SHAPING A FUEL CHARGE IN A COMBUSTION CHAMBER WITH MULTIPLE DRIVERS AND/OR IONIZATION CONTROL
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fuel injector, comprising:
- a body having a middle portion extending between a base portion and a nozzle portion;
wherein the body includes a channel configured to allow fuel to pass between the base portion and the nozzle portion to a combustion chamber of a fuel combustion engine;
an actuator contained within the channel of the body, the actuator having a distal end and a proximal end;
a flow control device fluidically coupled to the channel and operably connected to a distal end of the actuator;
a first driver operably connected to a proximal end of the actuator;
a second driver operably connected to the proximal end of the actuator; and
a controller operably connected to the drivers and configured to provide operating instructions to the drivers.
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to injectors with integrated igniters providing efficient injection, ignition, and complete combustion of various types of fuels. These integrated injectors/igniters can include, for example, multiple drivers used to shape charges, controllers used to modify operations based on ionization parameters, and so on.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A fuel injector, comprising:
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a body having a middle portion extending between a base portion and a nozzle portion;
wherein the body includes a channel configured to allow fuel to pass between the base portion and the nozzle portion to a combustion chamber of a fuel combustion engine;an actuator contained within the channel of the body, the actuator having a distal end and a proximal end; a flow control device fluidically coupled to the channel and operably connected to a distal end of the actuator; a first driver operably connected to a proximal end of the actuator; a second driver operably connected to the proximal end of the actuator; and a controller operably connected to the drivers and configured to provide operating instructions to the drivers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method in a controller of a fuel injector for injecting fuel into a direct fuel injection engine, comprising:
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measuring at least one parameter associated with an air-fuel mixture inside a combustion chamber of a direct fuel injection engine; and transmitting instructions to one or more drivers that manipulate a valve of the fuel injector, wherein the instructions include; information associated with movement of the valve into an open position to dispense fuel from the fuel injector into the combustion chamber; and instructions associated with modulating the movement of the valve when the valve is in the open position to modify the shape of the fuel dispensed into the combustion chamber. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A fuel injection system configured to inject fuel into a combustion chamber of a combustion engine, the system comprising:
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a fuel dispensing component, wherein the fuel dispensing component is configured to dispense fuel having a certain ratio of surface area to volume into the combustion chamber; a measurement component, wherein the measurement component is configured to measure conditions within the combustion chamber; and a control component in communication with the fuel dispending component and the measurement component, wherein the control component is configured to provide instructions to the fuel dispensing component associated with a modification of the certain ratio of surface area to volume of the fuel dispensed into the combustion chamber. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an engine, the method comprising:
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applying a first driving force to a valve of a fuel injector, wherein the first driving force opens the valve and causes fuel having a certain shape within the fuel injector to flow into a combustion chamber of an engine; and applying a second driving force to the valve of the fuel injector, wherein the second driving force moves the valve at a certain frequency and causes the fuel to flow into the combustion chamber having a modified shape. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A system for igniting fuel within a combustion chamber, the system comprising:
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a fuel injector, wherein the fuel injector is configured to inject fuel into the combustion chamber; a fuel igniter including two electrodes, wherein the fuel igniter is configured to produce a current that ignites a mixture of air and the injected fuel within the combustion chamber in response to a voltage applied to the two electrodes; an ionization sensor, wherein the ionization sensor is configured to measure the ionization of the ignited mixture; and an operation controller, wherein the operation controller is configured to modify the operation of the fuel igniter in response to the measured ionization of the ignited mixture. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of operating a fuel combustion engine, the method comprising:
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injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of the fuel combustion engine; applying a voltage at a certain polarity to electrodes within the combustion chamber to cause a mixture of air and the injected fuel within the combustion chamber to combust; and after a complete engine cycle; injecting additional fuel into the combustion chamber; and applying a voltage at a polarity in reverse of the certain polarity to the electrodes within the combustion chamber to cause a mixture of air and the fuel injected after the complete engine cycle to combust. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification