INTEGRATED FUEL INJECTORS AND IGNITERS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE
First Claim
1. A fuel injector configured to inject fuel into a combustion chamber, the fuel injector comprising:
- a body having a base portion opposite a nozzle portion;
a fuel passageway extending through the body from the base portion to the nozzle portion;
a force generator at the base portion;
a first valve carried by the base portion, wherein the first valve is movable in response to actuation from the force generator to move from a closed position and an open position to introduce fuel into the fuel passageway; and
a second valve at the nozzle portion, wherein the second valve is deformable in response to pressure in the fuel passageway to deform from a closed position and an open position to inject fuel into the combustion chamber.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to integrated injector/igniters providing efficient injection, ignition, and complete combustion of various types of fuels. One example of such an injectors/igniter can include a body having a base portion opposite a nozzle portion, and a fuel passageway extending from the base portion to the nozzle portion. A force generator and a first valve are carried by the base portion. The first valve is movable in response to actuation from the force generator to move between closed and open positions. The injector/igniter also includes a second valve at the nozzle portion that is deformable in response to pressure in the fuel passageway to deform between a closed position and an open position.
155 Citations
36 Claims
-
1. A fuel injector configured to inject fuel into a combustion chamber, the fuel injector comprising:
-
a body having a base portion opposite a nozzle portion; a fuel passageway extending through the body from the base portion to the nozzle portion; a force generator at the base portion; a first valve carried by the base portion, wherein the first valve is movable in response to actuation from the force generator to move from a closed position and an open position to introduce fuel into the fuel passageway; and a second valve at the nozzle portion, wherein the second valve is deformable in response to pressure in the fuel passageway to deform from a closed position and an open position to inject fuel into the combustion chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A fuel injector configured to inject fuel into a combustion chamber and to ignite the fuel in the combustion chamber, the fuel injector comprising:
-
a body having a base portion opposite a nozzle portion, wherein the base portion receives fuel into the body and the nozzle portion can be positioned adjacent to the combustion chamber; a casing at the base portion at least partially housing a force generator, wherein the casing includes a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, wherein the fuel inlet is configured to receive fuel from a fuel source and the fuel outlet is configured to allow fuel to exit the casing; a fuel passageway fluidly coupled to the fuel outlet of the casing, the fuel passageway extending longitudinally through the body from the base portion to the nozzle portion; a first valve proximate to the force generator, wherein the first valve is movable in response to actuation from the force generator to move between a closed position and an open position to allow fuel to pass from the fuel outlet into the fuel passageway; and a second valve at the nozzle portion, wherein the second valve is movable in response to a predetermined fuel pressure in the fuel passageway to move between a closed position and an open position to inject fuel into the combustion chamber. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A fuel injector configured to inject fuel into a combustion chamber, the fuel injector comprising:
-
a body having a base portion opposite a nozzle portion; a valve carried by the nozzle portion, wherein the valve is movable between an open position and a closed position; an actuator operably coupled to the valve and extending from the valve to the base portion, wherein the actuator moves the valve to the closed position when the actuator is at least partially in tension; and an actuator brake configured to contact the actuator, wherein the actuator is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the actuator brake provides a constrictive force on the actuator to at least partially immobilize the actuator in tension to retain the valve in the closed position, and in the second position the actuator brake releases the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method of operating a fuel injector to inject fuel into a combustion chamber, the method comprising:
-
introducing fuel into a base portion of the fuel injector; actuating a first valve in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fuel injector to flow the fuel from the base portion into a fuel passageway, the fuel passageway extending from the base portion to a nozzle portion of the fuel injector; and actuating a second valve in a direction generally non-parallel with the longitudinal axis to dispense the fuel from the fuel passageway into the combustion chamber. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
Specification