Propellant flow actuated piezoelectric igniter for combustion engines

A propellant flow actuated piezoelectric igniter, comprising:

• a fuel supply line connected to a fuel inlet valve;
• an oxidizer supply line connected to an oxidizer inlet valve;
• the fuel inlet valve connected to an upstream gas chamber;
• a first magnet;
• a second magnet;
• a hammer ball held next to the first magnet by magnetic force;
• an oscillating hammer ball guide tube surrounding the hammer ball to guide the hammer ball when it is released from the first magnet;
• a first piezoelectric crystal at one end of the guide tube, with its own separate first upstream charging chamber;
• a second piezoelectric crystal at one end of the guide tube, with its own separate second upstream charging chamber;
• a distribution flow path means from the fuel inlet valve to a charging orifice for charging each upstream charging chamber;
• a means for the first charging chamber to be supplied with gas through the first charging orifice;
• a means for the second charging chamber to be supplied with gas through the second charging orifice;
• the first charging chamber having an outlet path surrounding the first piezoelectric crystal;
• the second charging chamber having an outlet path surrounding the second piezoelectric crystal;
• each of the outlet paths through or around first and second piezoelectric crystal attaches to the opposing ends of the oscillating ball guide tube;
• an injector tube surrounding each of the piezoelectric crystals connected to the guide tube;
• a flow by-pass pathway on the guide tube connected to each injector tube;
• an ignition zone at one end of each injector tube;
• a conduction path electrode leading from each of the piezoelectric crystals to its corresponding ignition zone;
• a grounding connection for each of the piezoelectric crystals;
• and
• a high dielectric strength insulating material surrounding each conduction path electrode such that a discharge spark is created when the oscillating hammer ball strikes each piezoelectric crystal.