Coaxial flow injector
View Patent ↗An injector for injecting a reagent includes an axially translatable valve member positioned within a housing. An electromagnet is positioned within the housing and includes a coil of wire positioned proximate the valve member such that the valve member moves between a seated position and an unseated position relative to an orifice in response to energizing the electromagnet. A connector coupled to the housing includes an inlet tube concentrically aligned with and surrounding a return tube. The inlet tube is adapted to receive pressurized reagent from a source of reagent. The return tube is adapted to return reagent to the source.
1. An injector for injecting a reagent, comprising:
a housing;
an axially translatable valve member positioned within the housing;
an electromagnet positioned within the housing and including a coil of wire positioned proximate the valve member, wherein the valve member moves between a seated position and an unseated position relative to an orifice in response to energizing the electromagnet;
a connector coupled to the housing, the connector including an inlet tube concentrically aligned with and surrounding a return tube, the inlet tube being adapted to receive pressurized reagent from a source of reagent, the return tube being adapted to return reagent to the source;
a pole piece having an internal passage in communication with the return tube; and
a coupling positioned in the housing fluidly connecting the pole piece passage and the return tube, wherein the reagent flows from the inlet tube around the coupling and subsequently through the coupling to enter the return tube, wherein the connector includes a plurality of webs interconnecting the inlet tube and the return tube.
2. The injector of claim 1 , wherein the webs are positioned inside of the inlet tube and radially extend between the inlet and return tubes.
3. The injector of claim 2 , wherein portions of the inlet and return tubes extend perpendicular to an axis about which the valve member translates.
4. The injector of claim 1 , wherein reagent simultaneously flows in a first direction through the inlet tube and in a second opposite direction through the return tube when the valve member is in the seated position.
5. The injector of claim 1 , further including a lower body positioned in the housing, the lower body including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart protrusions at least partially defining flow channels, the flow channels being in fluid communication with the inlet tube.
6. The injector of claim 5 , wherein the lower body includes a radially extending passage fluidly coupling one of the flow channels and the return tube.
7. The injector of claim 6 , wherein the valve member includes a passage extending therethrough connecting the radially extending passage and the pole piece passage.
8. The injector of claim 7 , wherein the radially extending passage is in fluid communication with the return tube via the pole piece passage and the valve member passage.
9. The injector of claim 5 , wherein the lower body includes a plurality of angled swirl slots to direct reagent to a swirl chamber positioned proximate the orifice.
10. The injector of claim 9 , wherein the swirl slots are in communication with the flow channels.
11. The injector of claim 5 , wherein the lower body includes a bore in receipt of the valve member.
12. The injector of claim 11 , wherein the valve member includes a magnetic pintle head fixed to a pintle and wherein the bore includes an enlarged diameter portion sized to guide the pintle head and align the pintle with the orifice.
13. The injector of claim 5 , wherein the reagent flows from the inlet tube around the lower body and subsequently through the lower body to enter the return tube.
14. An injector for injecting a reagent, comprising:
a housing;
an axially translatable valve member positioned within the housing;
an electromagnet positioned within the housing such that the valve member moves between a seated position and an unseated position relative to an orifice in response to energizing the electromagnet;
a connector removably coupled to the housing, the connector including an inlet tube concentrically aligned with a return tube, the inlet tube being adapted to receive pressurized reagent from a source of reagent, the return tube being adapted to return reagent to the source; and
a one-piece monolithic inner body positioned within and fixed to the housing, the inner body and housing at least partially defining a flow path for reagent to pass therebetween, the inner body including a bypass passage and a plurality of swirl slots, wherein reagent flows from the inlet tube, through the flow path and the bypass passage to the return tube when the valve member is in the seated position, a portion of the reagent flowing from the inlet tube, through the flow path, through the swirl slots and out of the orifice when the valve member is in the unseated position.
15. The injector of claim 14 , wherein the connector includes a removable clip engaging the housing to couple the connector to the housing.
16. The injector of claim 15 , wherein webs are positioned inside of the inlet tube and radially extend between the inlet and return tubes.
17. The injector of claim 15 , wherein the inlet tube, the return tube and the webs comprise portions of a monolithic connector.
18. The injector of claim 14 , further including a pole piece having an internal passage in communication with the return tube.
19. The injector of claim 18 , wherein the valve member includes a passage interconnecting the lower body bypass passage and the pole piece passage.
20. The injector of claim 19 , further including a coupling positioned in the housing fluidly connecting the pole piece passage and the return tube, wherein the reagent flows from the inlet tube around the coupling and subsequently through the coupling to enter the return tube.
21. The injector of claim 14 , wherein the return tube protrudes from the inlet tube.
22. An injector for injecting a reagent, comprising:
a housing;
an axially translatable valve member positioned within the housing;
an electromagnet coupled to the housing and including a coil of wire positioned proximate the valve member, wherein the valve member moves between a seated position and an unseated position relative to an orifice in response to energizing the electromagnet, wherein the housing includes a supply passageway in communication with the orifice and a return passageway; and
a connector removably coupled to the housing and including an inlet tube surrounding a return tube, the inlet tube being removably coupled to the supply passageway and adapted to receive pressurized reagent from a source of reagent, the return tube being removably coupled to the return passageway and adapted to return reagent to the source, wherein the connector is a one-piece monolithic member including radially extending webs interconnecting the inlet tube and the return tube.
23. The injector of claim 22 , wherein the housing includes a tube including a radially outwardly protruding portion and the connector includes a movable clip engaging the protruding portion to fix the connector to the housing.
24. The injector of claim 23 , further including upper and lower outer shells surrounding the coil, the upper and lower outer shells being coupled to an outer surface of the housing.
25. The injector of claim 22 , further including a fitting positioned within the housing including a hollow central bore than forms a portion of the return passage, the return tube being removably coupled to the fitting.
26. The injector of claim 25 , wherein the fitting includes a surface defining a portion of the supply passageway.
27. The injector of claim 22 , wherein the supply passageway and the return passageway extend through the coil of wire.
28. The injector of claim 22 , wherein the connector includes a seal positioned with a recess, the seal engaging an outer surface of the housing.
29. An injector for injecting a liquid, comprising:
a tubular housing;
an axially translatable valve member positioned within the housing;
an electromagnet surrounding the housing, the electromagnet positioned such that the valve member moves between a seated position and an unseated position relative to an orifice in response to energizing the electromagnet;
a one-piece monolithic inner body positioned within the housing, wherein a supply passageway axially extends between the inner body and the tubular housing, the inner body including a bypass passage and a plurality of swirl slots, wherein liquid flows through the supply passageway through the swirl slots and out of the orifice when the valve member is in the unseated position, the inner body including a central bore defining a return passageway in fluid communication with the bypass passage, the fluid flowing through the bypass passage and the return passageway when the valve member is in the seated position; and
a connector removably coupled to the tubular housing, the connector including an inlet tube concentrically aligned with a return tube, the inlet tube may be adapted to receive pressurized liquid from a source and being in fluid communication with the supply passageway, the return tube being adapted to return liquid to the source and in fluid communication with the return passageway.
30. The injector of claim 29 , wherein the supply passageway and the return passageway extend substantially coaxially to one another and wherein the liquid therein flows in opposite directions.
31. The injector of claim 29 , wherein the supply passageway and the return passageway are contained within the tubular housing and the tubular housing extends through a coil of the electromagnet.
32. The injector of claim 31 , further including a pole piece including a central bore defining a portion of the return passageway, the pole piece being fixed to the inner body.
33. The injector of claim 32 , wherein the valve member is captured within a pocket formed within the inner body, the pole piece restricting the axial extent of movement of the valve member.
34. The injector of claim 33 , further including a fitting including a bore in receipt of the pole piece and a barbed nipple removably coupled to the return tube.
35. The injector of claim 34 , wherein the inner body includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart protrusions at least partially defining the supply passageway.