Fuel injector with a trimmable heater and an increased heater contact area

• Main Authors: MULLER-GIRARD, JR. OTTO, CARTER BRADLEY H, SHORT JASON C, ISENBERG JOHN K, BARON CYNTHIA J, WILLIAMS SCOTT A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 22.03.2016
• Subjects: BLASTING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL, WITH COMBUSTIBLEMIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF; WEAPONS

A fuel injector wherein a cylindrical surface supports an electrical heating structure covering 360° or almost 360° of the surface for heating fuel. The structure comprises a first dielectric layer adhered to the surface; a thick film resistance heating element; a second dielectric layer; spaced-apart first and second conductor pads, wherein the first conductor pad is disposed in contact with a dielectric layer and a first end of the heating element, and wherein the second conductor pad is disposed in contact with a dielectric layer and a second end of the heating element. Another dielectric layer may be disposed over the preceding layers and the first and second conductor pads and having first and second windows formed therein for access to the first and second conductor pads. The resistance heating element may selectively be trimmed by overprinting in a pattern one or more times to improve the uniformity of heating.