Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for delivering fuel to at least two combustion chambers of an engine. A fuel controller receives a first fuel quantity signal indicative of a first desired quantity of fuel to be delivered to each combustion chamber of the engine during a combustion cycle. The fuel controller transmits at least one second fuel quantity signal as a function of the first fuel quantity signal, and transmits at least one third fuel quantity signal as a function of the first fuel quantity signal. The second and third fuel quantity signals are indicative of a respective second and third desired quantities of fuel to be delivered during a combustion cycle. The sum of the fuel quantities corresponding to the second fuel quantity signals transmitted during a combustion cycle are less than the first desired fuel quantity.

Abstract: A Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engine and operating method having ignition timing controlled on a cycle to cycle basis by adding to a primary fuel, which is typically greater than 95% and is a gas such as natural gas with a relatively slow burn rate, varying amounts of high cetane number fuel, typically diesel fuel, before or early in the compression stroke. The amount of high cetane fuel that is injected depends on engine speed and load, and is selected to insure that combustion is phased properly with crankshaft position. The ignition delay is thus controlled substantially independently of the burn duration, which is controlled by varying the amount of Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) in conjunction with the air to fuel ratio so as to maintain a near constant crank angle burn duration over a wide range of engine speeds.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injector has an injector body including a barrel and defining a nozzle chamber, a needle control chamber, and a nozzle outlet that opens to the nozzle chamber. The injector body further includes an actuation fluid inlet and an actuation fluid drain. A barrel defines an actuation fluid cavity and a piston bore, which includes an upper bore and a lower bore. Fuel is hydraulically pressurized in the nozzle chamber. A piston with a stepped top slides in the piston bore and moves in between a retracted position and an advanced position. A needle valve member in the nozzle chamber moves between an open position and a closed position. The needle valve member includes a closing hydraulic surface exposed to pressure in the needle control chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injection system according to the present invention comprises at least one hydraulically actuated fuel injector that includes an injector body that defines a fuel pressurization chamber. A pumping element having a stepped top is movably mounted in a pumping bore defined by the injector body, wherein the pumping element defines at least one internal passageway. The pumping element is movable a distance between a first position and a second position. A spill passage defined by the injector body is open to the fuel pressurization chamber via the at least one internal passageway over a portion of the distance.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injector includes an injector body that defines an actuation fluid passage, a low pressure area and a nozzle outlet. A piston having a hydraulic surface is positioned in the injector body and moveable a stroke distance between a retracted position and an advance position. At least one of the piston and injector body define a first cavity and a second cavity when the piston is located in an initial portion of its stroke distance. Before a first portion of the hydraulic surface is exposed to fluid pressure in the first cavity, and a second portion of the hydraulic surface is exposed to fluid pressure in the second cavity when the piston is in its initial portion of its stroke distance.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve with hydraulically assisted opening comprises a valve body that defines a fluid passage which includes an upstream segment and a downstream segment. Contained within the valve body is a moveable valve member which includes a hydraulic surface. The hydraulic surface is exposed to fluid pressure within the downstream segment of the fluid passage. When the valve member is in a closed position, the upstream segment of the fluid passage is closed to the downstream segment. The upstream segment is fluidly connected to the downstream segment when the valve member is away from the closed position.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine housing that defines a main combustion chamber separated from a precombustion chamber by a flame communication passage way. A source of gaseous fuel is fluidly connected to one end of a fuel supply passage. A check valve, which includes a valve body with a valve seat, and a valve member, is positioned between the other end of the fuel supply passage and the precombustion chamber. The valve member is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The valve body and the valve member define a fluid passage that fluidly connects the fuel supply passage to the precombustion chamber when the valve member is in its open position. The valve body and the valve member substantially fluidly isolate the valve seat from the precombustion chamber when the valve member is in its closed position.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method is disclosed for controlling the timing at which fuel is to be injected. In response to engine speed and temperature, a desired timing signal is produced. The desired timing angle represents when the start of injection is to occur in order to cause combustion at substantially Top Dead Center (TDC). The timing signal additionally accounts for a predetermined ignition delay from the time that fuel is injected to the start of combustion.

Abstract: An actuation fluid control valve for a hydraulically actuated fuel injector has a valve body having an inlet seat, a bore having a bore axis and a bore wall, an actuation control cavity, a low pressure actuation fluid drain, an actuation fluid inlet for admitting high pressure actuation fluid to the bore from outside the fuel injector, an inlet seat at a border between the actuation control cavity and the bore, and a drain seat at a border between the actuation control cavity and the actuation fluid drain. An actuator is attached with the valve body.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a fuel nozzle outlet and a plurality of passages, including high pressure actuation fluid passages, and low pressure drainage and vent passages. A piston with at least one hydraulic surface is movably disposed between retracted and advanced positions along a stroke distance in a piston bore defined by the injector body. When acted upon by high pressure actuation fluid, the piston, in cooperation with a plunger, advances from its initial retracted position a certain stroke distance before it uncovers and exposes an actuation fluid flow enhancement annulus. Exposure of the piston hydraulic surface(s) to the additional flow capacity provided via the actuation fluid flow enhancement annulus yields higher piston and plunger acceleration rates, resulting in sustained high piston acceleration and a higher peak fuel injection pressure and flow rate.

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: A Method and System and Apparatus for the organization, storage and retrieval of information from both computer databases and from hard copy files. The system uses a three dimensional graphical interface that aids the user in visualizing the virtual three dimensional organizational scheme of the invention. Each orthogonal face of the Filecube Virtual File Cabinet graphical interface is intended to represent different ways of organizing individual files. For instance, one face of the Filecube could represent the time based phases of a file, another face of the Filecube could represent different types of files and a third face of the Filecube could represent different categories of files. Each computer based and hard copy file contains identifier fields that identify each item of information associated with an individual file, whether it may be found in a computer database or in a hard copy file and a brief summary identifying the contents of each item of information.

Abstract: A fuel injector comprises an injector body that defines a high pressure passage and a nozzle outlet. The injector body includes a nozzle valve member that is positioned between the high pressure passage and the nozzle outlet. The nozzle valve member is rotatable between a closed position in which the nozzle outlet is blocked and an open position in which the nozzle outlet is open.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle housing which defines a passenger compartment. Attached to the vehicle housing is a hydraulic system, that includes a hydraulic fluid which flows through at least one passageway within the hydraulic system. Also attached to the vehicle housing is a passenger compartment heating system. The passenger compartment heating system includes a heat exchanger, wherein a portion of the heat exchanger is a segment of the at least one passageway of the hydraulic system.

Abstract: A hydraulically-actuated system includes a fixed displacement pump with at least one piston that reciprocates in a pump housing that defines a high pressure area and a low pressure area. A control valve is attached to the pump housing and moveable between a first position in which the piston displaces fluid in a first proportion between the high pressure area and the low pressure area, and a second position in which the piston displaces fluid in a second proportion between the high pressure area and the low pressure area. At least one hydraulically-actuated device is connected to the high pressure area of the pump. A source of low pressure fluid is connected to the low pressure area of the pump. An electronic control module is in communication with and capable of controlling the position of the control valve.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a tappet assembly mounted on an injector body. At least one of the tappet assembly and the injector body define a retention opening therethrough. A retention member is positioned in the retention opening and concealed by at least one of the tappet assembly and the injector body. The tappet assembly is moveable with respect to the injector body an unadjustable displacement distance between an advanced position and an extended position. The height of the retention opening is less than the unadjustable displacement distance.

Abstract: A noise reducing fuel injection system includes an engine having a head with an injector bore. A fuel injector is suspended in the injector bore via a noise reducing mounting bracket. The mounting bracket has a clamping portion that clamps to the fuel injector, a support that is attached to the engine and an arm portion extending between the clamping portion and the support. The fuel injector is allowed to slide a slight distance in and out of the injector bore when the engine is running by either making the arm portions slightly flexible, by including resilient members between the support and the engine, or both.

Abstract: A fuel injection pump with precipitate inhibiting features includes a pump body that defines a flushing fluid inlet and a flushing fluid outlet that open into a plunger bore. A plunger is positioned in the plunger bore and is moveable between a retracted position and an advanced position. The plunger has a first end separated from a second end by a side surface. A portion of the side surface and the plunger bore define a flush connection passage that connects the flushing fluid inlet to the flushing fluid outlet over a portion of the plunger's movement between its retracted position and its advanced position.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injector includes an injector body that defines an actuation fluid cavity and a nozzle outlet, and further defines a low pressure area and a fuel pressurization chamber in fluid communication with a spill passage. A pumping element is positioned in the injector body and moveable between a retracted position and an advanced position. The pumping element has a first end exposed to fluid pressure in the actuation fluid cavity and a second end exposed to fluid pressure in the fuel pressurization chamber. An electronic spill valve attached to the injector body is moveable between an open position in which the spill passage fluidly connects the fuel pressurization chamber to the low pressure area, and a closed position in which the spill passage is closed. Opening and closing of the spill valve during an injection event produces various rate shaping injection effects.

Abstract: A structure and method for electronically minimizing or eliminating performance variation of an apparatus controllable by a control signal, such as an electronically-controlled fuel injector, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of measuring the resultant characteristics of the apparatus at a plurality of operating conditions, such as timing and delivery characteristics of the fuel injector, adjusting the control signal as a function of the measured resultant characteristics, such as by adjusting a base timing and duration or pulse width of a fuel delivery command signal for a fuel injector, and controlling the apparatus in accordance with the adjusted control signal to reduce performance variation.