Ultrasonic fuel injector

A fuel injector for delivering fuel to an engine, the fuel injector comprising:

• a housing having an internal fuel chamber and at least one exhaust port in fluid communication with the fuel chamber whereby fuel exits the fuel injector at the at least one exhaust port for delivery to the engine;
• a valve member moveable relative to the housing between a closed position in which fuel within the fuel chamber is inhibited against exhaustion from the housing via the at least one exhaust port, and an open position in which fuel is exhaustable from the housing via the at least one exhaust port;
• an ultrasonic waveguide separate from the housing and valve member, said waveguide being elongate and having a terminal end disposed within the internal fuel chamber of the housing, said waveguide having a circumference, said circumference increasing as the waveguide extends longitudinally of the waveguide toward its terminal end;
• and
• an excitation device operable in the open position of the valve member to ultrasonically excite said waveguide.

A fuel injector for delivering fuel to an engine, the fuel injector comprising:

• a housing having an internal fuel chamber and at least one exhaust port in fluid communication with the fuel chamber whereby fuel exits the fuel injector at the at least one exhaust port for delivery to the engine;
• a valve member moveable relative to the housing between a closed position in which fuel within the fuel chamber is inhibited against exhaustion from the housing via the at least one exhaust port, and an open position in which fuel is exhaustable from the housing via the at least one exhaust port;
• and
• an ultrasonic waveguide assembly comprising an ultrasonic waveguide separate from the housing and valve member and disposed at least in part within said fuel chamber, and an excitation device operable in the open position of the valve member to ultrasonically excite said ultrasonic waveguide within said fuel chamber, said waveguide assembly being elongate and having a total length of about one-half wavelength.

A fuel injector for delivering fuel to an engine, the fuel injector comprising:

• a housing having an internal fuel chamber and at least one exhaust port in fluid communication with the fuel chamber whereby fuel exits the fuel injector at the at least one exhaust port for delivery to the engine;
• a control system for operating the fuel injector to direct fuel within the fuel chamber of the housing to be exhausted from the housing through the at least one exhaust port;
• and
• an elongate ultrasonic waveguide separate from the housing, at least a portion of the waveguide extending longitudinally within the fuel chamber of the housing and having a terminal end proximate to the at least one exhaust port, said portion of the waveguide being tubular and defining an interior passage of said portion, said tubular portion of the waveguide being open at its terminal end to permit fuel in the fuel chamber to flow within the interior passage of said tubular portion of the waveguide;
• and
• an excitation device operable to ultrasonically excite said ultrasonic waveguide.