Fuel injector actuator assemblies 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, wherein the base portion is configured to receive the fuel into the body and the nozzle portion is configured to be positioned adjacent to the combustion chamber;
a valve carried by the nozzle portion, wherein the valve is movable between a closed position and an open position to inject the fuel into the combustion chamber;
an actuator coupled the valve and extending longitudinally through the body towards the base portion; and
a driver carried by the body and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the driver is spaced apart from the actuator and in the second position the driver moves the actuator to move the valve to the open position.
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. The base portion receives the fuel into the body and the nozzle portion can be positioned adjacent to the combustion chamber. The injector further includes a valve carried by the nozzle portion that is movable between a closed position and an open position to inject the fuel into the combustion chamber. An actuator is coupled the valve and extends longitudinally through the body towards the base portion, and a driver is carried by the body and is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the driver does not move the actuator and in the second position the driver moves the actuator to move the valve to the open position.
136 Citations
47 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, wherein the base portion is configured to receive the fuel into the body and the nozzle portion is configured to be positioned adjacent to the combustion chamber; a valve carried by the nozzle portion, wherein the valve is movable between a closed position and an open position to inject the fuel into the combustion chamber; an actuator coupled the valve and extending longitudinally through the body towards the base portion; and a driver carried by the body and movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the driver is spaced apart from the actuator and in the second position the driver moves the actuator to move the valve to the open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. 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, wherein the base portion is configured to receive the fuel into the body and the nozzle portion is configured to be positioned adjacent to the combustion chamber; a valve at the nozzle portion, wherein the valve is movable between a closed position and an open position; an actuator having a first end coupled to the valve and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, wherein the second end portion has a stop; a driver positioned in the body and movable between first and second positions, wherein in the first position the driver is spaced apart from the stop and in the second position the driver contacts the stop to move the actuator axially away from the nozzle portion to move the valve to the open position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A fuel injector configured to inject fuel into a combustion chamber, the fuel injector comprising:
-
a first insulator body having a first end portion opposite a second end portion and a first fuel passageway extending from the first end portion to the second end portion; a second insulator body having an opening extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein the second end portion of the first insulator body is positioned in the opening of the second insulator body; a conductor positioned between the second insulator body and the second end portion of the first insulator body, wherein the conductor is configured to be coupled to an energy source; a conductive nozzle injection tip coupled to the conductor, wherein the nozzle injection tip includes a second fuel passageway fluidly coupled to the first fluid passageway, and wherein the nozzle injection tip is carried by the second end portion of the first insulator body and extends through a portion of the second insulator body; a valve carried by the first end portion of the first insulator body, wherein the valve is movable between a closed position and an open position relative to the first fuel passageway; and a driver movably positioned in the first end portion of the first insulator body, wherein the driver is configured to move the valve between the open and closed positions. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. 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 and movable between open and closed positions; an actuator having a first end portion operably coupled to the valve and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, wherein the actuator includes an actuator stop at the second end portion; a driver movably carried by the base portion and positioned between the actuator stop and the valve, wherein the driver is formed from an at least partially magnetic material; an electromagnetic pole element carried by the base portion and positioned between the driver and the valve; and a biasing member extending between the driver and the pole element, wherein the biasing member urges the driver away from the pole element to contact the actuator stop and tension the actuator to at least partially retain the valve in the closed position, and wherein the driver moves towards the pole element and at least partially compresses the biasing member to at least partially relieve tension in the actuator to allow the valve to move to the open position. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
-
-
43. 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 and movable between open and closed positions; an actuator extending through the body, wherein the actuator is coupled to the valve and includes an actuator stop spaced apart from the valve; an actuator tensioner having a first side configured to contact the actuator stop and a second side opposite the first side; a biasing member positioned between the valve and the actuator tensioner, wherein the biasing member contacts the second side of the actuator tensioner and urges the actuator tensioner towards the base portion to tension the actuator and at least partially retain the valve in the closed position; a driver carried by the base portion adjacent to the first side of the actuator tensioner, wherein the driver is movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein in the first position the driver is spaced apart from the actuator tensioner and in the second position the driver contacts the second side of the actuator tensioner to relieve tension in the actuator and allow the valve to move to the open position. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
-
Specification