GOBBI, Francesco (Via Salvemini 36, Collebeato, 25060, IT)
| CLAIMS 1. Injector bar for dosing fuel to each individual internal combustion engine cylinder supplied by a gas, both LPG or methane gas, under the control of an electronic controller, characterised by at least a heating means for its thermoregulation and to heat the gaseous internal residue before the engine starts. 2. Injector bar according to claim 1 , comprising a bar body with, at one end, a gas input connector, at the opposite end, a fitting to connect a pressure gauge and a connection for a temperature sensor; along one of its longitudinal sides has a number of nozzles adjusted for the exit of the gas towards the engine to be powered, and possibly along its opposite side a group of control coils, each one associated with a nozzle, characterised by at least one electric heater (17) which can be temporarily switched on to heat the injector bar before the engine starts and automatically switched off when the bar has reached a preset temperature. 3. Injector bar according to claim 2, characterised in that the electric heater (17) includes an electric heating element, preferably the cartridge type, inserted in a housing associated with the body bar and connected to an electric feeder run by said electronic controller. 4. Injector bar according to claim 3, characterised in that the electric heater (17) is housed in an opening provided directly in the bar body. 5. Injector bar according to claim 3, characterised in that the electric heater (17) is housed in a case attached and in contact with the bar body. |
Field of the Invention
This invention concerns, in general, gas systems to run motor vehicles, and refers, in particular, to an injection bar designed apportion a correct quantity of fuel to each individual internal combustion engine cylinder fed by a gas, both LPG or methane. State of the technique
In engines for vehicles running on gas, the fuel, that in general is provided by a cylinder on board the vehicle, is distributed by means of adjustment and control valves, then passes through a pressure regulator to bring and maintain the pressure of the gas up to a pre-set level, and it is lastly fed in sequence to the engine cylinders by means of an injection system controlled by an electronic controller. The injectors are usually associated with a bar, known also as a "fuel rail" or "injector rail", having basically an input duct of the gas at one of its ends, a connection for a pressure gauge at the opposite end, a connector for a temperature sensor, calibrated nozzles along one of its sides for the exit of the gas towards the engine and possibly bobbins associated with the injectors for measuring the gas in output.
The system in itself is functional, but however has a drawback. In fact when the engine is stopped, the body of the injector bar tends to cool down, cooling at the same time the residue of gaseous. fuel left over after the motor was switched off. The cooling of the injector bar and of the gas inside depends on the temperature of the atmosphere and obviously it increases in the cold periods, and is however a drawback for a correct supply of gas to the engine when the latter is subsequently started. In fact, the cold gaseous fuel makes starting the engine a problem. Further, taking into consideration that in the inside of the bar substances or oily impurities may also remain, and that on cooling they tend to thicken and block the flow of the gaseous fuel from the injectors, the drawback becomes even more accentuated.
Objectives of the Invention
This invention has as an objective the elimination of the drawback underlined above and therefore to make an injection bar for gas powered engines, not only functional but also highly reliable and to ensure a correct start of the motor notwithstanding the external temperature and residue of all types that remain in the bar after each stop of the engine.
According to the invention the objective is reached through a thermoregulation of the injector bar, that is to say by equipping the latter with at least an electric heater that is switched on temporarily before the engine is started to heat the injector bar and which is switched off automatically when the bar has reached a specific temperature. Brief description of the drawings
Further details of the invention will be apparent from the continuation of this description made in reference to the enclosed schematic and purely indicative drawings, in which: . Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an injector bar complete with a heater; and
Fig. 2 shows a view of an end of said bar. Detailed description of the Invention As shown, the injector bar comprises, as is well known, a bar body 11 that forms a longitudinal conduit which has, on one side, a gas input connection 12 and on the opposite side, a connection 13 for connecting up to a pressure gauge, not shown, and a connector 14 for a temperature sensor, also not shown. Along one of its longitudinal sides, the bar body 11 has a plurality of calibrated exit nozzles 15 of the gas towards the engine to be fed, whereas on one opposite side it has a group of control bobbins 16, each one associated with a nozzle 15. All controlled by an electronic controller.
The bar body 11 is associated with at least an electric heater 17 connected by a relative cable 17' to an electric output. For example, the electric heater 17 can be made up of a cartridge resistance housed and held in un housing 18 so as to be in contact with the bar body. This housing 18 can be provided directly in the bar body or made up of a holder attached to said body as shown in the drawings. Anyway, the heater 17 will be conveniently managed for an automatic adjustment of the injector bar. In fact it can be activated for the engine starts, temporarily or anyway to heat up to a preset temperature of the injector bar and its content. Then it will be automatically switched off thus enabling a regular start of the engine.