Pulsed hydraulically-actuated fuel injector ignitor system

Abstract

The invention is a pulsed, hydraulically actuated fuel injector ignitor system for an internal combustion engine with combustion chambers and a fuel injector, comprising an outer shell containing a fuel inlet cavity, a fuel supply and scavenging chamber supplied with fuel from the inlet cavity through the rod bore of the injector rod, and a fuel pressure chamber, which is resupplied through check valve from the supply chamber after each injection has taken place. The pressure chamber has a poppet valve responsive to a predetermined fuel pressure in the pressure chamber, resulting from the intrusion of injector piston into the pressure chamber, thereby spraying fuel into the combustion chamber through a hot-throated venturi and igniting the fuel as it passes through venturi. Concentric open-ended cylinders form the control body assembly and are positioned between the base assembly and the fluid manifold head cap and having alternate open-ended cylinders in communication with sliding contact. All cylinders are supported by struts which are firmly attached to a rod. Electro-rheological fluid flows freely through the cylinders of the control body assembly until a high voltage is applied to cylinders, thus solidifying the electro-rheological fluid between cylinders and their adjacent ground potential cylinders. This produces hydraulic pressure in the inlet section of the fluid manifold head cap which forces the assembly and rod downward and piston into the pressure chamber. Removal of the solidifying voltage from cylinders returns the electro-rheological fluid to a liquid state, thereby stopping injection.