Electromagnetic fuel metering and atomizing valve

Abstract

 A valve comprising a cylindrical supporting body (1) having a first axial cavity (3) housing an electromagnet (4) and a core (7), and an axial hole (5) communicating with the cavity (3) and housing an anchor (8) integral with a mobile plugging member (9); and a nozzle (12) secured to the supporting body (1) and in which is formed a fuel outlet hole (13) controlled by the afore­mentioned plugging member (9); characterised by the fact that the supporting body (1) presents a series of holes (25) designed to enable external communication, through the lateral surface (2) of the supporting body (1), of the axial hole formed inside the body (1) itself.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an electromagnetic fuel metering and atomizing valve for an internal com­bustion engine fuel supply device.

[0002] Known valves of the aforementioned type substantially comprise a cylindrical supporting body having a first axial cavity housing an electromagnet, and an axial hole communicating with said cavity and housing an axially-sliding anchor integral with a mobile plugging member. Said valves also comprise a nozzle secured to and projecting axially from the supporting body, and in which is formed a fuel outlet hole communicating with said axial cavity and controlled by said plugging member. This is designed to move, by virtue of said electromagnet, between a first closed position wherein it is pushed by a spring against a seat on the nozzle, thus closing the fuel outlet hole, and an open position wherein the fuel outlet hole is opened.

[0003] Said valves present a duct for feeding the fuel (piped to the valve) into a chamber communicating with said fuel outlet hole. Said fuel duct usually comprises an axial hole through the core and anchor on the valve, and further passages formed between further members and said supporting body and nozzle. On said valves, therefore, fuel is fed into said chamber along a duct orignating at the top end and extending along the entire axial length of the valve.

[0004] A major drawback of known valves of the aforementioned type is the formation of fuel vapours inside the fuel duct, which results in impaired operation of the valve in terms of metering and atomizing performance. This is particularly noticeable when operating with high-­temperature fuel, as when the vehicle is left in the sun for prolonged periods of time.

[0005] Moreover, the pressure at which the fuel is fed into the chamber communicating with the fuel supply hole is not strictly constant, and rarely corresponds to the set pressure. As correct operation of the valve depends on the pressure of the fuel metered at each cycle being maintained strictly constant, the fuel supply circuit to the valve presents a pressure regulator for maintaining substantially constant fuel supply pressure. In the case of exceptionally long fuel ducts, however, between the upstream portion of the valve (controlled by said pressure regulator) and the chamber communicating with the fuel outlet hole, as on known valves of the aforementioned type, the pressure inside the chamber differs from that of said upstream portion due to the resistance encountered by the fuel in the duct portion formed inside the valve. Failure of such valves to provide for strictly constant fuel pressure, corresponding to the set pressure, immediately upstream from the fuel outlet hole, invariably results, as already state, in impaired metering and atomizing performance. On certain known valves of the aforementioned type, the chamber formed inside the valve, immediately upstream from the fuel outlet hole, is supplied with fuel through holes formed inside a portion of the nozzle close to the chamber itself.

[0006] Though providing for substantially the same pressure inside the chamber and in the upstream portion of the valve (controlled by said pressure reglator) by reducing the length of the duct connecting the same, valves of the aforementioned type fail to provide a solution to the drawbacks caused by the formation of fuel vapours. Moreover, valves of this sort featuring fuel outlet holes on the nozzle involve fairly complex machining operations, thus resulting in high manufacturing cost of the valve as a whole.

[0007] The aim of the present invention is to provide an electro­magnetic fuel metering and atomizing valve designed to overcome the drawbacks typically associated with known valves of the aforementioned type, i.e. a valve providing for efficient metering and atomizing perform­ance under all operating conditions; which is of straight-­forward design, and may be produced cheaply by virtue of involving no complex mechanical machining.

[0008] With this aim in view, according to the present invention, there is provided an electromagnetic fuel metering and atomizing valve for an internal combustion engine fuel supply device, said valve substantially comprising:
. a substantially cylindrical supporting body having a first axial cavity housing an electromagnet and a core, and an axial hole communicating with said first cavity and housing an anchor integral with a mobile plugging member;
. a nozzle secured to and projecting axially from said supporting body, and in which is formed an outlet hole communicating with said axial cavity and controlled by said plugging member;
said plugging member being moved, by virtue of said electromagnet, between a first closed position, wherein it is pushed by a spring against a seat on said nozzle, thus closing said outlet hole, and an open position wherein said outlet hole is opened; characterised by the fact that said body presents a series of holes designed to enable external communication, through the lateral surface of said supporting body, of said axial hole formed inside said body.

[0009] One embodiment of the valve according to the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing showing an axial section of the same.

[0010] The valve according to the present invention comprises a supporting body 1 defined by a substantially cylin­drical lateral surface 2, and having a first axial cavity 3 housing an electromagnet 4, and an axial hole communicating with said cavity 3. Axial hole 6 on electromagnet 4 houses a core 7, while axial hole 5 houses an axially-sliding anchor 8 integral with a mobile plugging member 9. Supporting body 1 is fitted with a nozzle 12 in which is formed a fuel outlet hole 13 controlled by plugging member 9. In the embodiment shown, plugging member 9 is conveniently integral with a rod 14 sliding axially inside a cylindrical seat 15 on nozzle 12, and guided by a pair of annular pro­jections 16 on which are formed flat portions 17, each defining a fuel passage together with the cylindrical surface of seat 15. A spacer 18 is fitted between nozzle 12 and body 1, and nozzle 12 is secured to body 1 by permanently deforming the annular end edge 19 of body 1.

[0011] Anchor 8 is substantially tubular and secured to rod 14, e.g. by permanently deforming the end of anchor 8. Inside anchor 8 and core 7, there is fitted a helical spring 20 having one end resting on a push rod 22 force-­fitted inside an axial hole 23 on core 7, and designed to normally maintain plugging member 9 against a seat 24 upstream from fuel outlet hole 13.

[0012] According to the present invention, supporting body 1 presents a series of holes 25 designed to enable external communication of axial hole 5 through lateral surface 2 of body 1. As shown in the drawing, said holes 25 consist of radial holes coming out inside cavity 3 of body 1.

[0013] Spacer 18 presents a slot 30 for connecting axial hole 5 to seat 15 inside nozzle 12 and, consequently, to fuel outlet hole 13.

[0014] The end of rod 14 presents at least one hole 31 for connecting the hole in anchor 8 to seat 15 of nozzle 12.

[0015] As shown in the drawing, body 1 and part of nozzle 12 are conveniently covered by a plastic casing 35 having holes corresponding with holes 25. Between cover and body 1, there is provided a mesh filter 36. The valve also comprises known electrical connecting members 38 for supplying electromagnet 4, a cap 39 for nozzle 12, and a sealing ring 40.

[0016] The valve according to the present invention operates as follows.

[0017] When connected to a fuel circuit of the type shown in the drawing, the valve according to the present invention is housed inside a substantially cylindrical seat 45 having a hole 46 communicating with the manifold supplying the mixture to the engine. As shown in the drawing, when the valve is housed and locked inside seat 45, e.g. by means of plate 47, pressure is exerted on the surface of hole 46 by sealing ring 40 which, together with a further sealing ring 48 between the valve and seat 45, seals the fuel inside seat 45. Fuel is fed into seat 45 along a duct 49 preferably located in line with holes 25, and is drained from seat 45 by a further duct 50.

[0018] The fuel supplied by duct 49 is maintained at a pre-­determined pressure by a pressure regulator (not shown) on the fuel circuit upstream from duct 49. The incoming fuel from duct 49 therefore fills seat 45 and enters the valve through holes 25, as shown by the black and white arrows in the drawing.

[0019] A first stream of fuel through holes 25 (shown by the black arrow) flows into cavity 3 and, through the hole in anchor 8 and the openings formed between anchor 8, core 7, body 1, spacer 18 and slot 30, into seat 15 on nozzle 12, and from there through the cavities formed between the flat portions of annular projections 16 and the surface of seat 15 to outlet hole 13.

[0020] A second stream of fuel through holes 25 flows into cavity 3 and, via the openings between core 7, anchor 8 and the surfaces of hole 5 in body 1 and hole 6 in electromagnet 4, flows over the outer surfaces of all the members inside cavity 3 and axial hole 5, and out along duct 50. The presence of radial hole 32 in core 7 facilitates said passage.

[0021] Said first stream of fuel therefore substantially supplies outlet hole 13 along said route inside the valve, the reduced length and, consequently, reduced resistance of which provide for minimal load losses, so that the fuel at outlet hole 13 presents substantially the same pressure as inside supply duct 49. Moreover, said second stream of fuel flows through all the openings and holes inside body 1, particularly those at the top of the valve, thus providing for effective scavenging of any vapours formed inside the same.

[0022] The valve according to the present invention has been found to overcome the drawbacks typically associated with known substantially axial fuel feed type valves, wherein the metering and atomizing efficiency of the valve is seriously impaired by the formation of vapours particularly at the top of the valve. Moreover, metering and atomizing performance is improved by virtue of the high, substantially constant fuel pressure maintained immediately upstream from outlet hole 13.

[0023] When electromagnet 4 is energized, anchor 8 is drawn towards core 7 against the action of spring 20, thus detaching plugging member 9 from seat 24 of nozzle 12 and so allowing a given quantity of fuel to flow through outlet hole 13. When electromagnet 4 is de-energized, spring 20 restores plugging member 9 to the closed position shown in the drawing.

[0024] To those skilled in the art it will be clear that changes may be made to the valve as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1) - An electromagnetic fuel metering and atomizing valve for an internal combustion engine fuel supply device, said valve substantially comprising:
. a substantially cylindrical supporting body (1) having a first axial cavity (3) housing an electromagnet (4) and a core (7), and an axial hole (5) communicating with said first cavity (3) and housing an anchor (8) integral with a mobile plugging member (9);
. a nozzle (12) secured to and projecting axially from said supporting body (1), and in which is formed an outlet hole (13) communicating with said axial cavity (3) and controlled by said plugging member (9);
said plugging member (9) being moved, by virtue of said electromagnet (4), between a first closed position, wherein it is pushed by a spring (20) against a seat (24) on said nozzle (12), thus closing said outlet hole (13), and an open position wherein said outlet hole (13) is opened; characterised by the fact that said body (1) presents a series of holes (25) designed to enable external communication, through the lateral surface (2) of said supporting body (1), of said axial hole (5) formed inside said body (1).

2) - A valve as claimed in Claim 1, characterised by the fact that said series of holes (25) consists of radial holes coming out inside said first cavity (3) on said supporting body (1).

3) - A valve as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that provision is made between said supporting body (1) and said nozzle (12) for a spacer (18) support­ing said nozzle (12) and having a radial slot (30) for connecting said axial hole (5) in said body (1) to said seat (15) on said nozzle (12).

4) - A valve as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that said plugging member (9) is integral with a rod (14) sliding axially inside an axial hole (15) on said nozzle (12) and connected to said anchor (8).

5) - A valve as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that said anchor (8) and said core (7) present radial holes (31, 32) for enabling external communication of the cavities formed inside the same.

Drawing