate rotating said fuel flow cylinder (20) to align said at least one fuel outlet (24) with said at least one spray hole (18); and
an electromagnet (30) coupled to said housing (12) and in proximity with said first armature plate (26a), said electromagnet (30) adapted to attract said first armature plate (26a), thereby rotating said fuel flow cylinder (20) and aligning said at least one fuel outlet (24) with said at least one spray hole (18).

4. The fuel injector (10) for the fuel injection system in accordance with Claim 3 further comprising an engine control unit in electronic communication with said electromagnet (30), said engine control unit adapted to energize said electromagnet (30) to attract said first armature plate (26a), thereby rotating said fuel flow cylinder (20) and aligning said at least one fuel outlet (24) with said at least one spray hole (18).

5. The fuel injector (10) for the fuel injection system in accordance with Claim 3 further comprising at least one spring (35) coupled between said second armature plate (26b) and a support plate (33), said at least one spring (35) adapted to restore said second armature plate (26b) to its original position after said electromagnet (30) is de-energized by said engine control unit.

, Description:Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a fuel injector for a fuel injection system, and more particularly to a fuel flow cylinder of the fuel injector.

Background of the invention
[0002] DE 2356335 A1 describes a fuel injector. The fuel injector has a fuel supply at constant pressure via a non-return valve, so that the fuel can enter the nozzle chamber but only leave by the nozzle jets when the plunger descends. The plunger is actuated by a magnetic drive consisting of a disc shaped coil excited by a regulator unit synchronized for timing and duration according to engine requirements. The coil when excited repels a disc shaped aluminum plate fixed to the plunger head. This causes the fuel in the nozzle chamber to be expelled. A return spring fitted between the injector body and plate effects the plungers return.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a fuel injector for a fuel injection system.
[0004] Figure 2 illustrates a fuel flow cylinder for the fuel injection system.
[0005] Figure 3 illustrates a top view of the fuel injector for the fuel injection system.

Detailed description of the invention
[0006] A fuel injector 10 for a fuel injection system is described. The fuel injector 10 comprises a housing 12 comprising an outer surface 14 and an inner surface 16. At least one spray hole 18 extends from the outer surface 14 of the housing 12 to the inner surface 16 of the housing 12, the at least one spray hole 18 adapted to spray pressurized fuel into an engine. A fuel flow cylinder 20 is positioned within the inner surface 16 of the housing 12, the fuel flow cylinder 20 comprising a fuel inlet 22 in flow communication with a fuel source and at least one fuel outlet 24, the at least one fuel outlet 24 adapted to supply pressurized fuel to the at least one spray hole 18.
[0007] Figure 1 illustrates a fuel injector 10 for a fuel injection system. The fuel injector 10 comprises a housing 12. The housing 12 comprises an outer surface 14 and an inner surface 16. A spray hole 18 extends from the outer surface 14 to the inner surface 16 of the housing 12. The spray hole 18 is adapted to spray pressurized fuel into an engine. At least one solenoid magnet 30 is positioned proximate to a top portion of the housing 12. A fuel flow cylinder 20 is positioned within the inner surface 16 of the housing 12. The fuel flow cylinder 20 comprises a fuel inlet 22 that is in flow communication with a fuel source. The fuel flow cylinder 20 further comprises at least one fuel outlet 24, wherein the at least one fuel outlet 24 is adapted to supply pressurized fuel to the at least one spray hole 18.
[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, the fuel flow from the fuel source to the fuel inlet 22 is controlled via a valve element. In an alternate exemplary embodiment, the flow of fuel from the fuel source to the fuel inlet 22 is controlled via any other means that is known in the art.
[0009] Figure 2 illustrates a fuel flow cylinder 20 for the fuel injection system. As shown in the exemplary embodiment, the fuel flow cylinder 20 comprises a fuel inlet 22 and a fuel passageway 32 in flow communication with the fuel inlet 22. A plurality of fuel outlets 24 are coupled to and in flow communication with the fuel passageway 32. Fuel is channeled into the fuel inlet 22 and out of the at least one fuel outlet 24 via the fuel passageway 32. Each of the plurality of fuel outlets 24 are aligned with the at least one spray hole 18 when the fuel flow cylinder 20 is rotated to facilitate injecting fuel from the at least one fuel outlet 24 to the at least one spray hole 18.
[0010] Figure 3 illustrates a top view of the fuel injector 10 for the fuel injection system. The fuel flow cylinder 20 comprises a first armature plate 26a and a second armature plate 26b coupled thereto. The first armature plate 26a and the second armature plate 26b is adapted to facilitate rotating the fuel flow cylinder 20. The rotation of the fuel flow cylinder 20 aligns the at least one fuel outlet 24 with the at least one spray hole 18. An electromagnet 30 is coupled to the housing 12 and in proximity with the first armature plate 26a. The electromagnet 30 is adapted to attract the first armature plate 26, thereby rotating the fuel flow cylinder 20 and aligning the at least one fuel outlet 24 with the at least one spray hole 18. This is described hereinafter.
[0011] The fuel injector 10 comprises the housing 12. The first armature plate 26a and the second armature plate 26b is coupled to the fuel flow cylinder 20. The fuel flow cylinder 20 comprises the fuel inlet 22 that is in flow communication with the fuel source. The electromagnet 30 is positioned proximate to the first armature plate 26a. In an exemplary embodiment, the electromagnet 30 is positioned proximate to the first armature plate 26a. A spring member 35 is coupled between a support plate 33 and the second armature plate 26b. When the electromagnet 30 is energized, the first armature plate 26a is attracted to the electromagnet 30. More specifically, an engine control unit (not shown) is in electronic communication with the electromagnet 30. The engine control unit is adapted to energize the electromagnet 30 to attract the first armature plate 26a, thereby rotating the fuel flow cylinder 20 and aligning the at least one fuel outlet 24 with the at least one spray hole 18. The spring member 35 that is coupled between the support plate 33 and the second armature plate 26b is adapted to restore the armature plates 26a and 26b to their original position after the electromagnet 30 is de-energized by the engine control unit.
[0012] A working of the fuel injector 10 for the fuel injection system is described as an example. Fuel is supplied from a fuel source to the fuel inlet 22. From the fuel inlet 22, pressurized fuel is channeled to the fuel passageway 20 and delivered to the at least one fuel outlet 24. Therein, the engine control unit energizes the electromagnet 30. Each of the armature plates 26a and 26b are consequently rotated, thereby rotating the fuel flow cylinder 20 and aligning the at least one fuel outlet 24 with the at least one spray hole 18. When the at least one fuel outlet 24 is aligned with the at least one spray hole 18, fuel is injected from the at least one fuel outlet 24 to the at least one spray hole 18. After fuel injection from the fuel injector 10 is complete, the engine control unit de-energizes the electromagnet 30. Therein, the force of the spring member 35 causes the restoration of the armature plates 26a and 26b to its original position.
[0013] It must be understood that the embodiments explained above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Many modifications in the embodiments with regard to leverage and dimensions of various components are envisaged and form a part of this invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the claims.