Integrated fuel injector igniters having force generating assemblies for injecting and igniting fuel and associated methods of use and manufacture
First Claim
1. An injector for introducing fuel into a combustion chamber and igniting fuel, the injector comprising:
- an injector body includinga base portion having a fuel inlet for receiving fuel into the body;
a nozzle portion coupled to the base portion and positioned to inject fuel; and
an enclosure member at least partially defining a fuel flow channel for transporting fuel from the base portion to the nozzle portion, wherein the enclosure member includes a fuel exit port;
an ignition electrode at the nozzle portion for generating an ignition event to at least partially ignite fuel;
a flow control valve at the nozzle portion, wherein the flow control valve is radially expandable from a closed position covering the fuel exit port to an open position exposing the fuel exit port; and
a piezoelectric force generator operably coupled to the flow control valve, wherein activation of the piezoelectric force generator expands the flow control valve from the closed position to the open position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of injectors configured for adaptively injecting and igniting various fuels in a combustion chamber are disclosed herein. An injector according to one embodiment includes an end portion configured to be positioned adjacent to a combustion chamber, and an ignition feature carried by the end portion and configured to generate an ignition event. The injector also includes a force generator assembly and a movable valve. The force generator assembly includes a first force generator separate from a second force generator. The first force generator creates a motive force to move the valve between the closed and open positions into the combustion chamber. The second force generator is electrically coupled to the ignition feature and provides voltage to the ignition feature to at least partially generate the ignition event.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An injector for introducing fuel into a combustion chamber and igniting fuel, the injector comprising:
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an injector body including a base portion having a fuel inlet for receiving fuel into the body; a nozzle portion coupled to the base portion and positioned to inject fuel; and an enclosure member at least partially defining a fuel flow channel for transporting fuel from the base portion to the nozzle portion, wherein the enclosure member includes a fuel exit port; an ignition electrode at the nozzle portion for generating an ignition event to at least partially ignite fuel; a flow control valve at the nozzle portion, wherein the flow control valve is radially expandable from a closed position covering the fuel exit port to an open position exposing the fuel exit port; and a piezoelectric force generator operably coupled to the flow control valve, wherein activation of the piezoelectric force generator expands the flow control valve from the closed position to the open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An injector for introducing fuel into a combustion chamber and igniting fuel, the injector comprising:
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an injector body having a base portion and a nozzle portion; an ignition electrode at the nozzle portion for generating an ignition event to at least partially ignite fuel; a valve carried by the body, wherein the valve is movable from a closed position to an open position to introduce fuel into the combustion chamber; and a force generator assembly including a first piezoelectric component operably coupled to the valve, wherein an application of current to the first piezoelectric component activates the first piezoelectric component to move the valve from the closed position to the open position; and a second piezoelectric component operably coupled to the first piezoelectric component, wherein activation of the first piezoelectric component activates the second piezoelectric component to generate current and at least partially initiate the ignition event. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for operating a fuel injector to inject and ignite fuel, the method comprising:
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introducing fuel into a body of the fuel injector; operating a radially expanding valve from a closed position to an open position by applying current to a piezoelectric force generator to expand the valve, wherein operating the radially expanding valve to an open position exposes a fuel exit port and dispenses fuel; and igniting fuel with an ignition electrode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification