Abstract: An inflection point sensing arrangement of an electronic drive unit, which drives a fuel injection valve, senses an inflection point in a pressure-changing process of the pressure in the control chamber. A charging and discharging condition changing arrangement of the electronic drive unit changes a charging condition for charging of the electric current to a piezoelectric actuator of the fuel injection valve or a discharging condition for discharging of the electric current from the piezoelectric actuator upon sensing of the inflection point, which is sensed with the inflection point sensing arrangement.

Abstract: An inflection point sensing arrangement of an electronic drive unit, which drives a fuel injection valve, senses an inflection point in a pressure-changing process of the pressure in the control chamber. A charging and discharging condition changing arrangement of the electronic drive unit changes a charging condition for charging of the electric current to a piezoelectric actuator of the fuel injection valve or a discharging condition for discharging of the electric current from the piezoelectric actuator upon sensing of the inflection point, which is sensed with the inflection point sensing arrangement.

Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting an engine speed NE, a throttle angle THA and an amount of intake air GA; estimating an amount of intake air GAINI from the engine speed NE and the throttle angle THA; if the estimated amount of intake air GAINI minus the detected amount of intake air GA is larger than a predetermined deviation ?GA(0) (YES at S104), then causing an intake manifold injector to inject fuel to clear a deposit, as controlled, at the exhaust stroke when an intake valve is closed and at the intake stroke when the intake valve is opened and an exhaust valve is closed.

Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: calculating a base timing of injection (INJB); determining whether an engine knocks; if the engine knocks, increasing a correction value INJK(I) applied to correct a timing of injection; and calculating the base timing of injection INJB plus the correction value INJK(I) to obtain a timing of injection INJ.

Abstract: An auxiliary fuel injection unit includes two surge tanks partitioned by a wall surface, a butterfly valve for switching between connection and disconnection of two surge tanks, and one auxiliary fuel injection valve for injecting an auxiliary fuel in a direction opposing a direction of flow of intake air within the surge tank. The butterfly valve has a valve plate surface closing an opening provided in the surge tank wall surface and a rotation shaft for turning the plate surface. The auxiliary fuel injection valve has two injection holes connecting with each other, for injecting the auxiliary fuel toward the valve plate surface of the butterfly valve and toward the surge tank wall surface.

Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting an engine speed NE, a throttle angle THA and an amount of intake air GA; estimating an amount of intake air GAINI from the engine speed NE and the throttle angle THA; if the estimated amount of intake air GAINI minus the detected amount of intake air GA is larger than a predetermined deviation ?GA(0) (YES at S104), then causing an intake manifold injector to inject fuel to clear a deposit, as controlled, at the exhaust stroke when an intake valve is closed and at the intake stroke when the intake valve is opened and an exhaust valve is closed.

Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: calculating a base timing of injection (INJB); determining whether an engine knocks; if the engine knocks, increasing a correction value INJK(I) applied to correct a timing of injection; and calculating the base timing of injection INJB plus the correction value INJK(I) to obtain a timing of injection INJ.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel injection valve in which nozzle holes are formed on a metering plate and fuel flowing on a face of the metering plate on the upstream side is injected outside of a face of the metering plate on the downstream side through the nozzle holes. The fuel injection valve includes a vortex flow generator means for changing a flow of fuel passing in each nozzle hole into a vortex flow, wherein the vortex flow generator means is provided on the upstream side of the metering plate. The vortex flow means is a vortex flow generator groove provided on an upper face of the metering plate and connected with a wall face of an entrance of the nozzle hole, and a main stream of fuel flowing in the groove is directed to a position shifted from the center of the nozzle hole. Alternatively, the vortex flow means is a protrusion formed on an upper face of the metering plate. A flow of fuel is changed into a vortex flow in the nozzle hole and injected from the nozzle hole.

Abstract: An auxiliary fuel injection unit includes two surge tanks partitioned by a wall surface, a butterfly valve for switching between connection and disconnection of two surge tanks, and one auxiliary fuel injection valve for injecting an auxiliary fuel in a direction opposing a direction of flow of intake air within the surge tank. The butterfly valve has a valve plate surface closing an opening provided in the surge tank wall surface and a rotation shaft for turning the plate surface. The auxiliary fuel injection valve has two injection holes connecting with each other, for injecting the auxiliary fuel toward the valve plate surface of the butterfly valve and toward the surge tank wall surface.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel injection valve in which nozzle holes are formed on a metering plate and fuel flowing on a face of the metering plate on the upstream side is injected outside of a face of the metering plate on the downstream side through the nozzle holes. The fuel injection valve includes a vortex flow generator means for changing a flow of fuel passing in each nozzle hole into a vortex flow, wherein the vortex flow generator means is provided on the upstream side of the metering plate. The vortex flow means is a vortex flow generator groove provided on an upper face of the metering plate and connected with a wall face of an entrance of the nozzle hole, and a main stream of fuel flowing in the groove is directed to a position shifted from the center of the nozzle hole. Alternatively, the vortex flow means is a protrusion formed on an upper face of the metering plate. A flow of fuel is changed into a vortex flow in the nozzle hole and injected from the nozzle hole.

Abstract: A fuel pump for an internal combustion engine that transmits fuel with pressure by a lifting movement of a plunger that is caused to lift by a movement of a cam includes a lift amount changing mechanism. The lift amount changing mechanism includes a cam in which a height of a projection is varied along an axial direction of the camshaft, and a cam moving actuator that moves the cam along the axial direction of the camshaft. The lift amount of the plunger is changed by moving the cam along the axial direction of the camshaft. An amount of discharged fuel is controlled by changing the amount of discharged fuel per stroke of the plunger and is not determined only based upon the rotation speed of the engine. Therefore, the amount of discharged fuel can be increased with the engine rotated at a low speed, for example when the engine is being initially started, to improve a starting performance.

Abstract: A fuel pump for an internal combustion engine that transmits fuel with pressure by a lifting movement of a plunger that is caused to lift by a movement of a cam includes a lift amount changing mechanism. The lift amount changing mechanism includes a cam in which a height of a projection is varied along an axial direction of the camshaft, and a cam moving actuator that moves the cam along the axial direction of the camshaft. The lift amount of the plunger is changed by moving the cam along the axial direction of the camshaft. An amount of discharged fuel is controlled by changing the amount of discharged fuel per stroke of the plunger and is not determined only based upon the rotation speed of the engine. Therefore, the amount of discharged fuel can be increased with the engine rotated at a low speed, for example when the engine is being initially started, to improve a starting performance.

Abstract: An ignition device sets a total discharge period, each discharge period and each intermittent period of a multiple discharge are set by a control map in addition to the setting of a throttle opening, fuel injection timing, fuel injection period and ignition timing for the range of non-stratified charge combustion, when a direct injection-type engine operates in the range of stratified charge combustion. Ignition signals including a plurality of rises and falls are outputted in time with a specific ignition timing after fuel injection. Thus a plurality of sparks are generated from the spark plug, ensuring reliable ignition in response to changes in the concentration of sprayed fuel within the operation range for stratified charge combustion.

Abstract: In an accumulator fuel injection device pulsating of pressure is suppressed and fluctuation of fuel injection is prevented by providing flow rate control means such as an orifice generating a flow rate regulated at a fuel passage of a diesel engine. The device supplies fuel to injectors of cylinders from a pump pressurizing the fuel to a high pressure through a common rail which can stock high pressure fuel or through a corresponding fuel passage having a large volume.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying constant pressure to a plurality of pressure demanding mechanisms is disclosed. The apparatus includes a common rail, a plurality of pressure demanding mechanisms, a pressure supply source, and a plurality of branching paths. The lengths of the pressure supply path Lp, the pressure propagation path in the common rail, Lc, and the pressure branching paths, Li, are chosen so as to satisfy the following formulae, which leads to reductions in pressure fluctuations:(2n+0.5)Lp.ltoreq.Lc.ltoreq.(2n+1.5)Lp(2n+1.5)Lp.ltoreq.Li.ltoreq.(2n+2.5)Lp, where (n=0, 1, 2, . . .).