Shaping a fuel charge in a combustion chamber with multiple drivers and/or ionization control
First Claim
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1. An injector, comprising:
- a body having a base portion, a nozzle portion and a channel, wherein the channel is configured to deliver fuel from the base portion to the nozzle portion;
an actuator extending through the channel, the actuator having a distal end and a proximal end;
a flow valve positioned at the distal end of the actuator;
a driver operably connected to the proximal end of the actuator;
a first force generator positioned adjacent the driver and configured to impart a force to the driver to move the actuator toward the base portion to close the flow valve; and
a second force generator positioned adjacent the driver and configured to modulate movement of the flow valve when the flow valve is open.
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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.
366 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An injector, comprising:
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a body having a base portion, a nozzle portion and a channel, wherein the channel is configured to deliver fuel from the base portion to the nozzle portion; an actuator extending through the channel, the actuator having a distal end and a proximal end; a flow valve positioned at the distal end of the actuator; a driver operably connected to the proximal end of the actuator; a first force generator positioned adjacent the driver and configured to impart a force to the driver to move the actuator toward the base portion to close the flow valve; and a second force generator positioned adjacent the driver and configured to modulate movement of the flow valve when the flow valve is open. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an engine, comprising:
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determining at least one parameter associated with a combustion event; transmitting instructions to a force generator to impart a force to a driver to modulate the movement of a valve when the valve is in the open position to influence the fuel dispensed into the combustion chamber; and discharging electrical energy into a gap to produce a plasma of ionized air. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an engine, comprising:
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determining at least one parameter associated with a combustion event; and transmitting instructions to a force generator to impart a force to a driver to modulate the movement of the valve when the valve is in the open position to influence the fuel dispensed into the combustion chamber, wherein adjusting the modulation of the movement of the valve includes adjusting the modulation to produce a stratified charge fuel injection pattern.
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15. An injector-igniter configured to inject fuel into a combustion chamber of a combustion engine and ignite a fuel air mixture, the injector-igniter comprising:
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a body having a base portion, a middle portion and a nozzle portion; a fuel channel extending from the base portion to the nozzle portion; a flow valve positioned at the nozzle portion and moveable between a closed position and an open position to admit fuel to the combustion chamber; an actuator operably coupled to the flow valve to adjust the position of the flow valve; a driver positioned to engage the actuator to adjust the position of the flow valve; a conductive portion extending from the middle portion to the nozzle portion and configured to deliver electrical energy to ignite the fuel air mixture; an insulator extending at least partially through the body to the nozzle portion, the insulator defining a gap at the nozzle portion, wherein the gap is configured to facilitate the generation of a plasma; a first fitting operably coupled to the base portion and configured to introduce a coolant into the body; a closed loop circulation path inside the body and configured to circulate the coolant to remove heat from the body; and a second fitting operably coupled to the base portion and configured to remove the coolant from the body. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An injector-igniter configured to inject fuel into a combustion chamber of a combustion engine and ignite a fuel air mixture, the injector- igniter comprising:
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a body having a base portion, a middle portion and a nozzle portion; a fuel channel extending from the base portion to the nozzle portion; a flow valve positioned at the nozzle portion and moveable between a closed position and an open position to admit fuel to the combustion chamber; an actuator operably coupled to the flow valve to adjust the position of the flow valve; a driver positioned to engage the actuator to adjust the position of the flow valve; a conductive portion extending from the middle portion to the nozzle portion and configured to deliver electrical energy to ignite the fuel air mixture; an insulator extending at least partially through the body to the nozzle portion, the insulator defining a gap at the nozzle portion, wherein the gap is configured to facilitate the generation of a plasma; a sensor positioned at the nozzle portion to detect at least one parameter associated with conditions inside the combustion chamber; and a controller operably coupled to the sensor and to the driver, wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation of the driver based on a value of the parameter. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An injector-igniter configured to inject fuel into a combustion chamber of a combustion engine and ignite a fuel air mixture, the injector-igniter comprising:
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a body having a base portion, a middle portion and a nozzle portion; a fuel channel extending from the base portion to the nozzle portion; a flow valve positioned at the nozzle portion and moveable between a closed position and an open position to admit fuel to the combustion chamber; an actuator operably coupled to the flow valve to adjust the position of the flow valve; a first driver positioned to engage the actuator to adjust the position of the flow valve; a conductive portion extending from the middle portion to the nozzle portion and configured to deliver electrical energy to ignite the fuel air mixture; and an insulator extending at least partially through the body to the nozzle portion, the insulator defining a gap at the nozzle portion, wherein the gap is configured to facilitate the generation of a plasma; and a second driver positioned to engage the actuator to adjust the position of the flow valve, wherein the first driver moves the flow valve between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the second driver modulates the movement of the flow valve to produce a stratified charge fuel injection pattern.
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Specification