Patent ID: 8418676

Claim:
Apparatus for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine comprising: a solid magnetostrictive material with a favored direction of magnetostrictive response formed into a shape with ends that are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the favored direction of magnetostrictive response; a fuel control valve element located coaxial to the favored direction of magnetoelastic response of the magnetostrictive material, the element opening inwardly; a solenoid coil located concentric with the magnetostrictive material and coaxial to the favored direction of magnetoelastic response, the solenoid coil adapted to excite the magnetostrictive material into mechanical motion; an excitation signal within the solenoid coil consisting of a signal, before a main current signal, sufficient to cause magnetic domain alignment but not rotation; a magnetic return path circuit in magnetic communication with the solid magnetostrictive material.