Abstract: A displacement pump has a rotatable drive shaft and at least one piston containing a piston cavity, and a piston shoe flexibly connected with the piston. The piston shoe comprises a shoe passage fluidly connected with the piston cavity. The displacement pump also has a hydrostatic thrust bearing plate comprising at least one thrust pad, and a driveplate connected with the drive shaft and disposed between the piston shoe and the thrust pad. The driveplate comprises a bearing surface proximate to the thrust pad, a pumping surface proximate to the piston shoe, and at least one communication port fluidly connecting the bearing surface with the pumping surface. The driveplate is rotatable to a position in which the piston cavity is fluidly connected with the thrust pad via the shoe passage and the communication port.

Abstract: A spool slides in a bore to open and close a valve. The spool moves in a first direction until the spool forcibly engages a seat in the bore, closing the valve. The spool moves in a second direction opposite the first direction so that the spool disengages with the seat, opening the valve. Proper configuration of the spool and bore geometries in the vicinity of the seat keeps static pressure from developing that could otherwise retard spool valve opening.

Abstract: An engine system comprises a hydraulically actuated fuel injection system and an ABS circuit connected via a fluid flow passage that provides hydraulic fluid to both the fuel injection system and to the ABS circuit. The hydraulically actuated system includes a high pressure pump. The fluid control passage is in fluid communication with an outlet from the high pressure pump.

Abstract: The method for modifying a representation of a digital circuit (102) in order to allow a scan test comprises a step (106) for selecting a number of the memory elements of the circuit to be made scannable. In this step it is determined whether the circuit comprises a redundant structure. In case of a sequentially redundant structure (200), a memory element (214,216,218,220) of this structure is selected to be made scannable thus providing a pseudo input to the structure and removing the redundancy during scan test. In case of a combinational redundant structure (406), a memory element (404) connecting this structure to another part of the circuit is selected to be made scannable, thus avoiding the propagation of the redundancy of the structure.

Abstract: Air laden with oil and blow-by gases is evacuated from an engine compartment such as a crankcase. The air is cleaned by removing oil and may be reused for engine combustion by routing it through a turbocharger inlet. The reclaimed oil may be returned to an oil pan for reuse in engine lubrication.

Abstract: An actuation fluid control valve assembly for a hydraulically actuated fuel injector comprises a valve body defining a rotary valve bore and a spool valve bore. An actuator is connected with the valve body. A rotary valve member is rotatably disposed in the rotary valve bore and can be rotated in response to the actuator. A high-pressure fluid line, a spool bottom line, a check control line, and an actuator fluid drain all terminate in the rotary valve bore. At one rotary valve position, both the check control line and the spool bottom line are open to the high-pressure line. Moving the rotary valve from the first position to a second position opens the spool bottom line to the actuator fluid drain while keeping the check control line open to the high-pressure line. Moving the rotary valve from the second position to a third position opens the check control line as well as the spool bottom line to the actuator fluid drain.

Abstract: An actuator for opening a poppet exhaust valve, which is closed by a spring and opens in normal operation against a relatively low pressure and which opens for compression braking against a relatively high pressure, is motivated in either event by the same hydraulic pressure. The actuator has a unitary central valve and piston element, which is coaxially directed toward the exhaust valve stem and has an area providing, when subjected to the pressure, a force sufficient to open the exhaust valve for normal operation but insufficient to open the exhaust valve during compression braking. The element extends through a relatively larger diameter annular piston which is slidably fitted about the element and within a bore receiving the annular piston. In normal operation, the element provides enough force to move from an unactuated position and open the exhaust valve, and initial movement of the element closes off passages in the element that admit the pressure to the piston which thus does not move.

Abstract: A fuel injector nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle defining a guide bore, a fuel pressurization chamber, a seat, and a nozzle orifice. A check valve member has an impact area and a guide portion. The guide portion slides within the guide bore to allow the check valve member to slide between an open position and a closed position. In the open position the fuel pressurization chamber is in fluid communication with the nozzle orifice. In the closed position the impact area of the check valve member is pressing against the seat of the nozzle, and the check valve member is blocking fluid communication between the fuel pressurization chamber and the nozzle orifice. The check valve member comprises a ceramic material having a coefficient of thermal expansion &agr;>8×10−6/° C. when averaged over a temperature range of 0° C. to 300° C.

Abstract: An engine system comprises a hydraulically actuated fuel injection system and an EGR valve circuit connected via a fluid flow passage that provides hydraulic fluid to both the fuel injection system and to the EGR valve circuit. The hydraulically actuated system includes a high pressure pump. The fluid control passage is in fluid communication with an outlet from the high pressure pump.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injector comprises a valve body and a stepped valve member. The valve body has a wide bore portion and a narrow bore portion. The stepped valve member has a wide member section and a narrow member section. The wide member section is slidably disposed in the wide bore portion and defines a first diametrical clearance therebetween. The narrow member section and the wide bore portion define a damping chamber therebetween that is wider than the first diametrical clearance. The stepped valve member is slidable between a first position at which the damping chamber is substantially fluidly open to a low pressure hydraulic fluid reservoir, and a second position at which a fractional portion of the narrow member section is slidably disposed within a portion of the narrow bore portion defining a second diametrical clearance therebetween that is less wide than the damping chamber and substantially restricts fluid communication between the damping chamber and the reservoir.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated device comprises a device body defining an inlet passage separated from an outlet passage by a first valve seat and a second valve seat, and a control passage that opens into an area between the first valve seat and the second valve seat. An essentially spherical ball valve member having a first radius of curvature is trapped between the first valve seat and the second valve seat. The inlet passage is fluidly isolated from the control passage by the ball valve member when the ball valve member is in contact with the first valve seat, and the outlet passage is fluidly isolated from the control passage by the ball valve member when the ball valve member is in contact with the second valve seat. An electrical actuator is attached to the device body. A pin is movable by operation of the electrical actuator to come into contact with and push against the ball along a curved striking surface of the pin having a second radius of curvature that is larger than the first radius of curvature.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injector is disclosed having an injector body defining an actuation fluid inlet, an actuation fluid cavity, a nozzle outlet, and a needle control chamber. An actuator is attached to the injector body and a first valve member is disposed in the injector body and is moveable in response to the actuator between a first position in which the actuation fluid inlet is open to the actuation fluid cavity and a second position in which the actuation fluid inlet is closed to the actuation fluid cavity. A needle valve member is disposed in the injector body and is moveable between an open position in which the nozzle outlet is open and a closed position in which the nozzle outlet is blocked. The needle valve member has a closing hydraulic surface exposed to pressure in the needle control chamber.

Abstract: An actuation fluid control valve for a hydraulically actuated fuel injector comprises an injector body having an actuation fluid control passage, a low pressure actuation fluid drain passage, and a high pressure actuation fluid supply passage for accepting high pressure actuation fluid into the fuel injector. An actuator is attached to the injector body. A rotatable valve member includes a first valve passage and a second valve passage and is disposed in the injector body such that high pressure actuation fluid entering from the high pressure actuation fluid supply passage will not bias the rotatable valve member either toward the first position or toward the second position.

Abstract: An actuation fluid control valve for a hydraulically actuated fuel injector comprises an injector body having a high pressure actuation fluid supply passage for admitting high pressure hydraulic actuation fluid into the fuel injector, an actuation fluid control passage for admitting the high-pressure hydraulic actuation fluid to commence fuel injection, a low-pressure actuation fluid drain passage for draining the hydraulic actuation fluid from the fuel injector, and a check valve fluid control passage for admitting the high pressure hydraulic actuation fluid to terminate fuel injection. An actuator is attached to the injector body. A rotatable valve member includes a first valve passage and a second valve passage and is disposed in the injector body such that high pressure actuation fluid entering from the high pressure actuation fluid supply passage will not bias the rotatable valve member either toward the first position or toward the second position.

Abstract: A spool slides in a bore to open and close a valve. An armature moveable relative to the spool is biased in a first direction. A coupling biasing member biases the armature and the spool toward each other. When a solenoid is actuated the armature and the spool move in a second direction opposite the first direction until the spool forcibly engages a seat in the bore, closing the valve and stopping the spool movement. The armature continues to move in the second direction, causing the coupling to apply additional force to keep the spool engaged against the seat, until the armature reaches a second position where it forcibly engages with the spool. This stops the armature from moving further in the second direction, but allows the stationary armature to continue applying force to keep the spool engaged against the seat. When the solenoid is de-energized the armature bias sends the armature back in the first direction until it strikes the spool, causing the spool to rapidly unseat, thus opening the valve.

Abstract: A fuel injector having a housing with a bore, a tip, and an orifice through the tip and a check having a first end, a second end, and a check guide portion reciprocatable in the bore between first and second positions which, respectively, obstruct and provide fluid communication through the orifice. The check and housing respectively have a primary check seat disposed between the first and second ends and a primary nozzle seat disposed nearer said check guide portion than said tip. The primary check seat being engageable with the primary nozzle seat with a first engagement force when the check is in its first position. The check and housing respectively preferably also include a secondary check seat and a secondary nozzle seat which are engageable with a second engagement force, less than the first engagement force, when the check is in its first position.

Abstract: A fuel injector comprises a barrel, a plunger, and a port. The plunger is disposed in a bore in the barrel such that it intersects the port disposed in the barrel. The plunger has an injection rate shaping device and a cavitation control device disposed therein. The pressure control device is in such a position on the plunger such that subsequent to the rate shaping device passing fluidly communicating with the port, the cavitation control device aligns with the port to control the pressure wave propagated through the port by the termination of rate shaping.

Abstract: A method has been invented of providing feedback regarding tolerance for a dimension of a concrete block in relation to a datum in a computer-based system with a CPU, an input connected to the CPU, a memory associated with the CPU, a data transmitter connected to the CPU, a controller card connected to the data transmitter, an ultrasound transducer connected to the controller card, a timing device connected to the controller card, a memory means associated with the controller card, a feedback device connected to the controller card, and an environmental adaptator. Also, the invention can be described as an environmentally adaptable computer-based apparatus utilizing ultrasound for providing feedback regarding the dimensional quality of concrete blocks positioned on pallets traveling on a conveyor. The apparatus has a first memory for controlling a CPU, an input, an ultrasound transducer, a timing device, a second memory, a controller card, a data transmitter, a CPU, and a feedback device.

Abstract: An outwardly opening valve system for an engine includes an engine having a hollow piston cylinder in fluid communication with a gas passageway via an opening. The engine also has a piston bore that opens to the hollow piston cylinder. A portion of the opening includes an outward valve seat positioned adjacent the gas passageway. An outward valve member with a valve face is positioned substantially in the gas passageway. The valve member is moveable between a closed position in which the valve face is against the valve seat closing the opening and an open position in which the valve face is away from the valve seat. An intensifier piston is positioned to reciprocate in the piston bore and has one end contacting gas within the hollow piston cylinder. Finally, a coupling linkage interconnects the intensifier piston to the outward valve member so that the valve member is held closed during combustion by exploiting combustion pressure within the hollow piston cylinder.