Abstract: A geothermic heater system for heating a geological formation includes a fuel cell stack assembly disposed at the surface of the geological formation and includes a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with an oxidizing agent, thereby producing an anode exhaust and a cathode exhaust. The geothermic fuel cell system also includes a combustor disposed within a bore hole of the geological formation. The combustor combusts a mixture at least one of the anode exhaust and the cathode exhaust to produce a heated combustor exhaust. The combustor discharges the heated combustor exhaust to heat the geological formation.

Abstract: A geothermic heater system for heating a geological formation includes a fuel cell stack assembly disposed at the surface of the geological formation and includes a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with an oxidizing agent, thereby producing an anode exhaust and a cathode exhaust. The geothermic fuel cell system also includes a combustor disposed within a bore hole of the geological formation. The combustor combusts a mixture at least one of the anode exhaust and the cathode exhaust to produce a heated combustor exhaust. The combustor discharges the heated combustor exhaust to heat the geological formation.

Abstract: An actuator includes a piezoelectric stack within a housing that applies a compressive load to the stack. The housing may include a cylindrical tube closed at one end and may seal the stack against fluid pressure. The housing may be shorter than the length of the piezoelectric stack and may include resilient means for inducing elastic strain in the stack. The resilient means may include one or more slots extending around the circumference of the housing and/or a corrugated region of the housing to form a tension spring at a lower end of the housing. The tension spring may then serve to draw the stack into compression. The stack may include a plurality of layers of piezoelectric or piezoceramic material interspersed with a plurality of layers of electrically conductive material and connecting means for connecting the layers to a source of electrical power.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuated fuel injector is provided for use in conjunction with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector includes a piezoelectric actuator for actuating an injector valve, and a hydraulic assembly for interfacing between the piezoelectric actuator and the injector valve, where the injector valve axially separates from a discharge outlet in response to longitudinal expansion of the piezoelectric actuator, thereby allowing fuel flow from the fuel injector.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting injection events in a piezoelectric actuated fuel injector. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a piezoelectric element for actuating the injector valve; (b) applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element, thereby actuating the injector valve; and (c) monitoring at least one of the voltage or current associated with the piezoelectric element, wherein changes in voltage or current are indicative of injection events in the fuel injector.

Abstract: A fuel injection system is provided for controlling fuel pressure in a common rail through the use of a piezoelectric actuated fuel injector. The fuel injection system includes at least one fuel injector having an axially extending fuel passage therein, a control chamber disposed in the injector, an injector valve axially movable within the fuel passage in accordance with a fuel pressure in the control chamber, and a piezoelectric actuator for actuating the control valve. The fuel injection system further includes a pressure sensor for determining a fuel pressure in the common rail, and a controller electrically connected to the pressure sensor and to the piezoelectric actuator of the fuel injector.

Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster is provided for interfacing between a piezoelectric element and a control valve in a piezoelectric actuated fuel injector. The hydraulic lash adjuster includes an inner plunger having an axial passage for storing a working fluid therein, and an outer body having a socket dimensioned to receive the inner plunger. The inner plunger is movably coupled into the socket of the outer body so as to form a working chamber between a bottom outer surface of the inner plunger and a bottom surface of the socket in the outer body. The hydraulic lash adjuster further includes a feed valve assembly disposed in the passage of the inner plunger for providing the working fluid from the passage to the working chamber, thereby minimizing the volume of the working chamber.

Abstract: A gerotor pump including a ring gear and a pinion gear supported on a pump housing for rotation about parallel, laterally separated centerlines. A plurality of pump chambers defined by the teeth of the ring and pinion gears expand in an inlet half of a crescent-shaped cavity between the ring and pinion gears and collapse in a discharge half. An inlet port in a first side wall of the pump housing faces the inlet half of the crescent-shaped cavity. A primary discharge port in an opposite second side wall of the pump housing faces the discharge half of the crescent-shaped cavity and is timed relative to the inlet port for pumping low bulk modulus fluid. A shallow groove in the first end wall of the housing defines a secondary discharge port timed relative to the inlet port for pumping high bulk modulus fluid. In the timing interval between the secondary and the primary discharge ports, i.e.