Mixed mode fuel injector with individually moveable needle valve members

A fuel injector comprising:

• an injector body;
• a first needle valve member at least partially positioned in said injector body;
• a second needle valve member at least partially positioned in said first needle valve member;
• at least one of said injector body, said first needle valve member and said second needle valve member defining a first nozzle outlet set, a second nozzle outlet set, a first needle control chamber and a second needle control chamber;
• said first needle valve member having a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in said first needle control chamber;
• said second needle valve member having a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in said second needle control chamber;
• each of said first needle valve member and said second needle valve member being movable individually inward while an other of said first needle valve member and said second needle valve member remains stationary;
• a needle control valve member moveable between a first position and a second position;
• said first needle control chamber being at least one of fluidly connected to a high pressure passage and fluidly blocked from a low pressure passage while said second needle control chamber is at least one of fluidly blocked from a high pressure passage and fluidly connected to a low pressure passage when said needle control valve member is in said first position;
• and
• said second needle control chamber being at least one of fluidly connected to a high pressure passage and fluidly blocked from a low pressure passage while said first needle control chamber is at least one of fluidly blocked from a high pressure passage and fluidly connected to a low pressure passage when said needle control valve member is in said second position.