Needle-type Projection Patents (Class 239/585.5)
  • Patent number: 8366018
    Abstract: Oil intensified common rail injectors that combine a common-rail non-intensified injector with an oil-intensified injector. The invention also uses fuel (common rail) pumps that are commercially available since the injector does not rely on this pump for intensification function. Also, since the pressure of the fuel pump is limited to lower than the intensified pressure, the injected pressure is limited to the unit injector; this eases the rail and tube requirements to this lower fuel rail pressure. The injector operates up to this limited pressure with no intensification. Also a separate oil system is configured to operate a hydraulic intensifier. Thus the system is able to achieve very high injection pressure without common rail pump, rail, fitting and jumper tube limits. The oil system does not need to operate or run unless these elevated pressures are required. Embodiments using direct needle control are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sturman Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Donald Giordano, Tibor Kiss, James A. Peña, John Mathew Quinlan
  • Publication number: 20130026257
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a piezoelectric actuation mechanism and a sensor configuration to measure the condition of the actuation mechanism as well as an associated fuel rail. The sensor configuration includes a piezoelectric sensor with an output signal with significantly reduced distortion that accurately reflects control signals provided to the piezoelectric actuation mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
    Inventors: Syed S. Jalal, Douglas W. Memering, Richard E. Reisinger, Edward B. Manring, Jesus Carmona-Valdes, Anthony A. Shaull, Shankar C. Venkataraman, William D. Daniel, Viktor K. Walter, Lawrence C. Melton
  • Patent number: 8360338
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve with reduced adhesion of deposits to a fuel injecting portion and superior in durability is provided. Also provided is a method for machining multi-orifice type fuel injecting portions easily, less expensively, in good surface roughness, in high productivity, and with few variations in shape, accuracy and surface roughness, using inexpensive equipment. The surface roughness of fuel injecting portions comprising orifices and apertures is made Rz 2 ?m or less. Apertures are formed by press working so as to each have a plastic-worked surface of Rz 0.2 ?m or less in surface roughness and then orifices are formed in the bottoms of the apertures so as to have a plastic-worked surface of Rz 0.2 ?m or less in surface roughness. Further, when abrasion resistance of the nozzle is required, the fuel injecting portions are finished to a surface roughness of Rz 2 ?m by quenching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Gunji, Masato Higuma
  • Patent number: 8342425
    Abstract: A fuel injector (10) includes an inlet tube (20). A valve body (12) is associated with the inlet tube to define a fuel passage (23). A valve seat (14) is associated with the valve body and defines an outlet opening (18). An armature (42) is movable with respect to the valve body between a first position and a second position. The armature is associated with a closure member (18) that opens and closes the outlet opening. An electromagnetic coil (40) is energizable to provide magnetic flux that moves the armature between the first and second positions to control fuel flow through the outlet opening. A heat exchanger (50) is provided in the inlet tube and a secondary coil (46) is energizable to provide a magnetic field to inductively heat the heat exchanger and thus fuel prior to exiting the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Imoehl
  • Publication number: 20120325939
    Abstract: An injector having a valve opening, a cylindrical pipe, a valve opening, a valve needle situated inside the pipe in the radial direction and guided to allow axial displacement; a solenoid coil situated outside the pipe in the radial direction; a solenoid core disposed inside the pipe in the radial direction; and a magnetic armature situated inside the pipe, opposite the solenoid core in the radial direction, the magnetic armature being disposed on the valve needle. The pipe is a magnetic first material in a first pipe region and a third pipe region, the first region facing the valve opening in the axial direction, and the third pipe region facing away from the valve opening in the axial direction. The pipe is a non-magnetic second material in a second pipe region, the second pipe region being between the first pipe region and the third pipe region in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Juergen Graner, Martin Maier, Juergen Lander, Jochen Rager
  • Patent number: 8333336
    Abstract: A mechanically actuated electronically controlled unit injector includes an electronically controlled spill valve to precisely control timing of fuel pressurization within a fuel pressurization chamber. Cavitation bubbles may be generated in the region of the valve seat when the spill valve member is closed to raise fuel pressure in the fuel injector. This cavitation can cause erosion on the spill valve member and the surrounding injector body. In order to preempt cavitation damage, the valve member may be modified to include a compound annulus that includes a small annulus that corresponds to an identified cavitation damage pattern. Although the generation of cavitation bubbles may continue after such a strategy, cavitation erosion, and the associated liberation of metallic particles into the fuel system can be reduced, and maybe eliminated, by the preemptive cavitation reduction strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Dana R. Coldren, Jeffrey J. Mueller, Victor Yacoub
  • Publication number: 20120312903
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an injection valve may comprise a valve body including a central longitudinal axis, the valve body comprising a cavity with a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet portion, a valve needle axially movable in the cavity, the valve needle preventing a fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion in a closing position and releasing the fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion in further positions, the valve needle comprising a ring element extending radially and arranged at an axial end of the valve needle facing away from the fluid outlet portion, and an electro-magnetic actuator unit being designed to actuate the valve needle. The electro-magnetic actuator unit comprises an armature axially movable in the cavity. The armature comprises a recess in which the ring element is located, and a protrusion extending radially into the recess. A spring element is arranged in the recess axially between the ring element and the protrusion of the armature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventor: Mauro Grandi
  • Publication number: 20120305678
    Abstract: An fuel injection valve has: a needle housed in a valve body in a reciprocable manner; an injection hole plate attached to a front end portion of the valve body, the plate having an injection hole connecting an inside and an outside of the valve body; and a valve sheet which the needle is attached to or detached from so as to close or open a fuel flow path that reaches the injection hole of the injection hole plate through an outer circumference of the needle. The injection hole plate has a recessed portion dented in an axial direction of the needle so as to cause fuel flowing toward the injection hole through the valve sheet to descend lower than a height of an inlet port of the injection hole and then, to turn to ascension so as to reach the inlet port of the injection hole on the injection hole plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Kaneko, Nobuyuki Shimizu, Hiroyuki Sakai, Toshikuni Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 8316825
    Abstract: An adjustable racing injector injects fuel by carrying out an opening and closing of a fuel orifice in a valve seat. The fuel orifice is controlled by a signal, typically provided by an engine control unit, which energizes a magnetic circuit including coil which in turn will effect movement of a needle. The adjustable racing injector is field reconfigurable and may be provided as discrete components, or may be provided as an assembly together with a collection of replaceable components that are designed to controllably alter the performance of an engine to which the injector is attached. Performance components that may be readily replaced in the field are preferably provided with visual indicia that indicate specific performance characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventor: Jack M. French, III
  • Patent number: 8317112
    Abstract: A valve seat (16?) for a fuel injector (10) includes a main body (27) having a proximal and a distal end with at least one orifice (24) extending through the main body. A seating surface (22) is provided on the main body to receive a closure member (20) of a fuel injector such that when the closure member engages the seating surface, the at least one orifice is closed. A guide surface (36) is provided on the main body to guide movement of the closure member. An annular wall (26) extends in a cantilever manner from the main body at the distal end thereof and defines an outer peripheral portion of the valve seat. The wall is constructed and arranged to deform during welding at the wall so as to isolate effects of the welding from the seating surface and the guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Leigh Spiers, William J. Imoehl
  • Publication number: 20120291753
    Abstract: A common rail fuel injector includes a fuel inlet, a set of nozzle outlets, a drain outlet, a nozzle chamber and a needle control chamber. A needle control valve includes a ceramic control valve member movable between a closed position in contact with a flat valve seat to block the needle control chamber from the drain outlet, and an open position at which the needle control chamber is fluidly connected to the drain outlet. A solenoid actuator is mounted in the injector body and includes an armature movable between an overtravel position and an energized position, but the armature has a stable un-energized position between the overtravel position and the energized position. A needle valve member is positioned in the injector body and includes an opening hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in the nozzle chamber, and a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in the needle control chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Gregory William Hefler, Adam Leonard Stecklein, Daniel Richard Ibrahim
  • Publication number: 20120286074
    Abstract: A valve assembly of an injection valve may include a valve body having a cavity forming an inner guide surface and having a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet portion, a valve needle in the cavity that controls a fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion, the valve needle having an upper end facing the fluid inlet portion and an inner recess extending from the upper end and enabling a fluid flow inside the valve needle, a guide element in the cavity is mechanically coupled to the upper end of the valve needle and extends radially to the inner guide surface of the valve body and guides the upper end of the valve needle inside the valve body. The guide element forms a one-piece extension of the valve needle with an inner recess hydraulically coupled to the fluid inlet portion and the inner recess of the valve needle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Matteo Soriani, Mauro Grandi, Valerio Polidori
  • Patent number: 8302888
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injector, in particular a common rail injector, for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector has a multi-part injection valve element, which is adjustable between a closing position and an opening position and includes a first part and at least one second part that is adjustable relative to the first part. The first and second parts are coupled to one another via a hydraulic coupler volume. According to the invention, it is provided that the first part is guided in the second part, or the second part is guided in the first part, and that the coupler volume communicates with an injector volume via at least one throttle arrangement. The throttle arrangement is embodied such that the volumetric through flow increases only disproportionately little with an increasing pressure difference between the coupler volume and the injector volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Burger, Hans-Christoph Magel
  • Patent number: 8286893
    Abstract: A fuel injector (10) has a housing (12) with a central longitudinal axis (L) having a fluid inlet portion (18) being adapted to be coupled to a fuel rail at a first axial end area (20). The housing (12) has a recess (24) and enables a fluid flow through a fluid outlet portion (26) at a second axial end area (28) facing away from the first axial end area (20). The fluid inlet portion (18) communicates with the fluid outlet portion (26) via the recess (24). Furthermore, the fuel injector (10) has a safety component (30), which is arranged at the central longitudinal axis (L) within the recess (24) and adapted to reduce and arranged for reducing a velocity regarding the central longitudinal axis (L) at the fluid inlet portion (18) of the fluid flowing from the recess (24) through the fluid inlet portion (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Antonio Agresta, Gianbattista Fischetti, Luigi Gargiulo, Marco Mechi
  • Publication number: 20120205470
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a fuel injection valve (10; 10a; 60; 60a), in which a valve needle (40; 40a; 62; 62a) which closes at least one fuel outlet opening (49) is inserted into an injector housing (11), wherein that end of the valve needle (40; 40a; 62; 62a) which lies opposite the at least one fuel outlet opening (49) is guided in a valve element (32) which has a pressurized control chamber (37) which is filled with fuel, wherein the control chamber (37) can be closed on the side which faces away from the valve needle (40; 40a; 62; 62a) by a closing element (23) which forms a passage during opening and is connected at least indirectly to a fuel return line (5) which is under low pressure, wherein fuel volume which is present in the control chamber (37) flows away through the passage after opening of the control chamber (37) by means of the closing element (23), wherein the valve needle (40; 40a; 62; 62a) moves in the direction of the closing element (23), wherein the at least one fue
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Susanne Spindler, Stephan Amelang, Matthias Burger, Christian Faltin, Hans-Christoph Magel
  • Patent number: 8230839
    Abstract: In a fuel injection valve used for an internal combustion engine, a valve closing lag time due to fluid resistance in a fuel path is shortened to decrease a minimum injection limit. More specifically, in the fuel injection valve in which an anchor is attracted to an end face part of a stationary core having a fuel path formed at a center part thereof by means of electromagnetic force, and in which a fuel injection hole is opened and closed by controlling a valve disc driven in conjunction with the anchor, there are provided a fuel reservoir part at a center part of an upper end face part of the anchor, a through hole extending axially in a fashion that an end part thereof is open to the fuel reservoir part, and a fuel path extending radially outward from the fuel reservoir part so that fuel is fed to a magnetic attraction gap between an upper end face part of the anchor and a lower end face part of the stationary core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Hayatani, Motoyuki Abe, Toru Ishikawa, Eiichi Kubota, Takehiko Kowatari
  • Patent number: 8226018
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injector with an injector housing which has a high-pressure fuel connection which is connected to a central high-pressure fuel source outside the injector housing, and with a pressure chamber within the injector housing. According to the pressure in a coupling chamber, fuel under a high pressure is injected from the pressure chamber into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine when a nozzle valve opens. The nozzle valve has a combustion chamber-remote end with a control pressure surface which is acted upon in the coupling chamber by the coupling chamber pressure. In order to create a fuel injector which can be produced inexpensively, the nozzle valve has at least one low-pressure surface which is averted from the combustion chamber and acted upon with low pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Christoph Magel
  • Patent number: 8205807
    Abstract: An automatic spray gun includes a nozzle (4) for ejecting the product that is to be sprayed, controlled by a needle valve (9), and means (14, 10) for controlling the movement of the needle (9). A tabular elastic sealing means (13) surrounds the needle valve (9) and is mounted trapped between the front (1a) and rear (1b) parts of the body. The interior surface of the tabular means (13) is tailored to the diameters of the needle valve (9) and of a control slide (14) mounted on the needle valve in order to move the needle thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Exel Industries
    Inventor: Patrick Ballu
  • Patent number: 8191800
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve has a first and a second injection ports whose central axes are parallel to each other, the central axis of the second injection port is out of alignment with respect to the central axis of the first injection port so that, when the largest length M1 of a longer-side line along which a plane including the central axis of the valve seat member and the central axis of the second injection port intersects with an inner wall of the second injection port is larger than the shortest length M2 of a shorter-side line along which the above plane intersects with an inner wall of the second injection port, the distance W1 from the inner wall of the first injection port to the longer-side line of the second injection port as measured within the plane is larger than the distance W2 from the inner wall of the first injection port to the shorter-side line of the second injection port as measured within the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Kitagawa, Masayuki Aota, Tsuyoshi Munezane
  • Publication number: 20120080011
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a nozzle body with a nozzle bore, a first valve needle received within the nozzle bore and being engageable with a first seat region to control fuel delivery through a first set of nozzle outlets, and a second valve needle received within a valve bore provided in the first valve needle and being engageable with a second seat region arranged to control fuel delivery through a second set of nozzle outlets. A control chamber for fuel is provided between the first valve needle and the second valve needle, wherein movement of the first valve needle is responsive to fuel pressure in the control chamber, and wherein movement of the second valve needle is mechanically coupled to an armature of the first actuator arrangement. A second actuator arrangement to controls movement of the first valve needle by controlling fuel flow into the control chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventor: Micheal Peter Cooke
  • Patent number: 8128004
    Abstract: In order to operate an injection valve, a freewheeling operating state is controlled as the nozzle needle moves to its closing position, and a current through the coil is detected as a freewheeling current during freewheeling. As the nozzle needle moves to its closing position, a braking current pulse (I_BR) is generated on the basis of a time derivative (DI_DT_FW) of the freewheeling current and is impressed on the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Achim Koch
  • Patent number: 8128009
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to realize the structure, of a fuel injection valve, in which bouncing of the needle can be suppressed and the armature position can be fixed while the valve is closed, without increasing the number of components and the number of processes. In a fuel injection valve including an armature that is repelled or attracted by a core, by de-energizing or energizing a coil; a needle that opens or closes a valve seat in accordance with a reciprocal travel of the armature; and a valve-closing spring that biases the needle so as to close the valve, when the coil is de-energized, the needle and the armature are fixed in such a way that the armature can travel in an axis direction by a predetermined amount with respect to the needle, and the coil is preliminarily energized while the fuel injection valve is closed by the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Shingu, Masayuki Aota, Tsuyoshi Munezane
  • Publication number: 20120043392
    Abstract: An injection valve for injecting fluid has a housing with an injection valve cavity. The injection valve has a needle being axially moveable within the cavity. The needle has a needle body with a valve needle cavity and a separation element being fixedly arranged within the needle cavity and being adopted to divide the valve needle cavity into a first and second fluid volume. The separation element has at least one fluid passage with a predetermined passage opening to hydraulically connect the first fluid volume with the second fluid volume. The valve needle has a sealing element being arranged to predetermine the first fluid volume and preventing a fluid injection in a closing position and permitting the fluid injection in further positions. In addition, the valve needle has at least one spring element being preloaded and acting on the sealing element towards a maximum axial expansion of the valve needle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Antonio Agresta, Gianbattista Fischetti, Luigi Gargiulo, Marco Mechi
  • Patent number: 8100350
    Abstract: An injector includes a valve body, a needle valve, and a thermal expansion member. The valve body includes an internal space and a bottom portion having a nozzle hole. One end side of the space is covered with the bottom portion. The needle valve is accommodated in the space such that a fuel passage leading to the hole is formed between an inner surface of the valve body and an outer surface of the needle valve. The passage is opened or closed with respect to the hole by movement of the needle valve, so fuel injection is started or stopped. The inner surface of the bottom portion is opposed to a one end surface of the needle valve. The member is attached on the one end surface. The member is made of a material having a larger coefficient of thermal expansion than a material of the needle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Oozono, Kazunori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8087399
    Abstract: An injection valve (62) has an injection body (38) with a first cavity (7), wherein a valve body (4) is at least partially disposed and wherein an armature collar (28) is axially movable. The valve body (4) has a second cavity (8), wherein a valve needle (10) is axially movable. An armature (12) is axially movable at least partially within the first cavity (7) and has a first cylindrical portion (32) and a second cylindrical portion (34), which is mechanically coupled to the valve needle (10). A coil assembly (40) is operable to magnetically actuate the armature (12) and the valve needle (10). The armature collar (28) partially takes in the second cylindrical portion (34). An armature collar spring (20) is adopted to supply the armature collar (28) with a spring load to push the armature collar (28) towards the first cylindrical portion (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Mauro Grandi, Cédric Leger, Ileana Romeo
  • Patent number: 8083160
    Abstract: A fuel chamber defined by a recess portion of a valve body and a tip section of a valve member of an injector is structured such that a seat diameter Ds of a seat section of the valve member seated on a valve seat section formed on an inner peripheral surface of the valve body, an axial distance A between an inlet portion of an injection hole formed in the recess portion and the tip section of the valve member facing the inlet portion in the fuel chamber and an axial distance B between an inside region of the recess portion located radially inside the inlet portion of the injection hole in the fuel chamber and the tip section facing the inside region satisfy inequalities: 0.048?A/Ds?0.18 and B/Ds?0.18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Noritsugu Kato, Hitoshi Shibata, Toyoji Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 8082903
    Abstract: A method is for operating an injector, in particular a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, the injector having a piezoelectric actuator for driving a valve needle coupled, preferably hydraulically, to the actuator. Starting from a starting voltage corresponding to a first operating state of the injector, the actuator is recharged, i.e., charged or discharged, by a predefinable voltage swing to a target voltage corresponding to a second operating state of the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Lehr, Erik Tonner
  • 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: 20110278368
    Abstract: A direct fuel injector (10) includes a body (12) having a passage between inlet and outlet ends. A seat (16) is at the outlet end and a closure member (28) is associated with the seat. A needle member (30) is associated with the closure member and is movable with respect to a pole piece (35) between a first, closed position and a second, open position. A spring (42) biases the needle member to the first position. An armature (32) is free-floating with respect to the needle member. An intermediate pole structure (38) is coupled with the needle member and is disposed between the pole piece and the armature and is decoupled there-from. An armature stop (40) is coupled to the needle member and is spaced from the intermediate pole structure. An electromagnetic coil (46) is associated with the pole piece, intermediate pole structure and armature. The injector reduces bounce of the needle assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS US, INC.
    Inventor: Michael J. Hornby
  • Patent number: 8028937
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve for fuel injection systems of internal combustion engines, in particular for injecting fuel directly into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, said fuel injection valve comprising a fuel inlet which is designed to allow fuel to flow into the fuel injection valve, and an actuating device which can be electrically activated and cooperates with a valve arrangement in order to discharge fuel into the combustion chamber in a directly or indirectly controlled manner via a fuel outlet the actuating device having a solenoid arrangement which is to be energized, a substantially magnetically soft magnet yoke arrangement which cooperates therewith, and a substantially magnetically soft magnet armature arrangement which cooperates therewith. The magnet yoke arrangement is constituted by at least two yoke discs. At least one of the faces of each yoke disc has at least one pole web which together with the solenoid arrangement acts upon the magnet armature arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Compact Dynamics GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Gründl, Bernhard Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8020789
    Abstract: A fuel injector for fuel injection systems of internal combustion engines includes a solenoid coil; an armature acted upon in a closing direction by a restoring spring; and a valve needle, which is connected to the armature in force-locking manner and on which a valve-closure member is formed, which forms a sealing seat together with a valve seat surface. The armature strikes against a stop face of an inner pole of the solenoid coil by way of a stop face, and the armature stop face is provided with a coating. The coating has a surface structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Roessler, Achim Degel, Rolf Keller, Markus Gesk, Guido Pilgram, Bernd Einwiller, Norbert Keim, Michael Lingner
  • Patent number: 8016214
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve comprises a convex portion prominently formed on an outer end surface of a nozzle body, stepped recesses each of which has plural steps formed by press forming on the convex portion, and multi orifices as fuel nozzle holes formed by press forming so that an outlet of each of the orifices is located at a bottom face of each of the stepped recesses. Furthermore, the fuel injection valve has plural sets each of which comprises one of the stepped recesses and the relevant orifice, the orifices incline to each other, and a step on a downstream side in each of the stepped recesses has a larger diameter than a step on an upstream side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Higuma, Kenichi Gunji, Keiji Kawahara, Atsushi Sekine
  • Publication number: 20110198419
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve includes a needle valve having an engagement part, and a movable core having an engagement part to be engaged with the engagement part of the needle valve. One of the engagement part of the needle valve and the engagement part of the movable core is defined by two inner faces of a recess opposing to each other in an axis direction, and the other engagement part is defined by two outer faces of a projection opposing to the inner faces, respectively. The projection is movable between the inner faces in the axis direction in a state that the projection is located in the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroaki NAGATOMO
  • Patent number: 7980483
    Abstract: An injector for an injection system is provided, including a first opening, a second opening, an open position and a closed position. The first opening is for spraying the fluid out of the injector, and the second opening is for allowing the fluid to exit the injector. When the injector is in the open position, the injector sprays the fluid from the first opening and the flow of the fluid to the second opening is substantially blocked. When the injector is in the closed position the injector allows the fluid to exit the injector from the second opening. The injector substantially blocks the spray of the fluid from the first opening when the injector is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Dale A. Stretch
  • Patent number: 7980492
    Abstract: A fuel injector provided with: an injection valve comprising an injection nozzle; a mobile needle for regulating the fuel flow through the injection valve and ending with a shutting head, which engages a valve seat of the injection valve, is arranged externally with respect to injection valve and presents a predetermined sealing diameter; an actuator for displacing the needle between a closing position and an opening position of the injection valve; a closing spring which tends to maintain the needle in the closing position of the injection valve pushing the shutting head against the valve seat itself in a sense contrary to the feeding sense of the fuel; and a supporting body having a tubular shape and presenting a feeding channel within which a needle is arranged; the needle, at an opposite end of the shutting head, is coupled to a balancing channel, which is at ambient pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luca Mancini, Michele Petrone, Marcello Cristiani
  • Publication number: 20110163188
    Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injection valve comprising: a metallic cylindrical-shaped vessel provided at a tip end thereof with a fuel injection port, the other end thereof being closed by a stationary core provided centrally thereof with a through-hole; a movable member arranged between the stationary core and the fuel injection port and provided at a tip end thereof with a valve element, which opens and closes the fuel injection port, a maximum outside diameter of the movable member being smaller than a minimum inside diameter of the through-hole; and an electromagnetic drive mechanism that reciprocates the movable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko HAYATANI, Motoyuki Abe, Atsushi Sekine, Tohru Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20110163189
    Abstract: A fuel injector provided with: an injection valve comprising an injection nozzle; a mobile needle for regulating the fuel flow through the injection valve and ending with a shutting head, which engages a valve seat of the injection valve, is arranged externally with respect to injection valve and presents a predetermined sealing diameter; an actuator for displacing the needle between a closing position and an opening position of the injection valve; a closing spring which tends to maintain the needle in the closing position of the injection valve pushing the shutting head against the valve seat itself in a sense contrary to the feeding sense of the fuel; and a supporting body having a tubular shape and presenting a feeding channel within which a needle is arranged; the needle, at an opposite end of the shutting head, is coupled to a balancing channel, which is at ambient pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Luca Mancini, Michele Petrone, Marcello Cristiani
  • Patent number: 7971802
    Abstract: A fuel injector comprising a nozzle having a nozzle needle which is moveable with respect to a first needle seat to control fuel delivery through a nozzle outlet. The injector includes a nozzle control valve for controlling fuel flow into a control chamber through a first passage to pressurise the control chamber, and for controlling fuel flow out of said control chamber through said first passage to depressurise the control chamber. Movement of the nozzle needle is controlled by fuel pressure within the control chamber, such that pressurising the control chamber causes the nozzle needle to be urged against the first needle seat to close the nozzle outlet, and depressurising the control chamber causes the nozzle needle to lift from the first needle seat to open the nozzle outlet. The nozzle needle defines, at least in part, a restricted passage through which fuel can flow into the control chamber as the control chamber depressurises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies Holding S.arl
    Inventors: Andy Male, Jonathan N Wray, Anthony Thomas Harcombe, Ricardo Pimenta, Malcolm David Dick Lambert, Andrew J Limmer
  • Patent number: 7967223
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine comprises a first valve member and a second valve member, an injection control chamber for fuel, and a set of nozzle outlets; wherein actuation of the second valve member controls the fuel pressure within the injection control chamber, and actuation of the first valve member is regulated by the fuel pressure within the injection control chamber; and wherein the fuel injector is arranged such that actuation of the second valve member establishes a fuel flow path between the injection control chamber and the set of nozzle outlets. The first valve member may be provided with a first valve bore within which the second valve member is received. An injection nozzle and a method of operating a fuel injector are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies Holdings S.arl
    Inventor: Michael Peter Cooke
  • Patent number: 7963465
    Abstract: An injection valve for fuel-injection systems has a valve-seat support, a valve needle, a solenoid and a connection piece having a filter, to convey the fuel. Valve opening and valve seat are formed on the one-piece valve-seat support itself, which additionally guides the valve needle so as to be axially displaceable; solenoid coil and connector plug are combined in a separate, plastic-extrusion-coated coil part, the magnetic cup is placed over the coil part, and the connection piece is formed as separate plastic-injection-molded part having an integrated filter. Joining and sealing points between the connection piece on the one side and the coil part, magnetic cup and/or valve-seat support on the other side are bonded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Lander, Dieter Maier, Franz Thoemmes
  • Publication number: 20110095102
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve includes a needle for opening or closing an injection hole. The needle moves in response to a fuel pressure in a control chamber. The fuel injection valve includes an electromagnetic valve which opens or closes a discharge passage for changing pressure in the control chamber to actuate the needle. A narrow part is provided in the discharge passage. The narrow part is formed to shorten a length along a flow direction. The shortened narrow part can suppress pulsations. Therefore, it is possible to accurately control injection quantity, since a variation of closing speed of the armature caused by the pulsations can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Sugawara, Tomonori Kamiya
  • Patent number: 7931217
    Abstract: A coil is located radially outside of a pipe. An inner connector is located radially inside of the pipe. A moving core is located radially inside of the pipe and opposed to the inner connector. A housing surrounds both an outer circumferential periphery of the coil and one axial end of the coil. A cover surrounds an other axial end of the coil. An outer connector leads fuel into the pipe. The pipe and the cover are integrally formed and one single component as a with-cover pipe member. The inner connector and the outer connector are integrally formed and an other single component as a connector member. The connector member is partially inserted in the axial direction radially inside the pipe of the with-cover pipe member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Noboru Matsusaka, Yoshitomo Oguma, Katsunori Furuta
  • Patent number: 7926745
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve includes a valve seat (11) that has a valve seat portion (11a) with a conical space defined therein and tapered toward an injection hole (11b), a needle (12) that has a valve portion (12b) formed with a curved surface for abutment with the valve seat portion (11a) and a column-shaped sliding portion (12a) located upstream of the valve seat portion (11a), and a swirler (10) that holds the sliding portion (12a) in a slidable manner, wherein fuel to be injected from the injection hole (11b) is adjusted by opening and closing a gap between the valve portion (12b) and said valve seat (11a), and assuming that a radius of curvature in an axial direction of the valve portion (12b) at a point at which the valve portion (12b) and the valve seat portion (11a) are in abutment with each other is R and an outer diameter of the sliding portion (12a) is D, R is greater than D/2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Kitagawa, Yoshihiko Onishi
  • Patent number: 7909270
    Abstract: A valve assembly (80) of an injection valve (82) has a valve body (4) including a central longitudinal axis (L), the valve body (4) having a cavity (8) forming an inner surface (18) of the valve body (4), the cavity (8) having a fluid inlet portion (42), and a fluid outlet portion (44), a valve needle (10) axially movable in the cavity (8), the valve needle (10) preventing a fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion (44) in a closing position and releasing the fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion (44) in further positions, the valve needle (10) and/or the inner surface (18) of the valve body (4) having a surface layer (48) with a tungsten carbide layer (70) and a carbon layer (72).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Paolo Bertini, Mauro Grandi
  • Publication number: 20110062254
    Abstract: A control valve for reducing injecting amount variation disposed under a bobbin, disposed to a solenoid valve, may include slots formed to an upper portion of the control valve to contact the bobbin for easily separated from the bobbin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicants: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yongsoon PARK
  • Patent number: 7905425
    Abstract: A module, direct fuel injector (10) includes a fuel module (46) having a valve body (12) defining an outlet opening (20) and including a seating surface (18). A needle 14, disposed in valve body, has a sealing surface (16). An armature (28) is coupled with the needle such that movement of the armature moves the needle between a closed position with the sealing surface engaging the seating surface and an open position with the needle moving outwardly from the valve body with the sealing surface being disengaged from the seating. A spring (38) biases the armature and thus the needle to the closed position. An inlet tube (22) is coupled to the fuel module defining an inlet of the injector. A power assembly (42) is separate from, but coupled to, the fuel module. The power assembly includes an electromagnetic coil (44) for causing movement of the armature, and a connector (43).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Sytems US, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Hornby
  • Publication number: 20110057049
    Abstract: A fuel injector system for raising fuel to its supercritical state and injecting the supercritical-state fuel to the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A plurality of injector embodiments provides alternative ways to heat the pressurized fuel to its supercritical state. Injection of supercritical fuel into the combustion chamber is known to improve fuel entrainment and reducing ignition delay to thereby increase combustion rate, which leads to an increase in fuel efficiency. According to some embodiments, the system provides for preventing coking that may otherwise occur in an exhaust gas heat exchanger used for preheating the high pressure fuel. In other embodiments, engine cold start assistance is provided by storing pressurized, heated fuel in an insulated container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: ECOMOTORS INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Peter Hofbauer, Franz Laimboeck, Tyler Garrard
  • Patent number: 7896262
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve has a valve guide, a valve member movable in a center opening of the valve guide along an axial direction of the valve guide, and a covering layer disposed on a surface of the valve guide. The valve guide has a valve seat placed on an inner surface thereof and a nozzle hole from which fuel is injected. The valve member is seated on the valve seat to close the nozzle hole and leaves the valve seat to open the nozzle hole. The covering layer is placed around an outlet opening of the nozzle hole. The covering layer is made of boron nitride in a hexagonal crystal system so as to have a hydrophilic property higher than that of the surface of the valve guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Suzuki, Atsushi Oozono
  • Patent number: 7896263
    Abstract: A fluid injector has an actuator unit, a cartridge, which has a recess, which on one of its open ends forms an injection nozzle and takes in a needle. The needle has a first and a second part (15, 17). The first part (15) is inserted into the recess and closes or opens the injection nozzle depending on the position of the first part (15). The second part (17) is coupled to the actuator unit on one of its free ends and is coupled to the first part (15) via a coupling unit. The coupling unit is arranged in positive connection to the first part (15) and is joined to the second part. In that way the material for the first part may be chosen for being highly wear resistant. On the other hand the material of the second part (17) may be chosen for being well-suited for a joining process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Italy S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luca Matteucci, Raffaele Squarcini
  • Patent number: 7891585
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve is provided that includes an electromagnetic actuator (A1) that moves a valve body (10) in an inwardly-opening direction, and a magnetostrictive actuator (A2) that, by passing current therethrough, elongates a movable part assembly (43) extending from the valve body (10) to a movable core (24) of the electromagnetic actuator (A1), wherein the magnetostrictive actuator (A2) is formed from a solid magnetostrictive element (15) provided between the valve body (10) and the movable core (24) of the electromagnetic actuator (A1) so as to couple the valve body (10) and the movable core (24), a preload spring (13) provided between the valve body (10) and the movable core (24) so as to apply a compressive preload in the axial direction of the valve body (10) to the magnetostrictive element (15), and a second coil (42) mounted on a valve housing (H) housing the valve body (10), the movable core (24), the magnetostrictive element (15), and the preload spring (13), the second coil (42) elongating t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Tadao Tsuchiya, Koji Sonoda, Manabu Shoji