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Fuel injector-igniters with variable gap electrodes. A fuel injector-igniter comprises a housing, an actuator disposed in the housing, and a valve including a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator. A valve seat electrode including at le

Fuel injector-igniters with variable gap electrodes. A fuel injector-igniter comprises a housing, an actuator disposed in the housing, and a valve including a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator. A valve seat electrode including at least one aperture surrounds the valve head and valve seat and at least one rocker electrode is pivotably mounted to the housing to form a variable gap between the electrode and a portion of the valve seat electrode. The rocker electrode is positioned to move relative to the valve seat electrode in response to a fuel flow through the aperture, thereby varying the gap.

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1. A fuel injector-igniter, comprising: a housing;an actuator disposed in the housing;a valve including a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator; andat least one electrode pivotably mounted to the housing and forming a variable gap betwe

1. A fuel injector-igniter, comprising: a housing;an actuator disposed in the housing;a valve including a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator; andat least one electrode pivotably mounted to the housing and forming a variable gap between the electrode and a portion of the valve seat;wherein the electrode is positioned to move relative to the valve seat in response to a fuel flow past the valve head, thereby varying the gap. 2. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode is in the form of a rocker including a pair of electrode arms. 3. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 2, wherein the at least one rocker is mounted to the housing with a bearing pin. 4. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 3, wherein the rocker is mounted in a pocket formed in the housing. 5. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 4, further comprising a magnet disposed in the pocket and positioned to retain the rocker in a first position. 6. A fuel injector-igniter, comprising: a housing;an actuator disposed in the housing;a valve including a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator;a valve seat electrode including at least one aperture and surrounding the valve head and valve seat; andat least one electrode pivotably mounted to the housing and forming a variable gap between the electrode and a portion of the valve seat electrode;wherein the electrode is positioned to move relative to the valve seat electrode in response to a fuel flow through the at least one aperture, thereby varying the gap. 7. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 6, wherein the at least one electrode is in the form of a rocker including a pair of electrode arms. 8. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 7, wherein the at least one rocker is mounted to the housing with a bearing pin. 9. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 8, wherein the at least one rocker is mounted in a pocket formed in the housing. 10. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 9, further comprising a magnet disposed in the pocket and positioned to retain the at least one rocker in a first position. 11. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 10, wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet. 12. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 10, wherein the at least one rocker is positioned to move from the first position to a second position in response to the fuel flow. 13. A fuel injector-igniter, comprising: a housing;an actuator disposed in the housing;a valve including a valve head operative to open and close against a valve seat in response to activation of the actuator;a valve seat electrode surrounding the valve head and including a plurality of apertures; anda plurality of rocker electrodes, each pivotably mounted to the housing to form a gap between the rocker electrode and the valve seat electrode, wherein each rocker electrode is positioned over a corresponding aperture. 14. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 13, wherein each rocker electrode includes a pair of electrode arms. 15. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 13, wherein each rocker is mounted to the housing with a bearing pin. 16. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 13, wherein each rocker is mounted in a pocket formed in the housing. 17. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 16, further comprising a magnet disposed in the pocket and positioned to retain the rocker in a first position. 18. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 17, wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet. 19. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 17, wherein the rocker electrodes comprise a ferromagnetic material. 20. The fuel injector-igniter according to claim 17, wherein each rocker electrode is positioned to move from the first position to a second position in response to a fuel flow through the corresponding aperture.