Abstract: The invention relates to a spool valve (1), having a valve housing (4) and a substantially axially symmetric closing body (3) arranged for longitudinal movement in the valve housing (4). An inlet channel (5), a first outlet channel (6a), and a second outlet channel (6b) are formed in the valve housing (4). The closing body (3) interacts with a first valve seat (8a) formed in the valve housing (4) by means of the longitudinal movement of the closing body and thereby opens and closes a first hydraulic connection between the inlet channel (5) and the first outlet channel (6a). Furthermore, the closing body (3) interacts with a second valve seat (8b) formed in the valve housing (4) by means of the longitudinal movement of the closing body and thereby opens and closes a second hydraulic connection between the inlet channel (5) and the second outlet channel (6b). The resulting hydraulic force on the closing body (3) in the axial direction is nearly zero.

Abstract: Slide valve (1), in particular for a waste heat recovery system of a combustion engine, having a valve housing (4), wherein an inlet passage (5) and an outlet passage (6) are formed in the valve housing (4). A substantially cylindrical slide (3) is guided in a longitudinally movable manner in a guide bore (20) in the valve housing (4), wherein the guide bore (20) can be connected hydraulically to the inlet passage (5) and to the outlet passage (6). A closing body (35, 35a) is arranged on the slide (3), wherein a slide seat (75, 75a) is formed between the guide bore (20) and the closing body (35, 35a). The guide bore (20) and the sliding body (35, 35a) form a sliding pair, wherein the sliding pair has the material combination steel-graphite or the material combination ceramic-graphite.

Abstract: A method is described for operating at least one magnetic switching element, at least one first connection of at least one sensor device being connected to at least one connection of a coil of the magnetic switching element, and the first connection or an additional connection of the sensor device being connected to a reference potential, and a measuring state being established in which at least one connection of the coil is essentially at least temporarily decoupled from the reference potential and/or from a source activating the coil, and at least one signal of at least one sensor of the sensor device being ascertained in the measuring state from at least one electrical potential at at least one connection of the coil.

Abstract: Slide valve (1), in particular for a waste heat recovery system of a combustion engine, having a valve housing (4), wherein an inlet passage (5) and an outlet passage (6) are formed in the valve housing (4). A substantially cylindrical slide (3) is guided in a longitudinally movable manner in a guide bore (20) in the valve housing (4), wherein the guide bore (20) can be connected hydraulically to the inlet passage (5) and to the outlet passage (6). A closing body (35, 35a) is arranged on the slide (3), wherein a slide seat (75, 75a) is formed between the guide bore (20) and the closing body (35, 35a). The guide bore (20) and the sliding body (35, 35a) form a sliding pair, wherein the sliding pair has the material combination steel-graphite or the material combination ceramic-graphite.

Abstract: In a method for operating a magnetic switching element, at least one connection of at least one sensor device is connected to at least one connection of a coil of the magnetic switching element, and at least one measuring state is established in which the at least one connection of the coil is largely at least temporarily decoupled from a ground, a voltage source, and/or a current source activating the coil, and at least one auxiliary voltage and/or at least one auxiliary current is/are applied to the at least one connection of the coil in the measuring state, and at least one sensor signal is ascertained from at least one electrical potential, at least one potential difference, and/or at least one current flowing at the connections of the coil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control chamber, the pressure of which determines the strokes or positions of a nozzle needle, and which is assigned to a force or pressure sensor in order to detect the progression of the control chamber pressure. Because the control chamber pressure significantly changes during the closing of the nozzle needle, the operating phases of the injector can be exactly determined from the sensor data and supplied to an engine controller.

Abstract: A method for operating a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine is described. The fuel injection system has an injector for metering fuel into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. The injector has an actuator, a control valve and a nozzle needle. In the method, the actuator is supplied a voltage and/or a current during an activation period. The control valve is set into a lifting motion by the actuator. The injector is opened and closed by the nozzle needle, using the lifting motion of the control valve. A further time period is ascertained. The further time period ends at the closing time of the nozzle needle. A function is ascertained, which links the activation period to the further time period. A shortest activation period, for which the nozzle needle opens and produces an injection, is ascertained with the aid of the function. An opening delay period (do1) of the nozzle needle is ascertained as a function of the shortest time period.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, comprising a nozzle needle (1) which is able to perform stroke motions and by the stroke motion of which at least one injection opening can be exposed or closed, and further comprising a control valve (2) for controlling the stroke motion of the nozzle needle (1) in that, depending on the respective switch position of the control valve (2), hydraulic pressure applied in closing direction to the nozzle needle (1) in a control chamber (3) is altered, and further comprising a sensor array (4) for detecting the needle closing time. According to the invention, the sensor array (4) is arranged in the low-pressure area of the fuel injector in a space (5) which is sealed with respect to the fuel-conducting area (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injector for a fuel injection system, in particular a common rail injection system, comprising a jet needle (2) which is guided in a stroke-movable manner in a high-pressure bore (1) of the fuel injector, wherein an injection opening (3) can be opened and closed via the stroke movement of said jet needle, and a fuel or pressure sensor (4) having at least one sensor element (5) made of a piezo electrical material for detecting characteristic pressure changes during opening and closing of the jet needle (2). According to the invention, the fuel or pressure sensor (4) is arranged in a low pressure region (6) of the fuel injector and can be loaded directly or indirectly by an axial force (F A) upon opening and closing of the jet needle (2), which is proportional to the control chamber pressure in a control chamber (7).

Abstract: A method for operating a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine is described. The fuel injection system has an injector for metering fuel into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. The injector has an actuator, a control valve and a nozzle needle. In the method, the actuator is supplied a voltage and/or a current during an activation period. The control valve is set into a lifting motion by the actuator. The injector is opened and closed by the nozzle needle, using the lifting motion of the control valve. A further time period is ascertained. The further time period ends at the closing time of the nozzle needle. A function is ascertained, which links the activation period to the further time period. A shortest activation period, for which the nozzle needle opens and produces an injection, is ascertained with the aid of the function. An opening delay period (do1) of the nozzle needle is ascertained as a function of the shortest time period.

Abstract: In a method for operating a magnetic switching element, at least one connection of at least one sensor device is connected to at least one connection of a coil of the magnetic switching element, and at least one measuring state is established in which the at least one connection of the coil is largely at least temporarily decoupled from a ground, a voltage source, and/or a current source activating the coil, and at least one auxiliary voltage and/or at least one auxiliary current is/are applied to the at least one connection of the coil in the measuring state, and at least one sensor signal is ascertained from at least one electrical potential, at least one potential difference, and/or at least one current flowing at the connections of the coil.

Abstract: A method is described for operating at least one magnetic switching element, at least one first connection of at least one sensor device being connected to at least one connection of a coil of the magnetic switching element, and the first connection or an additional connection of the sensor device being connected to a reference potential, and a measuring state being established in which at least one connection of the coil is essentially at least temporarily decoupled from the reference potential and/or from a source activating the coil, and at least one signal of at least one sensor of the sensor device being ascertained in the measuring state from at least one electrical potential at at least one connection of the coil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, comprising a nozzle needle (1) which is able to perform stroke motions and by the stroke motion of which at least one injection opening can be exposed or closed, and further comprising a control valve (2) for controlling the stroke motion of the nozzle needle (1) in that, depending on the respective switch position of the control valve (2), hydraulic pressure applied in closing direction to the nozzle needle (1) in a control chamber (3) is altered, and further comprising a sensor array (4) for detecting the needle closing time. According to the invention, the sensor array (4) is arranged in the low-pressure area of the fuel injector in a space (5) which is sealed with respect to the fuel-conducting area (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a control chamber (7), the pressure of which determines the strokes or positions of a nozzle needle (6), and which is assigned to a force or pressure sensor (20) in order to detect the progression of the control chamber pressure. Because the control chamber pressure significantly changes during the closing of the nozzle needle (6), the operating phases of the injector can be exactly determined from the sensor data and supplied to an engine controller.

Abstract: A fuel injection pump, with an injection adjusting piston that serves to adjust the onset of injection, in which due to an off-center coupling to a cam part of the cam drive of a fuel injection pump embodied as a distributing injection pump, the injection adjusting piston is subjected to tilting moments during operation. In addition, the injection adjusting piston is subjected to other forces by means of a radially produced pressure fluid supply on a side of the injection adjusting piston disposed essentially opposite the coupling, and these other forces, together with the tilting moment forces, produce high, one-sided pressure loads in the radial direction on the injection adjusting piston. By producing a second pressure field, the injection adjusting piston undergoes a compensation of the above-mentioned forces acting on the injection adjusting piston and consequently experiences a significantly reduced radial load.