Abstract: A plunger is provided for reciprocating inside the barrel of a fuel pump. The plunger has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the plunger includes a cavity that defines a depressed volume within the plunger. A volume filler is disposed in the cavity, where the volume filler is constrained in the cavity by a retaining element.

Abstract: A plunger is provided for reciprocating inside the barrel of a fuel pump. The plunger has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the plunger includes a cavity that defines a depressed volume within the plunger. A volume filler is disposed in the cavity, where the volume filler is constrained in the cavity by a retaining element.

Abstract: A fluid pump comprising a fluid inlet configured to receive a fluid, a plunger configured to reciprocate within a cylinder from a top dead center position to a bottom dead center position and back to the top dead center position during a given pumping cycle, a pumping chamber defined by the cylinder and the plunger, the pumping chamber being configured to receive the fluid from the fluid inlet, a control valve configured to open to allow fluid to be provided to the pumping chamber, and close after the plunger has passed the bottom dead center position, and a fluid outlet configured to receive a delivery amount of the fluid from the pumping chamber, wherein a first amount of fluid is configured to be provided to the pumping chamber, the first amount of fluid being greater than the delivery amount of fluid.

Abstract: A fluid pump comprising a fluid inlet configured to receive a fluid, a plunger configured to reciprocate within a cylinder from a top dead center position to a bottom dead center position and back to the top dead center position during a given pumping cycle, a pumping chamber defined by the cylinder and the plunger, the pumping chamber being configured to receive the fluid from the fluid inlet, a control valve configured to open to allow fluid to be provided to the pumping chamber, and close after the plunger has passed the bottom dead center position, and a fluid outlet configured to receive a delivery amount of the fluid from the pumping chamber, wherein a first amount of fluid is configured to be provided to the pumping chamber, the first amount of fluid being greater than the delivery amount of fluid.

Abstract: A fuel pump is disclosed wherein a substantially cylindrical plunger bore is provided with an annular drain groove fluidically coupled to a drain duct. A pump plunger is driven by a drive system located in a separate mechanical compartment that holds a reservoir of lubricating oil. An annular seal is provided adjacent the drain groove substantially at the end of the bore and retained in position by a seal support. Exemplary embodiments provide the drain groove and seal as being positioned immediately adjacent one another so that the seal forms a lower wall of the drain groove.

Abstract: A fuel pump is disclosed wherein a substantially cylindrical plunger bore is provided with an annular drain groove fluidically coupled to a drain duct. A pump plunger is driven by a drive system located in a separate mechanical compartment that holds a reservoir of lubricating oil. An annular seal is provided adjacent the drain groove substantially at the end of the bore and retained in position by a seal support. Exemplary embodiments provide the drain groove and seal as being positioned immediately adjacent one another so that the seal forms a lower wall of the drain groove.

Abstract: A piezoelectric-actuated fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a piezoelectric actuator movable to expand in a first direction and movable to contract in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a hydraulic link assembly disposed within a nozzle cavity formed in a nozzle housing containing a nozzle valve element. The hydraulic link assembly is positioned close to the injector orifices to minimize needle valve element length and mass, thereby reducing seat impact forces and enhance response time. A refill valve operates to move into an open position to refill a hydraulic link chamber. An actuator power source operates to vary voltage to cause multiple injection pulses and to selectively maintain the voltage above a predetermined lower level between injection pulses to maintain the refill valve in a closed position to prevent refilling of the hydraulic link chamber.

Abstract: A piezoelectric-actuated fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a piezoelectric actuator movable to expand in a first direction and movable to contract in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a hydraulic link assembly disposed within said injector cavity. The hydraulic link assembly includes a hydraulic link barrel having an inner bore, a hydraulic link outer plunger positioned to slidably move in the inner bore, and a hydraulic link operatively connected to a needle valve to move the needle valve in the second direction toward the open position in response to movement of the piezoelectric actuator in the first direction. A hydraulic link inner plunger is attached to the needle valve and extends into a center bore of the hydraulic link outer plunger. Leakage control features and hydraulic link refill valves are also provided.

Abstract: A piezoelectric-actuated fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a piezoelectric actuator movable to expand in a first direction and movable to contract in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a hydraulic link assembly disposed within a nozzle cavity formed in a nozzle housing containing a nozzle valve element. The hydraulic link assembly is positioned close to the injector orifices to minimize needle valve element length and mass, thereby reducing seat impact forces and enhance response time. A refill valve operates to move into an open position to refill a hydraulic link chamber. An actuator power source operates to vary voltage to cause multiple injection pulses and to selectively maintain the voltage above a predetermined lower level between injection pulses to maintain the refill valve in a closed position to prevent refilling of the hydraulic link chamber.

Abstract: A piezoelectric-actuated fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a piezoelectric actuator movable to expand in a first direction and movable to contract in a second direction opposite the first direction, and a hydraulic link assembly disposed within said injector cavity. The hydraulic link assembly includes a hydraulic link barrel having an inner bore, a hydraulic link outer plunger positioned to slidably move in the inner bore, and a hydraulic link operatively connected to a needle valve to move the needle valve in the second direction toward the open position in response to movement of the piezoelectric actuator in the first direction. A hydraulic link inner plunger is attached to the needle valve and extends into a center bore of the hydraulic link outer plunger. Leakage control features and hydraulic link refill valves are also provided.

Abstract: A fuel pump is disclosed wherein a substantially cylindrical plunger bore is provided with an annular drain groove fluidically coupled to a drain duct. A pump plunger is driven by a drive system located in a separate mechanical compartment that holds a reservoir of lubricating oil. An annular seal is provided adjacent the drain groove substantially at the end of the bore and retained in position by a seal support. Exemplary embodiments provide the drain groove and seal as being positioned immediately adjacent one another so that the seal forms a lower wall of the drain groove.

Abstract: A three-way fuel injection control valve assembly is provided which includes a pilot valve for controlling the movement of a drain valve member and a separate supply valve member to minimize valve response time and transition flow losses. The solenoid operated two-way pilot valve controls the flow of fuel from a control volume formed adjacent the ends of the drain valve member and the supply valve member to begin and end an injection event. A transition flow loss limiting feature is provided which causes the drain valve member to close prior to the opening of the supply valve member and subsequently causes the supply valve member to close prior to the opening of the drain valve member during a given injection event thereby minimizing transition flow losses.

Abstract: An improved rotary fuel distributor is provided which effectively dynamically centers the rotor during operation while actively cooling the rotor and refilling fuel passages to minimize cavitation. A pressure balancing system is provided which includes pressure area defining grooves formed adjacent a rotor outlet port to control the pressure gradient in the clearance between the rotor and the distributor housing thereby effectively providing a more predictable force component which can be controlled to more effectively balance the rotor in conjunction with two balancing ports positioned on the opposite side of the rotor from the outlet port. A refill and cooling system is provided to continuously and actively cool the rotor with cool, low pressure fuel throughout rotation thereby displacing the hot fuel with cool fuel and effectively preventing thermal seizure of the rotor.

Abstract: A unitized fuel supply assembly is disclosed including an in-line reciprocating cam driven pump (14) for supplying fuel to an accumulator (12) from which fuel is directed to a plurality of engine cylinders by means of a distributor (16) mounted on the unitized assembly. Dual pump control valves (20) provide fail safe electronic control over the effective pump displacement. One or more injection control valves mounted on the distributor are provided to control injection timing and quantity. The accumulator (12) contains a labyrinth of interconnected chambers (36) which are shaped and positioned to produce a minimum overall package size while providing for easy manufacture.

Abstract: A three-way valve including a valve housing having a valve chamber and a high pressure fluid supply inlet, high pressure fluid outlet and drain communicating with the valve chamber is disclosed. A movable member is reciprocally received in the valve chamber so as to be reciprocated between first and second positions for selectively fluidically communicating the outlet with either the inlet or drain. A first valve seat is formed in the valve housing and concentrically disposed in the valve chamber for sealing communication between the outlet and drain and a second valve seat is concentrically disposed in a cavity formed in the movable member for sealing communication between the inlet and outlet. A floating pin is received in the movable valve member cavity at a one end of the movable valve member and cooperates with the second valve seat for selectively sealing fluidic communication between the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: A pressure balanced three-way solenoid valve including a valve housing having a valve chamber and a high pressure fluid supply passage, high pressure fluid outlet passage and drain passage communicating with the valve chamber is disclosed. A movable valve member is reciprocally received in the valve chamber so as to be reciprocated between first and second positions for selectively fluidically communicating the outlet passage with either the supply passage or drain passage. A first valve seat is formed in the valve housing and concentrically disposed in the valve chamber for fluidic communication between the outlet passage and drain passage and a second valve seat is concentrically disposed in a cavity formed in the movable valve member for sealing communication between the supply passage and outlet passages.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector housing having a plunger assembly disposed within a central axial bore and including a lower plunger, an intermediate plunger, and an upper plunger. The lower plunger reciprocates within the central bore to meter a variable quantity of fuel and to inject this fuel during downward portions of the reciprocating motion. A timing chamber formed between the upper and intermediate plungers receives an amount of timing fluid to create a variable length hydraulic link between the plungers. The fluid is drained from the chamber through a drain passage at the end of the injection cycle. The timing chamber has associated with it a mechanism for changing the effective flow function of the drain passage, at a point in the cycle following fuel injection, to maintain a large downward pressure on the lower plunger to hold the lower plunger down and thus prevent additional, undesired fuel flow into the combustion chamber.