Abstract: A piston is disclosed. The piston may have a piston head, which may have an exterior surface. The exterior surface may have a top portion, an upper side portion, and a lower side portion. The piston may also have a groove formed in the lower side portion of the exterior surface. Additionally, the piston may have a channel extending from the groove through the piston head. The channel may also extend through at least one of the top portion or the upper side portion of the exterior surface.

Abstract: In some fuel injectors, a variable flow rate valve is used to control actuation fluid flow rates to and from an intensifier piston. Over time, the variable flow rate valve is subjected to wear that can affect the predictability of the injection rate shape. The present invention reduces variable flow rate valve wear within a fuel injector, at least in part, by guiding a variable flow rate valve member along guide bore walls within a rate shaping path. The rate shaping path and an unrestricted path are defined by an injector body. When in a retracted position, a moveable intensifier piston includes a first hydraulic surface that is exposed to hydraulic pressure in the unrestricted path and a second hydraulic surface that is exposed to hydraulic pressure in the rate shaping path. The variable flow rate valve member defines a central passage with a predetermined flow area and includes a side surface that separates a closing hydraulic surface from an opening hydraulic surface.

Abstract: In some fuel injectors, a variable flow rate valve is used to control actuation fluid flow rates to and from an intensifier piston. Over time, the variable flow rate valve is subjected to wear that can affect the predictability of the injection rate shape. The present invention reduces variable flow rate valve wear within a fuel injector, at least in part, by guiding a variable flow rate valve member along guide bore walls within a rate shaping path. The rate shaping path and an unrestricted path are defined by an injector body. When in a retracted position, a moveable intensifier piston includes a first hydraulic surface that is exposed to hydraulic pressure in the unrestricted path and a second hydraulic surface that is exposed to hydraulic pressure in the rate shaping path. The variable flow rate valve member defines a central passage with a predetermined flow area and includes a side surface that separates a closing hydraulic surface from an opening hydraulic surface.

Abstract: A reverse flow valve member is positioned within an injector body of a fuel injector and is movable between a closed position and an open position. When the reverse flow valve member is in its closed position, an upper portion of a nozzle supply passage is blocked from fluid communication with a lower portion of the nozzle supply passage. A compressed spring biases the reverse flow valve member to its closed position. When the reverse flow valve member is in its open position, the fuel pressurization chamber is fluidly connected to the lower portion of the nozzle supply passage. The present invention limits gas ingestion due to tip leakage, and allows an injector with trapped gas to prime itself.