Fuel injection system with common actuation device and engine using same

A fuel injection system comprising:

• a high pressure fuel rail;
• a low pressure fuel drain;
• a plurality of fuel injectors;
• each of said plurality of fuel injectors including an injector body defining a needle control chamber, nozzle outlet, at least one high pressure fluid inlet, at least one low pressure fluid drain, at least one fluid passageway and a nozzle supply passage, and including a direct control needle valve member movably positioned in said injector body adjacent said nozzle outlet;
• said direct control needle valve member including a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in said needle control chamber;
• a first of said at least one fluid passageways being fluidly connected to said high pressure fuel rail;
• a second of said at least one fluid passageways being fluidly connected to said low pressure fuel drain;
• a fluid switch having a plurality of positions;
• an electronically controlled valve being positioned remote from said plurality of fuel injectors fluidly between said fluid switch and said fuel drain;
• and
• a different one of said plurality of fuel injectors being fluidly connected to said electronically controlled valve at each of said plurality of positions.

A method of injecting fuel comprising:

• providing an engine including a fuel injection system that includes a high pressure fuel rail, a low pressure fuel drain, a plurality of fuel injectors that each include an injector body that defines a needle control chamber, a fluid switch having a plurality of positions and an electronically controlled valve positioned remote from said plurality of fuel injectors between said fluid switch and said low pressure fuel drain;
• enabling one of said plurality of fuel injectors to be fluidly connected to said electronically controlled valve, in part by moving said fluid switch to a first position;
• moving said electronically controlled valve to an open position opening said needle control chamber of said one fuel injector to fluid communication with said low pressure fuel drain;
• injecting an amount of fuel from said one fuel injector;
• moving said electronically controlled valve to a closed position blocking said needle control chamber of said one fuel injector from fluid communication with said low pressure fuel drain;
• and
• preventing said one fuel injector from being open to said electronically controlled valve and enabling an other of said plurality of fuel injectors to be fluidly connected to said electronically controlled valve, in part by moving said fluid switch to a second position.