Abstract: A fuel injection system is disclosed for an internal combustion engine that has multiple combustion chambers and a camshaft which cyclically imparts pressurization energy to and recovers pressurization energy from fuel being supplied to the engine. The fuel injection system includes a plurality of unit injectors, a camshaft linkage which simultaneously reciprocates pressurizing plungers of a set of at least two unit injectors and an interconnecting line which allows selective fluid interconnection between fuel pressurization chambers formed within the unit injectors. The interconnection line allows fluid linkage of the volume of fuel which is simultaneously pressurized and depressurized within the interconnected fuel pressurization chambers of a first set of unit injectors.

Abstract: A fuel injection system is disclosed for an internal combustion engine that has multiple combustion chambers and a camshaft which cyclically imparts pressurization energy to and recovers pressurization energy from fuel being supplied to the engine. The fuel injection system includes a plurality of unit injectors, a camshaft linkage which simultaneously reciprocates pressurizing plungers of a set of at least two unit injectors and an interconnecting line which allows selective fluid interconnection between fuel pressurization chambers formed within the unit injectors. The interconnection line allows fluid linkage of the volume of fuel which is simultaneously pressurized and depressurized within the interconnected fuel pressurization chambers of a first set of unit injectors.

Abstract: A strategy for quantifying and compensating for between-engine variations in engine static timing, fuel pump phasing and overall system bandwidth includes a control circuit operable to manage a fuel control system including a high pressure, cyclically operable fuel pump and at least one fuel injector operable to supply fuel to an internal combustion engine from a fuel collection unit. In one embodiment, the strategy of the present invention is operable to determine peak values of the fuel pressure within fuel collection unit and corresponding engine position values for a number of different engine speeds and solve a corresponding model-based system of equations to determine a combined engine static timing and fuel pump phasing error as well as a first overall system bandwidth value.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated dual fuel injector separately injects two fuels into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. In particular, the two fuels may be controlled quantities of a first liquid fuel and a second gaseous fuel that are used to fuel a diesel engine. The injector preferably begins injecting the first fuel sequentially before beginning to inject the second fuel.

Abstract: A fuel injector including a floating sleeve control chamber is provided which effectively minimizes friction and wear, and thus prevents stiction, of a nozzle valve element by avoiding the need to align two bore guiding surfaces for the element. The floating sleeve control chamber includes a floating sleeve positioned on a control piston formed integrally with a nozzle valve element and positioned in a cavity. The floating sleeve is sized with an outer extent or diameter sufficiently less than the size of a surrounding cavity wall so as to permit lateral movement of the floating sleeve and thus movement of the control chamber. Only the nozzle valve element guiding bore surfaces control the alignment of the nozzle valve element relative to its seat while the floating sleeve effectively forms and seals a floating control chamber. The floating sleeve may be formed from one or more sleeve sections.

Abstract: The improved solenoid actuator assembly of the present invention includes a solenoid stator assembly positioned in an actuator housing and a flux dissipation reducing feature which minimizes flux leakage into the housing thereby maximizing the attractive force and minimizing the response time. The flux dissipation reducing feature includes a slot formed in the housing adjacent each outer face of the solenoid stator pole pieces thereby avoiding a metallic housing wall into which leakage may occur. The slots also permit the cross sectional area of the pole pieces to be maximized thereby increasing the available attractive force. The solenoid stator assembly requires only a single housing which functions to directly support the laminate stack assembly without an intermediate housing while also functioning as an injector body component subject to the compressive assembly load of the injector and including high pressure fuel passages.

Abstract: A solenoid actuated valve assembly is provided which achieves accurate control of valve movement while maximizing valve seat life. Specifically, the solenoid actuated flow control valve assembly includes a valve plunger, a solenoid actuator including a coil and an armature, and an armature overtravel feature for permitting continued movement of the armature relative to the valve plunger from an engaged position into a disengaged position when the valve plunger reaches a closed position. The armature overtravel feature includes an overtravel biasing spring for returning the armature from the disengaged position to the engaged position prior to subsequent energization of the actuator coil. As a result, the overtravel feature minimizes the mass impacting the valve seat thereby extending valve seat life while, importantly, avoiding lost motion in the armature during the next actuation cycle thereby minimizing valve response time.

Abstract: An improved plunger and barrel assembly is provided which includes a plunger reciprocally mounted in a cavity formed in the barrel and a leakage flow reduction device positioned in the cavity for reducing fluid leakage flow around the plunger thus increasing system efficiency. The leakage flow reduction device includes a sealing sleeve removably mounted in the cavity between the plunger and the barrel, which includes a bore for slidably receiving the plunger to form an annular clearance gap between the plunger and the bore. The sealing sleeve is designed to resiliently flex in response to fluid pressure forces to reduce the annular clearance gap so as to minimize fluid leakage through the annular clearance gap. The sealing sleeve is formed as a separate piece from the barrel to permit simple, low cost replacement. The sealing sleeve is preferably applied to a fuel pump having a pump plunger for pressurizing fuel in a high pressure chamber.

Abstract: An integrated fuel injector and ignitor assembly is provided which includes an injector body, a fuel control valve and an ignition device. The components are packaged to create a compact assembly for positioning within an injector mounting bore and particularly in a mounting bore of an existing diesel engine. The assembly may include a fuel reservoir for accumulating fuel for injection so as to stabilize the injection pressure. Also, the ignition device may include an ignition coil mounted on the injector body and a replaceable ignitor electrode cartridge mounted on an opposite end of the injector body to permit simple, cost effective replacement of the electrodes/spark plug.

Abstract: A high pressure control valve according to the present invention provides effective and predictable control of a timing fluid and injection fuel metering system of an internal combustion engine. The control valve includes an armature that abuts against a majority of the surface of a valve element to help minimize beating problems. In addition, a compliant web means provides a flexing motion when the valve element seats with a valve seat to mitigate problems of seat beating. Furthermore, the present invention reduces the number of parts of the control valve to achieve simplicity in structure and lower costs, including eliminating the need for a valve stop pin.

Abstract: A valve for selectively permitting the flow of fluid therethrough is disclosed including a housing having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, a valve seat provided in the housing about the inlet, a displaceable ball for cooperating with the valve seat for sealing fluidic communication between the inlet and outlet and a ball guide for guiding the ball between a closed position in contact with the valve seat and an open position spaced from the valve seat. The ball guide includes a central bore for reciprocally receiving the ball and a plurality of circumferentially spaced fluid passages in fluid communication with the inlet, the passages extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal extent of the central bore such that a flow of fluid through the inlet is directed radially outwardly from the central bore and into the circumferentially spaced passages when the ball is in the open position.