Patent ID: 8561598

Claim:
A fuel-cooled fuel injector configured to inject fuel into a combustion chamber, the fuel injector comprising: a body having a base portion opposite a nozzle portion, wherein the base portion is configured to receive the fuel into the body and the nozzle portion is configured to be positioned adjacent to the combustion chamber; a valve carried by the nozzle portion, wherein the valve is movable between a closed position and an open position to inject the fuel into the combustion chamber; an actuator coupled the valve and extending longitudinally through the body towards the base portion, the actuator includes a stop in the base portion; a driver independent of the valve and the actuator carried by the body and movable between a first position and a second position, in the first position the driver is spaced apart from the stop and in the second position the driver contacts the stop to move the actuator axially away from the nozzle portion to move the valve to the open position; and a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally through the driver configured to allow fuel to flow therethrough.