Variable control orifice member and fuel injector using same

A fuel injector comprising:

• an injector body defining a nozzle outlet and a needle control passage;
• a needle valve member positioned in said injector body and including a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in said needle control passage, and being movable between an open position in which said nozzle outlet is open, and a closed position in which said nozzle outlet is blocked;
• an orifice member positioned in said injector body and defining a flow passage with a minimum flow area along its lenght, which is a restricted flow area, and being movable between a first position and a second position;
• said needle valve member displacing fluid through said flow passage when moving toward said open position;
• and
• said needle control passage having a minimum flow area along its lenght, which is an unrestricted flow area, and fluid being displaced through said unrestricted flow area toward said closing hydraulic surface over at least a portion of movement of said needle valve member between said open position and said closed position.