Abstract: A method and apparatus for injecting fluid into a machine are disclosed. A fluid injector is disclosed having a nozzle body with at least one fluid injection orifice therein and being configured for transmitting fluid toward the injection orifice. The nozzle body may have a generally curved internal wall at an end portion of the nozzle body. A check member may be movably arranged inside the nozzle body for affecting fluid flow through the injection orifice. The check member may have (i) a recessed region on the surface of the check member and (ii) a generally curved region at an end portion of the check member. The check member may be movable to a flow blocking position in which (i) the check member engages the nozzle body to prevent fluid flow through the injection orifice, (ii) the recessed region is disposed proximate the injection orifice, and (iii) a chamber volume exists between the end portion of the nozzle body and the end portion of the check member.

Abstract: Mixing of lubrication fluid and pumped fluid within a pump can undermine lubricity of the lubrication fluid and/or contaminate the pumped fluid (e.g. fuel) with lubrication fluid. In order to reduce mixing of fluids within a high pressure pump of the present disclosure, a lubrication fluid is supplied to the high pressure pump. A low pressure pump supplies a second fluid to the high pressure pump. The pressure of the second fluid is increased within at least one piston bore of the high pressure pump. Mixing of the lubrication fluid and the second fluid is reduced by fluidly connecting a weep annulus which is opened to the at least one piston bore to a low pressure pump inlet of the low pressure pump.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve includes a valve body defining an inlet configured to receive fluid from a fluid system, a pressure control orifice ending in a valve seat, and a guideway extending from the valve seat. The pressure relief valve further includes a valve closing member configured to abut the valve seat in a closed position and to be displaced from the valve seat in an open position, thereby releasing pressure from the fluid system. The pressure relief valve also includes a flow member including a stem and a flow plate. The stem is operably associated with the valve closing member and is configured to reciprocate within the guideway. The pressure relief valve further includes a valve spring operably associated with the valve body.

Abstract: In order to prevent damage to a drive component, fail safe devices are often used to break a rotational coupling between an apparatus, such as a pump, and the drive component, such as a crank shaft of an engine, in the event of the apparatus seizing. In order to break the coupling between a drive component and an apparatus, the rotational coupling includes a coupler that is operable to rotate in a first direction attached to a shaft via a threaded fastener. A predetermined break away torque is set by tightening the threaded fastener in a direction opposite than the first direction with a predetermined tightening torque. A torque transmission interface includes opposing surfaces of the coupler and the shaft that remain fixed relative to one another below a predetermined break away torque and move relative to one another above the predetermined break away torque.

Abstract: A valve has a housing defining an interior of the valve. The valve has a first passage in the housing and a second passage in the housing. The valve has a flow limiter movable between a first position at which the first passage is in fluid communication with the second passage and a second position at which the first passage is not in fluid communication with the second passage. The valve has a flow restriction device movable between a first position at which a first flow rate is permitted into the interior of the valve and a second position at which a second flow rate is permitted out of the interior of the valve. The first flow rate is greater than the second flow rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high speed control valves which are especially applicable for use in fuel injection systems. Producing a valve with a quick response time within acceptable packaging constraints and with a structure that allows the valve to be mass produced with consistent performance between valves is extremely problematic. By moving flow restrictions within the valve away from the valve seats, flow forces on the valve member can be reduced, while possibly also permitting a reduction in the necessary travel distance of the valve member to improve response time and other performance characteristics. The valve is particularly applicable in controlling hydraulic pressure applied to the closing hydraulic surface of a direct control needle valve in a fuel injector.

Abstract: A method is provided for predicting a quality characteristic of a product to be manufactured. The method may integrate one or more of feature and tolerance information associated with the product, manufacturing characteristic information associated with the manufacture of the product, measurement capability characteristic information associated with the manufacture of the product, assembly characteristic information associated with an assembly of the product, and desired quality characteristic information associated with the product. Based on the integrated information, the quality characteristic of the product may be predicted.

Abstract: A common rail fuel injection system addresses three basic issues involving all common rail fuel injection systems. These include high performance, low variability and high efficiency. These issues are addressed by combining pressure intensification with a three way needle control valve, which exhibits substantial leakage only during a brief instant when the valve is moving between seats. A quick acting needle control valve tightly coupled to a responsive direct control needle valve, as modified by relative timing with a flow control valve, can produce a wide variety of fuel injection rate shapes, including up to five or more discrete injections per engine cycle.

Abstract: In one class of fuel injection systems, the individual fuel injectors cycle between high and low pressure during and between injection sequences in a given engine cycle. The fuel injectors may be hydraulically actuated, mechanically actuated, and possibly include common rail injectors equipped with an admission valve that enable the fuel injectors to cycle between high and low pressures. Many of these fuel injection systems also include a directly controlled nozzle valve that can apply or relieve pressure on a closing hydraulic surface associated with the nozzle valve. The nozzle valve is typically spring-biased and therefore has a pre-defined valve opening pressure that defines at what fuel pressure the nozzle valve will open when pressure is relieved on its closing hydraulic surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for predicting a quality characteristic of a product to be manufactured. The method may integrate one or more of feature and tolerance information associated with the product, manufacturing characteristic information associated with the manufacture of the product, measurement capability characteristic information associated with the manufacture of the product, assembly characteristic information associated with an assembly of the product, and desired quality characteristic information associated with the product. Based on the integrated information, the quality characteristic of the product may be predicted.

Abstract: A method is provided for predicting a quality characteristic of a product to be manufactured. The method may integrate one or more of feature and tolerance information associated with the product, manufacturing characteristic information associated with the manufacture of the product, measurement capability characteristic information associated with the manufacture of the product, assembly characteristic information associated with an assembly of the product, and desired quality characteristic information associated with the product. Based on the integrated information, the quality characteristic of the product may be predicted.