Abstract: An automobile generator apparatus for producing commercial line power when driven by an automobile engine comprises a generator, an inverter unit, a controller for controlling the generator field and an accelerator actuator.The accelerator actuator is mounted opposite the accelerator pedal in such manner as to prevent erroneous operation thereof.The generator field is controlled while monitoring both the low-voltage side output and the high-voltage side output so as to prevent a large output current from flowing through the low-voltage side load. A circuit is further provided for preventing the occurrence of an overvoltage as a result of field control transistor malfunction.The switching elements constituting the output stage of the inverter unit are controlled to vary the duty ratio of the output waveform so as to stabilize the inverter output voltage and controlled to remove the center portion of the output waves so as to cope with the startup load.

Abstract: An electrostrictive actuator which can be used, e.g., in a distributor type fuel injection device of a diesel engine has an electrostrictive actuator for generating an electric charge upon reception of a load and an electric circuit unit connected to the electrostrictive actuator. The electric circuit unit has an electric charge changing means for changing the electric charge of the electrostrictive actuator in the state of generation of electric charge due to a load exerted on the electrostrictive actuator and thereby constricting the electrostrictive actuator, and an electrical charging means for charging the electrostrictive actuator in the state of constriction due to the operation of the electric charge changing means when the load exerted on the electrostrictive actuator is reduced and thereby extending the electrostrictive actuator.

Abstract: A fuel injection pump including a valve opening and closing an overflow passage formed in a body of the pump to connect a high pressure chamber to a low pressure chamber. The low pressure chamber is provided for reserving low pressure fuel, and the high pressure chamber is provided for pressurizing fuel sent from the low pressure chamber and for discharging the pressurized fuel to fuel injectors. A plunger has intake grooves which open the feed passage to communicate the high pressure chamber with the low pressure chamber on an intake action of the pump. The body of the pump has a feed passage formed therein which connects the high pressure chamber to a control chamber. The pressure in the control chamber is changed by the expansion and contaction of a piezoelectric actuator, and the pressure in the control chamber urges the valve in a direction in which the valve closes the overflow passage.

Abstract: A fuel injection system in which a fuel injector having a fuel pressure control chamber formed therein to create a pressure which forces a needle valve in the closing direction to open and close the nozzle hole, an accumulator to retain fuel discharged from the nozzle hole, and a fuel injector provided at each of the cylinders of the engine, are connected to the fuel injection pump by a single piping system without utilizing a special distribution mechanism. The volume of the fuel pressure control chamber in the fuel injector can be changed by a piezo-actuator. A check valve is provided at a half way point of the piping which leads the fuel fed under pressure from the fuel injection pump to the fuel injector into the fuel pressure control chamber and the accumulator, so that the fuel is fed through the check valve into the fuel pressure control chamber and the accumulator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for driving a capacitive-type load using a direct current power source, a charging circuit connected in series to the load, a discharging circuit connected in parallel to the load, and an electric circuit for controlling the charging and discharging circuits, and wherein at least one of the charging and discharging circuits has a primary coil, and a secondary coil coupled to the primary coil restores energy, generated when the charging or discharging is turned OFF, to the power source. This provides a highly efficient driving by a restoration of energy.

Abstract: A drive circuit for an electrostrictive element actuator for a fuel injection apparatus of a diesel engine. The drive circuit has a condenser adapted to be charged with electric charges generated by the electrostrictive element actuator; a combination of an electric charge transferring switching element and a rectifier element for becoming conductive in a first period and charging electric charges generated by the electrostrictive element actuator to the condenser; and a combination of an electric charge returning switching element and a rectifier element for becoming conductive in a second period, other than the first period, and returning electric charges stored in the condenser to the electrostrictive element actuator.

Abstract: An electrostrictive actuator which can be used, e.g., in a distributor type fuel injection device of a diesel engine has an electrostrictive actuator for generating an electric charge upon reception of a load and an electric circuit unit connected to the electrostrictive actuator. The electric circuit unit has an electric charge changing means for changing the electric charge of the electrostrictive actuator in the state of generation of electric charge due to a load exerted on the electrostrictive actuator and thereby constricting the electrostrictive actuator, and an electrical charging means for charging the electrostrictive actuator in the state of constriction due to the operation of the electric charge changing means when the load exerted on the electrostrictive actuator is reduced and thereby extending the electrostrictive actuator.

Abstract: A driving device for a piezoelectric element for electrically driving a piezoelectric element to obtain a predetermined mechanical displacement, the piezoelectric element driving device being provided with a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the secondary winding being connected to the piezoelectric element; a switching element connected to the primary winding and controlling the amount of energy stored in an air-gap of the core of the transformer; and an energy control means for driving the switching element so that the amount of energy stored in the air-gap of the core of the transformer becomes a set value, the displacement of the piezoelectric element being controlled by the amount of energy stored in the air-gap of the core of the transformer.

Abstract: A color apparatus includes an electroexpansive actuator, a unit for supplying a charge to the electroexpansive actuator, and a unit for controlling an amount of charge discharged from the electroexpansive actuator, and a stroke of the electroexpansive actuator is controlled in accordance with the amount of charge discharged therefrom. When such an electroexpansive actuator is applied to a control apparatus for a fuel injection valve, a fuel injection amount per ON/OFF operation of the fuel injection valve or a fuel injection rate can be freely controlled.

Abstract: A fuel injection system comprising a fuel injection pump, at least one fuel injection nozzle connected thereto, and a control device for varying the rate of injection of the system according to varying engine parameters. The control device has a variable volume chamber, the volume of which is varied by a piston located by a piezoelectric actuator. The variable volume chamber and a pumping chamber of the pump is intermittently connected by a passage which is specifically designed in such a manner that the fluid communication between the chambers, during the delivery stroke of a pump plunger, is provided only for an initial stage of the delivery stroke. A rate of injection is controlled in the initial stage to perform a pilot injection.

Abstract: A piezoelectric flow control valve comprising a slidable closure member (22) for controlling a flow of fluid through a fluid passage (42) between a fluid inlet (40) and a fluid outlet (32). The closure member (22) is biased toward a normally closed position by a plunger (70) responsive to a hydraulic pressure in a pressure chamber (78) which is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet (40) through a restriction and with a pumping chamber (96) of a piezoelectric pump (72). In order to prevent fluid leakage under situations wherein the fluid pressure at the fluid inlet (40) is not high enough to ensure closure of the member (22), the present invention provides spring biased pressure mechanism (106) for biasing the closure member (22) toward the normally closed position and override means (130) for overriding the pressure mechanism (106) in response to a predetermined pressure at the fluid inlet (40).

Abstract: In order to perform fuel injection control for a diesel engine, data read by an ignition timing data reading means is compared with a reference data to calculate an ignition timing difference. The ignition timing error is compared with a predetermined threshold value to decide whether or not the ignition timing difference exceeds the predetermined threshold value. A pilot injection timing correction data is generated in accordance with the result of the decision. The pilot injection timing control data is instructed in accordance with the pilot injection timing correction data, and pilot injection timing control is performed in accordance with the pilot injection timing control instruction. A feedback control of a signal based on an output from the ignition timing detector is used for control of a pilot injection timing, so that ignition at a desired ignition timing is performed.

Abstract: A fuel supply device in which a regulator pressurizes fuel fed to a fuel injector to adjust the fuel to a predetermined pressure according to an engine condition. The regulator has a piston in a housing to form a control chamber and a high pressure chamber therein. The high pressure chamber is communicated with the fuel injector and a pump chamber of a high pressure pump discharging a highly pressurized fuel. The control chamber is connected to a pressure source generating a high pressure according to an engine condition. The piston moves in response to the pressure in the control chamber to pressurize the fuel in the high pressure chamber.

Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling an electroexpansive actuator, a high voltage is applied to the electroexpansive actuator at a non-load state after an expansion and contraction operation thereupon is completed.

Abstract: In order to provide a function of eliminating minute particles in exhaust gas to a control apparatus of an internal combustion engine, a filter temperature sensor, inserted in an exhaust path, for measuring a temperature of a filter for trapping minute particles of an exhaust gas, an electric heater for removing the minute particles deposited on the filter by combustion, and a control circuit are provided. In the control circuit, filter recovery is detected, a preheating instruction for raising the filter temperature is generated in accordance with the detection result, completion of the preheating of the filter is decided, an instruction for changing an injection pattern of the fuel injection valve for preheating the filter is generated, and an ON signal is supplied to the electric heater.

Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus including a fuel injector, a high pressure feed pump, and an auxiliary pump. The high pressure feed pump supplies highly pressurized fuel to the fuel injector while the engine is driven. The auxiliary pump supplies highly pressurized fuel at least on starting of the engine. The auxiliary pump is driven independent of the engine while the high pressure feed pump is driven by the engine.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine includes sensors for sensing the reference rotational position of the engine, a unit injector for compressing the fuel and injecting a predetermined amount of the fuel, and an electronic control device. The unit injector includes an actuator such as a piezoelectric actuator, a piston, and an injection valve. The piezoelectric actuator comprises a columnar laminated body of disk-shaped piezoelectric elements. The laminated body is expanded or compressed in the axial direction of the column according to the application of a positive or a negative high voltage. The electronic control device controls the frequency of the voltage supplied to the actuator during the period from the timing of a reference rotational position and controls, accordingly, the amount of fuel injection in accordance with the frequency of the voltage supplied to the actuator.

Abstract: A pump including a plunger slidably disposed in a pump body, a transmitting member connected to the plunger, a coil spring which urges the plunger, and a cam urging the plunger against the coil spring. The plunger defines a pump chamber in the pump body. The coil spring urges the plunger in a direction such that the plunger contracts the pump chamber. The cam rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the engine and engages with the transmitting member for part of the cycle of the rotation of the engine so that the plunger increases the volume of the pump chamber. The cam releases the plunger in the remaining cycle of the rotation of the engine to allow the coil spring to urge the plunger so that the plunger displaces in a direction to reduce the volume of the pump chamber.

Abstract: A piezoelectric fuel injector for use in fuel injection systems of spark-ignition engines is provided with a normally closed valve assembly in the form of a reed valve. The valve assembly includes a valve plate having one or more outlet ports having an overall cross-sectional flow area sufficient to ensure an unobstructed flow path therethrough. The valve assembly also includes a generally flat, thin, resilient closure member cooperating with the valve set of the valve plate. The pressure wave created in the fuel in the pumping chamber upon excitation of the piezoelectric actuator propagates into the outlet ports to directly reach the thin closure member, which readily resiliently yields to permit a desired amount of fuel to be injected into the engine cylinders. The fuel injector is particularly suitable to be operated by a high-frequency drive signal in order to ensure precise metering of fuel quantity over a wide range of engine operating conditions.

Abstract: A spark-ignition type internal combustion engine has a fuel injection valve for supplying fuel directly to a cylinder and a spark plug arranged near the fuel injection valve for igniting fuel in the cylinder. Auxiliary fuel injection is performed in the vicinity of the top dead center of the compression stroke, the subsequent main fuel injection is performed after the auxiliary fuel injection is terminated, and concurrently, the spray produced by auxiliary fuel injection is ignited by the spark plug.