Transonic Combustion, Inc.

Ecomotors, Inc.

Michael Frick

Michael C Cheiky

Michael Diamond

Described herein are methods for controlling a piezoelectric element, for example, for use in a fuel injector, safely and efficiently at higher frequencies without causing damage to the fuel injector due to excessive heating. Methods incorporating features of the present invention can utilize waveform generation, waveform scaling and power amplification to drive a piezoelectric element. In some embodiments, various operating conditions are utilized to determine a scaling value which is compared to a target value to determine the level of scaling to be utilized with a generated waveform.

Piezoelectric actuator control for high rate of operation

The present invention provides a fuel injector, comprising a housing having a sealable injector seat; a fuel injector pin disposed within the housing proximate to the injector seat such that the injector seat may be sealed and unsealed by displacing the fuel injector pin; a resilient element biasing the fuel injector pin in an unsealed direction; a piezoelectric actuator disposed within the housing proximal to the fuel injector pin configured to actuate to force the injector pin towards the injector seat to seal the injector seat; and a thermal compensating unit disposed within the housing proximal to the actuator and configured to compensate for thermal expansion or contraction of a component of the fuel injector.

Piezoelectric fuel injector having a temperature compensating unit

The present invention provides a fuel injector, comprising a housing having a sealable injector seat; a fuel injector pin disposed within the housing proximate) the injector seat such that the injector seat may be sealed and unsealed by displacing the fuel injector pin; a resilient element biasing the fuel injector pin in an unsealed direction; a piezoelectric actuator disposed within the housing proximal to the fuel injector pin configured to actuate to force the injector pin towards the injector seat to seal the injector seat; and a thermal compensating unit disposed within the housing proximal to the actuator and configured to compensate for thermal expansion or contraction of a component of the fuel injector.

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Newbury Park, CA, United States of America

Michael Frick