Integrated fuel injector igniters having force generating assemblies for injecting and igniting fuel and associated methods of use and manufacture
View Patent ↗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.
1. An injector for introducing fuel into a combustion chamber and igniting fuel, the injector comprising:
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.
2. The injector of claim 1 wherein the piezoelectric force generator is a first piezoelectric force generator, the injector further comprising
a base valve at the base portion, the base valve operable from a closed position to an open position; and
a second piezoelectric force generator, the second piezoelectric force generator operably coupled to the base valve, wherein activation of the second piezoelectric force generator operates the base valve from the closed position to the open position to provide fuel to the flow channel.
3. The injector of claim 2 , further comprising a fuel connecting conduit, wherein the fuel connecting conduit extends from the base portion to the fuel flow channel, wherein the base valve is positioned to deliver fuel directly to the fuel connecting conduit, and wherein the fuel flow channel delivers fuel to the fuel exit port.
4. The injector of claim 1 wherein the fuel exit port is one of a plurality of fuel exit ports, the plurality of fuel exit ports encircling the fuel flow channel and extending along a section of the enclosure member.
5. The injector of claim 1 , further comprising an ignition conductor and a core insulator, wherein the core insulator is coaxially disposed over at least a portion of the ignition conductor, and wherein the fuel flow channel encircles the core insulator.
6. The injector of claim 1 , further comprising an ignition conductor and a core insulator, wherein the ignition conductor extends coaxially through the core insulator, and wherein the core insulator includes an enlarged end portion positioned coaxially within the flow control valve.
7. The injector of claim 1 wherein the fuel control valve is adhered to an outer surface of the enclosure member.
8. An injector for introducing fuel into a combustion chamber and igniting fuel, the injector comprising:
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.
9. The injector of claim 8 wherein the first piezoelectric component is annular in shape, and wherein the valve is coaxial with the first piezoelectric component.
10. The injector of claim 8 , further comprising a fuel connecting conduit and a fuel flow channel, wherein the fuel connecting conduit extends from the base portion to the fuel flow channel, wherein the valve is positioned to deliver fuel directly to the fuel connecting conduit, and wherein the fuel flow channel delivers fuel to a fuel exit port.
11. The injector of claim 8 wherein the first piezoelectric component and the second piezoelectric component are concentrically positioned within the base portion.
12. The injector of claim 8 , further comprising a controller operably coupled to the force generator assembly to actuate the introduction of fuel and the ignition event.
13. The injector of claim 8 , further comprising an ignition conductor and a core insulator, wherein the ignition conductor extends through the injector body and is operably coupled to the ignition electrode, and wherein the core insulator encircles at least a portion of the ignition conductor.
14. The injector of claim 13 , further comprising a tubular enclosure member at least partially encircling the core insulator, wherein the core insulator and the enclosure member at least partially define a fuel flow channel that delivers fuel to the nozzle portion.
15. A method for operating a fuel injector to inject and ignite fuel, the method comprising:
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.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising adaptively controlling the radially expanding valve based on a detected combustion chamber property.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the piezoelectric force generator is a first piezoelectric force generator, the method further comprising operating a base valve with a second piezoelectric generator to introduce fuel into a fuel flow channel.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising selectively actuating the second piezoelectric generator with a controller in response to a detected combustion chamber property.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein the fuel exit port is one of a plurality of fuel exit ports, and wherein operating the radially expainding valve to an open position includes exposing the plurality of fuel exit ports to dispense fuel in a circular pattern from a nozzle portion of the fuel injector.
20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising
providing current to the ignition electrode through an ignition conductor that extends through a core insulator; and
directing fuel through a flow channel that at least partially encircles the core insulator.