Fuel injector
View Patent ↗A fuel injector has a storage volume, wherein the storage volume is variable in operation by a control signal.
1. A fuel injector comprising:
a storage volume comprising a first sub-volume and a second sub-volume;
a switching element connecting the first sub-volume and the second sub-volume to obtain an overall volume; and
a nozzle assembly connected to the second sub-volume of a fixed volume and connected to the first sub-volume via the second sub-volume wherein the storage volume is variable by operation of a control signal.
2. The fuel injector according to claim 1 , wherein the first sub-volume and the second sub-volume are arranged in a serial flow relationship.
3. The fuel injector according to claim 1 , wherein the switching element is arranged between the first sub-volume and the second sub-volume, and is operable for varying fluid communication between the first sub-volume and the second sub-volume.
4. The fuel injector according to claim 3 , wherein the switching element is an electrically or hydraulically actuable switching valve.
5. The fuel injector according to claim 1 , wherein the first sub-volume is a cavity of variable capacity.
6. The fuel injector according to claim 5 , wherein the variable capacity of the storage volume is variable by movement of a piston.
7. The fuel injector according to claim 6 , wherein the piston is moveable within the storage volume.
8. An internal combustion engine having the fuel injector according to claim 1 .
9. The internal combustion engine according to claim 8 , further comprising a control unit operable to transmit signals to vary capacity of the storage volume of the fuel injector.
10. A method of operating the internal combustion engine having the fuel injector according to claim 1 , wherein capacity of the storage volume of the fuel injector is varied based on an operating state of the internal combustion engine.