(19) |
 |
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(11) |
EP 1 300 586 A3 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
(88) |
Date of publication A3: |
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03.12.2003 Bulletin 2003/49 |
(43) |
Date of publication A2: |
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09.04.2003 Bulletin 2003/15 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 02.10.2002 |
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(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SK TR |
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Designated Extension States: |
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AL LT LV MK RO SI |
(30) |
Priority: |
02.10.2001 JP 2001306385 16.11.2001 JP 2001352166 12.03.2002 JP 2002067216 18.07.2002 JP 2002209223
|
(71) |
Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD. |
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Nagoya-City, Aichi Prefecture 467-8530 (JP) |
|
(72) |
Inventors: |
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- Ohnishi, Takao, c/o Int Prop Dept., NGK Insulators
Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken 467-8530 (JP)
- Hirota, Toshikazu, Int Prop Dept., NGK Insulators
Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken 467-8530 (JP)
|
(74) |
Representative: Paget, Hugh Charles Edward et al |
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MEWBURN ELLIS York House 23 Kingsway London WC2B 6HP London WC2B 6HP (GB) |
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|
(54) |
Liquid injection apparatus |
(57) A liquid injection apparatus is provided which is capable of uniformly atomizing
and injecting liquid such as fuel even if the surrounding environment changes significantly.
A liquid injection apparatus (10) comprises an injection unit (14) fixed to a liquid
injection space (21) defined by, e.g., a suction pipe (20) of an internal combustion
engine, and a pressurizing pump (11) for pressurizing liquid from a liquid storage
tank (22) up to a pressure to supply the liquid to the injection unit and to inject
the liquid into the space. The injection unit comprises, in order to atomize the liquid
supplied by the pressurizing pump, a plurality of chambers in which a piezoelectric/electrostrictive
element is formed at least on its wall surface, and a plurality of liquid ejection
nozzles. Vibration energy induced by the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is
given to the pressurized liquid in the chamber of the injection unit. and the liquid
is atomized and injected into the liquid injection space from the extremity of the
liquid ejection nozzle.