FUEL INJECTION VALVE AND FUEL INJECTION DEVICE

A fuel injector and a fuel injection device are provided that, in order to achieve both low fuel consumption and high power output, can vary a spray shape in an outswinging fuel injector so as to form a spray suitable for each of stratified combustion and homogeneous combustion. A nozzle 2 has a plurality of fuel paths 5 thereinside. A valve element 10 is vertically movable inside the nozzle 2, and has a conical valve element surface 16 that faces a conical valve seat surface 15 of the nozzle 2. The valve element surface abuts against the valve seat surface to form a seat portion 11 that seals fuel. The fuel paths 5 each have an opening portion upstream of the seat portion 11. A distance between the seat portion and the valve element when the valve element leaves the valve seat surface is variable. The fuel path has a cross-sectional area that can be larger or smaller than that of an annular gap between the seat portion and the valve element surface of the valve element.