Fuel injector with actuation pressure delay device

Abstract

A fuel injector including a delay device, the fuel injector having an electric controller for controlling the flow of a high pressure actuating fluid responsive to initiation and cessation of a pulse width command, the pulse width command defining the duration of an injection event, and an intensifier being in fluid communication with the controller, the intensifier being translatable to increase the pressure of a volume of fuel for injection into the combustion chamber of an engine; the delay device includes an apparatus, shiftable between a first disposition and a second disposition over a certain period of time after initiation of the pulse width command, the period of time effecting a delay in initiation of fuel injection after initiation of the pulse width command. In one embodiment, a bias against shifting the apparatus from said first disposition to the second disposition is effected by the actuating fluid to reduce variations in the delay period under variable actuating pressure conditions. A method of stabilizing fuel injection events, includes the steps of sending a pulse width command to a controller to define an injection event, the controller porting an actuating fluid to affect an intensifier responsive to reception of the pulse width command, and interposing a delay in the actuating fluid affecting the intensifier.