FIELD

The present description relates generally to methods and systems for a fuel injector of a motorized vehicle.

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY

Combustion chambers of internal combustion engines are often configured to receive fuel via direct fuel injection from nozzles of one or more fuel injectors. Ducts may be positioned within the combustion chambers proximate to the nozzles of the fuel injectors, and fuel may be injected into the combustion chambers from the nozzles and through the ducts. Injecting the fuel through the ducts may increase an amount of mixing of the fuel and air within the combustion chambers.

Some ducts include a threaded body adapted to mate with one or more counterpart features of the fuel injectors. Each threaded body may couple to a corresponding fuel injector in order to secure the ducts in the position proximate to the nozzle of the fuel injector. One example approach is shown by Mueller in US 2016/0097360. Therein, a duct is disclosed, with the duct located proximate to an opening in a fuel injector tip. The duct may be coupled to a locator ring, with the locator ring coupled to the fuel injector.

However, the inventors herein have recognized potential issues with such systems. As one example, it may be difficult to align each hole of the nozzle of the fuel injector with a corresponding duct while the ducts are coupled to the fuel injector. Misalignment of the holes with the ducts may decrease the mixing of fuel and air within the combustion chamber and/or may reduce combustion stability.

In one example, the issues described above may be addressed by a system, comprising: a cylinder head including a passage extending from an outer surface to an inner surface of the cylinder head, a shoulder formed within the passage proximate to the inner surface, the shoulder forming a larger passage opening at the inner surface than the outer surface, the inner surface forming a top of a combustion chamber; and a fuel injector including a nozzle and a plurality of ducts arranged at a distal end of the fuel injector, where the distal end includes a flange that is wider than a body of the fuel injector extending toward a proximal end of the fuel injector, the flange adapted to seat within the shoulder. In this way, an alignment of the nozzle with the plurality of ducts may be increased as the fuel injector is coupled with the shoulder.

As one example, a diameter of the passage may be smaller than a diameter of the passage opening at the inner surface formed by the shoulder. By coupling the fuel injector with the shoulder at the inner surface, a length of the ducts may be increased relative to the diameter of the passage, and mixing of fuel and air within the combustion chamber may be increased. Further, increasing the alignment of the nozzle with the plurality of ducts may increase the mixing of fuel and air, and engine performance may be increased.

It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

