INTEGRATED FUEL INJECTORS AND IGNITERS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF USE AND MANUFACTURE
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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, insulators with adequate mechanical and dielectric strength to enable high-energy plasma generation by components that have very small dimensions, multifunction valving that is moved to injector multiple bursts of fuel and to induce plasma projection, a fuel control valve at the interface to the combustion chamber for the purpose of eliminating fuel drip at undesired times, and one or more components at the interface of the combustion chamber for the purpose of blocking transmission of combustion sourced pressure.
11 Citations
85 Claims
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1-40. -40. (canceled)
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41. A fuel injector valve for use in a direct fuel injection engine, comprising:
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a fuel injection valve fluidically connected to a fuel source and positioned adjacent to a combustion chamber to directly inject a first fuel stream per cycle into the combustion chamber; at least one sensor configured to determine at least one engine operation parameter that affects formation of a stratified air-fuel mixture inside the combustion chamber; and a controller configured to selectively control the fuel injection valve to use a plurality of fuel streams wherein a first fuel stream timing is set to control the injection valve to inject the first fuel stream during an intake stroke while a piston in the combustion chamber is approximately at an intake top dead center position such that a majority of the first fuel stream injected from the fuel injection valve is received inside a pocket of excess oxidant in the combustion chamber. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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49-1. The fuel injector-igniter of claim 46 wherein the actuator is a fiber optic cable, insulated transducers integrated within a rod or cable, and/or other sensor.
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61. A method for injection fuel in a direct fuel injection engine, comprising:
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determining at least one engine operation parameter that affects formation of a stratified air-fuel mixture inside a combustion chamber; determining whether to inject multiple fuel bursts based on the a determination of the engine operation parameter; and injecting the plurality of fuel bursts based on the determination of the engine operation parameter, wherein a first fuel stream is injected while a piston is approximately at an intake top dead center position.
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62. A fuel injector with an integrated igniter for use in an internal combustion engine, the injector configured to provide multiple bursts of fuel to the combustion chamber per combustion event, and further able to facilitate use of multiple fuels in an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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a variable storage vessel configured to store fuels having different octane and cetane ratings; an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber, wherein the engine is fluidically connected to the storage vessel; and a fuel injector with an integral igniter, the fuel injector having a proximal end, a distal end and a fluidic passageway there through, wherein the proximal end is fluidically coupled to the storage vessel and the distal end is fluidically coupled to the combustion chamber, wherein the distal end of the fuel injector includes a fuel distribution valve positioned proximate to the fluidic connection of the fuel injector with the combustion chamber and the distal end of the channel in a valve operating region includes a first dielectric material; a plurality of sensors arranged for sensing actual engine operation parameters, load conditions, and fuel availability; and a controller in electronic communication with the sensors, wherein the controller collects and analyzes information from the sensors to control the fuel distribution valve to provide multiple bursts of fuel to the combustion chamber per combustion event. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A method for operating an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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injecting a plurality of fuel bursts during a single combustion event through a valve in a combined fuel injector/igniter positioned at top dead center of a combustion chamber; igniting fuel in the combustion chamber with the fuel injector/igniter at an operating temperature below a NOx formation temperature.
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69. The method for operating an internal combustion engine wherein the igniting fuel in the combustion chamber is in the presence of excess oxidant in the fuel combustion chamber.
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70. A fuel injection system comprising:
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a controller; a fuel injector for injecting fuel, wherein the fuel is injected by the opening of a valve element; igniter, wherein the igniter is integral to the injector; and wherein the valve element is opened with one of a cable or rod connected to an actuator and wherein the cable or rod are electrically insulated and further comprise a fiber-optic element for communicating combustion data to the microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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Specification