Fuel Injection

The idea of fuel injection has a history spanning over a century, with the first fuel injection systems resembling modern ones being developed by British engineer and engine builder Herbert Akroyd Stuart in the late 19th century. His hot-bulb engines, which utilized a pressurized fuel injection system, were produced starting in 1891. While Stuart's work focused on oil engines, the concept of fuel injection was later adapted and refined for use in gasoline engines, particularly in aircraft and later in automobiles, with contributions from various engineers and companies like Bosch. 

Mercedes-Benz 1954 Gullwing Fuel Injector

Here's a more detailed look:

• Herbert Akroyd Stuart:

In the 1880s, he spilled kerosene into molten tin, which led to the discovery that hot kerosene vapor ignites easily, prompting him to develop the hot-bulb engine, which used a pressurized fuel injection system. 

• Early Fuel Injection for Steam Locomotives:

The injector, a device that uses steam pressure to draw in and deliver fuel, was invented by Henri Giffard in the 1850s and later patented in 1858. 

• Gasoline Injection in Aircraft:

Bosch played a crucial role in developing fuel injection for aircraft engines in the early 1930s, significantly improving engine performance, particularly at high altitudes. 

• Transition to Automobiles:

The 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing was groundbreaking due to its Bosch engineered pioneering use of mechanical fuel injection, dramatically boosting engine efficiency and performance. Its lightweight tubular frame enabled the distinctive gullwing doors and contributed to the car's remarkable speed, making it the fastest production car of its time.

• Electronic Fuel Injection:

The development of electronic fuel injection (EFI) represented a significant advancement, providing more precise control over the air-fuel mixture and leading to improved engine efficiency and performance.

Take care!

Prof. Carl Boniface 

P.S. Mechanical fuel injection is not a carburetor. While both systems deliver fuel to the engine, they do so in fundamentally different ways. A carburetor is a purely mechanical device that uses airflow to draw fuel into the engine, while mechanical fuel injection uses a system of pumps, lines, and injectors to deliver fuel under pressure.