Electric Regulator Patents (Class 123/458)
  • Publication number: 20040025847
    Abstract: Fuel injection equipment is provided which realizes characteristics of fuel injection proper for all over the operation range of an engine, can further reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission, and is high in mechanical durability. The fuel injection equipment for an internal combustion engine comprises an injection pump having a plunger part and a fuel passage equipped with a main electromagnetic valve, a fuel supply part for supplying the fuel to the fuel injection pump, a fuel injection pipe for sending the fuel to an injection nozzle part, and a secondary electromagnetic valve attached to an overflow pipe for returning to said fuel supply part the redundant fuel not to be injected from said unit injector, wherein an orifice is attached to said overflow pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Takashi Kaneko, Hiroyuki Ishida, Kenichi Iwanaga, Takeshi Arai, Shinji Yasueda, Hiroshi Yoshizumi, Akira Numata
  • Patent number: 6688291
    Abstract: A high-pressure fuel supply system can reduce the generation of noise upon opening and closing of an electromagnetic valve. The electromagnetic valve (100) of the high-pressure fuel supply system includes a body (41), a plunger (40) slidably received in the body (41), a valve seat (42) with which an end of the plunger is caused to move into and out of contact so that the valve seat is placed into fluid communication with a fuel pressurization chamber (27) when the plunger is moved apart from the valve seat, a stopper (43) for limiting the distance of separation of the plunger from the valve seat, and a spring (48) for urging the plunger in a direction toward the valve seat. An elastic O ring (101) is provided around the valve seat for absorbing collision sounds generated when the plunger collides with the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Onishi, Shigenobu Tochiyama
  • Patent number: 6684854
    Abstract: An engine is provided comprising an engine housing defining at housing and has a different portion associated with each engine cylinder. Each different portion of the engine auxiliary system has a first electrical actuator coupled to a first valve and a second electrical actuator coupled to a second valve which are wired in series. For example, a fuel injection system is provided with a first electrical actuator operably coupled to a fuel pressurizer and a second electrical actuator operably coupled to a direct control needle valve. The electrical actuators are wired in series on an electrical circuit. A method of controlling a portion of the engine auxiliary system is also provided which consists of actuating a first electrical actuator with a relatively low current and actuating a second electrical actuator with a relatively high current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, Stephen R. Lewis, Glen F. Forck, Michael R. Huffman, Matthew A. Bredesen
  • Patent number: 6684862
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a controller for an internal combustion engine having a fuel injection system, which can realize an optimum injection even with a smaller inductance of a solenoid due to a smaller fuel injection valve (injector) and has a good property of minimum amount of fuel injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuya Oyama, Shoji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6681743
    Abstract: A pressure control valve assembly for controlling fluid pressure to an actuator, the pressure control valve assembly being in fluid communication with an actuating fluid pump and being disposed intermediate the actuator and the pump, includes an energy storage component, the energy storage component acting on a certain volume of actuating fluid under pressure, the stored energy being selectively releasable to the actuator for augmenting the actuating fluid pressure in the actuator. A method of control is further included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: William de Ojeda
  • Publication number: 20040000289
    Abstract: A fuel pump draws pumps fuel from a fuel tank to a pressurizing chamber during a suction stroke, and pressurizes and sends fuel in the pressurizing chamber to a delivery pipe. A electromagnetic valve is actuated by electricity from a battery to electively connects and disconnects the fuel tank with the pressurizing chamber. An ECU determines opening and closing timing of the electromagnetic valve based on the rotation al phase of an engine. When the rotational phase of the engine is not identified, the ECU executes a duty control to cyclically repeat supplying and stopping of current to the electromagnetic valve. The ECU extends a current supplying period in each cycle of the duty control as the voltage of the power supply is lowered. As a result, the electromagnetic valve is reliably closed particularly at each pressurizing stroke, which improves the pressure increasing efficiency of fuel supplied to a fuel injection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Seo, Masanao Idogawa
  • Publication number: 20040000293
    Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator for use with an internal combustion engine includes a housing, a valve assembly in the housing, an elastic diaphragm connecting the valve assembly to the housing, a stop on one of the housing and the support and a spring between the housing and the valve assembly. The housing includes an inlet, an outlet and a longitudinal axis. The valve assembly is intermediate the inlet and the outlet and selectively opens fluid communication between the inlet to the outlet when a fuel pressure at the inlet is at least equal to an over-pressure amount. The valve assembly is displaceable along the longitudinal axis by an opening distance when a fuel pressure at least equal the over-pressure amount acts on the diaphragm so that the diaphragm does not exceed its yield strength. The diaphragm is in fluid communication with the inlet and elastically displaceable along the longitudinal axis up to a maximum distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Keesee, Jan L. Bennett, Robert Jackson
  • Publication number: 20030221673
    Abstract: A throttle valve for a high-pressure diesel pump of an injection device of a motor vehicle has at least one piston movable by a medium under pressure against a counter force and has at least one throttle location. A prestage valve in the form of a pressure control valve having a valve body is provided. The pressure control valve comprises a piezo drive. The piezo drive has at least one piezo element. A tappet is connected to the at least one piezo element. The tappet secures the valve body in a closing position. A bushing is provided in which the piston is slidably guided. The bushing has at least one annular groove into which at least one control bore opens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: HYDRAULIK-RING GMBH
    Inventors: Alfred Trzmiel, Rolf Neuhaus, Friedrich Zapf
  • Publication number: 20030217736
    Abstract: A high-pressure fuel supply system can reduce the generation of noise upon opening and closing of an electromagnetic valve. The electromagnetic valve (100) of the high-pressure fuel supply system includes a body (41), a plunger (40) slidably received in the body (41), a valve seat (42) with which an end of the plunger is caused to move into and out of contact so that the valve seat is placed into fluid communication with a fuel pressurization chamber (27) when the plunger is moved apart from the valve seat, a stopper (43) for limiting the distance of separation of the plunger from the valve seat, and a spring (48) for urging the plunger in a direction toward the valve seat. An elastic O ring (101) is provided around the valve seat for absorbing collision sounds generated when the plunger collides with the valve seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Onishi, Shigenobu Tochiyama
  • Publication number: 20030217735
    Abstract: A high-pressure fuel supply system can reduce collision sounds generated when a plunger collides with a stopper. An electromagnetic valve includes a plunger, a valve seat with which the plunger is moved into and out of contact so that the valve seat is placed into communication with a pressurization chamber when the plunger is moved apart from the valve seat, a stopper for limiting the separation of the plunger from the valve seat, an armature made of a magnetic material and fixedly secured to the plunger, a core arranged in opposition to the armature, a solenoid wound around the core for attracting the armature toward the core through an electromagnetic force when energized, and a spring for urging the plunger toward the valve seat. A groove is formed near opposed surfaces of the armature and core for magnetically saturating a portion of a magnetic circuit generated by energizing the solenoid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Onishi, Sigenobu Tochiyama
  • Patent number: 6651630
    Abstract: In order to provide a method for high volume and high pressure operation of a variable delivery type single cylinder plunger pump, the displacement of the piezoelectric element 20 is magnified by a hydraulic displacement magnifying mechanism comprising a large-diameter bellows 204, a small diameter bellows 202 and working fluid 208, and an engaging member 201 is displaced to control the time interval of opening and closing the intake valve 5. The large-diameter bellows 204 is used at all times in the state compressed in the direction of displacement transfer, thereby ensuring that the pressure of the working fluid 208 is maintained at a positive value to prevent vapor from being generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Hiraku, Kenichiro Tokuo, Yuzo Kadomukai, Kunihiko Takao, Hiroyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 6644277
    Abstract: A high pressure pump system (14) for use with a hydraulic engine system (10), such as a fuel injection system (10) or a compression release brake system, provides variable delivery of pressurized fluid using sleeve metering principles. The relative position of metering sleeves (56) with respect to pumping pistons (32) is controlled electro-hydraulically by a control circuit (60, 160). The control circuit (60, 160) receives pressurized fluid from the pump delivery gallery (50) or another high pressure area (50, 52) and, using a pressure reducer (64, 164), reduces the operating pressure within the control circuit (60, 160) to a substantially constant pressure lower than the pump output pressure. Lower operating pressure within the control circuit (60, 160) improves the manufacturability of the control circuit components and helps to achieve better control of the pump output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: James R. Blass, Dennis H. Gibson, George M. Matta, Mark F. Sommars, Jerry A. Wear
  • Patent number: 6640782
    Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus for internal combustion engines conveys fuel from a high-pressure fuel reservoir to an injection opening by means of a control valve, which can be actuated by a piezoelectric unit. The control valve has a valve member, which can be moved axially between a first valve seat and a second valve seat, which define a first valve chamber. A line leading from the high-pressure fuel source feeds into a second valve chamber, which is defined by the first valve seat and a first guide of the valve member in the valve body. A line, which leads to the injection opening, branches from the first valve chamber. A second guide of the valve member is provided in a region of the valve member adjacent to the second valve seat. On the respective side of each guide, a respective leakage line is provided. The diameters of the valve seats and the guides are respectively selected to be the same so that a force compensation is achieved in the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Boecking
  • Publication number: 20030200956
    Abstract: In a fuel injection apparatus 1, a fuel injection rate from which is controlled by a fuel pressure, a branch pipe 11 comprising a tubular member with the tip end closed is provided between a second pressure control valve 9 and a second pressure sensor 10. The branch pipe 11 extends in a direction along a flow direction of the fuel just before the branch pipe 11, and has a capacity not less than one fifth of that of a fuel flow path 22 between the second pressure control valve 9 and a fuel chamber 17. When a pressure difference in the pressure control valve 9 becomes larger and vibration of the fuel pressure is generated, the branch pipe 11 absorbs and reduces the vibration. As the vibration of the fuel pressure is reduced, a stable fuel injection rate is realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ohta, Takanobu Akutsu, Takashi Sakasai, Shuki Akushichi
  • Publication number: 20030192508
    Abstract: A fuel pressure detector and a pressure accumulator are disposed in a fuel distribution line, an engine control apparatus controlling activation of a fuel pump based on output from the fuel pressure detector. The fuel pump is activated at maximum capacity to fill the fuel distribution line with fuel at a controlled pressure controlled by a fuel pressure regulator, then stopped. In this state, fuel accumulated under pressure in the pressure accumulator replenishes the fuel distribution line until fuel pressure inside the fuel distribution line drops to a predetermined value due to fuel injection by fuel injection valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuji Kishimoto
  • Publication number: 20030183199
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system and method are described that can provide different pressures of the supply of fuel to a power source such as an engine or a motor. The engine or the motor can power, for example, a vehicle or a generator. The fuel delivery system includes a fuel supply line to deliver fuel from a fuel tank to the engine or motor. A fuel pump outlet line delivers fuel from the tank to the fuel supply line. An in-tank return line returns fuel from a fuel return line to the tank. A regulator connects with the fuel pump outlet line to maintain a pressure of the fuel pump outlet line at or below a pressure set-point of the regulator. A solenoid valve connects with the in-tank return line such that a set-point pressure of the regulator is utilized when the solenoid valve closes the in-tank return line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan Vahle, Thorsten Hahner, Bernd Guntermann, Stan Uszko
  • Patent number: 6626151
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for internal combustion engines, has a distributor tube and a high-pressure pump which is driven as a function of engine rpm and serves to generate the fuel pressure and fuel throughput required in the distributor tube in the applicable operating state of the engine, and also has a fuel metering unit, which is assigned to the high-pressure pump and is based on an electromagnetically actuated regulating valve. The fuel metering unit is disposed in the high-pressure pump, and the outlet of the regulating value discharges into the low-pressure region of the high-pressure pump. The inlet of the regulating valve communicates with the compression side of a prefeed pump. The regulating valve has a valve piston, which is actuated—into the opening position—by a compression spring and which is actuatable counter to the spring force—into the closing position—by an armature bolt of the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Boehm, Rainer Haeberer, Helmut Clauss, Felix Landhaeusser, Markus Rueckle
  • Patent number: 6626150
    Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator is provided for producing more than one fuel pressure. The fuel pressure regulator includes a pressure plate that restricts fuel flow between an input line and an output line. A spring is provided for applying a force to the pressure plate. A coil and armature are also provided. The coil attracts the armature to a casing or head pole, thus applying more force to the pressure plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodolfo Palma
  • Publication number: 20030178006
    Abstract: This invention is an armature and an armature driving device in which the armature is rotated around its axis so as to inhibit uneven wear from occurring between the armature and a housing. That is, an armature which is slidably provided within a housing filled with fluid and which divides the inside of the housing into two fluid chambers is further provided with a communicating hole that enables the fluid to pass between the two fluid chambers. This communicating hole is formed such that the fluid passing through the communicating hole and out from the armature when the armature slides flows out at an angle to, and to the side of, a center axis of the armature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 6619617
    Abstract: The metering valve has a shutter for a discharge conduit, and an electromagnet for controlling an armature disconnected from a relative stem and sliding along the stem by means of a sleeve. The armature is secured to the stem by a shoulder of the armature cooperating with a C-shaped ring fitted to the stem. A plate is interposed between the sleeve of the armature and a ring nut to reduce the overtravel of the armature, is locked transversely by a support of the electromagnet, and is kept resting on the ring nut by a compression spring. To secure the armature to the stem, the plate has an opening which is ineffective in reducing overtravel when the plate is moved transversely with respect to the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Ricco, Antonio Gravina, Sergio Stucchi
  • Patent number: 6609501
    Abstract: A fuel pressure regulation system for an internal combustion engine to regulate fuel pressure using a two-state pressure switch. In addition to the pressure switch, the system includes a control circuit, a current sensor, and a fuel pressure control device such as a fuel pump. The control circuit uses the pressure switch to sense whether the downstream fuel pressure is above or below a desired reference pressure. When below the reference pressure, the control circuit drives the fuel pump at full on to increase the fuel line pressure to the reference pressure. Once the fuel pressure rises and increases to or past the reference pressure, the pressure switch changes state, at which point the current sensor is used to sample and record the magnitude of the electric current supplied to the fuel pump at the moment the switch state changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Walbro Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk D. Doane, John D. Zmierski
  • Publication number: 20030154959
    Abstract: A fuel system (10) serves to supply fuel (18) to an internal combustion engine. The fuel system includes a reservoir (16) and a first fuel pump (20) whose input is connected to the reservoir (16). In addition, a second fuel pump (38) is provided, whose input is connected to the first fuel pump (20). Furthermore, at least one injection valve (50) is provided, which is connected to the second fuel pump (38) and can supply fuel at least indirectly to a combustion chamber. A leakage line (68) is provided between the second fuel pump (38) and the reservoir (16). In order to permit a reliable hot start of the engine with a simultaneously low strain on the components, the invention proposes that the leakage line (68) be provided with a valve device (70), which has a shutoff function (72) and a pressure relief function (74) that are connected in parallel with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Helmut Rembold, Jens Wolber, Uwe Mueller, Markus Amler
  • Publication number: 20030136384
    Abstract: A fuel injection system has a feed pump by which fuel is supplied to a high-pressure pump which pumps fuel into a reservoir as a function of engine operating parameters. The system has a fuel metering device for adjusting the fuel quantity pumped by the high-pressure pump, the metering device having an actuator controlling a regulating valve having a slide-shaped valve member guided in a cylindrical bore of a valve housing and displaceable by the actuator counter to a restoring force. An outer jacket of the valve member in cooperation with an outlet from the cylindrical bore controls a flow cross section from the feed pump to the high-pressure pump. The valve member controlls an inlet opening, originating at the feed pump and discharging into the cylindrical bore, and in one position closes the inlet opening completely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Dietmar Van Der Linden, Achim Koehler, Sascha Ambrock
  • Publication number: 20030127070
    Abstract: A low pressure direct injection engine system for a vehicle includes an engine having a plurality of cylinders each including a piston wherein the cylinders and a top portion of the pistons define a plurality of combustion chambers. A fuel injector is mounted in fluid communication with each of the combustion chambers. Each fuel injector has a nozzle which is adapted to generate a fine fuel spray with droplet sizes of 25 micro-meters SMD and 45 micro-meters DV90 and low penetration at fuel pressure of roughly 2 MPa. A low pressure fuel delivery system is adapted to deliver fuel from a fuel tank within the vehicle to the fuel injectors, and an igniter is mounted within the combustion chamber which is adapted to ignite the fuel within the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: Min Xu
  • Publication number: 20030111052
    Abstract: A fuel injection system having a prefeed pump, through which fuel from a fuel supply container is pumped to a high-pressure pump, and by means of the high-pressure pump, fuel is pumped into a reservoir. Communicating with the reservoir is at least one injector, through which fuel is injected to the engine. A fuel filter is disposed between the prefeed pump and the high-pressure pump. A return line for uninjected fuel leads back from at least one injector into a region upstream of the high-pressure pump. A valve is provided, by which the return line, in a first switching position, at a low fuel temperature, leads to upstream of the fuel filter, between it and the prefeed pump, and by which the return line, in a second switching position, at a high fuel temperature, leads to downstream of the fuel filter, between it and the high-pressure pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Schueler, Werner Bruehmann, Kurt Frank, Stefan Kieferle
  • Patent number: 6578553
    Abstract: A method and a device are described for controlling an internal combustion engine, particularly an internal combustion engine that has a common-rail system. At least one pump delivers fuel into an accumulator. A pressure in the accumulator is detected. A distinction is made between at least one first operating state and at least one second operating state based on at least one speed signal and/or one load signal. At least one first pressure-control device is used to adjust the pressure in the at least one first operating state. At least one second pressure-control device is used to control the pressure in the at least one second operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Schubert, Andreas Kellner
  • Patent number: 6575140
    Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus for internal combustion engines is proposed, which has a high-pressure fuel source from which fuel is supplied to an injection opening by means of a control valve unit. The control valve unit has a valve body, a valve member disposed in an axially mobile manner inside this valve body, and an actuator unit that actuates the valve member. A first high-pressure line connected to the high-pressure fuel source feeds into a first valve chamber of the control valve unit. In addition, a first valve seat is provided on an outer diameter of the valve body between the first valve chamber and a second valve chamber that communicates with the injection opening by means of a second high-pressure line. A second valve seat is formed on an inner diameter of the valve member and is engaged by a closing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Boecking
  • Publication number: 20030089341
    Abstract: A fuel injection system is proposed, in which, by means of a controlled zero-feed throttle (49) or by the elimination of the zero-feed throttle and by a suitable control of the pressure valve (51) of a common rail (25), the starting performance of the internal combustion engine can be improved, and at the same time it is assured that in the overrunning mode of the engine, an excessively high pressure is not built up in the common rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventor: Peter SCHUELER
  • Patent number: 6553968
    Abstract: An injector for injecting fuel in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine has a housing provided with a housing opening, a control valve body movable in the opening of the housing, a ring chamber which encloses the control valve body, an inlet connectable with a high pressure collecting chamber and opening into the ring chamber, a nozzle inlet arranged so that during the movement of the control valve body the nozzle inlet is connected with the inlet or separated from the latter, and 2/2-way control valves arranged inside the housing in series so that one of the 2/2-way control valves is force-equalized in an open condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosh GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Boecking
  • Publication number: 20030062029
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a controller for an internal combustion engine having a fuel injection system, which can realize an optimum injection even with a smaller inductance of a solenoid due to a smaller fuel injection valve (injector) and has a good property of minimum amount of fuel injection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuya Oyama, Shoji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6539922
    Abstract: The amount of fuel ejected from a high-pressure fuel pump that ejects fuel toward a delivery pipe is adjusted by controlling the valve closure start timing of an electromagnetic spill valve. In this manner, the fuel pressure in the delivery pipe is controlled. The duty ratio DT used for controlling the valve closure start timing of the electromagnetic spill valve is calculated based on a valve closure start timing that provides a maximum amount of fuel ejection. The actual fuel ejection characteristic of a high-pressure fuel pump may deviate from a designed state due to individual differences of the pump. However, the valve closure start timing of the electromagnetic spill valve that provides the maximum amount of fuel ejection in accordance with the actual fuel ejection characteristic is learned as a maximum ejection timing. Based on the maximum ejection timing, the duty ratio DT is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuto Sakai, Masanori Sugiyama, Naoki Kurata, Daichi Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20030051709
    Abstract: A fuel injection control method using a system comprising a high-pressure pump for pumping fuel, a fuel-pressure control valve disposed in a fuel bypass line communicating an output port and an input port of said high-pressure pump, and a controller for regulating fuel pressure, is provided. The method comprises: monitoring engine operating conditions; determining an optimal fuel injection pressure on the basis of said monitored engine operating conditions; determining on/off timing and on/off duration of said fuel-pressure control valve such that fuel pressure inside a fuel rail approaches said optimal fuel injection pressure; and opening and closing said fuel-pressure control valve according to said determined on/off timing and on/off duration of said fuel-pressure control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventor: Chul-Ho Yu
  • Publication number: 20030047168
    Abstract: A high-pressure fuel accumulator for a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, in particular for a common-rail fuel injection system, has an elongated base body having an accumulator space for high-pressure fuel extending in the longitudinal direction of the base body, communicating with multiple connecting bores. A relief space connected to a low-pressure connection is provided in the base body, with a drain channel from the accumulator space opening into it. A pressure regulating valve is installed in the base body for opening and closing the drain channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventor: Kurt Frank
  • Publication number: 20030041842
    Abstract: In a fuel-injection system with a pressure regulator disposed in the middle of a fuel supply line and located upstream of a fuel injector for regulating the pressure of fuel flowing through the fuel supply line and for returning surplus fuel via the pressure regulator into a fuel tank, a reflux pipe arrangement is located downstream of the fuel injector and connected at one end to the downstream end of the fuel supply line and connected at the other end to the fuel tank. A reflux control device is disposed in the middle of the reflux pipe arrangement for controlling a flow rate of the fuel flowing through the reflux pipe arrangement. The reflux control device is comprised of a reflux control valve or a fluid-flow restriction orifice member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: UNISIA JECS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masato Kumagai, Hiroshi Yamada, Kazuyoshi Mori
  • Patent number: 6526944
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control unit for an injection system for fuel, having a control part movable between a valve seat and a stop face of a bore in the housing. A high-pressure line discharges into a bore that penetrates the housing and receives the control part. A control face of the control part opposite the valve seat acts in the higher rpm range as a throttle element for filling a pump chamber in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jaroslaw Hlousek
  • Publication number: 20030037769
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, a real fuel quantity (rk_w), supplied from a high-pressure region of a fuel system into a combustion chamber of the engine, depends on a real rotational moment. In addition, the control duration (dwmsvo) of a volume control valve, with which the fuel supplied from a fuel pump into the high-pressure region can be affected, depends on the difference between a real pressure and a determined pressure (prist) in the high-pressure region. The supply output of the fuel pump, which supplies into the high-pressure region, depends in turn on the rotational speed (nmot) of a crankshaft of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Frenz, Winfried Langer, Stefan Keller, Marco Zucchini
  • Publication number: 20030037768
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, in particular with direct injection, is operated according to a method in which a first fuel pump delivers fuel from a fuel tank. At least a part of the delivered fuel travels on via at least one inlet valve into at least one working chamber of a second fuel pump embodied as a positive-displacement pump. This second fuel pump delivers the fuel to a fuel accumulation line. In order to increase the efficiency during operation of the engine and to reduce costs, the invention proposes that the relative opening duration of the inlet valve be influenced in order to thus change the fuel quantity traveling into the working chamber (40) of the second fuel pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Sebastian Kanne, Godehard Nentwig
  • Publication number: 20030034010
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, in particular with direct injection, a first fuel pump delivers fuel from a fuel tank to a second fuel pump. This second fuel pump delivers the fuel to a fuel accumulation line. A metering unit is triggered by a control and/or regulating unit and meters the fuel quantity traveling into the inlet of the second fuel pump. In order to simplify the design of the engine and to reduce its cost, the invention proposes that during normal operation, the metering unit is closed when it is without power and that when the control and/or regulating unit is “dead”, the metering unit is without power and the fuel delivery to the metering unit is cut off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Andreas Kellner, Juergen Hammer
  • Patent number: 6520157
    Abstract: The invention relates to an injector for an injection system for injecting highly pressurized fuel into the combustion chambers of internal combustion engines. An inlet from the high-pressure accumulation chamber feeds into a control chamber that can be connected to the nozzle inlet of the injection nozzle by means of a sealing seat that can be opened. In order to close the leakage oil outlet when the inlet line from the high-pressure accumulation chamber is opened, a sealing surface covers outlet-side control edges on the valve housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Boecking
  • Patent number: 6508231
    Abstract: The invention relates to an injector for delivering fuel to a combustion chamber of direct-injection internal combustion engines, having a high-pressure connection chamber. A control part closes or opens a valve chamber from which a nozzle inlet line branches off to an injection nozzle, which protrudes into the combustion chamber of the engine. A control chamber is integrated with the high-pressure connection chamber, and with the control chamber, the control part can be actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Boecking
  • Patent number: 6505608
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a direct injection engine which has a variable capacity single cylinder plunger pump and two fuel rails. Offices are disposed at the upstream side inlets of both fuel rails, respectively. At the opposite sides to the inlet sides, the fuel rails are interconnected with each other by a connecting pipe. Using this fuel supply system, it is possible to increase a characterisitic frquency of the fuel columns, and to stabilize, suppress, and smooth out pressure pulsation in the fuel rails, thereby reducing uneven fuel injections into the cylinders. The system may have a cam which drives a plunger of a high pressure fuel pump to reciprocate once for every two combustions in two engine cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Hiraku, Kenichiro Tokuo, Tadahiko Nogami, Kunihiko Takao, Hiroyuki Yamada, Yukio Takahashi, Atsuji Saito
  • Patent number: 6502803
    Abstract: A valve for controlling fluids is embodied with a piezoelectric actuator (3) for actuating a valve member (2) that on one end has a valve head (7), forming a valve closing member, that cooperates with a seat (8) provided on the valve body (6) for opening and closing the valve (1). On a side of the piezoelectric actuator (3) remote from the valve member (2), a hydraulic chamber (21) is provided, which communicates, via at least one hydraulic line (23), with a bore (5) of the valve member (2) that is sealed from the piezoelectric actuator (3), and into which bore a piston (20) connected to the piezoelectric actuator (3) can plunge; the hydraulic chamber (21) is embodied as a hydraulic spring, which with its spring force on the piston (20) connected to the piezoelectric actuator (3) act as the prestressing element and the tolerance compensating element. The valve is intended in particular as a component of a fuel injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Patrick Mattes
  • Patent number: 6502553
    Abstract: The solenoid valve has a fuel supply conduit, and a ball shutter controlled by an electromagnet and cooperating with a conical seat in the conduit. The conduit has fuel filtration means having a cylindrical wall with a number of openings for preventing particles of dirt from infiltrating between the seat and the shutter, without producing an excessive fall in fuel pressure. The thickness of the cylindrical wall is less than 1 mm, and the width of the openings is less than 0.25 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Banzhaf
  • Publication number: 20020189589
    Abstract: A fuel supply apparatus is provided which works to supply fuel such as a dimethly ether used as an alternative to a typical fuel for an internal combustion engine. The fuel supply apparatus includes a high-pressure pump working to feed the to injectors from a fuel tank through a common rail, a fuel return line, and a compressor working to add to a back pressure higher than a vapor pressure of the fuel to the return line. The addition of the back pressure higher than the vapor pressure of the fuel facilitates liquidizing of the fuel. This results in a decrease in leakage of the fuel, which improves the efficiency of burning of the fuel and ensures the startability and drivability of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Masaaki Kato, Satoru Sasaki, Hisaharu Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6488012
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus 34 for inferring the amount of pressure resident within a fuel delivery member 8 by measuring the voltage delivered to a pump 24 and by calculating a desired fuel flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Domenico Suffredini, Mark Thomas Linenberg, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • Publication number: 20020174855
    Abstract: In a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, a method for controlling fuel quantity delivery from a high pressure, reciprocating piston, engine-driven fuel pump to a high-pressure common rail having a plurality of fuel injection nozzles for injecting fuel into the cylinders of the engine. At least two control regimes are established corresponding to a respective low engine speed pump operation and high engine speed pump operation. During low speed operation, unregulated low pressure fuel is fed to the pumping pistons and at a location between the pistons and the common rail, excess fuel discharged from the pistons is diverted to a location of relatively low pressure in the fuel supply system, upstream of the pistons. During high-speed operation, the quantity of low pressure feed fuel pressurized by the pumping pistons is regulated and all of the fuel discharged from the pistons is delivered to the common rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventor: Ilija Djordjevic
  • Publication number: 20020170539
    Abstract: A fuel system for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine includes a storage tank and a first fuel pump, which is connected on the input side to the storage tank. A second fuel pump is connected on the input side to the first fuel pump via a fuel connection. The system also includes a pressure adjusting device for the output side of the second fuel pump and a pressure damping device disposed in the fuel connection between the first fuel pump and the second fuel pump. Cost of the system is reduced by a flow inhibitor, which only permits a flow in the direction of the second fuel pump, disposed in the fuel connection between the first fuel pump and the second fuel pump, close to the second fuel pump and upstream of an inlet of the pressure adjusting device in terms of the flow direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Rembold, Mathias Schumacher, Uwe Mueller, Rainer Wilms
  • Publication number: 20020157647
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure valve, in particular a pressure regulator, of a fuel supply system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Stanislaus Tomczak, Kurt Frank
  • Patent number: 6470857
    Abstract: In a flow amount control device which control flow amount of fuel to be supplied to a high pressure fuel pump, an opening, which communicates with a port for passing fuel to the high pressure fuel pump, is composed of a first rectangular opening, a second rectangular opening whose circumferential length is larger than that of the first opening, and a third trapezoidal opening bridging between the first and second openings. The port communicates with the first opening, when engine speed is low, and, as the engine speed increases, with the third and second openings. Accordingly, the flow amount of fuel to be discharged from the high pressure fuel pump varies non-linearly and a change of the flow amount thereof is small in engine low speed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Takahashi, Hiroyuki Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20020148445
    Abstract: A fuel pressure regulation system for an internal combustion engine to regulate fuel pressure using a two-state pressure switch. In addition to the pressure switch, the system includes a control circuit, a current sensor, and a fuel pressure control device such as a fuel pump. The control circuit uses the pressure switch to sense whether the downstream fuel pressure is above or below a desired reference pressure. When below the reference pressure, the control circuit drives the fuel pump at full on to increase the fuel line pressure to the reference pressure. Once the fuel pressure rises and increases to or past the reference pressure, the pressure switch changes state, at which point the current sensor is used to sample and record the magnitude of the electric current supplied to the fuel pump at the moment the switch state changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Kirk D. Doane, John D. Zmierski