Abstract: A fuel injector that includes an injector control valve assembly. The injector control valve assembly includes a contact spring positioned between a fuel injector upper body and the injector control valve assembly to isolate a stator housing from clamping forces that occur during fuel injector assembly and clamping in an internal combustion engine. The injector control valve assembly further includes a cartridge configuration that permits preassembly of the injector control valve assembly prior to mounting in the fuel injector.

Abstract: A fuel injector control valve is provided that includes a drain circuit for directing the flow of fuel away from temperature sensitive components of a fuel injector in which the fuel injector control valve is positioned. The drain circuit includes at least one portion that directs drain fuel axially inward or toward a fuel injector orifice, and away from an actuator of the fuel injector.

Abstract: A fuel injector including an injection control device valve spring preload adjustment device is disclosed. The fuel injector includes a transverse access passage extending at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the fuel injector. The preload adjustment device includes at least one transverse slot that creates a cantilevered thread portion. The cantilevered thread portion is deformed at a deformation angle to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to form a locking feature.

Abstract: A flow limiter for a fuel system is provided. The flow limiter includes a self-contained portion that enables testing of the flow limiter prior to assembly into a fuel system. A housing of the flow limiter is arranged to provide reduced or no pressure differential across a wall of the housing, permitting the housing to be reduced in size and thickness and providing improved consistency of operation.

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 closed nozzle injector for injecting fuel at high pressure into the combustion chamber of an engine, is provided including a lower supply chamber positioned in the nozzle housing, an injector plunger including a lower guide sized to form a close sliding fit with a nozzle housing to guide the plunger during reciprocal movement, and a plurality of restriction orifices formed in the injector plunger and positioned about the injector plunger to restrict fuel flow from an upper supply chamber to the lower supply chamber. The lower guide is positioned axially between the lower supply chamber and the injection orifices.

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 injector assembly with injector seal retention includes a fuel injector body including an injector nozzle housing disposed at a distal end of the fuel injector body. The injector body is adapted with a grooved portion to securely capture an injector seal to prevent the loss of the injector seal during installation and/or removal of the fuel injector assembly into an engine cylinder head.

Abstract: A fuel injector assembly with injector seal retention includes a fuel injector body including an injector nozzle housing disposed at a distal end of the fuel injector body. The injector body is adapted with a grooved portion to securely capture an injector seal to prevent the loss of the injector seal during installation and/or removal of the fuel injector assembly into an engine cylinder head.

Abstract: A servo-controlled fuel injector is provided which includes a leakage limiting valve device for limiting the quantity of high pressure fuel available for leakage into the combustion chamber in the event the closed nozzle valve element fails to sealingly engage its seat between injection events. The servo-controlled fuel injector includes a control volume positioned adjacent an outer end of the nozzle valve element, a control volume charge circuit for supplying fuel to the control volume, a drain circuit for draining fuel from the control volume to a low pressure drain and an injection control valve positioned along the drain circuit for controlling the flow through the drain circuit so as to cause reciprocal movement of the nozzle valve element. The leakage limiting valve is integrated into the fuel injector body and positioned along a fuel transfer passage to block the flow of high pressure fuel to a nozzle cavity between injection events.

Abstract: A cover assembly for closing off the opening in a panel so as to establish a sealed interface around the opening includes a cover member with a four corners arrangement of clearance holes for attachment of the cover to the panel which also includes a matching pattern of clearance holes. The cover assembly includes a gasket member which is constructed with a carrier and a cooperating edge seal. The carrier includes a substantially planar surface which faces the cover member and extending outwardly from this facing surface are two series of pin-like projections. The cover member is cooperatively arranged with two substantially straight and elongated channels which are constructed and arranged to receive the outwardly extending projections. The two channels act as abutment surfaces for the projections so as to restrict outward or lateral movement of the gasket relative to the cover and panel.

Abstract: A gas mass flow sensor for sensing the flow of a gas to an internal combustion engine including a main flow passage having an inlet and an outlet for directing a gas flow to the internal combustion engine with the inlet communicating with a source of the gas and an outlet communicating with the internal combustion engine. A secondary flow passage for isolating a portion of the gas flow from the main flow passage is provided with the secondary flow passage including an inlet surrounding the main flow passage and a flow sensing section. Positioned within the flow sensing section of the secondary flow passage is a gas mass flow sensor for sensing the mass flow of gas through the secondary passage which is indicative of the mass flow through the main flow passage.

Abstract: A gas/air mixer for injecting gas into the intake air stream of an internal cumbustion engine using a combination of radial holes and radial tubes located around the perimeter of an air flow passage. The gas/air mixer includes an intake air passage which has a combination of radial holes and radial tubes arranged so that the gas is injected into the air stream. The gas passage contains gas which is at a higher pressure than the intake air. The gas flows around an annulus which distributes the gas to all the radial holes and radial tubes. The size of the intake air passage, the number and size of the radial holes, and the number, size and length of the radial tubes can be varied in any combination to achieve adequate gas/air mixing for the particular engine application. This combination can even include a device that contains all radial holes or all radial tubes. The distance that the gas is injected into the air stream is small at the radial holes and larger at the radial tubes.

Abstract: A cam follower lever assembly is provided which permits variable control of the timing of the beginning of operation of an engine component, i.e. fuel injector or engine valve. The cam follower lever includes a timing control lever and a force transmitting lever mounted for pivotal movement on a common pivot shaft. The timing control lever is also mounted for nonpivotal movement, relative to the pivot shaft, by a hydraulic actuation device permitting selective nonpivotal movement of the timing control lever relative to a cam's outer surface so as to selectively advance or retard the timing of, for example, fuel injection. The actuation device includes actuator cavities formed in the levers and a control valve arrangement. In one embodiment, a control valve is mounted in a cavity formed in the timing control lever.

Abstract: The disclosure illustrates an electronically controlled fuel pump in which a bypass valve regulates its output pressure to a predetermined level above a control pressure. A downstream throttling valve re-regulates the pressure to a predetermined level below a control pressure. The control pressure is established by an electro-hydraulic valve which is, in turn, fed with signals with a microprocessor to provide appropriate control. The use of the control pressure in effect causes a servo action and utilizes the pressure of the fuel to manipulate the valve and minimize the power requirement of the electro-hydraulic valve.