US6725838B2 — Fuel injector having dual mode capabilities and e…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 230 words

A nozzle assembly comprising: a plurality of assembled components having a centerline and defining a plurality of nozzle outlets; a homogenous charge compression ignition portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets including at least one nozzle outlet oriented at a first angle with respect to said centerline; a conventional portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets including at least one nozzle outlet oriented at a second angle with respect to said centerline; said assembled components including a needle valve being positioned to move between positions that open and close said plurality of nozzle outlets, and being moveable between a first position in which said first portion are open but said second portion are closed, and a second position in which said second portion are open but said first portion are closed; and at least one electrical actuator operably coupled to said needle valve said needle valve including a first needle valve member with a first closing hydraulic surface and a second needle valve member with a second closing hydraulic surface; and said first closing hydraulic surface is exposed to fluid pressure in a first needle control chamber and said second closing hydraulic surface is exposed to fluid pressure in a second needle control chamber said first needle control chamber contains a first fluid and said second needle control chamber contains a second fluid that is different from said first fluid.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 230 words

A nozzle assembly comprising: a plurality of assembled components having a centerline and defining a plurality of nozzle outlets; a homogenous charge compression ignition portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets including at least one nozzle outlet oriented at a first angle with respect to said centerline; a conventional portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets including at least one nozzle outlet oriented at a second angle with respect to said centerline; said assembled components including a needle valve being positioned to move between positions that open and close said plurality of nozzle outlets, and being moveable between a first position in which said first portion are open but said second portion are closed, and a second position in which said second portion are open but said first portion are closed; and at least one electrical actuator operably coupled to said needle valve said needle valve including a first needle valve member with a first closing hydraulic surface and a second needle valve member with a second closing hydraulic surface; and said first closing hydraulic surface is exposed to fluid pressure in a first needle control chamber and said second closing hydraulic surface is exposed to fluid pressure in a second needle control chamber said first needle control chamber contains a first fluid and said second needle control chamber contains a second fluid that is different from said first fluid.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

The nozzle assembly of claim 1 wherein said first angle is relatively small and said second angle is relatively large.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The nozzle assembly of claim 2 wherein said first angle is less than or equal to 30 degrees; and said second angle is greater than or equal to 60 degrees.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The nozzle assembly of claim 1 wherein said second needle valve member is at least partially positioned within said first needle valve member.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 62 words

The nozzle assembly of claim 4 wherein said first needle valve member includes a valve seat and said second needle valve member includes a valve surface; a nozzle supply passage being blocked when said valve surface is in contact with said valve seat; and said nozzle supply passage being open when said valve surface is out of contact with said valve seat.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 41 words

The nozzle assembly of claim 1 wherein a nozzle body includes a first valve seat and a second valve seat; and a number of said plurality of nozzle outlets are located between said first valve seat and said second valve seat.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 31 words

The nozzle assembly of claim 1 wherein said needle valve includes a solitary needle valve member; and said needle valve member defines a portion of at least one nozzle supply passage.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 84 words

The nozzle assembly of claim 7 wherein said needle valve is movable to a first position in which said first portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets and said second portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets are blocked; said needle valve is movable to a second position in which said first portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets is open; and said needle valve being movable to a third position in which said second portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets is open.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The nozzle assembly of claim 1 wherein said homogenous charge portion and said conventional portion are mutually exclusive.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 163 words

An engine having at least two modes of operation comprising: an engine housing defining a plurality of cylinders; a solitary fuel injector for each of said plurality of cylinders, each said fuel injector having a tip at least partially positioned in one of said plurality of cylinders; each said fuel injector having a first configuration for a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode of operation in which fuel is injected relatively early in a compression stroke when a piston is nearer a bottom dead center position than a top dead center position in a first spray pattern with a relatively small average angle to an injector centerline; and each said fuel injector having a second configuration for a conventional mode of operation in which fuel is injected relatively late in a compression stroke when said piston is nearer said top dead center position than said bottom dead center position in a second spray pattern with a relatively large average angle to said injector centerline.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 163 words

An engine having at least two modes of operation comprising: an engine housing defining a plurality of cylinders; a solitary fuel injector for each of said plurality of cylinders, each said fuel injector having a tip at least partially positioned in one of said plurality of cylinders; each said fuel injector having a first configuration for a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode of operation in which fuel is injected relatively early in a compression stroke when a piston is nearer a bottom dead center position than a top dead center position in a first spray pattern with a relatively small average angle to an injector centerline; and each said fuel injector having a second configuration for a conventional mode of operation in which fuel is injected relatively late in a compression stroke when said piston is nearer said top dead center position than said bottom dead center position in a second spray pattern with a relatively large average angle to said injector centerline.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 59 words

The engine of claim 10 wherein each said fuel injector includes a plurality of nozzle outlets disposed therein; a first portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets being open when said fuel injector is in said first configuration; and a second portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets being open when said fuel injector is in said second configuration.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 92 words

The engine of claim 11 wherein each said fuel injector includes a needle valve that is biased toward a first position blocking said plurality of nozzle outlets; said needle valve having a second position that opens said first portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets while blocking said second portion when said fuel injector is in said first configuration; and said needle valve having a third position that opens said second portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets while blocking said first portion when said fuel injector is in said second configuration.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 62 words

The engine of claim 11 wherein each of said first portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets are oriented at first angles with respect to a centerline of said cylinder; each of said second portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets are oriented at a second angles with respect to said centerline; and said first angles being different from said second angles.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

The engine of claim 13 wherein said first angle is relatively small and said second angle is relatively large.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 29 words

The engine of claim 14 wherein said first angle is less than or equal to 30 degrees; and said second angle is greater than or equal to 60 degrees.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 49 words

The engine of claim 10 wherein said needle valve includes a first needle valve member and a second needle valve member; and a first electrical actuator being operably coupled to said first needle valve member and a second electrical actuator being operably coupled to said second needle valve member.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 64 words

The engine of claim 10 wherein said fuel injector includes a first needle valve member and a second needle valve member; said first needle valve member includes a first closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a first needle control chamber; and said second needle valve member includes a second closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a second needle control chamber.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 20 words

The engine of claim 17 wherein said first needle control chamber is fluidly isolated from said second needle control chamber.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 38 words

The engine of claim 10 wherein said fuel injector includes a first needle valve member and a second needle valve member; and said second needle valve member is at least partially positioned within said first needle valve member.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 60 words

The engine of claim 19 wherein said first needle valve member includes a valve seat, said second needle valve member includes a valve surface; a nozzle supply passage being blocked when said valve surface is in contact with said valve seat; and said nozzle supply passage being open when said valve surface is out of contact with said valve seam.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 30 words

The engine of claim 10 wherein said needle valve includes a solitary needle valve member; and said needle valve member defines a portion of at least one nozzle supply passage.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 90 words

The engine of claim 21 wherein said needle valve includes a stop component positioned in said injector body and movable between a retracted position and an advanced position; said needle valve member is out of contact with said stop component when said needle valve is in a first position; said needle valve member being in contact with said stop component when said needle valve is in a second position; and said needle valve member being in contact with said stop component when said needle valve is in a third position.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of operating an engine comprising the steps of: providing an engine having an engine housing defining a plurality of engine cylinders, each of said engine cylinders including a piston; positioning a solitary fuel injector for each of said plurality of engine cylinders, at least in part by positioning a tip of each said fuel injector at least partially within one of said engine cylinders; if said fuel injector is operating in a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode, injecting fuel in a first spray pattern from said fuel injector when said piston is nearer a bottom dead center position than a top dead center position; and if said fuel injector is operating in a conventional mode, injecting fuel in a second spray pattern from said fuel injector when said piston is nearer to said top dead center position than said bottom dead center position.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of operating an engine comprising the steps of: providing an engine having an engine housing defining a plurality of engine cylinders, each of said engine cylinders including a piston; positioning a solitary fuel injector for each of said plurality of engine cylinders, at least in part by positioning a tip of each said fuel injector at least partially within one of said engine cylinders; if said fuel injector is operating in a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode, injecting fuel in a first spray pattern from said fuel injector when said piston is nearer a bottom dead center position than a top dead center position; and if said fuel injector is operating in a conventional mode, injecting fuel in a second spray pattern from said fuel injector when said piston is nearer to said top dead center position than said bottom dead center position.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 65 words

The method of claim 23 wherein said step of injecting fuel when said piston is nearer a bottom dead center position includes a step of opening a first portion of fuel injector nozzle outlets; and said step of injecting fuel when said piston is nearer to said top dead center position includes a step of opening a second portion of said fuel injector nozzle outlets.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 74 words

The method of claim 23 wherein said step of injecting fuel from said fuel injector when said piston is nearer a bottom dead center position includes a step of moving a needle valve from a first position to a second position; and said step of injecting fuel from said fuel injector when said piston is nearer to said top dead center position includes a step of moving said needle valve to a third position.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 73 words

The method of claim 23 wherein said step of injecting fuel when said piston is nearer a bottom dead center position includes a step of injecting fuel in a first spray pattern with respect to a centerline of said cylinder; and said step of injecting fuel when said piston is nearer to said top dead center position includes a step of injecting fuel in a second spray pattern with respect to said centerline.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method of claim 23 wherein said step of injecting fuel in a first spray pattern includes a step of injecting fuel at a relatively small average angle with respect to said centerline; and said step of injecting fuel in a second spray pattern includes a step of injecting fuel at a relatively large average angle with respect to said centerline.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 23 including a step of closing at least one fuel injector nozzle outlet at least in part by applying high pressure to a closing hydraulic surface of a needle valve member movably positioned in said fuel injector.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 23 including the steps of operating said fuel injector in said homogeneous charge compression ignition mode when said engine is operating in a low load condition; and operating said fuel injector in said conventional mode when said engine is operating in a high load condition.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 56 words

The method of claim 23 including the step of operating said fuel injector in a mixed mode, at least in part by injecting fuel when said piston is relatively far from its top dead center position and injecting fuel when said piston is relatively close to its top dead center position in a same piston stroke.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 227 words

A fuel injector comprising: a plurality of assembled components having a centerline and defining a plurality of nozzle outlets; a homogenous charge compression ignition portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets being oriented at a first average angle with respect to said centerline; a conventional portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets being oriented at a second average angle with respect to said centerline; said assembled components including at least one needle valve member being positioned adjacent said plurality of nozzle outlets; said at least one needle valve member having a first position in which said homogenous charge portion is open but said conventional portion is closed, and a second position in which said conventional portion is open but said homogenous charge portion is closed; said at least one needle valve member including a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a needle control chamber; at least one electrical actuator attached to said injector body; and a three-way needle control valve operably coupled to said electrical actuator, and being movable between a first position in which said needle control chamber is fluidly connected to a source of high pressure fluid but fluidly disconnected from a low pressure passage, and a second position in which said needle control chamber is fluidly connected to said low pressure passage but fluidly disconnected from said source of high pressure fluid.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 227 words

A fuel injector comprising: a plurality of assembled components having a centerline and defining a plurality of nozzle outlets; a homogenous charge compression ignition portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets being oriented at a first average angle with respect to said centerline; a conventional portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets being oriented at a second average angle with respect to said centerline; said assembled components including at least one needle valve member being positioned adjacent said plurality of nozzle outlets; said at least one needle valve member having a first position in which said homogenous charge portion is open but said conventional portion is closed, and a second position in which said conventional portion is open but said homogenous charge portion is closed; said at least one needle valve member including a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a needle control chamber; at least one electrical actuator attached to said injector body; and a three-way needle control valve operably coupled to said electrical actuator, and being movable between a first position in which said needle control chamber is fluidly connected to a source of high pressure fluid but fluidly disconnected from a low pressure passage, and a second position in which said needle control chamber is fluidly connected to said low pressure passage but fluidly disconnected from said source of high pressure fluid.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 22 words

The fuel injector of claim 31 wherein said first average angle is relatively small and said second average angle is relatively large.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 32 words

The fuel injector of claim 32 wherein said first average angle is less than or equal to 30 degrees; and said second average angle is greater than or equal to 60 degrees.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 22 words

The fuel injector of claim 33 wherein said needle valve includes a first needle valve member and a second needle valve member.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 23 words

The fuel injector of claim 34 wherein said second needle valve member is at least partially positioned within said first needle valve member.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 61 words

The fuel injector of claim 35 wherein said first needle valve member includes a valve seal, said second needle valve member includes a valve surface; a nozzle supply passage being blocked when said valve surface is in contact with said valve seat; and said nozzle supply passage being open when said valve surface is out of contact with said valve seat.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 64 words

The fuel injector of claim 36 wherein said first needle valve member includes a first closing hydraulic surface and said second needle valve member includes a second closing hydraulic surface; and said first closing hydraulic surface is exposed to fluid pressure in a first needle control chamber and said second closing hydraulic surface is exposed to fluid pressure in a second needle control chamber.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 21 words

The fuel injector of claim 37 wherein said first needle control chamber is fluidly isolated from said second needle control chamber.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 202 words

A fuel injector comprising: a plurality of assembled components having a centerline and defining a plurality of nozzle outlets; a homogenous charge compression ignition portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets being oriented at a first average angle with respect to said centerline; a conventional portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets being oriented at a second average angle with respect to said centerline; said assembled components including at least one needle valve member being positioned adjacent said plurality of nozzle outlets; said at least one needle valve member having a first position in which said homogenous charge portion is open but said conventional portion is closed, and a second position in which said conventional portion is open but said homogenous charge portion is closed; said at least one needle valve member including a first needle valve member with a first closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a first needle control chamber, and a second needle valve member with a second closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a second needle control chamber; said first needle control chamber contains a first fluid and said second needle control chamber contains a second fluid that is different from said first fluid.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 202 words

A fuel injector comprising: a plurality of assembled components having a centerline and defining a plurality of nozzle outlets; a homogenous charge compression ignition portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets being oriented at a first average angle with respect to said centerline; a conventional portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets being oriented at a second average angle with respect to said centerline; said assembled components including at least one needle valve member being positioned adjacent said plurality of nozzle outlets; said at least one needle valve member having a first position in which said homogenous charge portion is open but said conventional portion is closed, and a second position in which said conventional portion is open but said homogenous charge portion is closed; said at least one needle valve member including a first needle valve member with a first closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a first needle control chamber, and a second needle valve member with a second closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a second needle control chamber; said first needle control chamber contains a first fluid and said second needle control chamber contains a second fluid that is different from said first fluid.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 202 words

An engine having at least two modes of operation comprising: an engine housing defining a plurality of cylinders; at least one common rail attached to said engine housing; a solitary fuel injector for each of said plurality of cylinders, each said fuel injector having a tip at least partially positioned in one of said plurality of cylinders, and including a plunger that partially defines a fuel pressurization chamber; each said fuel injector being fluidly connected to said at least one common rail; each said fuel injector having a first configuration corresponding to a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode of operation in which fuel is injected in a first spray pattern with a small average angle with respect to an injector centerline relatively early in a compression stroke when a piston is nearer a bottom dead center position than a top dead center position; and each said fuel injector having a second configuration corresponding to a conventional mode of operation in which fuel is injected in a second spray pattern with a large average angle with respect to said injector centerline relatively late in a compression stroke when said piston is nearer said top dead center position than said bottom dead center position.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 202 words

An engine having at least two modes of operation comprising: an engine housing defining a plurality of cylinders; at least one common rail attached to said engine housing; a solitary fuel injector for each of said plurality of cylinders, each said fuel injector having a tip at least partially positioned in one of said plurality of cylinders, and including a plunger that partially defines a fuel pressurization chamber; each said fuel injector being fluidly connected to said at least one common rail; each said fuel injector having a first configuration corresponding to a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode of operation in which fuel is injected in a first spray pattern with a small average angle with respect to an injector centerline relatively early in a compression stroke when a piston is nearer a bottom dead center position than a top dead center position; and each said fuel injector having a second configuration corresponding to a conventional mode of operation in which fuel is injected in a second spray pattern with a large average angle with respect to said injector centerline relatively late in a compression stroke when said piston is nearer said top dead center position than said bottom dead center position.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 62 words

The engine of claim 40 wherein each said fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a plurality of nozzle outlets: a first portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets being open when said fuel injector is in said first configuration; and a second portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets being open when said fuel injector is in said second configuration.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 82 words

The engine of claim 41 wherein each said fuel injector includes a needle valve that is biased toward a first position blocking said plurality of nozzle outlets; said needle valve having a second position that opens said first portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets when said fuel injector is in said first configuration; and said needle valve having a third position that opens said second portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets when said fuel injector is in said second configuration.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 31 words

The engine of claim 42 wherein said small average angle is less than or equal to 30 degrees; and said large average angle is greater than or equal to 60 degrees.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 49 words

The engine of claim 43 wherein said needle valve includes a first needle valve member and a second needle valve member; and a first electrical actuator being operably coupled to said first needle valve member and a second electrical actuator being operably coupled to said second needle valve member.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 49 words

The engine of claim 44 wherein said first needle valve member includes a first closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a first needle control chamber; and said second needle valve member includes a second closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a second needle control chamber.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 20 words

The engine of claim 45 wherein said first needle control chamber is fluidly isolated from said second needle control chamber.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 22 words

The engine of claim 46 wherein said first needle valve member is at least partially positioned within said second needle valve member.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 60 words

The engine of claim 47 wherein said second needle valve member includes a valve seat, said first needle valve member includes a valve surface; a nozzle supply passage being blocked when said valve surface is in contact with said valve seat; and said nozzle supply passage being open when said valve surface is out of contact with said valve seat.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 39 words

The engine of claim 48 wherein said at least one common rail includes an amount of oil; and each said fuel injector includes a fuel inlet fluidly connected to a source of fuel that is different from said oil.

Claim 56

Independent Claim 165 words

A method of operating an engine comprising: providing an engine having an engine housing defining a plurality of engine cylinders, each of said engine cylinders including a piston; positioning a solitary fuel injector for each of said plurality of engine cylinders, at least in part by positioning a tip of each of said solitary fuel injectors at least partially within one of said engine cylinders; if said fuel injector is operating in a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode, injecting fuel in a first spray pattern from said fuel injector when said piston is nearer a bottom dead center position than a top dead center position; if said fuel injector is operating in a conventional mode, injecting fuel in a second spray pattern from said fuel injector when said piston is nearer to said top dead center position than said bottom dead center position; and applying high pressure to a closing hydraulic surface of at least one needle valve member movably positioned in said fuel injector.

Claim 57

Independent Claim 165 words

A method of operating an engine comprising: providing an engine having an engine housing defining a plurality of engine cylinders, each of said engine cylinders including a piston; positioning a solitary fuel injector for each of said plurality of engine cylinders, at least in part by positioning a tip of each of said solitary fuel injectors at least partially within one of said engine cylinders; if said fuel injector is operating in a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode, injecting fuel in a first spray pattern from said fuel injector when said piston is nearer a bottom dead center position than a top dead center position; if said fuel injector is operating in a conventional mode, injecting fuel in a second spray pattern from said fuel injector when said piston is nearer to said top dead center position than said bottom dead center position; and applying high pressure to a closing hydraulic surface of at least one needle valve member movably positioned in said fuel injector.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 65 words

The method of claim 50 wherein said step of injecting fuel when said piston is nearer a bottom dead center position includes a step of opening a first portion of fuel injector nozzle outlets; and said step of injecting fuel when said piston is nearer to said top dead center position includes a step of opening a second portion of said fuel injector nozzle outlets.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 82 words

The method of claim 50 wherein said step of injecting fuel from said fuel injector when said piston is nearer a bottom dead center position includes a step of moving said at least one needle valve member from a first position to a second position; and said step of injecting fuel from said fuel injector when said piston is nearer to said top dead center position includes a step of moving said at least one needle valve member to a third position.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 73 words

The method of claim 50 wherein said step of injecting fuel when said piston is nearer a bottom dead center position includes a step of injecting fuel in a first spray pattern with respect to a centerline of said cylinder; and said step of injecting fuel when said piston is nearer to said top dead center position includes a step of injecting fuel in a second spray pattern with respect to said centerline.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 59 words

The method of claim 50 wherein said step of injecting fuel in a first spray pattern includes a step of injecting fuel at a relatively small angle with respect to said centerline; and said step of injecting fuel in a second spray pattern includes a step of injecting fuel at a relatively large angle with respect to said centerline.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 50 including the steps of operating said fuel injector in said homogeneous charge compression ignition mode when said engine is operating in a low load condition; and operating said fuel injector in said conventional mode when said engine is operating in a high load condition.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 50 including the step of operating said fuel injector in a mixed mode, at least in part by injecting fuel when said piston is nearer a bottom dead center position and injecting fuel when said piston is relatively close to its top dead center position in a same piston stroke.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 188 words

A fuel injector comprising: a plurality of assembled components having a centerline and defining a plurality of nozzle outlets; a homogeneous charge subset of said plurality of nozzle outlets being oriented at a relatively small average angle with respect to said centerline; a conventional subset of said plurality of nozzle outlets being oriented at a relatively large average angle with respect to said centerline; said assembled components including at least one needle valve member movable between a first configuration in which said plurality of nozzle outlets are closed, a second configuration in which said homogeneous charge subset is open but said conventional subset is closed, and a third configuration in which said homogeneous charge subset is closed but said conventional subset is open; said plurality of assembled components including a plunger that defines a portion of a fuel pressurization chamber that is fluidly connected to one of said homogeneous charge subset and said conventional subset when a portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets is open; and said plurality of assembled components including an electronically operated pressure control valve and at least one electronically operated needle control valve.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 188 words

A fuel injector comprising: a plurality of assembled components having a centerline and defining a plurality of nozzle outlets; a homogeneous charge subset of said plurality of nozzle outlets being oriented at a relatively small average angle with respect to said centerline; a conventional subset of said plurality of nozzle outlets being oriented at a relatively large average angle with respect to said centerline; said assembled components including at least one needle valve member movable between a first configuration in which said plurality of nozzle outlets are closed, a second configuration in which said homogeneous charge subset is open but said conventional subset is closed, and a third configuration in which said homogeneous charge subset is closed but said conventional subset is open; said plurality of assembled components including a plunger that defines a portion of a fuel pressurization chamber that is fluidly connected to one of said homogeneous charge subset and said conventional subset when a portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets is open; and said plurality of assembled components including an electronically operated pressure control valve and at least one electronically operated needle control valve.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 21 words

The fuel injector of claim 57 wherein said plurality of assembled components include an intensifier piston operably coupled to said plunger.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 27 words

The fuel injector of claim 57 wherein said needle control valve includes a three-way valve member trapped to move between a first seat and a second seat.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 18 words

The fuel injector of claim 57 wherein said homogeneous charge subset and said conventional subset are mutually exclusive.

Claim 69

Dependent Claim 68 words

The nozzle assembly of claim 1 wherein said homogeneous charge compression ignition portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets is separated from said conventional portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets by a sealing member; and said sealing member is continuously biased toward a position separating said homogeneous charge compression ignition portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets from said conventional portion of said plurality of nozzle outlets.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-04-27	2007-10-27	2008-04-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-04-27	2011-10-27	2012-04-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-04-27	2015-10-27	2016-04-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Fuel injector having dual mode capabilities and engine using same

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