Fuel injection valve with integrated spark plug

A fuel injection valve having an integrated spark plug for directly injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine and for igniting the injected fuel, the fuel injection valve comprising:

• a valve seat;
• a first starting electrode;
• a valve body having a valve opening, the valve opening being surrounded, at a spray outlet end, by the valve seat and by the first starting electrode formed on the valve body;
• a second starting electrode insulated from the valve body by a high-voltage insulation, the second starting electrode cooperating with the first starting electrode to generate a spark discharge, the spark discharge igniting the injected fuel;
• a valve needle;
• a valve closing member provided on the valve needle for closing the valve opening, the valve needle extending through the valve opening to the valve closing member at the spray outlet end;
• a closing spring providing an initial tension on the valve needle in a closing direction of the valve needle, the initial tension being provided in the closing direction for biasing the valve closing member to rest against the spray outlet end of the valve seat when the fuel injection valve is closed;
• an armature;
• a solenoid acting on the armature to open the fuel injection valve by electromagnetically actuating the valve needle;
• a connecting member situated between the armature and the valve needle and including a high-voltage-insulating insulation element;
• and
• a bearing spring maintaining the armature in engaged contact with the valve needle by generating a further tension in an opening direction along the connecting member.