Integrated fuel injector and ignitor assembly
First Claim
1. An integrated fuel injector and ignitor assembly for injecting a gaseous fuel into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine comprising:
- an injector body containing an injector cavity, a fuel outlet communicating with one end of said injector cavity and a fuel metering circuit;
an ignitor electrode device positioned adjacent a first end of said injector body for generating a spark for igniting the gaseous fuel, said ignitor electrode device including a first electrode and a second electrode; and
a fuel control valve positioned in said injector cavity for controlling fuel flow through said fuel metering circuit so as to define a fuel injection event wherein said fuel control valve includes a control valve element mounted for reciprocal movement between an open position permitting fuel flow from said metering circuit through said fuel outlet and a closed position blocking fuel flow from said metering circuit, a solenoid means for moving said control valve element, and a control valve seat positioned in said injector cavity between said solenoid means and said first end of said injector body wherein said control valve seat and said control valve element are non-integral with and separable from said first and said second ignitor electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated fuel injector and ignitor assembly is provided which includes an injector body, a fuel control valve and an ignition device. The components are packaged to create a compact assembly for positioning within an injector mounting bore and particularly in a mounting bore of an existing diesel engine. The assembly may include a fuel reservoir for accumulating fuel for injection so as to stabilize the injection pressure. Also, the ignition device may include an ignition coil mounted on the injector body and a replaceable ignitor electrode cartridge mounted on an opposite end of the injector body to permit simple, cost effective replacement of the electrodes/spark plug.
180 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An integrated fuel injector and ignitor assembly for injecting a gaseous fuel into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine comprising:
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an injector body containing an injector cavity, a fuel outlet communicating with one end of said injector cavity and a fuel metering circuit; an ignitor electrode device positioned adjacent a first end of said injector body for generating a spark for igniting the gaseous fuel, said ignitor electrode device including a first electrode and a second electrode; and a fuel control valve positioned in said injector cavity for controlling fuel flow through said fuel metering circuit so as to define a fuel injection event wherein said fuel control valve includes a control valve element mounted for reciprocal movement between an open position permitting fuel flow from said metering circuit through said fuel outlet and a closed position blocking fuel flow from said metering circuit, a solenoid means for moving said control valve element, and a control valve seat positioned in said injector cavity between said solenoid means and said first end of said injector body wherein said control valve seat and said control valve element are non-integral with and separable from said first and said second ignitor electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An integrated fuel injector and ignitor assembly capable of mounting in an injector mounting bore formed in a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine for injecting a gaseous fuel into a cylinder of the engine, comprising:
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an injector body containing an injector cavity, a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet communicating with one end of said injector cavity and a fuel metering circuit for delivering fuel to said fuel outlet; an ignition means for igniting the gaseous fuel, said ignition means including an ignitor electrode positioned adjacent a first end of said injector body and an ignition coil mounted on said injector body and electrically connected to said ignitor electrode; and a fuel supply means including a fuel supply passage formed in the cylinder head of the engine and communicating with said injector mounting bore, wherein said fuel inlet is positioned to receive fuel from said fuel supply passage when said injector body is positioned in said injector mounting bore. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An integrated fuel injector and ignitor assembly for injecting a gaseous fuel into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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an injector body containing an injector cavity, a fuel outlet communicating with one end of said injector cavity and a fuel metering circuit extending through said injector cavity; a replaceable ignitor electrode cartridge removably mounted on a first end of said injector body, said ignitor electrode cartridge including a cartridge housing and a plurality of ignitor electrodes attached to said cartridge housing for generating a spark for igniting the gaseous fuel. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An integrated fuel injector and ignitor assembly for injecting a gaseous fuel into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine comprising:
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an injector body containing an injector cavity, a fuel outlet communicating with one end of said injector cavity and a fuel metering circuit; an ignition means for igniting the gaseous fuel, said ignition means including an ignitor electrode positioned adjacent a first end of said injector body for generating a spark for igniting the gaseous fuel and an ignition coil mounted on a second end of said injector body opposite said first end and electrically connected to said ignitor electrode; and a fuel control valve positioned in said injector cavity for controlling fuel flow through said fuel metering circuit so as to define a fuel injection event wherein said fuel control valve includes a control valve element mounted for reciprocal movement between an open position permitting fuel flow from said metering circuit through said fuel outlet and a closed position blocking fuel flow from said metering circuit, and a solenoid means for moving said control valve element, wherein said solenoid means is positioned axially along said injector body between said ignition coil and said first end of said injector body.
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Specification