Patent ID: 7963464

Claim:
A fuel injector, comprising: a housing; a valve disposed in the housing and including a first port and a second port, the valve moveable between a first position, in which the first port is fluidly coupled to the second port, and a second position, in which the first port is fluidly blocked from the second port; a needle housing disposed within the housing, the needle housing defining a needle chamber and a plurality of openings; a fuel inlet port formed in the housing, the fuel inlet port in continuous fluid communication with the needle chamber; a needle guide located in the housing and disposed to provide a guide opening; a needle disposed in the needle chamber, the needle defining a guide portion and a seat portion, the guide portion disposed in the guide opening, the seat portion contacting the needle housing when the needle is in a closed position such that the plurality of openings are fluidly isolated from the needle chamber; a first orifice defined in a first plate of the housing and being in fluid communication with the first port of the valve; a second orifice formed in a second plate of the housing and disposed to fluidly couple the needle chamber to a control chamber, the second plate forming a bore at least partially defining the control chamber; the needle having a closing hydraulic surface defined thereon, the closing hydraulic surface disposed in the control chamber; wherein the control chamber is directly fluidly connected to the first orifice; a clearance flow area fluidly connecting the needle chamber with the control chamber; wherein a flow area of the first orifice is greater than the clearance flow area.