Fluid cooled injector and exhaust aftertreatment system, vehicle, and method using a fluid cooled injector

Abstract

A fluid cooled injector includes an injector body comprising an injector tip and a cooling channel, the injector tip comprising an injector orifice, and a heat conducting shield, the heat conducting shield comprising a heat conducting shield orifice arranged coaxially with the injector orifice, the heat conducting shield being in direct contact with at least one of the injector body and the injector tip. An exhaust after treatment system and a vehicle including such an injector, and a method involving the use of such an injector, are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid cooled injector, comprising:
 an injector body comprising an injector tip and a cooling channel, the injector tip comprising an injector orifice; and   a heat conducting shield, the heat conducting shield comprising a heat conducting shield orifice arranged coaxially with the injector orifice, the heat conducting shield being in direct heat conducting contact with at least one of the injector body and the injector tip.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid cooled injector as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the injector body comprises a main body portion and the injector tip comprises a cylindrical portion that extends from the main body portion. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid cooled injector as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the heat conducting shield is in direct contact with at least part of the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid cooled injector as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the heat conducting shield is in direct contact with a top surface of the cylindrical portion surrounding the injector orifice. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid cooled injector as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the heat conducting shield is spaced from at least part of the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid cooled injector as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the heat conducting, shield is in direct contact with the main body portion and the cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid cooled injector as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heat conducting shield is made of a material that is at least as conductive as the injector tip. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid cooled injector as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the cooling channel is ring-shaped and surrounds a central passage leading to the injector orifice. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid cooled injector as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the heat conducting shield includes a non-stick material coating on an outer surface. 
     
     
         10 . An exhaust system for an engine comprising a diesel particulate filter and a fluid cooled injector according to  claim 1  upstream of the diesel particulate filter. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle comprising an engine and an exhaust system according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . A heat conducting shield for a fluid cooled injector, the fluid cooled injector comprising an injector body comprising an injector tip and a cooling channel, the injector tip comprising an injector orifice, the heat conducting shield comprising a first portion having a heat conducting shield orifice adapted to be arranged coaxially with the injector orifice and a second portion, separate from the first portion, at least one of the first portion and the second portion being adapted to he in direct contact with the injector body. 
     
     
         13 . The beat conducting shield as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the heat conducting shield comprises a generally cylindrical wall defining an opening for receiving the injector tip. 
     
     
         14 . The heat conducting shield as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the heat conducting shield comprises a flange extending from and annularly around the first portion. 
     
     
         15 . The heat conducting shield as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the beat conducting shield is made of copper. 
     
     
         16 . The beat conducting shield as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the beat conducting shield includes a non-stick material coating on an outer surface. 
     
     
         17 . A method of regenerating a diesel particulate filter (DPF) in an exhaust aftertreatment System, comprising:
 injecting fuel into or upstream of the DPF through an injector orifice in an injector tip of an injector;   cooling a main body of the injector from which the injector tip extends by circulating a coolant through channels in the injector; and   transferring heat from the injector tip via a heat conducting shield in direct contact with at least on of the injector tip the main body around the injector tip, and comprising a heat conducting shield orifice arranged coaxially with the injector orifice.