COMPENSATOR ASSEMBLY HAVING A PRESSURE RESPONSIVE VALVE FOR A SOLID STATE ACTUATOR OF A FUEL INJECTOR

摘要

A fuel injector (10) comprises a body having a longitudinal axis, a length-changing solid state actuator that has first and second ends, a closure member (40) coupled to the first end of the solid state actuator (100), and a compensator assembly (200) coupled the second end of the solid state actuator. The solid state (100) actuator includes a plurality of solid state elements along the axis between the first and second ends. The closure member (40) is movable between a first configuration permitting fuel injection and a second configuration preventing fuel injection. And the compensator assembly (200) axially positions the solid state actuator (100) with respect to the body in response to temperature variation. The compensator assembly (200) utilizes a configuration of at least one spring (260) disposed between two pistons so (220, 240) as to reduce the use of elastomer seals to thereby reduce a slip stick effect. Also, a method of compensating for thermal expansion or contraction of the fuel injector comprises providing fuel from a fuel supply to the fuel injector; and adjusting the solid state actuator with respect to the body in response to temperature variation.