Abstract: An actuator unit has a tube spring (32), a piezoelectric actuator (31), that is inserted into the tube spring (32), a first cap (33), that is connected to the tube spring (32) at a first free end of the tube spring (32) and which is adjoined by the piezoelectric actuator (31), a tube-shaped body 38, that is connected to the tube spring (32) by joining and is arranged in the area of a second free end (35) of the tube spring (32), and a device for pretensioning, that is supported by the tube-shaped body (38) and pretensions the piezoelectric actuator (31). The actuator unit is simple and cheap to manufacture.

Abstract: A fluid injector has a housing, an actuator unit and a valve body (2). The valve body (2) has a needle (22), which closes or opens a nozzle (213) depending on its position and comprises a guided zone (221). It further has a first part (21), which is arranged in a fixed position relative to the nozzle (213) and has a guided zone (215). It further has a second part (24), which has a first guide zone (242), that guides the guided zone (221) of the needle (22), and which has a second guide zone (243), that guides the guided zone (215) of the first part (21), with the second guide zone (242) having a greater diameter than the first guide zone (242).

Abstract: A device suitable for charging a battery includes at least a first and a second transistor. The transistors are connected to an input voltage and have output terminals; the output terminal of the first transistor is connected to the battery. The device comprises a circuit for driving the transistors and the drive circuit comprises a regulator suitable for regulating the current in the battery during the charging phase of the battery. The regulator is suitable for keeping the voltage on the output terminals of the transistors the same during the charging phase of the battery.

Abstract: A fluid injector has a housing, an actuator unit and a valve body (2). The valve body (2) has a needle (22), which closes or opens a nozzle (213) depending on its position and comprises a guided zone (221). It further has a first part (21), which is arranged in a fixed position relative to the nozzle (213) and has a guided zone (215). It further has a second part (24), which has a first guide zone (242), that guides the guided zone (221) of the needle (22), and which has a second guide zone (243), that guides the guided zone (215) of the first part (21), with the second guide zone (242) having a greater diameter than the first guide zone (242).

Abstract: A device suitable for charging a battery includes at least a first and a second transistor. The transistors are connected to an input voltage and have output terminals; the output terminal of the first transistor is connected to the battery. The device comprises a circuit for driving the transistors and the drive circuit comprises a regulator suitable for regulating the current in the battery during the charging phase of the battery. The regulator is suitable for keeping the voltage on the output terminals of the transistors the same during the charging phase of the battery.

Abstract: An actuator unit has a tube spring (32), a piezoelectric actuator (31), that is inserted into the tube spring (32), a first cap (33), that is connected to the tube spring (32) at a first free end of the tube spring (32) and which is adjoined by the piezoelectric actuator (31), a tube-shaped body 38, that is connected to the tube spring (32) by joining and is arranged in the area of a second free end (35) of the tube spring (32), and a device for pretensioning, that is supported by the tube-shaped body (38) and pretensions the piezoelectric actuator (31). The actuator unit is simple and cheap to manufacture.

Abstract: An armature lift assembly for a fuel injector is disclosed. The assembly includes a body having an upstream end, a downstream end, and a longitudinal body channel extending therethrough and an armature/needle assembly which is reciprocably disposed in the body along the longitudinal body channel. The assembly further includes a first tube having an upstream end, a downstream end fixedly connected to the upstream end of the body, and a first tube channel. The assembly also includes a second tube located within the first tube channel and fixedly connected to the first tube. The second tube has an upstream end and a downstream end. The downstream end of the second tube is spaced a distance from the upstream end of the armature/needle assembly approximately equal to a lift distance of the armature/needle assembly. A method of setting armature/needle lift in a fuel injector is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel injector preferably has a body, a closure member, a piezoelectric device, and a hydraulic thermal compensator. The body extends along an axis. The closure member is displaceable with respect to the body between a first configuration and a second configuration. The first configuration prevents fuel flow through the body, and the second configuration permits fuel flow through the body. The piezoelectric device displaces the closure member from the first configuration to the second configuration. The compensator is coupled with the piezoelectric device and includes a first tube, a second tube, a piston, and fluid. The first tube extends along the axis from a first end portion that occludes the first tube. The first end portion contiguously engages a first one of the body, the closure member, and the piezoelectric device. The second tube is telescopically received in the first tube.

Abstract: An armature lift assembly for a fuel injector is disclosed. The assembly includes a body having an upstream end, a downstream end, and a longitudinal body channel extending therethrough and an armature/needle assembly which is reciprocably disposed in the body along the longitudinal body channel. The assembly further includes a first tube having an upstream end, a downstream end fixedly connected to the upstream end of the body, and a first tube channel. The assembly also includes a second tube located within the first tube channel and fixedly connected to the first tube. The second tube has an upstream end and a downstream end. The downstream end of the second tube is spaced a distance from the upstream end of the armature/needle assembly approximately equal to a lift distance of the armature/needle assembly. A method of setting armature/needle lift in a fuel injector is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of setting a distance between a first body and a second body in a fuel injector is disclosed. The method includes providing an intermediate body having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis, the first end being fixedly connected to the first body and the second end being fixedly connected to the second body. The intermediate body is compressed toward the longitudinal axis. The compression axially elongates the intermediate body, such that the first body is separated from the second body. An apparatus used to set the distance is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of setting a distance between a first body and a second body in a fuel injector is disclosed. The method includes providing an intermediate body having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis, the first end being fixedly connected to the first body and the second end being fixedly connected to the second body. The intermediate body is compressed toward the longitudinal axis. The compression axially elongates the intermediate body, such that the first body is separated from the second body. An apparatus used to set the distance is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is provided. The fuel injector includes a housing and an armature/needle assembly reciprocally mounted in the housing. The armature/needle assembly includes an armature having an armature end and a longitudinal armature channel extending therethrough and a needle having a longitudinal needle axis and a first needle end inserted in the armature channel. The first needle end is fixedly connected to the armature end. The assembly also includes at least one flow channel between the armature and the needle. The fuel injector further includes a valve seat located downstream of the needle. The needle is selectively engageable and disengageable with the valve seat to preclude fuel flow through an opening in the valve seat and to allow fuel flow through the opening in the valve seat, respectively. A method of forming the armature/needle assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A fuel injector preferably has a body, a closure member, a piezoelectric device, and a hydraulic thermal compensator. The body extends along an axis. The closure member is displaceable with respect to the body between a first configuration and a second configuration. The first configuration prevents fuel flow through the body, and the second configuration permits fuel flow through the body. The piezoelectric device displaces the closure member from the first configuration to the second configuration. The compensator is coupled with the piezoelectric device and includes a first tube, a second tube, a piston, and fluid. The first tube extends along the axis from a first end portion that occludes the first tube. The first end portion contiguously engages a first one of the body, the closure member, and the piezoelectric device. The second tube is telescopically received in the first tube.

Abstract: A fuel injector having a reduced bounce armature is disclosed. The fuel injector includes an upstream end, a downstream end, and a valve seat located at the downstream end. The armature located between the upstream end and the downstream end and includes an upstream armature end; a downstream armature end; and a longitudinal channel extending therethrough. The longitudinal channel includes an upstream portion having a first cross-sectional area and a downstream portion having a second cross-sectional area, with the second cross-sectional area being smaller than the first cross-sectional area. The downstream portion includes at least one interior wall. The armature also includes a flow restrictor element inserted into the downstream portion of the longitudinal channel such that liquid flow from the downstream armature end to the upstream armature end is restricted. The fuel injector further includes a needle located in the longitudinal channel downstream of the transverse channel.

Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is provided. The fuel injector includes a housing and an armature/needle assembly reciprocally mounted in the housing. The armature/needle assembly includes an armature having an armature end and a longitudinal armature channel extending therethrough and a needle having a longitudinal needle axis and a first needle end inserted in the armature channel. The first needle end is fixedly connected to the armature end. The assembly also includes at least one flow channel between the armature and the needle. The fuel injector further includes a valve seat located downstream of the needle. The needle is selectively engageable and disengageable with the valve seat to preclude fuel flow through an opening in the valve seat and to allow fuel flow through the opening in the valve seat, respectively. A method of forming the armature/needle assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is provided. The fuel injector includes a housing and an armature/needle assembly reciprocally mounted in the housing. The armature/needle assembly includes an armature having an armature end and a longitudinal armature channel extending therethrough and a needle having a longitudinal needle axis and a first needle end inserted in the armature channel. The first needle end is fixedly connected to the armature end. The assembly also includes at least one flow channel between the armature and the needle. The fuel injector further includes a valve seat located downstream of the needle. The needle is selectively engageable and disengageable with the valve seat to preclude fuel flow through an opening in the valve seat and to allow fuel flow through the opening in the valve seat, respectively. A method of forming the armature/needle assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A fuel injector is disclosed. The fuel injector includes a hollow body having an upstream segment and a downstream segment and a valve. The valve has a needle assembly which includes an upstream segment having a first longitudinal channel extending therethrough and a magnetic armature located within the first longitudinal channel. The armature includes a passage extending therethrough. The needle assembly also includes a downstream segment having a second longitudinal channel co-axial with and communicating with the first longitudinal channel. The second longitudinal channel extends through the downstream segment. The needle assembly also includes a seating body located at a downstream end of the downstream segment and a transverse passage located upstream of the seating body. The transverse passage communicates with at least one of the first and the second longitudinal channels. A method of fabricating a needle assembly for a fuel injector is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of setting a distance between a first body and a second body in a fuel injector is disclosed. The method includes providing an intermediate body having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis, the first end being fixedly connected to the first body and the second end being fixedly connected to the second body. The intermediate body is compressed toward the longitudinal axis. The compression axially elongates the intermediate body, such that the first body is separated from the second body. An apparatus used to set the distance is also disclosed.

Abstract: An armature lift assembly for a fuel injector is disclosed. The assembly includes a body having an upstream end, a downstream end, and a longitudinal body channel extending therethrough and an armature/needle assembly which is reciprocably disposed in the body along the longitudinal body channel. The assembly further includes a first tube having an upstream end, a downstream end fixedly connected to the upstream end of the body, and a first tube channel. The assembly also includes a second tube located within the first tube channel and fixedly connected to the first tube. The second tube has an upstream end and a downstream end. The downstream end of the second tube is spaced a distance from the upstream end of the armature/needle assembly approximately equal to a lift distance of the armature/needle assembly. A method of setting armature/needle lift in a fuel injector is also disclosed.

Abstract: A frequency translator is usable in a switching DC-DC converter of the type operating as a voltage regulator and as a battery charger. The frequency translator receives at inputs a division voltage (VFB) proportional to a present value of the output voltage (VOUT) of the DC-DC converter, a reference voltage (VREF) correlated to a nominal value of the output voltage (VOUT), and a limiting signal (VL) indicative of a normal operation or of current limitation operation of the DC-DC converter, and supplies at an output a bias current (IBIAS) which is supplied to an input of an oscillator supplying at an output a comparison signal (VC) presenting a periodic pattern with a frequency which is correlated to the bias current (IBIAS).