Fuel heater with fuse effect
A fuel heater is provided to heat fuel with a safety feature (fuse effect). The internal combustion engine can be operated with ethanol, gasoline or a mixture of ethanol and gasoline. The fuel heater is an integrant part of the electronic injection system of internal combustion engines. The fuel heater is assembled inside the fuel rail and serves to increase fuel temperature before, during and after ignition at temperatures specified by the engine calibration strategy.
1. A fuel heater for cold ignition systems in vehicles provided with a reservoir, a fuel supply pump, feeding pipes to supply alcohol to a fuel rail for fuel distribution to intake manifold ducts, the fuel heater comprising: a connector ( 11 , 111 ) housing a set of terminals ( 112 ) to receive electric energy from a battery and controlled by an electronic control unit by a power module with switching function; a heating element ( 17 ); an inner metal rod ( 14 ) to conduct electric current from the terminals ( 112 ) to the heating element ( 17 ); an insulating gasket ( 12 ) of the inner metal rod ( 14 ); a main metal body ( 13 ) for protection of the inner metal rod ( 14 ); and an external metal tube ( 18 ) involving an electric insulator ( 16 ) and the heating element ( 17 ), wherein the fuel heaters ( 1 , 8 ) are positioned axially inside a rail body ( 5 ) of the fuel rail ( 203 ) and at one or both of its ends, and wherein the heating element ( 17 ) of each fuel heater ( 1 , 8 ) presents a fuse effect.