US 11,852,113 B2
Fuel injector having spray ducts sized for optimized soot reduction
Russell P. Fitzgerald, Peoria, IL (US); and Kenth I. Svensson, Peoria, IL (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Jan. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/096,978.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/305,880, filed on Feb. 2, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0243327 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
Int. Cl. F02M 61/18 (2006.01); F02B 23/06 (2006.01)
CPC F02M 61/1846 (2013.01) [F02B 23/0651 (2013.01); F02B 23/0669 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel injector comprising:
a nozzle body having a nozzle chamber and a plurality of spray orifices extending from the nozzle chamber formed therein, and each of the plurality of spray orifices defining a spray orifice diameter dimension (d);
a plurality of spray ducts in spray path alignment with each respective one of the plurality of spray orifices and including a duct outlet defining a duct exit diameter dimension (D);
a check movable in the nozzle body between a first position where the plurality of spray orifices are all blocked from the nozzle chamber, and a second position where the plurality of spray orifices are all simultaneously fluidly connected to the nozzle chamber, and wherein the plurality of spray orifices includes all spray orifices of the fuel injector blocked by the check at the first position;
each of the plurality of spray ducts defining, together with the respective one of the plurality of spray orifices, a relative spray area reduction (SAR) at the duct outlet;
a ratio of D/d is at least 10; and
the SAR is 80% or greater.