Engine having an intake/exhaust valve integrated with a fuel injector

An engine comprising:

• an engine casing defining a hollow piston cavity separated from a gas passageway by a valve seat;
• a gas valve member positioned adjacent said valve seat and being movable between an open position at which a portion of said gas valve member is away from said valve seat, and a closed position at which said portion is seated against said valve seat;
• said gas valve member defining a nozzle outlet that opens directly into said hollow piston cavity;
• a needle valve member positioned in said gas valve member and being movable between an inject position at which said nozzle outlet is open, and a blocked position at which said nozzle outlet is blocked;
• said gas passageway opening to an intake passage and an exhaust passage;
• and
• a gas control valve being movable between an exhaust position at which said intake passage is closed to said gas passageway, and an intake position at which said exhaust passage is closed to said gas passageway.

An engine comprising:

• an engine casing defining a hollow piston cavity separated from a gas passageway by a valve seat;
• a gas valve member positioned adjacent said valve seat and being movable between an open position at which a portion of said gas valve member is away from said valve seat, and a closed position at which said portion is seated against said valve seat;
• said gas valve member defining a nozzle outlet that opens directly into said hollow piston cavity;
• a needle valve member positioned in said gas valve member and being movable between an inject position at which said nozzle outlet is open, and a blocked position at which said nozzle outlet is blocked;
• said gas valve member being a portion of an injector body that defines a fuel pressurization chamber that opens to said nozzle outlet;
• said needle valve member having a lifting hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in said fuel pressurization chamber;
• and
• said gas valve member having a closing pressure surface exposed to fluid pressure in said hollow piston cavity, and an opening pressure surface exposed to fluid pressure in said fuel pressurization chamber.

An engine comprising:

• an engine casing defining a hollow piston cavity separated from a gas passageway by a valve seat;
• a gas valve member positioned adjacent said valve seat and being movable between an open position at which a portion of said gas valve member is away from said valve seat, and a closed position at which said portion is seated against said valve seat;
• said gas valve member defining a nozzle outlet that opens directly into said hollow piston cavity;
• an electronically controlled hydraulic actuator coupled to said gas valve member;
• a needle valve member positioned in said gas valve member and being movable between an inject position at which said nozzle outlet is open, and a blocked position at which said nozzle outlet is blocked;
• a hydraulic actuator being coupled to said gas valve member;
• and
• said hydraulic actuator being connected to a source of actuation fluid that is different from fuel.

A fuel injection system comprising:

• a fuel injector having a needle valve member, an actuator electronically controlled and an injector body defining a fuel pressurization chamber that opens to a nozzle outlet;
• said needle valve member being positioned in said injector body and moveable between an inject position at which said fuel pressurization chamber is open to said nozzle outlet, and a blocked position at which said fuel pressurization chamber is blocked to said nozzle outlet;
• and
• a portion of said injector body adjacent said nozzle outlet being a gas valve member.

A fuel injection system comprising:

• a fuel injector having a needle valve member, an actuator and an injector body defining a fuel pressurization chamber that opens to a nozzle outlet;
• said needle valve member being positioned in said injector body and moveable between an inject position at which said fuel pressurization chamber is open to said nozzle outlet, and a blocked position at which said fuel pressurization chamber is blocked to said nozzle outlet;
• a portion of said injector body adjacent said nozzle outlet being a gas valve member;
• said gas valve member having a stem portion extending along a centerline;
• and
• a gas control valve member being mounted on said stem portion and being moveable along said centerline between an intake position and an exhaust position.

A fuel injection system comprising:

• a fuel injector having a needle valve member, an actuator and an injector body defining a fuel pressurization chamber that opens to a nozzle outlet;
• said needle valve member being positioned in said injector body and moveable between an inject position at which said fuel pressurization chamber is open to said nozzle outlet, and a blocked position at which said fuel pressurization chamber is blocked to said nozzle outlet;
• a portion of said injector body adjacent said nozzle outlet being a gas valve member;
• a needle biasing spring being positioned to bias said needle valve member toward said blocked position;
• said needle valve member having a lifting hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in said fuel pressurization chamber;
• and
• said gas valve member having a closing pressure surface exposed to fluid pressure outside of said injector body, and an opening pressure surface exposed to fluid pressure in said injector body.

An integrated fuel injector and cylinder valve for an engine comprising:

• an injector body defining an actuation fluid cavity, an actuation fluid inlet, a fuel pressurization chamber and a nozzle outlet;
• a portion of said injector body being a gas valve member that is moveable with respect to a remaining portion of said injector body between an open position and a closed position, and said gas valve member having an opening pressure surface exposed to fluid pressure within said injector body and a closing pressure surface exposed to fluid pressure outside of said injector body;
• and
• a needle valve member positioned in said injector body and being moveable between an inject position at which said fuel pressurization chamber is open to said nozzle outlet, and a blocked position at which said fuel pressurization chamber is blocked to said nozzle outlet.