Abstract: Pumps and injectors having a control valve with an adjustable stroke for rate shaping and associated methods for operating a control valve are provided. The pump or injector comprises a body with a pumping chamber and a control valve chamber. A plunger is disposed in the pumping chamber. An actuatable control valve disposed in the control valve chamber controls fuel. The control valve includes a valve body moveable over an adjustable stroke range including opened and closed positions. The stroke range is adjustable to vary an effective open gap when the valve body is in the open position. An actuatable valve stop assembly adjacent to the control valve chamber includes a main body and a stop member that is moveable between extended and retracted positions.

Abstract: A diesel fuel injector pump comprising a housing having a pump chamber; a piston movable in said pumping chamber to develop a pumping force; a fuel outlet passage communicating with said pumping chamber for delivering pressurized fuel to a fuel injector, a low pressure fuel inlet connected to said pumping chamber; a low pressure fuel return, injection timing means comprising a relief chamber, a control valve having a first position permitting flow from said pumping chamber to said relief chamber, and a second position allowing the entire pumping chamber output to be directed into said fuel outlet passage; a solenoid means for operating said control valve; said solenoid means comprising an armature and an armature chamber; a first accumulator passage connecting said relief chamber to said fuel return; and a second accumulator passage connecting said armature chamber to said fuel inlet.

Abstract: A short-hole drill bit and short-hole drilling method in which a drill bit has a unitary body with a substantially V-shaped flute and a support pad are provided. The unitary body has a shank portion and a working portion. The flute extends axially along the working portion, and defines a cutting edge and a passive edge at the body periphery. The support pad is located along a portion of the body periphery. The support pad is located with respect to the cutting edge based on a normal cutting force and a tangential cutting force at the cutting edge. The resultant cutting force is directed at the support pad to cause the support pad to center the short-hole drill bit during operation.

Abstract: A fuel pump for a vehicular diesel fuel pump member having a control valve assembly which includes a housing having a control valve chamber, and an actuatable control valve disposed in the control valve chamber. The control valve includes a piston valve body axially movable over a motion displacement interval between first and second positions. The motion displacement interval is defined by first and second sub-intervals bounded by the first and second positions, respectively. The control valve assembly further includes means for actuating the control valve. A valve stop is disposed in the housing adjacent the control valve chamber, and a piston valve body seat contacts the valve stop whenever the piston valve body is in the second position. The piston valve body seat contacts a pump body seating surface whenever the piston valve body is in the first position.

Abstract: Methods of swaging fuel injector pump components are provided. A method of securing an armature plate to a control valve of a solenoid-actuated fuel injector pump comprises: (1) providing a control valve stem extending from the control valve, the stem having a body with a body width, a head with a head width narrower than the body width, and a neck with a neck width narrower than the head width, the neck forming an annular groove between the head and body; (2) providing a central aperture formed in the armature plate having an aperture width between the head and body widths; and (3) forcing the stem into the central aperture in a manner to cause a portion of the armature plate to deform into the groove to secure the armature plate to the stem.

Abstract: A fuel injector assembly for an internal combustion engine includes an injector body having a control valve in fluid communication with a source of fuel. A fuel nozzle assembly is employed to disperse fuel from the assembly. A high pressure fuel passage provides fluid communication between the control valve and the fuel nozzle assembly. The high pressure fuel passage has at least one end opening through the injector body and having an inner diameter. A shape memory alloy plug seals the open end of the fuel passage. The plug has a first diameter smaller than the inner diameter when inserted into the open end and a second diameter in sealing engagement with the inner diameter upon undergoing a metallurgical phase change from martinsite to austenite such that the plug generates a seal with the fuel passage. In addition, a method of making the fuel injector assembly employing a shape memory alloy plug to seal the high pressure fuel passage is also disclosed.

Abstract: An eccentric member for coupling a fuel injector to an internal combustion engine cylinder head. The apparatus includes eccentric members that are rotatable to align fuel coupling components to compensate for gross accumulated component dimension tolerances, thereby allowing the use of economical and reliable O-rings to compensate for remaining tolerances. Embodiments of the apparatus include an eccentric, a coupling member and adapters having off-center fuel passages.

Abstract: An electromechanically actuated fuel injector and a solenoid stator assembly for an electromechanically actuated fuel injector are disclosed. The solenoid stator assembly comprises a cup shaped stator core assembly comprised of a plurality of magneto-conductive wire members of a predetermined length arranged in parallel, adjacent and abutting relationship relative to an adjacent wire member. These wire members are bound at one end thereof for some length less than the entire length of the wire members to form a central pole piece, and splayed umbrella like about the central pole piece at the opposite end thereof to form a first pole piece in concentrically spaced relationship relative to said center pole piece. The stator core thereby has a circular top portion and an open end disposed opposite said top portion and facing an armature in the fuel injector.

Abstract: A device is provided for pumping fuel through an internal combustion engine, comprising a pump cylinder and a piston reciprocable within the pump cylinder to define a pump chamber open at one end in which fuel is pressurized during a pump stroke of the piston. A fuel supply means is provided for supplying fuel to the pump chamber. The fuel supply means includes an electromagnetically actuated fuel control valve having an armature secured thereto, with the armature residing in a fuel-filled armature cavity. The armature electromagnetically cycled between a first position closing the fuel control valve and thereby closing the flow of fuel to the pumping chamber and a second position opening the control valve thereby allowing fuel to flow to the pumping chamber.

Abstract: A device is provided for pumping fuel through an internal combustion engine, comprising a pump cylinder and a piston reciprocable within the pump cylinder to define a pump chamber open at one end in which fuel is pressurized during a pump stroke of the piston. A fuel supply means is provided for supplying fuel to the pump chamber. The fuel supply means includes an electromagnetically actuated fuel control valve having an armature secured thereto, with the armature residing in a fuel-filled armature cavity. The armature electromagnetically cycled between a first position closing the fuel control valve and thereby closing the flow of fuel to the pumping chamber and a second position opening the control valve thereby allowing fuel to flow to the pumping chamber.

Abstract: A high-pressure electromagnetic fuel injector having a dual-function valve directly controlled by an electric solenoid. Fuel pressure in a control volume chamber is controlled by the dual-function valve, and a separate control valve is controlled as a function of fuel pressure in the control volume chamber. A spray tip valve is, in turn, controlled as a function of the pressure of fuel controlled by the control valve to inject fuel through a spray tip orifice. The dual-function valve spills fuel during and after the control valve closes, thus reducing the amount of uncontrolled fuel at the end of an injection. The dual-function valve also provides a drain path through which to vent any fuel that leaks past the control valve.

Abstract: A fuel injector including a housing having a fuel passage connectable at one end to a source of fuel for the ingress or egress of fuel at a suitable supply pressure, a fuel supply chamber in flow communication with the fuel passage, a pump cylinder in the housing, an externally actuated plunger reciprocable in the pump cylinder at a predetermined clearance therewith and defining at one end thereof a pump chamber open at one end for the discharge of fuel during a pump stroke and for fuel intake during a suction stroke of said plunger. The plunger includes a piston and a push rod concentrically located within the piston along an axis thereof, and fixed thereto to preclude relative axial movement along such axis.

Abstract: A common rail fuel system, primarily including a high-pressure fuel pump, a rail, fuel injection nozzles, and an electronic control system, is disclosed. A substantially constant fuel pressure is maintained within the rail by the fuel pump under the direction of the electronic control system. The pressurized fuel is communicated to the fuel injection nozzles, which are also under the direction of the electronic control system, thereby providing fuel at injection pressure immediately upon the actuation of the fuel injection nozzles by the electronic control system. The pump incorporates leakage fuel during each stroke without the necessity of rerouting the leakage fuel through a primary supply. This reduces the total amount of fuel pumped and improves metering accuracy.

Abstract: A spray injector nozzle for a diesel engine fuel injector particularly suited for methanol and other low cetane liquid fuels constructed in a manner to effectively disburse fuel to the combustion chamber and maintain to a minimum hydrocarbon emissions, and substantially control or eliminate the build up of harmful deposits at the injector orifice. The spray injector nozzle is provided with an inner main cavity and an inner second cavity portion capable of flow communication with a pressurized fuel supply and a plurality of spray outlets to communicate the fuel to the combustion chamber. A retractable needle is utilized to engage an inner valve seat and completely block the flow of fuel communication to the spray outlets with the spray outlets located high in the valve seat of the spray nozzle. In one form, the nozzle includes a ball or other insert member completely filling the sac portion of a valve covered orifice type injection tip.