(19)
(11) EP 1 359 319 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
10.11.2004 Bulletin 2004/46

(43) Date of publication A2:
05.11.2003 Bulletin 2003/45

(21) Application number: 03252437.3

(22) Date of filing: 16.04.2003
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: F02M 61/20
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK

(30) Priority: 20.04.2002 GB 0209049

(71) Applicant: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
Troy, MI 48007 (US)

(72) Inventor:
  • Buckley, P.
    Rainham, Kent ME8 9ES (GB)

(74) Representative: Keltie, David Arthur et al
David Keltie Associates, Fleet Place House, 2 Fleet Place
London EC4M 7ET
London EC4M 7ET (GB)

   


(54) Fuel injector


(57) A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine includes a valve needle (14) having a first surface which is engageable with a valve needle seating to control fuel flow between a delivery chamber (20) and an outlet and a high pressure supply passage (22) for supplying fuel at high pressure to the delivery chamber (20). A thrust surface of the valve needle (14) is exposed to fuel pressure within the delivery chamber (20) such that a force is applied to the valve needle (14) to urge the needle away from the valve seating. The injector also includes a pressure chamber (32) in communication with the high pressure supply passage (22) which is defined, in part, by a surface associated with the valve needle (14) at an end thereof remote from the outlet, and means (34, 40; 22, 56, 48, 54) for generating a variable difference in fuel pressure between the delivery chamber (20) and the pressure chamber (32) in dependence upon the rate of increase of fuel pressure within the high pressure supply passage (22), thereby to provide a variable nozzle opening pressure at which the valve needle is caused to lift from the valve needle seating to initiate injection.






Search report