Dual solenoids on a single circuit and fuel injector using same

An electronically controlled fuel injector including:

• an injector body defining a fuel pressurization chamber and a nozzle outlet;
• a first solenoid attached to said injector body;
• a second solenoid attached to said injector body;
• an electrical circuit attached to said injector body, including a positive terminal and a negative terminal connected to said first solenoid and said second solenoid;
• said electrical circuit permitting energization of one of said first solenoid and said second solenoid when electrical current flows in either direction between said positive terminal and said negative terminal;
• and
• said electrical circuit permitting energization of the other of said first solenoid and said second solenoid when current flows in a single direction between said positive terminal and said negative terminal.

A fuel injector including

• an injector body defining a fuel pressurization chamber, a needle control passage, a needle control chamber and a nozzle outlet;
• a needle valve member positioned in said injector body and being moveable between an open position in which said nozzle outlet is open, and a closed position in which said nozzle outlet is closed, and said needle valve member having a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in said needle control chamber;
• a needle control valve assembly attached to said injector body and including a first solenoid with a first armature attached to a needle control valve member, and said needle control valve member being moveable between an inject position and an off position in which said needle control chamber is connected to a source of high pressure fluid via said needle control passage;
• a second solenoid attached to said injector body;
• an electrical circuit attached to said injector body, including a positive terminal and a negative terminal connected to said first solenoid and said second solenoid;
• said electrical circuit permitting energization of one of said first solenoid and said second solenoid when electrical current flows in either direction between said positive terminal and said negative terminal;
• and
• said electrical circuit permitting energization of the other of said first solenoid and said second solenoid when current flows in a single direction between said positive terminal and said negative terminal.