Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a high pressure passage, a low pressure passage, a control passage, a fuel inlet, and a nozzle outlet. The injector body includes upper surface and a lower surface that partially define an armature cavity. The injector body also defines a fluid displacement passage that is separated from the upper surface and the lower surface and extends between the armature cavity and a low pressure area. The fluid displacement passage is positioned and sized such that an amount of oil is always maintained in the armature cavity at least to a level below the fluid displacement passage but above the lower surface. In addition, the fluid displacement passage is sized and positioned to ensure adequate drainage for cold start, yet provide a flow restriction especially at idle conditions to produce sufficient valve damping that a substantial reduction in impact noise occurs.

Abstract: An engine comprises a hydraulic system attached to an engine housing that includes a high pressure pump and a hydraulic fluid flowing through at least one passageway. A fan drive system is also attached to the engine housing and includes a hydraulic motor and a fan which can move air over the engine. The hydraulic motor includes an inlet fluidly connected to the at least one passageway.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated device includes a device body which defines an inlet passage and an outlet passage. The inlet passage is separated from the outlet passage by a first valve seat and a second valve seat. The device body also defines a control passage that opens into an area between the first valve seat and the second valve seat. Trapped between the first valve seat and the second valve seat is a ball valve member. When the ball valve member is in contact with the first valve seat, it acts to close the inlet passage to the control passage. Likewise, when the ball valve member is in contact with the second valve seat, it acts to close the outlet passage to the control passage. Attached to the device body is an electrical actuator. When the electrical actuator is de-energized, a compression spring positioned in the device body biases the ball valve member into contact with the first valve seat.

Abstract: A solenoid actuated valve includes a valve body that defines a first passage and a second passage. The solenoid is attached to the valve body and has an armature. A multi-piece valve member is attached to the armature. At least one of the multi-piece valve member and valve body define a small passage and a large passage. The multi-piece valve member has a first configuration in which both the small and large passages are closed. The multi-piece valve member has a second configuration in which the small passage is open between the first passage and the second passage, but the large passage remains closed. The multi-piece valve member has a third configuration in which the large passage is open between the first passage and the second passage. The valve finds a preferred application as a control valve in a hydraulically-actuated fuel injector.

Abstract: A fuel injector nozzle assembly includes a nozzle body that defines a nozzle outlet. A needle valve member is positioned in the nozzle body and moveable between a first position in which the nozzle outlet is blocked and a second position in which the nozzle outlet is open. At least one of the nozzle body and the needle valve member define a first chamber fluidly connected to a second chamber by at least one dual flow rate orifice. The needle valve member displaces fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber through the at least one dual flow rate orifice when moving from its first position to its second position. The dual flow rate orifice is sized and shaped to produce a flow restriction and to slow the movement of the needle valve member when moving from its closed position to its open position, but permit relatively unrestricted displacement flow in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A hydraulically-actuated fuel injector includes an injector body that defines an actuation fluid inlet that is open to a first actuation fluid cavity, and a second actuation fluid cavity that is connected to the first actuation fluid cavity via a connection passage. The injector body also defines at least one actuation fluid drain. A source of relatively high pressure actuation fluid is connected to the actuation fluid inlet. A relatively low pressure reservoir is connected to the at least one actuation fluid drain. A control valve is attached to the injector body and is moveable between a first position in which the second actuation fluid cavity is open to the first actuation fluid cavity, and a second position in which the second actuation fluid cavity is open to the at least one actuation fluid drain.

Abstract: An electronically controlled device, such as a fuel injector, includes a first solenoid and a second solenoid attached to the injector body. An electrical circuit is attached to the injector body, and includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal connected to the first solenoid and the second solenoid. The electrical circuit permits energization of one of the first solenoid and the second solenoid when electrical current flows in either direction between the first terminal and the second terminal. However, the electrical circuit permits energization of the other of the first solenoid and the second solenoid only when current flows in a single direction between the first terminal and the second terminal.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the on-time of each hydraulically-actuated fuel injector within a hydraulically-actuated fuel injection system is disclosed. At least two spray tests are performed on the fuel injector prior to its installation in a fuel injection system. The fuel injector is marked with a bar-code capable of representing these results. Immediately prior to installing the fuel injector into the fuel injection system, the bar-code on the fuel injector is scanned and the results of the spray tests are stored in a memory unit accessible to the electronic control module. These results are used to develop a unique electronic trim solution for the fuel injector. The performance of the fuel injector is then adjusted using the electronic trim solution to enable the performance of the fuel injector to approach that of a nominal injector.

Abstract: A fuel injector comprises an injector body which defines a nozzle chamber that is separated from a plurality of outlet orifices by a conical valve seat. An outwardly opening valve member, which is at least partially positioned in the injector body, includes a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure outside the injector body. The valve member is movable between a closed position, in which the conical valve seat is closed, and an open position.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a low pressure space, a trapped volume and a fuel pressurization chamber in fluid communication with a nozzle outlet. A needle valve member is positioned in the injector body and moveable between an inject position in which the fuel pressurization chamber is open to the nozzle outlet, and a closed position in which the nozzle outlet is blocked to the fuel pressurization chamber. The needle valve member includes a lifting hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in the fuel pressurization chamber, and a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in the trapped volume. At least one of the needle valve member and the injector body define a pressure release passage extending between the trapped volume and the low pressure space. A pressure regulating valve is positioned in the pressure release passage, and has a regulating valve member that is moveable to an open position when fluid pressure in the trapped volume is above pop-off pressure.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injector includes an injector body containing an intensifier piston with a hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a hydraulic pressure cavity. This hydraulic surface includes an annular taper and moves within a bore due to the pressure in the hydraulic pressure cavity. Prior to the injection event, the intensifier piston is in a retracted position that partially blocks at least one actuation fluid supply passage. At the initiation of the injection event, the partial blocking of the actuation fluid passage results in a slower initial movement rate of the intensifier piston. The injection flow rate is a function of the speed of the intensifier piston. The initial rate shaping is accomplished by controlling the initial speed of the intensifier piston by at least partially blocking one or more of the actuation fluid supply passages.

Abstract: An engine includes a high pressure hydraulic system having a high pressure pump and at least one hydraulically-actuated device attached to an engine housing. A low pressure engine lubricating system is attached to the engine housing and includes a circulation conduit fluidly connected to an outlet from the high pressure pump.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a first body with a first conical valve seat and a locating bore centered about a first axis. A second body is press fit attached to the first body and has a second conical valve seat with a second axis positioned in opposition to the first conical valve seat. An elongated valve member with a centerline has an upper conical valve surface and a lower conical valve surface trapped between the first conical valve seat and the second conical valve seat. A guide portion of the elongated valve member moves in a guide bore defined by one of the first body and the second body. The first axis, the second axis and the centerline are concentrically linked via the press fit attachment of the second body in the locating bore of the first body. The valve assembly is preferably utilized as a needle control valve assembly in a fuel injector.

Abstract: A heavy diesel fuel injection pump with precipitate build-up inhibiting features includes a pump body that defines a plunger bore. The plunger has a top end separated from a bottom end by a side surface, and is moveable in the plunger bore between a retracted position and an advanced position. A portion of the plunger bore and the bottom end of the plunger define a pump chamber containing heavy diesel fuel. The top end of the plunger is exposed to lubricating oil. The lubricating oil mixes with the heavy diesel fuel along a guide portion of the side surface of the plunger that has a tight clearance with respect to the plunger bore. At least one of the pump body and the guide portion of the plunger define a plurality of cleaning grooves located adjacent the guide portion.

Abstract: A hydraulically-actuated fuel injector includes an injector body that defines an actuation fluid inlet, a first actuation fluid passage, a second actuation fluid passage, a fuel inlet and a nozzle outlet. A solenoid actuated control valve is attached to the injector body and includes a spool valve member moveable between a first position and a second position. The actuation fluid inlet is closed to the first actuation fluid passage and open to the second actuation fluid passage when the spool valve member is in its first position. The actuation fluid inlet is open to the first actuation fluid passage and closed to the second actuation fluid passage when the spool valve member is in its second position. A piston is positioned in the injector body and moveable between a retracted position and an advanced position. The piston has an upper end exposed to fluid pressure in the first actuation fluid passage.

Abstract: A plunger and barrel assembly includes a barrel that defines a plunger bore. A plunger having a pressure face end and a side surface is positioned in the plunger bore and moveable between an advanced position and a retracted position. An O-ring is in contact with the side surface of the plunger and the plunger bore. At least one of the plunger and the barrel define a receiver volume that opens into the plunger bore. A compressible member is positioned in the receiver volume.

Abstract: A fuel injection pump, preferably for use with relatively large diesel engines employing heavy diesel fuel, includes a pump body that defines a portion of a fuel pressurization chamber in fluid communication with a fuel outlet and a spill passage. The pump body also defines a pressure control chamber and an actuation fluid passage. A spill valve member, which has a pressure surface is exposed to fluid pressure in the pressure control chamber and is moveable between an inject position that blocks the spill passage and a spill position that opens the spill passage. An electronically controlled valve has a control valve member that is moveable between a first position in which the actuation fluid passage is open to the pressure control chamber, and a second position in which the actuation fluid passage is blocked to the pressure control chamber.

Abstract: A control valve, preferably for use in a fuel injector, includes a valve body that defines a first passage and a second passage. A solenoid is attached to the valve body and has an armature. A multi piece valve member is attached to the armature and is positioned in the valve body. The multi piece valve member is moveable between a first position in which the first passage is open to the second passage, and a second position in which the first passage is closed to the second passage. The multi piece valve member includes a second valve member piece moveable with respect to a first valve member piece between a contact position in which a portion of the second valve member piece is in contact with the first valve member piece, and a separated position in which the portion is a distance away from the first valve member piece. A damping spring is compressed between the second valve member piece and the first valve member piece when the second valve member piece is in its separated position.

Abstract: A hydraulically-actuated fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a high pressure inlet, a low pressure drain, an upper actuation fluid cavity, a lower actuation fluid cavity, and a nozzle outlet. A piston is positioned in the injector body and moveable between a retracted position and an advanced position. A control valve is attached in the injector body and includes a spool valve member that is moveable between a first position and a second position. When the spool valve member is in its first position, the piston is biased toward its retracted position since the upper actuation fluid cavity is open to the low pressure drain, but the lower actuation fluid cavity is open to the high pressure inlet. During an injection event, the spool valve member is moved to its second position where the upper actuation fluid cavity is open to the high pressure inlet, but the lower actuation fluid cavity is open to the low pressure drain.