Abstract: Reducing leakage within fuel injectors is one way in which the efficiency of the overall fuel injection system can be improved. In most fuel injectors that include a direct control needle valve, the needle valve member is still biased toward a closed position by a spring that is located in a spring chamber connected to a low pressure vent. In many instances, the needle valve member is guided in a tight clearance region adjacent the spring chamber. Since the internal plumbing of the fuel injector is connected to a high pressure rail during and between injection events, static leakage across the guide region of the needle valve member can reduce efficiency. Static leakage is reduced in the present invention by connecting the spring chamber to the common rail instead of to a low pressure vent.

Abstract: In an evaporative emission-control system having a canister for trapping a fuel-vapor evaporated from the fuel tank and a purge control valve for executing a purging, an amount of fuel-vapor trapped in the canister is measured while the engine is stopped or in an idle state. The trapped fuel-vapor is purged from the canister and mixed with an air-fuel mixture when the amount of fuel-vapor trapped in the canister is sufficient for diagnosis while the vehicle is running in a predetermined driving condition. In this purge operation, a concentration of a vapor-laden air from the canister is measured and the occurrence of an abnormal state of the evaporative emission-control system is determined when a change of the concentration of the vapor-laden air after the purging is less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A position sensor for a valve or the like includes a first electrode disposed about the valve or a member associated therewith in a manner that the interfacial area betwen the valve and the electrode remains constant irrespective of the position of the valve. One or more second electrodes are disposed in a manner that the interfacial area between the valve and the electrode varies with the position of the valve. By sensing the change in electrostatic capacity between the electrodes the position of the valve may be detected. The sensor finds application in a fuel injection pump wherein it permits a very compact solenoid (motor)/sensor arrangement.

Abstract: Two embodiments of fuel injection systems for two cycle crankcase compression internal combustion engines that employ two fuel injectors. One fuel injector injects into the combustion chamber while another injects into the induction system of the engine. A simplified regulating system is incorporated so that the first injector receives fuel under a higher pressure than the second injector.

Abstract: The supercharge pressure and the pressure differential which develops between the supercharge pressure and the exhaust gas pressure upstream of a turbocharger turbine are monitored. In the event that the supercharge pressure is below a target level which is determined to optimal for the instant set of operating conditions, a first injection reduction amount is calculated. To allow for the effect of very sudden accelerations wherein the pressure differential tends to become large and the charging efficiency of the engine tends to reduce, a second reduction amount is calculated based on the difference between the actual differential and a target value for the instant set of operating conditions. The second reduction amount is also subtracted from the injection volume which is calculated based on the engine speed and a signal which is indicative of the power demand on the engine (the accelerator pedal depression degree).

Abstract: A rotatable element is disposed in the central plenum of a minifold which rotates in response to the flow of the air-fuel mixture through the plenum and manifold. The rotation of the element enhances the atomization of entrained liquid fuel droplets in the flow and redirects the flow uniformly to all port runners. The rotatable element may include vanes for causing its rotation.

Abstract: In an ejector pump provided within a saddle-shaped fuel tank for an automotive vehicle to feed fuel from a subchamber to a main chamber through a suction pipe due to a vacuum generated by fuel returned from an engine to the fuel tank via a return pipe, the ejector pump comprises a return pipe connecting portion connected to the return pipe; a suction pipe connecting portion connected to the suction pipe; a nozzle formed at an end of the return pipe connecting portion; a pump housing coupled to the two pipe connecting portions, for forming a vacuum chamber and a throat portion; and in particular elastic reverse-conical shaped check valve provided within the return pipe connecting portion to prevent fuel from flowing reversely from the fuel tank in case of trouble. Further, since the check valve can be used in common with a sealing member and further with the nozzle, it is possible to simplify the ejector pump structure and assembly work without reducing the fuel tank capacity.

Abstract: A centrifugal governor for an internal combustion engine having a bosshead (2) which can be displaced axially along a governor driving shaft (1) by centrifugal weights (3) and a governor lever (7), the pivoted position of which is controlled by the axial movement of the bosshead (2). Axial motion of the bosshead (2) is converted to pivotal motion of the governor lever (4) by a pair of bearings (5) mounted on the latter and having outer raceways (6) which roll on the bosshead (2).

Abstract: A fuel injection pump for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine includes a bore containing a cam actuated pumping plunger. The bore is connected to an outlet during inward movement of the plunger and a spill valve including a spill valve member is operable to spill fuel from the bore to prevent delivery of fuel to the associated engine. The spill valve member includes a piston portion slidable in a cylinder to which fuel under pressure from the bore can be admitted to move the spill valve member to the open position against the action of a spring. The admission of fuel under pressure to the cylinder can be effected by an electromagnetically operable valve or by the use of a control sleeve, recesses on the internal surface of which in conjunction with porting in a rotary part of the pump, form a control valve.

Abstract: A number of electrically-operated fuel injectors are mounted in a fuel rail assembly, and electrical circuit connections to the injectors are provided by an electrical connector which contains a flexible strip onto a lengthwise edge of which are disposed electrical outlet terminals for making connection of individual conductor paths on the strip to the individual injectors. Electrical inlet terminals are also disposed on the strip to provide for connection to a source of signals for operating the injectors.

Abstract: The system comprises: at least one spark plug, at least one ignition coil whose secondary winding is connected to the plug, a power transistor whose output path is in series with the primary winding of the coil between the two terminals of a direct-current voltage supply, and a control circuit for switching the transistor from the cut-off condition to the saturated condition to enable current to flow in the primary winding of the coil in order to generate a spark. Conveniently, the control circuit is arranged to switch the transistor progressively from the cut-off condition to the saturated condition, in dependence on the voltage detected between the terminals of its output path by the application of a driver signal which is first continuous and then pulsed.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, fuel is injected through the injector into the internal combustion engine in non-synchronism with a predetermined crank angle or a predetermined ignition timing each time when the intake air pipe pressure traverses a predetermined set value from the smaller value side to the larger value side. In another aspect of the present invention, the fuel injection is effected in non-synchronism with the predetermined crank angle or the predetermined ignition timing when the intake air pipe pressure traverses a second predetermined value which is selected among a plurality of predetermined set values (the second predetermined value being larger in the absolute value than a first set value, and being close to the first set value) in a case that a time of traversing the first and second set values of the intake air pipe pressure is shorter than a predetermined time.

Abstract: A rotary distributor fuel injection pump having a timing piston for controlling the fuel injection timing in accordance with opposed fuel pressures in advance and back pressure chambers at opposite ends of the piston, a restricted passage for supplying fuel at a restricted rate to the back pressure chamber, a pressure relief valve for limiting the back pressure, a dump valve for dumping the back pressure to advance the timing for starting and a rotary inlet metering valve having a bleed port connected to the back pressure chamber and a helical metering edge which cooperates with the bleed port to control the bleed rate and therefore the timing in relation to engine load to provide a light load advance or light load retard.

Abstract: The invention provides a fuel feed system for an internal combustion engine, the system including a vapor separator having a wall defining a fuel chamber adapted to contain a supply of fuel and having therein an inlet, an outlet and a fuel vapor outlet, and a float drive for affording communication between the fuel vapor outlet and the chamber when the supply of fuel is below a predetermined level, the float valve including a spring engaged with a valve member for applying constant force to the valve member when the valve is closed.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for injection carburetors includes an orifice, a constant flow rate control device, and a fuel supply source and is provided with a first fuel channel circulating fuel of a predetermined flow rate, a second fuel channel branching off from the first fuel channel between the orifice and the constant flow rate control device for injecting the fuel into a suction tube of the carburetor, an air flow rate detecting device capable of detecting a flow rate of air flowing through the suction tube, and a fuel ejection control device capable of metering the flow rate of fuel to be ejected so that a pressure difference with atmospheric pressure which is detected by the air flow rate detecting device is balanced with a fuel pressure difference between the upstream side and the downstream side of the orifice.

Abstract: A method for varying the flow rate of fuel in a distributor-type electronic control fuel-injection pump. A single solenoid valve is used to control the timing of initiating and terminating fuel delivery. A cam is operated under four different modes, a low idle or a low speed/low load zone, a middle load zone, a high load zone, and a governing or high idle zone in that order as the cam is rotated. At the governing or high idle zone, the solenoid valve is closed before the cam is lifted and is opened to control fuel delivery when it is terminated.

Abstract: A pulse width modulated solenoid-actuated valve and a vacuum-actuated valve for cooperatively associated such that the purge system possesses both accurate control at low purge flows and the capacity for handling much higher flows. The two valves are in parallel paths between the canister and the manifold. Below a certain duty cycle of the solenoid-actuated valve, only its path is open. At higher duty cycles, both flow paths are open. An orifice is provided in the flow path containing the solenoid-actuated valve so that as this valve increasingly opens, a vacuum signal at a tap between the orifice and the solenoid-actuated valve also increases. This vacuum signal is applied to a control port of the vacuum-actuated valve to cause the latter to open upon attainment of a certain flow through the solenoid-actuated valve.

Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator (10) for automobiles and the like comprises a body lower portion (11), an upper cover (12) and a resilient diaphragm (66) therebetween. The resilient diaphragm (66) separates an upper chamber (61) from a fuel outlet chamber (21). A passageway (22) extends between the fuel outlet chamber and a fuel inlet chamber (14). A spherical ball valve (29) and a cylindrical valve seat (26) are positioned at one end of the passageway (22). A removable plug (32) carries guide legs (33) for guiding the ball valve (29) and further carries a biasing spring (31) for biasing the ball valve (29) into a closed seating position. A piston (51) is positioned below the resilient diaphragm in the fuel outlet chamber (21) and has depending therefrom an elongated stem (52) which is received in a stem guide (53), with the stem guide having a tapered portion (54) extending into the passageway (22).

Abstract: A self-diagnosing fuel-purging system includes a plurality of temperature sensors for detecting temperatures of an adsorbent in a fuel processing apparatus at different points. The system causes fuel previously adsorbed onto the adsorbent to be purged, and then, determines the state of the fuel adsorbed onto the adsorbent on the basis of the temperatures detected by means of the temperature sensors while fuel-purging is stopped. After the state of the fuel adsorbed onto the adsorbent becomes a predetermined state, the system determines abnormality in itself on the basis of temperature drop of the adsorbent detected by at least one of the temperature sensors while performing fuel-purging.

Abstract: A fuel rail for a side- or bottom- fed injector wherein the rail contains conductors, and the injectors are connected to the conductors simultaneously with the insertion of the injectors into through-holes in the rail.