Integrated fuel injector igniters with conductive cable assemblies
First Claim
1. A cable assembly, comprising:
- a stem tube having a first end and a second end, the stem tube including an optical fiber and an electrically conductive sheath;
electrically conductive bristles extending from the stem tube and configured to maintain the stem tube at least generally aligned within a channel;
a first electrode connected to the first end, the first electrode being positioned near a second electrode and configured to deliver an ionizing voltage between the first and second electrodes;
a sensor at the first end of the stem tube configured to directly detect at least one of pressure, temperature, light, or movement and to relay an associated signal along the optical fiber; and
a cable actuator connected to the second end of the cable and configured to actuate the stem tube by tensioning the stem tube.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to a fuel injector assembly including a valve and a cable assembly for actuating the valve. The cable can include a plurality of strands, and each strand can be an optical fiber, an electrical conductor, or a tensile member capable of withstanding a tensile stress caused when the valve actuator actuates the valve, or any combination thereof. The cable can also include a brush bearing with bristles extending from the cable to maintain the cable at least generally centered within a channel as the cable moves in the channel. The bristles can be electrically conductive and can convey a voltage to an electrode pair near the valve to ionize at least a portion of the fuel to urge the fuel from the injector through the valve.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A cable assembly, comprising:
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a stem tube having a first end and a second end, the stem tube including an optical fiber and an electrically conductive sheath; electrically conductive bristles extending from the stem tube and configured to maintain the stem tube at least generally aligned within a channel; a first electrode connected to the first end, the first electrode being positioned near a second electrode and configured to deliver an ionizing voltage between the first and second electrodes; a sensor at the first end of the stem tube configured to directly detect at least one of pressure, temperature, light, or movement and to relay an associated signal along the optical fiber; and a cable actuator connected to the second end of the cable and configured to actuate the stem tube by tensioning the stem tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A fuel injector, comprising:
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a dielectric body with a channel extending between a fuel reservoir and a fuel combustion chamber; a cable assembly positioned within the channel, the cable assembly including— an optical fiber, an electrically conductive strand, and a plurality of generally rigid filaments extending radially from the optical fiber and the electrically conductive strand and contacting the dielectric body to maintain the cable generally centered within the channel; a valve operably coupled to the cable and positioned between the channel and the fuel combustion chamber; a valve actuator connected to the cable and configured to move the cable in the channel to actuate the valve and permit fuel to enter the fuel combustion chamber from the channel; a sensor positioned on the valve and configured to directly detect a combustion event in the fuel combustion chamber, wherein the sensor is connected to at least one of the first and second bundles and configured to relay a signal along the optical fibers to report the combustion event. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A valve actuation mechanism, comprising
a valve; -
means for sensing at least one of heat, light, pressure, or motion, the means for sensing being positioned at the valve; a cable connected to the valve, the cable being configured to— sense at least one of heat, pressure, and motion opposite the valve, carry an optical signal from the means from sensing to a controller, and conduct electricity along the cable; means for actuating the valve by pulling on the cable to move the valve between a closed position to an open position; a brush bearing comprising a plurality of bristles protruding from the cable to maintain the cable at least generally centered within a bore, wherein the brush bearing permits the cable to move between the open position and the closed position within the bore. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of manufacturing a litz wire, comprising:
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forming a litz wire from a plurality of stem tubes, the stem tubes individually including an optical core and an electrically conductive sheath surrounding the optical core; forming a brush bearing in the litz wire having bristles extending transversely to the litz wire; attaching a valve to a first end of the litz wire; attaching a sensor to the valve, wherein the sensor is coupled to the optical fibers to convey an optical signal from the sensor along the fibers; coupling the litz wire to a valve actuator; and positioning the litz wire in a channel of a housing with the valve being configured to actuate to inject a fluid from the housing when the valve actuator actuates the valve, wherein the brush bearing is configured to bear the litz wire at least generally centered within the channel. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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Specification