Fuel injector with co-axial control valve members and fuel system using same

摘要

A dual fuel injector utilizes first and second control valves to open and close first and second nozzle outlet sets to inject a first fuel and a second fuel, respectively. The first and second control valves have concentric lines of action. The two fuels may differ in at least one of chemical identity, matter phase and pressure.

主权项

1. A fuel injector comprising:
an injector body defining a first fuel inlet, a second fuel inlet, a first nozzle outlet set, a second nozzle outlet set, a first drain passage, and a second drain passage, and defining therein a first control chamber and a second control chamber; a first check valve member with a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in the first control chamber, and being movable between a closed position in contact with a first seat to fluidly block the first fuel inlet from the first nozzle outlet set, and an open position out of contact with the first seat to fluidly connect the first fuel inlet to the first nozzle outlet set; a second check valve member with a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in the second control chamber, and being movable between a closed position in contact with a second seat to fluidly block the second fuel inlet from the second nozzle outlet set, and an open position out of contact with the second seat to fluidly connect the second fuel inlet to the second nozzle outlet set; a first control valve member positioned in the injector body and being movable along a common centerline between a first position at which the first control chamber is fluidly blocked from the first drain passage, and a second position at which the first control chamber is fluidly connected to the first drain passage; and a second control valve member positioned in the injector body and being movable along the common centerline between a first position at which the second control chamber is fluidly blocked from the second drain passage, and a second position at which the second control chamber is fluidly connected to the second drain passage, an axis of the first control valve member being coaxial with an axis of the second control valve member.