Internal combustion engine and fueling system for injecting gaseous fuel and method for releasing movable mass from valve seat

A method for releasing a movable mass attached to a valve seat, the method comprising:

• determining a release condition between the movable mass and the valve seat is present;
• generating a drive current for an actuator that is coupled to the movable mass at a pulse width modulation switching frequency that induces a mechanical resonance in the movable mass;
• and
• releasing the movable mass from the valve seat via the mechanical resonance induced into the movable mass by the drive current.

A fueling system for injecting gaseous fuel to a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the fueling system comprising:

• a fuel injector configured to inject gaseous fuel for combustion in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, the fuel injector including:
• a valve seat with at least one opening to permit gaseous fuel flow through the valve seat;
• a movable mass contactable with the valve seat to inhibit gaseous fuel flow through the valve seat;
• and
• an electronic actuator coupled to the movable mass, the electronic actuator operable to move the movable mass away from the valve seat in response to a drive current supplied to the electronic actuator;
• and
• an electronic control unit configured to generate the drive current at a pulse width modulation switching frequency that induces a mechanical resonance in the movable mass to release the movable mass from the valve seat.