Fuel duct for supplying fuel to a combustion chamber

Abstract

A fuel duct system for supplying fuel to a combustion chamber, in particular a vehicle heating device, comprises duct section, elongate in the flow direction (L), and also a heating element in the duct section with its length direction oriented substantially in the flow direction (L), for flow therearound of the fuel moving in the duct section.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A fuel duct system ( 10 ) for supplying fuel to a combustion chamber, in particular in a vehicle heating device, comprising a duct section ( 16 ), elongate in a flow direction (L), and a heating element ( 38 ) in the duct section ( 16 ) with its length direction oriented substantially in the flow direction (L) for flow therearound of the fuel moving through the duct section ( 16 ).  
     
     
         2 . The fuel duct system according to  claim 1 , wherein the duct system ( 16 ) is constituted open in an end region ( 20 ) and is closed by a connection ( 72 ,  74 ) having a closure element ( 64 ) for the heating element ( 38 ).  
     
     
         3 . The fuel duct system according to  claim 1 , wherein a supporting element arrangement ( 46 ) supports the heating element ( 38 ) in the duct section ( 16 ) at a spacing from an internal surface ( 40 ).  
     
     
         4 . The fuel duct system according to  claim 2 , wherein the supporting element arrangement ( 46 ) has at least two supporting elements ( 42 ,  44 ), and wherein the connections ( 72 ,  74 ) of the closure element ( 64 ) are electrically connected to the heating element ( 38 ) by means of the supporting elements ( 42 ,  44 ).  
     
     
         5 . The fuel duct system according to  claim 3 , wherein the supporting element arrangement ( 46 ) comprises two supporting elements ( 42 ,  44 ) extending along opposingly oriented side surfaces ( 48 ,  50 ) of the heating element ( 38 ).  
     
     
         6 . The fuel duct system according to  claim 3 , wherein an outlet duct ( 24 ,  36 ) leads from a first end region ( 22 ) of the duct section ( 16 ) to the combustion chamber and an inlet duct ( 34 ) opens into the duct section ( 16 ) at a spacing from the second end region ( 20 ) thereof, wherein the supporting element arrangement ( 46 ) together with the duct section ( 16 ) delimits a flow path region ( 80 ) leading from the inlet duct ( 24 ) to the second end region ( 20 ).  
     
     
         7 . The fuel duct system according to  claim 1 , wherein an outlet duct ( 24 ,  36 ) leads from the duct section ( 16 ) to a fuel atomizer nozzle ( 28 ).  
     
     
         8 . The fuel duct system according to  claim 1 , wherein the duct section ( 16 ) is provided with an inlet duct ( 34 ) and/or an outlet duct ( 24 ) in a pump housing portion ( 12 ).  
     
     
         9 . The fuel duct system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating element ( 38 ) is a PTC heating element.  
     
     
         10 . The fuel duct system according to  claim 3 , wherein the supporting element arrangement ( 46 ) has at least two supporting elements ( 42 ,  44 ), and wherein the connections ( 72 ,  74 ) of the closure element ( 64 ) are electrically connected to the heating element ( 38 ) by means of the supporting elements ( 42 ,  44 ).