Injector-igniters with variable gap electrode
View Patent ↗Fuel injector-igniters with variable gap electrodes. A fuel injector-igniter comprises a housing, an actuator disposed in the housing, and a valve including a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator. A valve seat electrode including at least one aperture surrounds the valve head and valve seat and at least one rocker electrode is pivotably mounted to the housing to form a variable gap between the electrode and a portion of the valve seat electrode. The rocker electrode is positioned to move relative to the valve seat electrode in response to a fuel flow through the aperture, thereby varying the gap.
1. A fuel injector-igniter, comprising:
a housing;
an actuator disposed in the housing;
a valve including a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator; and
at least one electrode pivotably mounted to the housing and forming a variable gap between the electrode and a portion of the valve seat;
wherein the electrode is positioned to move relative to the valve seat in response to a fuel flow past the valve head, thereby varying the gap.
2. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode is in the form of a rocker including a pair of electrode arms.
3. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one rocker is mounted to the housing with a bearing pin.
4. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 3 , wherein the rocker is mounted in a pocket formed in the housing.
5. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 4 , further comprising a magnet disposed in the pocket and positioned to retain the rocker in a first position.
6. A fuel injector-igniter, comprising:
a housing;
an actuator disposed in the housing;
a valve including a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator;
a valve seat electrode including at least one aperture and surrounding the valve head and valve seat; and
at least one electrode pivotably mounted to the housing and forming a variable gap between the electrode and a portion of the valve seat electrode;
wherein the electrode is positioned to move relative to the valve seat electrode in response to a fuel flow through the at least one aperture, thereby varying the gap.
7. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one electrode is in the form of a rocker including a pair of electrode arms.
8. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one rocker is mounted to the housing with a bearing pin.
9. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one rocker is mounted in a pocket formed in the housing.
10. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 9 , further comprising a magnet disposed in the pocket and positioned to retain the at least one rocker in a first position.
11. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 10 , wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.
12. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one rocker is positioned to move from the first position to a second position in response to the fuel flow.
13. A fuel injector-igniter, comprising:
a housing;
an actuator disposed in the housing;
a valve including a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator;
a valve seat electrode surrounding the valve head and including a plurality of apertures; and
a plurality of rocker electrodes, each pivotably mounted to the housing to form a gap between the rocker electrode and the valve seat electrode, wherein each rocker electrode is positioned over a corresponding aperture.
14. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 13 , wherein each rocker electrode includes a pair of electrode arms.
15. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 13 , wherein each rocker is mounted to the housing with a bearing pin.
16. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 13 , wherein each rocker is mounted in a pocket formed in the housing.
17. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 16 , further comprising a magnet disposed in the pocket and positioned to retain the rocker in a first position.
18. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 17 , wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet.
19. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 17 , wherein the rocker electrodes comprise a ferromagnetic material.
20. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 17 , wherein each rocker electrode is positioned to move from the first position to a second position in response to a fuel flow through the corresponding aperture.