Fuel injector with single crystal piezoelectric actuator stack
AssigneeWeidlinger Associates, Inc.
InventorsPAUL REYNOLDS, ROBERT A. BANKS
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Abstract
One embodiment includes a piezoelectric fuel injector using single crystal piezoelectric materials to improve the capabilities and performance of fuel injectors using a piezoelectric material stack. Another embodiment includes a fuel injector with a single crystal piezoelectric actuator stack that exceeds one or more of the capabilities (e.g., stroke, force, bandwidth, size) of the standard piezoceramic actuator stacks designed for the common rail fuel injector systems. Yet another embodiment includes an actuator stack made from single crystal piezoelectric material.
Claims11
An apparatus comprising:
- a piezoelectric material stack, said piezoelectric material stack comprising one or more layers of piezoelectric single crystals.
A piezoelectric fuel injector comprising:
- a high pressure port for providing fuel;
- a fuel return coupled to the high pressure port;
- a valve coupled between the high pressure port and the fuel return;
- a hydraulic amplifier for activating the valve;
- and
- a single crystal piezoelectric actuator stack coupled to the hydraulic amplifier.
An actuator stack for a fuel injector comprising:
- a plurality of layers of piezoelectric material, wherein each layer comprises a single crystal piezoelectric material.
An apparatus comprising:
- a piezoelectric material stack, said piezoelectric material stack comprising:
- a plurality of layers of piezoelectric material, wherein each layer comprises a single crystal piezoelectric material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.