Fuel injector, needle seal, and fuel injector system

A needle seal for a needle of a fuel injector, the needle seal comprising:

• a cylindrical body having a distal side and a proximal wall opposite the distal side, the cylindrical body including:
• a sidewall defining a control volume for receiving a proximal end of the needle, the distal side of the sidewall having an opening into the control volume;
• an outlet orifice through the proximal wall that is in fluid communication with the control volume;
• and
• multiple inlet orifices through the sidewall, wherein each of the multiple inlet orifices opens into the control volume.

A fuel injection system, comprising:

• a common fuel rail;
• and
• at least one fuel injector in fluid communication with the fuel rail, the fuel injector including:
• an elongated injector body defining a longitudinally extending fuel passage therein;
• an elongated needle in the fuel passage of the injector body, the elongated needle including a proximal end and an opposite distal end, the elongated needle being longitudinally movable in the fuel passage to selectively stop and start fuel injection from the fuel passage;
• a sleeve positioned around an outer surface of the needle adjacent the proximal end;
• a check valve assembly for maintaining pressurized fuel in the fuel passage and permitting fuel flow out of the fuel passage in response to a fuel injection event;
• and
• a needle seal between the check valve assembly and the sleeve, wherein the needle seal is positioned around and configured to receive the proximal end of the needle, the needle seal including a first inlet orifice and an opposite second inlet orifice sharing a common axis for receiving a fuel flow therethrough in response to the fuel injection event.