Abstract: A check valve assembly for a fuel injector includes an injector body having an injector bore therein, an elongate check disposed within the injector bore and an actuator for moving the check along an axial path between a sealing position and an open position. Axial forces acting on the check are balanced during movement between the sealing and open positions so that direct control over the check position may be accomplished through the use of a low-force actuator.

Abstract: A fuel system valve has a metal valve seat and a metal valve body. The metal valve body has a chamber which contains material which is moveable through the chamber in response to deceleration of the valve body. The forces of the material within the chamber on the valve body during rapid deceleration of the valve body counteract the forces subjected on the valve body in response to contact with the valve seat.

Abstract: An actuator and valve assembly for an electronically-controlled injector is disclosed which comprises an electrically-energizable actuator assembly and a device for communicating, collecting and draining damping fluid with respect to at least one cavity of the actuator assembly. If too much damping fluid remains in the actuator assembly after engine shutdown, that damping fluid may cool off and cause slow response of the actuator and valve assembly during cold engine starting. The end result is that quick starting and/or operation of the engine may be hindered, particularly under cold engine conditions. The communicating, collecting and draining means permits at least a portion of the hot damping fluid to automatically drain from the cavity after the engine has been shutdown.

Abstract: A solenoid control circuit provides energy to selected solenoids to control actuation of a control valve of a fuel injector and, hence, the timing and duration of fuel delivered to each cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The current provided to each solenoid is also controlled to provide a three tier current waveform having a pull-in current level, a hold-in current level, and an intermediate current level. Energizing the solenoid at the pull-in current level starts movement of the control valve. After the control valve starts to move, the current level is reduced to the intermediate level, which is less than the pull-in current level, but great enough to continue movement of the control valve. Further reduction of the current level to the hold-in level, which is less than either of the other current levels but sufficient to hold the control valve at the moved position. The solenoid is then de-energized and the control valve returned to its initial position to stop the flow of fuel to the engine.

Abstract: A rotor balancing arrangement is provided for use in a distribution valve to ensure hydrostatic balancing of a rotor located in the distribution valve. Some balancing arrangements provide areas equally spaced around the peripheral surface, each being exposed to the same pressure, however, they are limited to valves which rotate only through a limited arc of rotation. Other valves which rotate provide balancing grooves around portions of the peripheral surface but do not provide any control for the pressure that migrates axially in both directions along the peripheral surface of the rotor. In the subject arrangement, pressure fields of a predetermined size are located on a peripheral surface of a rotor circumscribing first and second outlet ports which open to opposite sides of the rotor. The size of the pressure fields is determined by the relationship of the diametrical clearance between the rotor and a bore with respect to the operating pressure of the system.

Abstract: An attachment for a corn harvester to pick up loose ears off the ground. In the embodiment described, novel pickup and conveyor mechanism are substituted for the forward, pointed snout members at the forward ends of the longitudinally extending hoods which are part of the row dividers in a conventional corn head and which define throats aligned with rows of corn. The attachment cooperates with the conventional stripper plates, gathering chains, and snapping rolls, making the harvester doubly effective in that it collects loose ears from the ground as well as picking them from the stalks.