Patent ID: 7591247

Claim:
A fuel injector, comprising: a nozzle member, including: a tip portion; at least one orifice disposed at the tip portion; a base portion; and a female conical seating surface disposed at the base portion; and a needle valve member slidingly disposed within the nozzle member and including: a tip end configured to selectively restrict fuel flow through the at least one orifice; a base end; and a male conical seating surface disposed between the tip end and the base end, the male conical seating surface configured to engage the female conical seating surface to restrict fuel flow through the at least one orifice and having a hydraulic surface area greater than a hydraulic surface area of the base end of the needle valve member, and the male conical seating surface configured to disengage from the female conical seating surface to permit fuel flow through the at least one orifice.