Common Rail System Patents (Class 123/456)
  • 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: 8079345
    Abstract: A high pressure fuel supply control system for an internal combustion engine includes fuel injectors connected to a common rail, and a high pressure fuel pump for pressure-feeding to the common rail fuel that is supplied from a low-pressure fuel pump. The high pressure fuel pump includes a pressurized chamber, a plunger for pressurizing the fuel in the pressurized chamber, a fuel passage valve provided in the pressurized chamber, and an actuator for operating the fuel passage valve. A drive signal calculation unit calculates a drive signal for driving the actuator to control the discharge quantity of the high pressure fuel pump and the pressure in the common rail. The drive signal calculation unit maintains the discharge quantity of the high pressure fuel pump equal to or larger than a prescribed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8074624
    Abstract: A fuel system component for a direct injection internal combustion engine. The component includes a fuel rail and a plurality of direct injection fuel injectors which are rigidly attached to the rail. Each fuel injector has an elongated body as well as a harness assembly extending laterally outward from the elongated body. Each injector is attached to the fuel rail such that, when viewed along an axis of the fuel injector body, the fuel rail overlies at least a portion of the injector body and at least a portion of the harness assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Hohkita, Masahiro Soma, Hiroaki Saeki, Hiroshi Ono
  • Publication number: 20110297125
    Abstract: A common rail fuel system includes a reverse flow check valve fluidly positioned between each of a plurality of common rail fuel injectors and an outlet of a high pressure pump. The reverse flow check valves divide the overall system fluid volume into an upstream common volume and a plurality of separate downstream volumes. The upstream common volume is greater than the sum of the separate downstream volumes. The reverse flow check valve is movable between a first configuration with a large flow area and a second configuration with a small flow area. The reverse flow check valve associated with each of the individual fuel injectors may be housed in a quill that fluidly connects the fuel injectors to the high pressure common rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Scott F. Shafer, Michael David Gerstner, Kenneth C. Adams, Daniel Richard Ibrahim, Zhenyu Li, Benjamin Ray Tower
  • Patent number: 8069841
    Abstract: A coupling arrangement for coupling a fuel injector to a fuel rail of a combustion engine, has a fuel injector cup having a central longitudinal axis and is coupled to the fuel rail at a first axial end area of the fuel injector cup, a housing of the fuel injector being arranged at the central longitudinal axis facing a second axial end area of the fuel injector cup, an O-ring seal being arranged between the housing and the fuel injector cup at an axially overlapping area of the fuel injector cup and the housing, a back-up ring being arranged at least partly circumferentially the housing such as to prevent the O-ring seal to be released from the housing, and a separating element being arranged at least partly circumferentially the housing between the O-ring seal and the back-up ring to prevent a contact of the O-ring seal with the back-up ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Edoardo Giorgetti, Mauro Grandi
  • Publication number: 20110290203
    Abstract: A fuel pump temperature is regulated by selectively directing liquid fuel to an expansion section to evaporate the liquid fuel and create a drop in temperature to thermally cool the fuel pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Publication number: 20110295493
    Abstract: A fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine delivers fuel into a fuel rail via a high-pressure pump. The quantity of the delivered fuel is influenced by a quantity control valve operated by an electromagnetic operating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Rainer Wilms, Matthias Schumacher, Joerg Kuempel, Matthias Maess
  • Publication number: 20110290211
    Abstract: A fuel system includes a plurality of fuel injectors each defining a nozzle supply passage, a nozzle outlet and a low pressure space. The fuel system includes a plurality of mechanically actuated pressure intensifiers each including a tappet and being positioned partially within one of the fuel injectors, and a common rail fluidly connecting with each of the fuel injectors. Each of the fuel injectors further includes an injection pressure control mechanism having an injection pressure control valve. Each injection pressure control valve blocks the corresponding pressure intensifier from the common rail and fluidly connects the pressure intensifier with the low pressure space at a first position, and fluidly connects the pressure intensifier with the common rail and blocks the pressure intensifier from the low pressure space at a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana Coldren, Alan Stockner
  • Publication number: 20110288748
    Abstract: In a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine fuel is delivered into a fuel rail by a high-pressure pump. The quantity of the delivered fuel is influenced by a quantity control valve operated by an electromagnetic operating device. At least one parameter of a braking pulse of the electromagnetic actuating device depends on an efficiency of the electromagnetic actuating device and/or on a supply voltage of a voltage source and/or on a temperature, in particular of a component of the fuel injection system or of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Uwe Richter, Rainer Wilms, Matthias Schumacher, Joerg Kuempel, Matthias Maess
  • Publication number: 20110277731
    Abstract: There is provided an engine device structured such that it can improve a workability for processing a common rail system, or attaching and detaching it, in spite that it is possible to reduce a damage of a common rail due to a collision. In the engine device structured such that the common rail is provided in one side of an engine block, and the common rail is arranged so as to come close to an air intake manifold, the common rail is provided in parallel obliquely below the air intake manifold, and the common rail is tilted in such an attitude that a fuel injection pipe connector arranged in an upper surface side of the common rail is directed outward and obliquely upward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Daisuke Kajita
  • Patent number: 8056537
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, such as a direct injection compression ignition diesel engine, includes an engine housing having a plurality of cylinders and a plurality of fuel injectors associated one with each of the cylinders. The fuel injectors each include a first fuel inlet and a second fuel inlet, and an actuator subassembly which is configured to actuate a control valve assembly positioned within the fuel injector. The engine further includes a fuel system having a fuel supply circuit, and a cooling system for the actuator subassembly having a cooling circuit with a segment in common with a segment of the fuel system. The cooling system is configured to pass cooling fuel across a heat exchange interface of the actuator subassembly to exchange heat therewith. The actuator subassembly may include a piezoelectric actuator and a preloading spring, which are each fluidly sealed within a casing of the actuator subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jayaraman K. Venkataraghavan, Michael C. Long, Shriprasad Lakhapati, Stephen R. Lewis, Amy M. Hess
  • Patent number: 8047182
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system comprises a fuel rail having a flow channel therein. The fuel delivery system further comprises a fuel injector cup that includes a base at a first end thereof, an opening at a second end thereof opposite the first end, and an inner cavity disposed between the base and the opening. The first end of the fuel injector cup is configured to be disposed within the flow channel of the fuel rail. The fuel delivery system further comprises a heating element. The fuel rail of the fuel delivery system further includes a port therein that is configured for receiving the heating element. Additionally, the fuel injector cup of the fuel delivery system further includes an aperture therein also configured for receiving the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Millenium Industries
    Inventor: Robert J. Doherty
  • Publication number: 20110259286
    Abstract: A fuel injection system is described for injecting slurry fuels into the combustion chamber of a diesel engine, equipped with a fuel common rail, and fitted with a gas to fuel contactor chamber for dissolving supplementary atomizing gas into the continuous phase of the slurry fuel, at high pressure. Each fuel injector comprises a combined double valve for starting and stopping fuel injection, so that slurry fuel containing atomizing gas is only depressurized when injected into the engine combustion chamber, when such depressurization greatly improves fuel atomization and combustion efficiency. In this way small bore, high speed, diesel engines can be efficiently operated on high viscosity, low cost fuels such as tars from tar sands, tars from coal and biomass, and residual petroleum fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Joseph Carl Firey
  • Patent number: 8042522
    Abstract: A fuel rail vent system for evacuating air from a fuel rail includes a first fuel reservoir and a first fuel line extending between the first fuel reservoir and the fuel rail. A fuel pump is configured in fluid communication with the first fuel reservoir to pump liquid fuel from the first fuel reservoir to the fuel rail through the first fuel line. A second fuel line separate from the first fuel line extends between the first fuel reservoir and the fuel rail. A primer system is configured for fluid communication with the first fuel reservoir to pump liquid fuel from the first fuel reservoir to the fuel rail through the second fuel line. A second fuel reservoir separate from the first fuel reservoir is configured for fluid communication with the fuel rail downstream of the fuel rail to receive any excess liquid fuel and/or fuel vapor upstream therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Federal Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle Achor, Michael Richards, Richard Harvey
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110253106
    Abstract: The present application relates to a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine having an automatic stop-start system, the fuel injection system comprising a high pressure fuel pump, which via a fuel pump line delivers fuel towards a common fuel rail, to which a fuel return line is connected. It is proposed that the fuel return line comprise a control element system, which firstly discharges a fuel pressure to a fuel tank, when a first predefined pressure limit is reached in the fuel return line, and which secondly prevents a further flow of fuel from the return line into the fuel tank, but allows a flow of fuel from the fuel tank into the fuel return line, so that the return line is designed as a fuel pressure accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Leonhard Bartsch, Dietmar Hermann, Claus Maerschank, David van Bebber
  • Patent number: 8037868
    Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a fuel supply rail having a supply opening. A fuel injector is coupled to the fuel supply rail and configured to control the delivery of fuel from the fuel supply rail through the supply opening. A noise filtering device engages an upstream end of the fuel injector. The noise filtering device has a projecting portion extending at least partially into the supply opening along an axis, and the noise filtering device defines a restriction passage for directing fuel from the supply rail into the fuel injector. A face seal is established at a transverse face adjacent the supply opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Venkatesh Kannan, Michael U. Fischer
  • Patent number: 8037864
    Abstract: In a diesel engine 10 equipped with a fuel injection device 50 having a fuel supply pump 53 for pressingly sending a fuel, a common rail 52 for accumulating the fuel pressingly sent from the fuel supply pump, injectors 51 for injecting the fuel into a cylinder by an electronic control, a coolant water temperature sensor 64 for detecting an engine coolant water temperature and a fuel injection quantity map for calculating a target common rail pressure, total amount of injections, the number of multistage injection, the respective injection quantity and the respective injection quantity timing, the diesel engine 10 comprises a total injection quantity increasing means for increasing the total amount of injections in the injection quantity control arithmetic means and an injection number reduction avoidance means for avoiding that the number of multistage injections are changed by the total injection quantity increasing means when the engine is transferred to a cold state to a warming state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichiro Yuzaki, Tomohiro Ootani
  • Publication number: 20110251776
    Abstract: A fuel accumulator is provided to assist restarting a direct injection engine fuel system. The fuel accumulator includes a central guide post with a fuel passage. A cup shaped plunger with a closed end is slideably disposed on the central guide post. A seal means is disposed between the plunger and the central guide post to define a substantially sealed fuel chamber. A biasing means is provided to urge the plunger onto the central guide post. A fuel admission valve selectively prevents and permits fuel from entering and exiting the fuel accumulator. When a fuel system stop is commanded, pressurized fuel is admitted into the fuel chamber, thereby compressing the biasing means which maintains a restart pressure. When a fuel system start is commanded, pressurized fuel is expelled from the fuel accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Peter E. Bartell, Lucille G. Lavan, David Howard Burke
  • Publication number: 20110239990
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injection system of the common rail type having a rail body comprising a central bore and one or more outlet bores in fluid communication with the central bore for communicating with a respective fuel injector. The outer circumference of the rail body is substantially oval in cross-section and is thicker in cross-section in a direction substantially perpendicular to the outlet bore axis as compared to the thickness in cross-section substantially parallel to the outlet bore axis. By increasing the thickness of the rail body in this way, stresses at the intersection of the intersection of the central bore with the outlet holes may be reduced by up to 10% or more, thereby increasing the acceptable cycled running pressure of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES HOLDING S.ARL
    Inventors: David Bonneau, Guillaume Trenado
  • Publication number: 20110239989
    Abstract: The present invention provides a common rail formed by bonding a common rail body and a common rail holder which has a pressing surface and a convex bonding surface, by means of a heat pressure bonding process and a liquid phase diffusion bonding process, wherein the height H of the convex bonding surface satisfies 1 ?m?H?50 ?m, and the common rail holder includes a deformation introducing portion in which an area of a cross-section parallel to the pressing surface is smaller than the area of the pressing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Ryuichi Honma, Ryuji Uemori, Yasushi Hasegawa, Yutaka Takagi
  • Publication number: 20110226219
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel system for a compression ignition engine includes supplying biofuel, which may be part of a mixture, to an inlet of a fuel lubricated pump. At least one bearing of the pump is lubricated with the biofuel. The fuel lubricated pump supplies high pressure fuel to a common rail. A plurality of fuel injectors are fluidly connected to the common rail, and each include at least one nozzle orifice for injecting the biofuel into the combustion space of the engine. Nozzle orifice coking is limited at least in part by employing a spinodal bronze alloy in the bearing of the fuel lubricated pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventor: Alan Stockner
  • Publication number: 20110220065
    Abstract: A common rail high pressure pump for diesel engines operated using aircraft fuel, has an eccentric ring (2) that is disposed in a pump housing (13), shaped in the form of a polygon and driven by an eccentric shaft (1). The pump has pump pistons (8) that can move over the riding surfaces (4) of the eccentric ring and over the contact surface (5) of a tappet plate (3) in the pump cylinders (7) and that is in operative connection with a seating surface (10) of the tappet plate. A thin diamond-like carbon layer (12) is applied onto the previously ground contact surfaces (5) and riding surfaces (4), whereas the uncoated seating surface (10) is designed as a concave bulge. The eccentric ring (2) and the tappet plate (3) have a pre-determined high degree of hardness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: THIELERT AIRCRAFT ENGINES GMBH
    Inventor: Carsten Rudolph
  • Publication number: 20110214642
    Abstract: A pump and rail assembly includes a plurality of quills that are compressed between quill seats on a pump and an output rail. A rail pressure control valve and a rail pressure sensor are attached to respective ends of the output rail. An inlet throttle valve is attached to a housing of the pump and rail assembly. Depending upon the application, the output rail may supply fuel to a first injection bank that includes a plurality of fuel injectors in a first common rail, and a second fuel injection bank that includes a second common rail and a plurality of fuel injectors. Different engines having different numbers of cylinders may use similar pump and rail assemblies that each include a plurality of quills, a plurality of pumping elements positioned in a pump housing and an output rail. The quills for each of the different engine applications are interchangeable but differ in number. In addition, the pumping elements of each of the different engine applications are also interchangeable but differ in number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Scott F. Shafer, Zhenyu Li
  • Patent number: 7997253
    Abstract: A method for controlling the overpressure in a fuel-supply system of a common-rail type for an internal-combustion engine provided with a number of cylinders; the method has the steps of: supplying fuel under pressure to a common rail connected to a number of injectors by means of a high-pressure pump; detecting the effective value of the pressure of the fuel within the common rail; comparing the effective value of the pressure of the fuel within the common rail with a safety value; determining a condition of emergency if the effective value of the pressure of the fuel within the common rail is higher than the safety value; and driving, in the case of emergency, the injectors for discharging part of the fuel present in the common rail so as to contain the increase in pressure of the fuel within the common rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gabriele Serra, Matteo De Cesare, Francesco Paolo Ausiello
  • Publication number: 20110192376
    Abstract: In a fuel supply system for heavy oil common-rail injection systems for internal combustion engines, including a tank (1), a primary feed pump (3) for delivering heavy oil from the tank (1) to a high-pressure pump (5), wherein the high-pressure pump (5), via at least one high-pressure line (12), is connected to a high-pressure accumulator (rail) (6) feeding at least one injector (8), and, furthermore, a purge valve (9), which is connected to the high-pressure accumulator via a separate high-pressure line (15) for directing at least a portion of the heavy oil back into the tank (1) via a return line, the purge valve (9) includes a valve member (28) which is movable between an opened and a closed position, a high-pressure connection for a high-pressure line (15) communicating with a heavy oil high-pressure accumulator (rail) (6), a low-pressure connection for a return line, and actuating means for actuating the valve member (28), wherein the valve seat (29) of the valve member (28) is designed as a sliding seat
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: Robert Bosch Gmbh
    Inventors: Christian Graspeuntner, Joachim Lackner, Johannes Schnedt
  • Publication number: 20110174270
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve suitable for limiting fluid pressure in a common rail of a fuel injection system comprises a first housing part having a first through-bore with a first segment, a second segment and the valve seat defined therebetween. A second housing part is screw fastened with the first housing part and includes a second through-bore disposed coaxially to the first through-bore. An overall rod-shaped valve member is axially displaceable within the second segment. A spring biases the valve member towards the valve seat. A portion of the valve member opposite of the valve seat includes a shaft having a terminal end formed with a non-round cross-section configured such that a tool inserted through the second through-bore and engaging the non-round cross-section prevents the terminal end, and thus the valve member, from rotating relative to the first housing part when the first and second housing parts are screwed together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: POPPE & POTTHOFF GMBH
    Inventors: Burkhard HARHOFF, Karsten ANGER, Christian RABE
  • Patent number: 7980225
    Abstract: A device includes two fuel injection systems and a pulsation damper. Each system includes fuel injection valves and first and second delivery pipes. While fuel is pumped to the two fuel injection systems with a common fuel pump, the device intermittently drives the fuel injection valves to open, thereby supplying the fuel within the delivery pipes from the fuel injection valves. The paths through which the fuel passes include a first passageway, which has the first delivery pipe and a communication path, and a second passageway which has a branch path and the second delivery pipe. An opposing portion opposite to the opening of a placement channel in the first delivery pipe includes the opening of the branch path in the first delivery pipe. This enables one pulsation damper to precisely suppress fuel pressure pulsations occurring in the two delivery pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Yamanari
  • Patent number: 7980226
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a direct injection internal combustion engine which reduces mechanical stress on the fuel system components. The system includes a first and a second fuel rail mounted to the engine block for the internal combustion engine. A device is attached to the fuel rails which reduces movement of the fuel rails relative to the engine block and mechanical stress that would otherwise result from such movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd
    Inventors: Frank Hunt, Harsha Badarinarayan, Takashi Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 7966984
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine is described. The method may include, after or during engine shutdown, and during a fuel system cool down, activating the first pump; and varying the activation of the first pump responsive to temperature to maintain a higher pressure for high temperatures. By utilizing the pump to generate increased pressure at an appropriate condition during the cool down, for example, the pressures in the system can be managed to reduce the likelihood of fuel migrating to the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Eric Matthew Storhok, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Frank Gonzales, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110146624
    Abstract: A fuel delivery injection system that includes, but is not limited to a fuel tank connected to a high pressure fuel pump. The fuel is pumped from the pump and distributed to direct acting piezoelectric injectors by means of a distribution hydraulic circuit. An electronic control unit controls the pump, the injectors and receives the pressure indications from a control valve associated to said distribution circuit. The distribution circuit includes, but is not limited to a small distribution rail having a volume of about 4-6 cm3 and the pipes connecting the rail to the injectors having a dimension of about 3 mm or slightly higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Massimo LUCANO, Vincenzo RAMPINO
  • Publication number: 20110146600
    Abstract: A pumping element for pressurizing a fluid within a fluid pump includes a plunger reciprocally disposed within a bore defined in a pump housing. The plunger and housing at least partially define a pressurization chamber into which fluid is pressurized. A flow path is defined between the plunger and the bore, the flow path permitting fluid to pass from the pressurization chamber during pressurization of fluid disposed therein. A weep annulus is formed between the plunger and the bore, the weep annulus being disposed adjacent to the bore and being part of a cooling circuit for the pumping element. The housing further defines cooling and drain passages which are in fluid communication with one another via the weep annulus. The plunger an bore are convectively cooled when cooling fluid is supplied to the weep annulus via the cooling passage and drained away via the drain passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Senthilkumar Rajagopalan, Alan R. Stockner, Tejas Mayavanshi, Stephen R. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20110144886
    Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine structure, an intake manifold, and a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel assembly. The engine structure may define a combustion chamber and the intake manifold may be in communication with the combustion chamber. The LPG fuel assembly may include a LPG fuel tank containing LPG fuel, a liquid LPG fuel injection system in communication with the LPG fuel tank and the combustion chamber, and a vapor LPG fuel injection system in communication with the LPG fuel tank and the intake manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: NICHOLAS CARTER
  • Publication number: 20110139122
    Abstract: A liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel assembly may include a fuel rail and a flow control mechanism. The fuel rail may have an inlet in communication with a pressurized LPG fuel source, an injection passageway in communication with the inlet and a fuel injector that provides fuel to a combustion chamber of an engine, and an outlet in communication with the fuel injection passageway. The flow control mechanism may be in communication with the outlet of the fuel rail and a LPG fuel tank and may be operable in first and second modes. The second mode may provide a greater flow restriction than the first mode to control a fuel flow from the outlet of the fuel rail to the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: NICHOLAS CARTER
  • Publication number: 20110132328
    Abstract: A vehicle fuel system may employ a fuel pump module with a reservoir within a fuel tank. The system may also employ a fuel injection common rail, a fuel supply line leading from the fuel pump module reservoir to the fuel injection common rail, and a fuel return line leading from the fuel injection common rail through a fuel pump module flange. Additionally, the system may employ a first return fuel check valve to release fuel only into a reservoir jet pump and/or a transfer jet pump, while a second return fuel check valve may release fuel only directly into the fuel pump module reservoir. An electric fuel pump within the reservoir may have a fuel pump check valve and supply fuel only to the reservoir jet pump and/or the transfer jet pump, and not to an engine, when activated by a pressure sensor in the fuel return line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicants: DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, INC., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: William E. Attwood, Norihiro Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20110126804
    Abstract: A high pressure piston fuel pump having a discharge check valve between the pumping chamber and a pressurized fuel reservoir and a pressure relief valve between the fuel reservoir and a passageway in the housing, wherein the discharge check valve and the pressure relief valve are contained within a single fitting assembly affixed at the pump housing. A first end flow passage is in fluid communication with the pumping chamber and provides an inlet to the discharge check valve and an outlet from the pressure relief valve. A second end flow passage is in fluid communication with the fuel reservoir and provides an outlet for the discharge check valve and an inlet for the pressure relief valve. Advantages include the ability to pre-test the outlet check and pressure relief prior to assembly into the pump housing, and improved flexibility of the outlet fitting location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Robert G. Lucas, Ilija Djordjevic
  • Publication number: 20110120418
    Abstract: A pump head suitable for use in a fuel pump for a common rail fuel injection system, comprises a pump head housing defining a plunger bore and a pumping chamber. Fuel is pressurized within the pumping chamber by a plunger reciprocating within the plunger bore. The pump head housing includes an inlet valve arrangement for controlling fuel flow into the pumping chamber. The inlet valve arrangement includes a valve member movable between open and closed positions in response to fuel pressure within a gallery. The gallery communicates with an external chamber defined by a closure means externally mounted to the pump head housing. In use, the gallery communicates with a source of low-pressure fuel via the external chamber. The pump head housing has a projection which locates the closure member on the pump head housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Delphi Technologies Holding, S.arl
    Inventors: Antonin Cheron, Paul Buckley, Miguel G Calvo
  • Publication number: 20110120417
    Abstract: In a method and a device for controlling the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulator of a common-rail injection system, the difference between the actual engine speed and a target engine speed is established, and an injection time is determined based on the determined difference. The fuel pressure is controlled according to the determined injection time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Uwe Jung, Janos Radeczky, Michael Wirkowski
  • Publication number: 20110118958
    Abstract: In a method for adapting the performance of a fuel prefeed pump of a motor vehicle which has a common rail injection system and an internal combustion engine, after the ignition is switched on and before the internal combustion engine is started, adaptation values are determined and stored which are assigned to the fuel prefeed pump and describe its individual performance. After the internal combustion engine is started, the stored adaptation values are taken into consideration during the determining of an actuating signal for the prefeed pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Uwe Jung, Janos Radeczky, Michael Wirkowski
  • Patent number: 7942132
    Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a fuel supply rail, a fuel injector configured to control the delivery of fuel from the fuel supply rail, and a noise filtering device engaging an upstream end of the fuel injector and/or positioned at least partially within the fuel injector. The noise filtering device defines a fuel passage configured to direct fuel from the fuel supply rail into the fuel injector. The noise filtering device can include one or more of several features including a pocket, a wrap-around shape to conform to the inlet end of the fuel injector, a face-sealing portion, a compression section, and a plurality of parallel restriction passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Venkatesh Kannan, William G. Klisz, John P. Casari, Jason L. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20110108003
    Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus including a plurality of throttle bodies, a fuel supply pipe to supply fuel to upstream and downstream side injectors; connecting pipes to connect the fuel supply pipe to the upstream side injectors and the downstream side injectors; upstream side branch passages to supply fuel branched from the fuel supply pipe to the respective upstream side injectors; downstream side branch passages to supply fuel branched from the fuel supply pipe to the respective downstream side injectors; a nip angle of the upstream side injectors is larger than a nip angle of the downstream side branch passages against the intake flow direction of the intake passage; and the nip angle of the downstream side branch passages is larger than a nip angle of the downstream side injectors against the intake flow direction of the intake passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: MIKUNI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiko Kimura, Atsushi Osanai
  • Publication number: 20110094476
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve is disclosed. The pressure relief valve comprises a body, a valve member, and a resilient member. The body includes a guide bore, a seat surface, an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The valve member is received within a portion of the body and includes a guide portion received within the guide bore, a valve seat configured to sealingly engage the seat surface, and an internal passage. The resilient member biases the valve seat into engagement with the seat surface. The valve member is moveable between a first position in which the inlet is fluidly blocked from the first outlet and the second outlet, a second position in which inlet is fluidly coupled to the first outlet but not to the second outlet, and a third position in which the inlet is fluidly coupled to the first outlet and the second outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Ibrahim, Scott F. Shafer
  • Patent number: 7931007
    Abstract: The fuel-injection device is characterized by an especially low-noise design. The fuel-injection device includes at least one fuel injector and a fuel rail having at least one pipe connection, the fuel injector being introduced into a receiving bore of the pipe connection, and the fuel rail having a discharge opening to supply fuel to the fuel injector. Provided between the fuel injector and the fuel rail is a pressure-wave guide connecting both, in such a way such that dynamic pressure fluctuations in the fuel injector are able to be routed largely past the volume of the receiving bore of the pipe connection. The fuel-injection device is especially suitable for the direct injection of fuel into a combustion chamber of a mixture-compressing internal combustion engine having external ignition, but it is also suitable for the injection of fuel into an intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Fischer, Ulrich Fischer, Peter Lang
  • Patent number: 7921881
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fluid conduit assembly. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the inventive fluid conduit assembly includes a fluid conduit having an inlet, at least one outlet and a fluid flow passageway therebetween configured to allow for fluid to be communicated between said inlet and said at least one outlet. The inventive fluid conduit assembly further includes at least one damper disposed within the passageway of the fluid conduit. The damper includes a sealed vent configured to vent gases captured by the damper during a brazing process performed on the fluid conduit when unsealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Millennium Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Zdroik, Robert J. Doherty
  • Publication number: 20110073074
    Abstract: An engine assembly may include a cylinder head, a cam cover and a fuel rail assembly. The cylinder head may define intake and exhaust ports and the cam cover may be fixed to the cylinder head. The fuel rail assembly may include a fuel rail, a bracket assembly and a fuel injector. The bracket assembly may be fixed to the fuel rail and may include a fastener and an isolation member. The fastener may be engaged with the cam cover and may secure the fuel rail thereto. The isolation member may be located between the fuel rail and the cam cover to isolate vibration therebetween. The fuel injector may be in communication with the fuel rail and may extend into a combustion chamber defined by the cylinder head at a location between the intake and exhaust ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: JAMES D. HAY, JOEL COWGILL, RODNEY E. BAKER
  • Patent number: 7917281
    Abstract: In an apparatus, a shift quantity calculating unit tentatively shifts a reference fuel spray characteristic to an obtained actual fuel spray characteristic in a phase direction and in a magnitude offset direction while monitoring a distance between the reference fuel spray characteristic and the obtained actual fuel spray characteristic therebetween. The shift quantity calculating unit calculates a shift quantity between the reference fuel spray characteristic and the obtained actual fuel spray characteristic in the phase direction when the monitored distance is minimized. A phase correcting unit shifts the reference fuel spray characteristic by the calculated shift quantity in the phase direction to thereby correct the reference fuel spray characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Yamada, Minoru Imai, Kouji Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 7913667
    Abstract: Fuel pipes guide fuel from a fuel tank provided in a rear area of the vehicle to a low-pressure fuel supply system and a high-pressure fuel supply system, respectively, for injecting the fuel to an engine provided in a front area of the vehicle. A branch point between the fuel pipes is arranged in the vicinity of the fuel tank to secure a long pipe length between the low-pressure fuel supply system and the high-pressure fuel supply system. This can suppress variation in fuel pressure at the low-pressure fuel supply system attributable to the fuel that is discharged from the high-pressure fuel pump within the high-pressure fuel supply system back to the fuel pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Terutoshi Tomoda, Tomihisa Tsuchiya, Mitsuto Sakai
  • Patent number: 7913666
    Abstract: In order to reduce the quantity deviation of a fuel injection valve, it is proposed according to the various embodiments that a test injection be carried out during an overrun cut-off phase of a motor vehicle in operation. In the process, the fuel rail (2) is closed on the inlet side and the selected injection valve (1) is activated. A quantity difference between the predetermined setpoint and the actual value can be determined by measuring a pressure difference in the fuel rail (2) before and after the test injection. This results in a correction factor with which the activation for the selected injection valve (1) is corrected for subsequent injections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Achleitner, Thomas Maurer, Carlos Eduardo Migueis
  • Publication number: 20110061630
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a multi-cylinder diesel engine in which a thermal damage of a common rail, and a rise in fuel temperature can be suppressed. In order to achieve the object, a multi-cylinder diesel engine in which, while the extension direction of a crank shaft 1 is set to the anteroposterior direction, a common rail 3 which is directed in the anteroposterior direction is placed above an intake manifold 2, and an engine cooling fan 4 is placed in front of the engine is configured so that the width direction of the engine which is perpendicular to the anteroposterior direction is set to the lateral direction, an air intake portion 6 of the intake manifold 2 is placed on the outer lateral side of the both lateral sides of the common rail 3, the outer lateral side being opposite to a head cover 5, and the common rail 3 is placed in a place to which engine cooling air produced by the engine cooling fan 4 is blown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu YOSHII, Akihiko KAI, Hiroki OSO, Yuuji TAKEMURA, Tamotsu KUNO, Kentarou KITA, Tomoya HASEGAWA, Wataru MIYAUCHI
  • Patent number: 7905216
    Abstract: To provide a common rail that can prevent stress concentration from arising locally with respect to intersecting portions between a flow path and branching paths and can prevent damage such as cracks. A common rail that is used in a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine comprises: a rail body portion that includes inside of itself a flow path along an axial direction; and branching pipe portions that are arrayed along the axial direction of the rail body portion, project from and are molded integrally with the rail body portion, and each of which includes inside of itself a branching path that branches from the flow path, wherein edges of inlets of the branching paths at intersecting portions between the flow path and the branching paths are chamfered, and, of the edges, the radius of curvature of the edges in the axial direction of the rail body portion is larger than the radius of curvature of the edges in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the rail body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Yozo Kutsukake, Ryomei Yawata, Kenichi Kubo, Shogo Yarita, Kiyoshi Tateda