Fuel Pump Flow Regulation Patents (Class 123/446)
  • Patent number: 8202064
    Abstract: A liquid pump includes an electronically controlled throttle inlet valve to control pump output. With each reciprocation cycle, a plunger displaces a fixed volume of fluid. When less than this fixed volume is desired as the output from the pump, the electronically controlled throttle inlet valve throttles flow past a passive inlet check valve to reduce output. As a consequence, cavitation bubbles are generated during the intake stroke. Cavitation damage to surfaces that define the inlet port passage are avoided by a specifically shaped and sized cavitation flow adjuster extending from the valve member of the passive inlet check valve. By positioning the cavitation flow adjuster in the inlet port passage, a flow pattern is formed in a way to encourage cavitation bubble collapse away from surfaces that could result in unacceptable cavitation damage to the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ye Tian, David C. Mack, Alan R. Stockner
  • Patent number: 8196844
    Abstract: Three-way valves having reduced leakage and fuel injectors using the same. Three-way spool poppet valves are disclosed having a spool with a poppet valve thereon cooperating with a seat on the valve housing to provide a substantially leak free valve closing in one direction characteristic of a poppet valve while preserving the advantages of a spool valve. Three-way ball valves are also disclosed having substantially leak free valves closing in both directions, but further including reduced short circuit losses due to direct flow from a high pressure supply to a low pressure vent during transition of the ball from one position to the opposite position. Fuel injectors with direct needle control using the three-way valves of the present invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Sturman Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tibor Kiss, Randall James Strauss, James A. Peña, John Mathew Quinlan
  • Publication number: 20120118268
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high pressure injection system having a fuel tank, a connection line between the fuel tank and a high pressure pump for sealing the fuel, wherein the high pressure pump is connected to at least one fuel injection valve via a corresponding connection line. According to the invention, at least a partial volume of the fuel sealed in the high pressure pump is fed back to the fuel tank from said fuel injection valve by leakage in the fuel injection valve via a return line connected to the fuel tank. An essential characteristic of the invention is that the high pressure injection system comprises a cooling line that connects the fuel tank or the low pressure region to the high pressure or a return of the high pressure pump via a mixing point with the return line. It is thereby possible to cool the fuel in the return lines between the fuel injection valve and the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Susanne Spindler, Jochen Walther, Dorothee Sommer, Stefan Kieferle
  • Patent number: 8175787
    Abstract: An engine control system having primary and secondary fuel tanks comprises a fuel monitoring module and a transfer pump (TP) diagnostic module. The fuel monitoring module determines a measured fuel level of the secondary fuel tank based on a fuel level signal received from a fuel level sensor when a fuel TP is on for greater than a predetermined time period required for the fuel TP to reduce the measured fuel level from a predetermined fuel level to below the predetermined fuel level. The TP diagnostic module diagnoses a condition of the fuel TP based on the measured fuel level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Inventors: Gary L. Rogers, Zhong Wang, Michael A. Turley, Scott A. Kegebein
  • Patent number: 8104452
    Abstract: In known methods for carrying out a high-pressure start of an internal combustion engine, inconvenient starting behavior can sometimes occur. In a method for carrying out a high-pressure start of an internal combustion engine (1), a high-pressure pump (22) is used to feed fuel from a fuel tank (17) to a pressure accumulator (20) and a pressure adjuster (23) is used to control the pressure in the pressure accumulator (20), wherein the high-pressure pump (22) is operated before carrying out a fuel injection into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine (1), and the pressure adjuster (23) is activated in such a way that, during the operation of the high-pressure pump (22), the pressure build-up in the pressure accumulator (20) above a pressure limit value pTHRES, upon the exceedance of which the fuel injection is enabled, is delayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Bretl, Benoit Chapuis, Martin Cwielong, Matthias Wiese
  • Patent number: 8100110
    Abstract: A system for selectively intensifying fuel for injection utilizing a fuel injector having an intensifier piston connected to a drain and a pressurized fuel source. The intensifier piston includes a control chamber co-axially positioned opposite from an intensification chamber, and a pressurization chamber co-axially positioned between the control chamber and the intensification chamber. The control chamber selectively fluidly communicates with the pressurized fuel source and the drain. The intensification chamber fluidly communicates with the pressurized fuel source and the pressurization chamber fluidly communicates with the pressurized fuel source and a nozzle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Dean Shinogle, Daniel Richard Ibrahim
  • Patent number: 8100109
    Abstract: A control device is for an in-cylinder injection engine that makes fuel have high pressure through a high pressure pump to supply fuel to an injector and then injects fuel directly into a cylinder from the injector. The control device includes a fuel pressure detecting device for detecting pressure of fuel supplied to the injector, a target fuel pressure setting device for setting a target fuel pressure according to an engine operating state, a fuel pressure control device for feedback-controlling a fuel discharge amount from the pump such that fuel pressure detected by the detecting device accords with the target fuel pressure, a stop predicting device for determining whether the engine is about to stop, and a target fuel pressure gradual change device for decreasing the target fuel pressure gradually to a final target fuel pressure lower than normal, when it is determined that the engine is about to stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Nakata
  • Patent number: 8091531
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for a pressure sensor includes a fuel pump module and a diagnostic control module. The fuel pump module activates a first pump and deactivates a second pump when an engine is operating in a diagnostic mode. The first pump supplies fuel to the second pump and the second pump supplies fuel to fuel injectors of the engine via a fuel rail. The diagnostic control module receives a measured pressure signal from a pressure sensor that indicates a pressure of the fuel rail during the diagnostic mode. The diagnostic control module detects a fault of the pressure sensor based on a comparison between the measured pressure signal and the commanded pressure signal for the first pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventors: Michael J. Lucido, Wenbo Wang, Christopher R. Graham
  • Patent number: 8091530
    Abstract: A method for controlling a mechanical solenoid valve of a high-pressure fuel pump to supply fuel to an engine is provided. In one example, current supplied to the mechanical solenoid valve is adjusted according to a pressure downstream of the fuel pump. The method can reduce current used to operate the mechanical solenoid valve as well as pump noise, at least during some conditions includes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel Dusa, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Patent number: 8091532
    Abstract: A diagnostic system includes a fuel pump module and a diagnostic control module. The fuel pump module activates a first pump when an engine is operating in a diagnostic mode. The first pump supplies fuel to fuel injectors of the engine via a fuel rail. The diagnostic control module receives a measured pressure signal from a pressure sensor that indicates a pressure of the fuel rail during the diagnostic mode. The fuel pump module sends at least one of a first and a second commanded fuel pressure signal to the first pump based on a predetermined relief pressure of a pressure relief valve. The diagnostic control module detects a fault of the pressure sensor based on an engine speed and a comparison between the measured pressure signal and at least one of the first commanded fuel pressure signal and a corrected relief pressure of the pressure relief valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventors: Wenbo Wang, Michael J. Lucido, Christopher R. Graham
  • Patent number: 8082902
    Abstract: A common rail fuel injection system includes a piezo intensifier fuel injector that includes a plurality of components. Among these are a needle valve member, an intensifier piston, a first piezo stack electrical actuator and a second piezo stack electrical actuator. These components have a first configuration at which the needle valve member blocks a nozzle outlet of the fuel injector, and a shoulder of the intensifier piston is exposed to fluid pressure in a common rail. The components have a second configuration at which the nozzle outlet is fluidly connected to the common rail for a low pressure injection event. The components have a third configuration at which the nozzle outlet is fluidly blocked from the common rail, but movement of the intensifier displaces fluid through the nozzle outlet for a high pressure injection event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Hoisan Kim, Mark Sommars, Dennis Gibson
  • Patent number: 8070462
    Abstract: A high-pressure fuel pump is disclosed that includes a pump housing with a suction port hole for defining a suction port, a pressure chamber for sucking fuel from the suction port, and a delivery port hole for defining a delivery port delivering fuel pressurized in the pressure chamber. The fuel pump also includes a plunger for pressurizing fuel sucked in the pressure chamber due to reciprocal motion of the plunger. Furthermore, the fuel pump includes a relief valve provided in the suction port hole, wherein the relief valve opens when a delivery pressure of the fuel delivered from the delivery port exceeds a predetermined pressure, thereby reducing the delivery pressure of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8061329
    Abstract: An economical method for controlling a lift pump operating as part of a direct injection fuel system is described. According to the method, at least two distinct operating modes are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Patent number: 8061328
    Abstract: Mixing of lubrication fluid and pumped fluid within a pump can undermine lubricity of the lubrication fluid and/or contaminate the pumped fluid (e.g. fuel) with lubrication fluid. In order to reduce mixing of fluids within a high pressure pump of the present disclosure, a lubrication fluid is supplied to the high pressure pump. A low pressure pump supplies a second fluid to the high pressure pump. The pressure of the second fluid is increased within at least one piston bore of the high pressure pump. Mixing of the lubrication fluid and the second fluid is reduced by fluidly connecting a weep annulus which is opened to the at least one piston bore to a low pressure pump inlet of the low pressure pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Scott F. Shafer, Alan R. Stockner, Greg W. Hefler, Chris L. Stewart, Dan Rushton
  • Publication number: 20110265765
    Abstract: A pump may have a first chamber and a solenoid coil to control movement of a first valve member. A second chamber may have a second valve member to control fluid moving into a third chamber. A first fluid passageway may link the first and second chambers, a second passageway may link second and third chambers and a third passageway may link third and fourth chambers. After pressurizing the third chamber causing fluid to flow into and leave a fourth chamber, the third chamber depressurizes due to downward movement of a plunger. Upon depressurization with a solenoid coil energized, second valve member floats and then moves against a valve seat. While the second valve member is moving toward the valve seat, the solenoid coil is de-energized causing the first valve member to move and strike the second valve member when the second valve member is moving at maximum velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Furuhashi, Rebecca Spence, Joseph Lubinski, Dhyana Ramamurthy, Kaoru Oda
  • Patent number: 8042519
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a fuel system having a first fuel rail with an integrated diverter portion coupled to a high-pressure pump and separated from a common rail portion by a flow restriction device. The first fuel rail includes a pressure sensor coupled to the diverter portion at one end and a control valve coupled to the common rail portion at the other end of the same fuel rail. In V-engine embodiments, a second fuel rail communicates with the integrated diverter portion of the first fuel rail. In one embodiment, components including the first and second fuel rails, a pressure sensor, and a pressure or volume control valve are externally mounted outside the engine valve cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brien Lloyd Fulton, Anthony William Hudson, Adam John Gryglak, Kenneth G Pumford
  • Patent number: 8033268
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a starting module, a position module, and a deactivation module. The starting module determines when a crankshaft starts to rotate and activates a control valve of a fuel pump when the crankshaft starts to rotate. The position module determines a position of the crankshaft and determines a position of a camshaft based on the position of the crankshaft. The camshaft drives the fuel pump. The deactivation module deactivates the control valve when the position module determines the position of the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventors: Jesse M. Gwidt, Michael J. Lucido
  • Patent number: 8025488
    Abstract: Transfer pump for high-pressure petrol injection of the type including a piston (1) which delivers oil into a deformable element such as a bellows (8), the deformations of the bellows (8) in a cylindrical chamber (6) filled with fuel causing a pumping effect whereby the fuel is pumped towards a rail (40) supplying high-pressure injectors, wherein elements are arranged for diverting some or all of the oil pumped by the piston (1) towards a chamber (15) without pressuring it so as to determine at will the useful stroke of the piston (1) and hence the quantity of fuel pumped at high pressure towards the rail (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Asnieres France
    Inventors: Florent Sellas, Dominique Veret
  • Patent number: 8024104
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine with at least one combustion chamber, wherein the fuel injection system comprises a high pressure pump, whose flow rate is controllable, a control parameter of the high pressure pump is evaluated during the operation of the internal combustion engine. Said control parameter makes a detection of a bottleneck with the high pressure pump with respect to fuel quantity possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Mueller, Peter Roth, Heiko Straub
  • Patent number: 8002205
    Abstract: An injection nozzle for an internal combustion engine has a valve member (10) with a seating line (112) defining a seat diameter, the seating line (112) being engageable with a seating surface (14) to control fuel injection by the nozzle, in use. The seating line is defined by an annular ridge (40, 44, 46), integrally formed with the valve needle (10), so as to reduce variations in the seat diameter which would otherwise arise at manufacture due to contact between the valve needle (10) and the seating surface (14) in regions other than at the seating line. The invention provides an advantage in manufacture as repeatability and consistency of the geometry, and in particular the effective seat diameter, of nozzle products is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventors: Malcolm Lambert, Andrew Limmer, Mark Norman, Michael Mcloone
  • Publication number: 20110197856
    Abstract: A fuel delivery pipe with damper function, being constructed of an elongate lower case provided at its bottom with a plurality of injection sockets for connection with fuel injection valves to be opened and closed by a controller unit; an upper case coupled with the lower case in a liquid-tight manner to form an internal space to be filled with fuel under pressure supplied from a fuel pump; a hollow partition wall member the whole periphery of which is brazed to an inner surface of the lower or upper case to form an air chamber isolated from the internal space; and a vent hole formed in the lower or upper case and sealed after communicating the air chamber with the atmosphere therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicants: MARUYASU INDUSTRIES CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naruki HARADA, Daigo Kawamura
  • Patent number: 7980223
    Abstract: The injection system comprises a pump designed to send fuel at high pressure to an accumulation volume, for example formed by a common rail, for supplying a plurality of injectors. The pump comprises at least one pumping element actuated with reciprocating motion with a compression stroke at a sinusoidal speed, in synchronism with each step of fuel injection. The injection system comprises at least one by-pass solenoid valve, which is controlled by a chopper control unit for modulating the delivery of the pumping element by varying both the instant of start and the instant of end of delivery during the compression stroke, in such a way that the delivery is synchronous with the injection phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Ricco, Sisto Luigi De Matthaeis, Raffaele Ricco, Domenico Lepore
  • Patent number: 7980492
    Abstract: A fuel injector provided with: an injection valve comprising an injection nozzle; a mobile needle for regulating the fuel flow through the injection valve and ending with a shutting head, which engages a valve seat of the injection valve, is arranged externally with respect to injection valve and presents a predetermined sealing diameter; an actuator for displacing the needle between a closing position and an opening position of the injection valve; a closing spring which tends to maintain the needle in the closing position of the injection valve pushing the shutting head against the valve seat itself in a sense contrary to the feeding sense of the fuel; and a supporting body having a tubular shape and presenting a feeding channel within which a needle is arranged; the needle, at an opposite end of the shutting head, is coupled to a balancing channel, which is at ambient pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luca Mancini, Michele Petrone, Marcello Cristiani
  • Publication number: 20110168132
    Abstract: Fuel is evacuated from a fuel rail upon vehicle shut-off by directing fuel from a fuel pump to provide a motive flow for an ejector to pump fuel from the fuel rail to a fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Publication number: 20110155102
    Abstract: A direct injection bi-fuel system includes a first fuel subsystem, a second fuel subsystem, and a junction configured to receive first fuel from the first fuel subsystem when the system is operating in a first fuel consuming mode, and to receive second fuel from the second fuel subsystem when the system is operating in a second fuel consuming mode. A pump is configured to receive the fuel passing through the junction and pump the fuel to a high pressure rail of a combustion engine, and a purging unit is configured to purge the second fuel from the rail when the system is switched from the second fuel consuming mode to the first fuel consuming mode. The purging unit includes a piston and is configured to receive the second fuel on one side of the piston and the first fuel on the other side of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: Indopar B.V.
    Inventor: Sebastiaan Martinus Emanuel TEN BROEKE
  • Patent number: 7966993
    Abstract: A fuel injection pump is provided. The fuel injection pump includes a barrel including an inner surface defining a bore. The fuel injection pump also includes a plunger movable inside the bore of the barrel. An outer surface of the plunger and the inner surface of the barrel form a clearance therebetween. One or more sleeves at least partially encircle one or more portions of an outer surface of the barrel, and are configured to apply a load to the outer surface of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Timur Trubnikov
  • Patent number: 7954475
    Abstract: A fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A fuel supply line enters an injector housing from a high-pressure fuel source which can be hydraulically connected to a pressure chamber. A 3/2 directional control valve for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber has a valve piston which can be moved axially back and forth between a rest position and an injection position. The 3/2 directional control valve, by a first end face of the valve piston, is hydraulically coupled to and can be activated by a piezoelectric actuator. The 3/2 directional control has a ball element which is connected to a second end face of the valve piston and, in the rest position, can be moved against a first sealing edge and, in the injection position, can be moved against a second sealing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Nadja Eisenmenger, Michael Mennicken, Hans-Christoph Magel
  • Patent number: 7950593
    Abstract: A mechanically actuated electronically controlled fuel injector (MEUI) includes a first electrical actuator that controls the position of a spill valve, and a second electrical actuator to control pressure on a closing hydraulic surface associated with a directly operated nozzle check valve. The fuel injector is actuated via rotation of a cam to move a plunger to displace fuel from a fuel pumping chamber either to a spill passage, or at high pressure out of a nozzle outlet of the fuel injector for an injection event. The minimum controllable fuel injection quantity, especially as it relates to small closely coupled post injections following a large main injection, is accomplished by the inclusion of a Z orifice passage that maintains a fluid connection between a needle control chamber and the nozzle supply passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Lifeng Wang, Koti R. Padarthy, Gengxun K. Gurley, Kyle E. Enzinger
  • Patent number: 7950371
    Abstract: A control system includes a fuel pump control module and a diagnostic module. The fuel pump control module controls a fuel pump to provide fuel to a fuel rail. The diagnostic module controls the fuel pump control module to provide a predetermined amount of fuel to the fuel rail, determines an estimated pressure increase within the fuel rail based on the predetermined amount of fuel, and compares an actual pressure increase within the fuel rail to the estimated pressure increase. The fuel pump control module selectively controls the fuel pump based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Byungho Lee
  • Patent number: 7942349
    Abstract: A fuel injector body has a fuel chamber and a valve seat around a fuel outlet. A valve body is positioned at the valve seat and a valve stem extends through the fuel outlet and fuel chamber. Engagement (disengagement) of valve body and valve seat closes (opens) the injector. The fuel chamber can comprise primary and secondary chambers connected by a valve passage and a metering member that restricts fuel flow between the chambers, thereby providing a flow-dependent closing force that reduces the dependence of fuel flow through the injector on fuel inlet pressure and that makes that flow dependent on an injector actuating force. The injector body or the valve body can comprise a spray-shaping surface arranged at least partly around the valve seat, which spray-shaping surface is arranged to direct a spray of fuel flowing through the fuel outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Inventor: Andrew E. Meyer
  • Patent number: 7938101
    Abstract: An adaptive fuel delivery control system includes a pressure monitoring module and a flow rate determination module. The pressure monitoring module determines an actual pressure drop after a fuel injection event on an injector. The flow rate determination module determines an adjusted flow rate based on a reference flow rate and the pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble, Scot A. Douglas, Joseph R. Dulzo, Byungho Lee
  • Patent number: 7934669
    Abstract: An injection valve has an injector housing (1) and an actuator and also a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly has a nozzle body (6) with a recess (8) into which a nozzle needle (10) is introduced and at one axial end of which an injection nozzle (12) is embodied. The recess (8) has, axially adjacent to the injection nozzle (12), a first guide region (14) for the nozzle needle (10). The recess (8) also has at least one cross-sectional extension which extends toward the other axial end. The recess (8) is embodied for the purpose of delivering fluid to the injection nozzle (12). A guide bushing (20) is introduced into the recess (8) in a subsection of the cross-sectional extension, the guide bushing (20) forming a second guide region (22) for the nozzle needle (10) and being embodied for conducting fuel radially outside of the second guide region (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Willibald Schürz, Martin Simmet
  • Patent number: 7921826
    Abstract: To make it possible to pump a fuel from a supply pump into an accumulator, even when a pressure control means provided with a pressurized fuel pathway is out of action. In a fuel supply system of an engine, which is provided with pressure control means controlling a fuel pressure in an accumulator, on the pressurized fuel pathway delivering the fuel from a feed pump via a supply pump having a plurality of plungers into the accumulator, at least one pressurized fuel pathway is not provided with the pressure control means and the other pressurized fuel pathways are provided with the pressure control means, out of the plurality of pressurized fuel pathways delivering the fuel from the feed pump via plurality of plungers into the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobu Kobayashi, Hajimu Imanaka, Mitsuyoshi Kawarabayashi
  • Patent number: 7918208
    Abstract: A movable portion is movable from a closed position, in which the movable portion is in contact with a valve element, to an opened position so as to supply fuel from a fuel portion to a compression chamber through a fuel passage. A drive control unit supplies of a small driving current, which is sufficient to maintain the movable portion at the closed position, to a coil portion so as to move the movable portion from the opened position to the closed position. The drive control unit switches the supply of the small driving current to supply of the large driving current in the course of the movement of the movable portion to the closed position by supplying the small driving current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Hasegawa, Masahiro Yokoi, Yoshihito Suzuki, Kaoru Oda
  • Patent number: 7905215
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus includes a movable unit, a coil, a drive circuit portion, and a drive control portion. The drive circuit portion energizes the coil with a drive electric current of a first value such that the movable unit is displaced from an opening-side position to a closing-side position. The drive circuit portion energizes the coil with the drive electric current of a second value that is smaller than the first value such that the movable unit is held at the closing-side position. The drive control portion controls the drive circuit portion to change the drive electric current from the first value to the second value while the movable unit is being displaced toward the closing-side position based on energization of the coil with the drive electric current of the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihito Suzuki, Tsutomu Furuhashi, Masahiro Yokoi, Jun Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7900602
    Abstract: An embodiment of a direct injection assembly of the common-rail type provided with a fuel tank, a manifold, a high-pressure pump for feeding the fuel to the manifold, a low-pressure pump provided with an intake pipe and connected to the high-pressure pump by means of the intake pipe to feed the fuel taken from the tank to the high-pressure pump; and a shut-off valve of the ON/OFF type which is arranged along the intake pipe to adjust the delivery of the fuel fed to the high-pressure pump; and a pressure regulator, which is arranged along the intake pipe immediately upstream of the shut-off valve to keep the pressure of the fuel inside the intake pipe under a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Michele Petrone, Pasquale Dragone, Massimo Mattioli, Daniele De Vita, Andrea Cobianchi
  • Patent number: 7896257
    Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus with a piston device that includes a channel and a piston in the channel. A position sensor is used to detect the piston movement inside the channel when the fuel injection apparatus is energized and de-energized, and the sensing value is used for controlling fuel injection rate in real-time and diagnosing failures in the apparatus. With an actuator installed, the piston can also be used for independently modulating fuel pressure during fuel injection. Thereby the shape of fuel injection pulses is controlled. The fuel injection apparatus has three injection states, and flexible fuel injection timing and multi-pulse injection are allowed. Furthermore, in all injection states, fuel supply has no direct contact to combustion chamber. As a result, when a malfunction sticks the apparatus open, no fuel is supplied. This feature provides a safety nature to the fuel injection apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventor: Mi Yan
  • Patent number: 7891584
    Abstract: The housing body (14) of the fuel injection valve comprises a recess (108), the end region of said recess having a conical tapering (110) on the bottom side thereof. The supporting body (48) engages in said conical tapering (110) with a projection (116) also comprising a conical end region (118). The closing spring (40) is supported on the needle-shaped injection valve member (34) on one side, and on the guiding sleeve (38) on the other side. The guiding sleeve (38) is supported on the supporting body (48) with the front side (461) thereof, whereby the supporting body is held against the tapering (110) in a sealing manner, under the force exerted by the closing spring (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ganser-Hydromag AG
    Inventor: Marco Ganser
  • Patent number: 7891338
    Abstract: The injection system (1) includes a storage volume (6) of pressurized fuel supplied by a high-pressure pump (7) along a delivery pipe (8); and a control unit (16) for defining the required fuel pressure of the storage volume (6) as a function of the operating conditions of the engine (2). The regulating device includes a bypass solenoid valve (14); and a pair of non-return valves (32, 33) connected antiparallel and located between the bypass valve (14) and the storage volume (6). One of the non-return valves (32, 33) permits fuel drainage from the storage volume (6) to the bypass valve (14) when the control unit (16) defines a predetermined reduction (?p) in the fuel pressure of the storage volume (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Ricco, Sisto Luigi De Matthaeis, Annunziata Anna Satriano, Raffaele Ricco
  • Patent number: 7891343
    Abstract: A fuel injector (10) for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine has a backflow outlet (18) for taking away the un-injected fuel from the fuel injector (10). A backflow connector (20) is attached to the backflow outlet (18) using a connection component (24), where the connection component (24) is designed so that it can be attached to the backflow nipple (20) in two assembly positions. In the first assembly position the connection component (24) can be pre-assembled on the backflow nipple (20). By moving the connection component (24) into the second assembly position, the backflow nipple (20) can be attached to the fuel injector (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Marion Braun, Rainer Venus
  • Publication number: 20110023830
    Abstract: A fuel injection system supplies fuel at high pressure to an internal combustion engine via at least two high-pressure fuel pumps and a high-pressure fuel distribution line. The high-pressure fuel pumps can operate in a first pump mode and a second pump mode, which differ in the amount of fuel that is pumped. A control unit alternately operates the high-pressure fuel pumps such that, during a first time period, at least one of the high-pressure fuel pumps is operated in the first pump mode and all other high-pressure fuel pumps are simultaneously operated in the second pump mode and such that, during a second time period, at least one of the high-pressure fuel pumps, which was operated in the second pump mode during the first time period, is operated in the first pump mode and the remaining high-pressure fuel pumps are simultaneously operated in the second pump mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicants: CATERPILLAR MOTOREN GMBH & CO. KG, L'Orange GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Haas, Bert Ritscher, Bodo Gneist, Horst Ressel, Wolfgang Scheibe, Jürgen Schick
  • Patent number: 7874281
    Abstract: In a method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine with a fuel pump, which on the drive side is coupled with a camshaft or a crankshaft, and a fuel accumulator, which is supplied by the fuel pump and to which a pressure sensor is assigned for sensing the pressure in the fuel accumulator, to each cycle of the internal combustion engine a first and a second crankshaft rotation (CRK_R1, CRK_R2) are assigned. Depending on a signal sequence (P_F_S) of the sensed pressure in the fuel accumulator which is characteristic of the respective crankshaft rotation it is ascertained whether the crankshaft is in its first or second rotation (CRK_R1, CRK_R2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Delp, Gerhard Eser
  • Patent number: 7870847
    Abstract: The invention relates to an injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. According to the invention, an injection valve member, which opens or closes at least one injection opening, is controlled by a control valve. The control valve opens or closes a connection from a control chamber into a fuel return line by the positioning of a closing element in a seat or by the opening of the seat. A bore is embodied in the closing element, and a pin is received in the bore. The diameter of the bore essentially corresponds to the diameter of the seat. The pin is supported on one side against a pressure rod, against a spring seat, or against the injector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Nadja Eisenmenger
  • Patent number: 7861693
    Abstract: An injection system for an internal combustion engine has at least one injector (18) which is coupled hydraulically to a fuel accumulator (16), a prefeed pump (12) for feeding fuel from a fuel tank (10), a high pressure pump (14) which is arranged downstream behind the prefeed pump (12) for feeding the fuel into the fuel accumulator (16), and a line (42) which branches off downstream of the prefeed pump (12) and upstream of the high pressure pump (14) and is coupled hydraulically to an exhaust section injector (47), by way of which fuel can be injected into an exhaust section of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Adolf Einberger, Thomas Grossner, Klaus Husslein, Christoph Klesse, Thomas Riedel
  • Patent number: 7856960
    Abstract: A control method of a direct injection system of the common-rail type provided with a shut-off valve for controlling the flow rate of a high-pressure fuel pump; the control method contemplates the steps of: feeding the pressurized fuel to a common rail by means of a high-pressure pump which receives the fuel through a shut-off valve; cyclically controlling the opening and closing of the shut-off valve for choking the flow rate of fuel taken in by the high-pressure pump; adjusting the flow rate of fuel taken in by the high-pressure pump by varying the ratio between the duration of the opening time and the duration of the closing time of the shut-off valve; determining a lower limit value of the opening time of the shut-off valve; and adjusting the driving frequency of the shut-off valve so that the real opening time of the shut-off valve is always over the lower limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gabriele Serra, Matteo De Cesare
  • Patent number: 7850435
    Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus has a high-pressure pump and a fuel-supply pump that delivers fuel from a fuel tank to the high-pressure pump. The high-pressure pump has a housing with an internal chamber that contains a drive unit for at least one pump element having a pump piston driven by the drive unit and delimiting a pump working chamber into which fuel is supplied via an inlet during an intake stroke and from which fuel is displaced via an outlet into the reservoir during a delivery stroke of the pump piston. The fuel-supply pump delivers fuel into the internal chamber via a connection that contains a check valve which opens toward the internal chamber of the housing and the inlet of the pump working chamber is connected to the internal chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Boehland, Godehard Nentwig, Michael Bauer
  • Patent number: 7845162
    Abstract: A pump component is removed from a port of a suction-side fluid cavity of a high-pressure fluid pump. The pump component performs a pump function for the high-pressure fluid pump. A primary coupler connects to the port. The pump component connects to the primary coupler. A diverter fluid passage diverts a low-pressure fluid from the primary coupler to an auxiliary fluid delivery system. The primary coupler communicates the low-pressure fluid through the pump component and primary coupler to the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc
    Inventors: John T. Carroll, III, Laszlo D. Tikk
  • Patent number: 7845336
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system is provided for a combustion engine having an exhaust treatment device. The fuel delivery system includes a fuel supply, an injector configured to pressurize fuel and inject the pressurized fuel into the combustion engine, and a transfer pump configured to direct fuel from the fuel supply to the injector. The fuel delivery system also includes an electric pump configured to selectively direct fuel from the fuel supply to the injector during a priming event, and to selectively direct fuel from the fuel supply to the exhaust treatment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Joseph Shane Burkitt, Ye Tian, Drew Christopher Donnelli
  • Publication number: 20100288233
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel metering device for regulating the delivery rate of a high-pressure fuel pump of a fuel injection device for an internal combustion engine. The fuel metering device has a control valve actuated by an electromagnet and having a valve member. The electromagnet has an armature and an armature rod and the armature rod is axially movably supported in at least one bushing. The at least one bushing is designed as a solid, one-piece metal component. The bushing is preferably made of steel and the bearing surface thereof, in which the armature rod is supported, has a nitrocarburized and polished surface layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Steffen Wieland, Marion Schieber-Stitz, Tobias Landenberger, Tilman Miehle, Jochen Wessner
  • Patent number: 7832374
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for pressurization of a fuel line of an engine. In one embodiment, a fuel charging system for an engine is provided. The fuel charging system includes a first fuel pump in fluid communication with a fuel tank to generate a first fluid pressure within a first fuel line. The fuel charging system also includes a second fluid pump having a reciprocating piston including a low pressure end and a high pressure end. The low pressure end is in fluid communication with the first fuel pump through the first fuel line and the high pressure end is in fluid communication with an engine fuel rail through a second fuel line. The reciprocating piston is driven by the first fluid pressure to generate a second fluid pressure within the second fuel line, wherein the second fluid pressure is greater than the first fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas R Verner, Craig D Marriott, Kenneth J Buslepp, Jeff L Swain