Abstract: A pressure balancing orifice plate for a fuel injector device may include a cylindrical body having a top surface, a bottom surface, an annular outer surface, and a body longitudinal axis, a balance pressure relief orifice extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, and a raised valve seat extending upwardly from the top surface and surrounding the balance pressure relief orifice. The valve seat may have a central seat surface encircling the balance pressure relief orifice and a plurality of leaf portions extending radially outwardly from the central seat surface and defining drainage channels there between. A width WC of the drainage channels may increase as the radial distance from the balance pressure relief orifice increases.

Abstract: A check valve for use with a pump is disclosed. The check valve may have a body at least partially defining a central bore with an open end and a closed end, and a spring guide separate from the body and disposed within the closed end of the central bore. The check valve may also have a spring located within the central bore and having a first end operatively engaged with the spring guide, and a valve element operatively engaged with a second end of the spring and being movable by a pressure differential to compress the spring. The spring guide may be moveable relative to the body.

Abstract: A check valve for use with a pump is disclosed. The check valve may have a body at least partially defining a central bore with an open end and a closed end, and a spring guide separate from the body and disposed within the closed end of the central bore. The check valve may also have a spring located within the central bore and having a first end operatively engaged with the spring guide, and a valve element operatively engaged with a second end of the spring and being movable by a pressure differential to compress the spring. The spring guide may be moveable relative to the body.

Abstract: A pump has a housing defining a first pumping chamber and a second pumping chamber. The pump also has a first plunger and a second plunger. The pump additionally has at least one driver operatively engaged with at least one of the first and second plungers to move the at least one of the first and second plungers between first and second end positions. The pump further has a common spill passageway fluidly connectable to the first and second pumping chambers and a selector valve disposed between the common spill passageway and the first and second pumping chambers. The selector valve has a body and a ball valve member operably disposed within the body. The ball valve member is movable between a first and a second ball valve member position to selectively fluidly connect the first and second pumping chambers to the common spill passageway.

Abstract: An engine has a cylinder head having a first surface and a second surface spaced from the first surface. A valve is moveably connected to the cylinder head. A rocker arm is connected to the valve, and a rocker shaft having a first location spaced a maximum distance from the cylinder head is connected to the rocker arm. A support member has and an actuator fluid passage network. The actuator fluid passage network defines a volume. The support member is connected to the cylinder head and is positioned such that a majority of the volume of the actuator fluid passage network is between the first location of the rocker shaft and the second surface of the cylinder head.

Abstract: An engine has a cylinder head having a first surface and a second surface spaced from the first surface. A valve is moveably connected to the cylinder head. A rocker arm is connected to the valve, and a rocker shaft having a first location spaced a maximum distance from the cylinder head is connected to the rocker arm. A support member has and an actuator fluid passage network. The actuator fluid passage network defines a volume. The support member is connected to the cylinder head and is positioned such that a majority of the volume of the actuator fluid passage network is between the first location of the rocker shaft and the second surface of the cylinder head.

Abstract: A fuel injector with a direct control needle valve has a closing hydraulic surface exposed to a control fluid, and an opening hydraulic surface exposed to fuel. The control fluid is different from the fuel. A vented annulus is positioned around the needle valve member between the control fluid chamber and the fuel chamber. An o-ring is positioned in a lower pressure region between the annulus and the control fluid chamber.

Abstract: An electrical actuator subassembly, preferably for use in a fuel injector, includes an externally threaded ferromagnetic metallic body, an internally threaded collar, an electrical actuator, an electrical connector, and a plastic cap. In one embodiment, the electrical actuator is a solenoid, while a piezoelectric actuator is used in a second embodiment. The electrical actuator directly controls a pilot valve member positioned between the metallic body and the injector body, and a needle valve which opens or closes a nozzle outlet at the bottom of the injector. The electrical actuator subassembly is attached to a fuel injector body by mating the external threads of the metallic body to the internal threads of the collar. The collar is attached to the injector body with a groove and snap ring configuration.

Abstract: A fuel injector with a direct control needle valve has a closing hydraulic surface exposed to a control fluid, and an opening hydraulic surface exposed to fuel. The control fluid is different from the fuel. A vented annulus is positioned around the needle valve member between the control fluid chamber and the fuel chamber. An o-ring is positioned in a lower pressure region between the annulus and the control fluid chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injector has an injector body including a barrel and defining a nozzle chamber, a needle control chamber, and a nozzle outlet that opens to the nozzle chamber. The injector body further includes an actuation fluid inlet and an actuation fluid drain. A barrel defines an actuation fluid cavity and a piston bore, which includes an upper bore and a lower bore. Fuel is hydraulically pressurized in the nozzle chamber. A piston with a stepped top slides in the piston bore and moves in between a retracted position and an advanced position. A needle valve member in the nozzle chamber moves between an open position and a closed position. The needle valve member includes a closing hydraulic surface exposed to pressure in the needle control chamber.

Abstract: An electrical actuator subassembly, preferably for use in a fuel injector, includes an externally threaded ferromagnetic metallic body, an internally threaded collar, an electrical actuator, an electrical connector, and a plastic cap. In one embodiment, the electrical actuator is a solenoid, while a piezoelectric actuator is used in a second embodiment. The electrical actuator directly controls a pilot valve member positioned between the metallic body and the injector body, and a needle valve which opens or closes a nozzle outlet at the bottom of the injector. The electrical actuator subassembly is attached to a fuel injector body by mating the external threads of the metallic body to the internal threads of the collar. The collar is attached to the injector body with a groove and snap ring configuration.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injector has an injector body including a barrel and defining a nozzle chamber, a needle control chamber, and a nozzle outlet that opens to the nozzle chamber. The injector body further includes an actuation fluid inlet and an actuation fluid drain. A barrel defines an actuation fluid cavity and a piston bore, which includes an upper bore and a lower bore. Fuel is hydraulically pressurized in the nozzle chamber. A piston with a stepped top slides in the piston bore and moves in between a retracted position and an advanced position. A needle valve member in the nozzle chamber moves between an open position and a closed position. The needle valve member includes a closing hydraulic surface exposed to pressure in the needle control chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injector has an injector body including a barrel and defining a nozzle chamber, a needle control chamber, and a nozzle outlet that opens to the nozzle chamber. The injector body further includes an actuation fluid inlet and an actuation fluid drain. A barrel defines an actuation fluid cavity and a piston bore, which includes an upper bore and a lower bore. Fuel is hydraulically pressurized in the nozzle chamber. A piston with a stepped top slides in the piston bore and moves in between a retracted position and an advanced position. A needle valve member in the nozzle chamber moves between an open position and a closed position. The needle valve member includes a closing hydraulic surface exposed to pressure in the needle control chamber.

Abstract: A fuel injector nozzle assembly comprises a lower tip component which includes a first locating surface. The lower tip component defines a lower guide bore with a first centerline and a nozzle outlet. The nozzle assembly also includes an upper tip component which is in contact with the lower tip component. The upper tip component includes a second locating surface and defines an upper guide bore with a second centerline. The first centerline is concentrically coupled with the second centerline by an interaction of the first locating surface with the second locating surface. A needle valve member includes an upper guide portion that is positioned in the upper guide bore and a lower guide portion that is positioned in the lower guide bore. The needle valve member is moveable between an open position, in which the nozzle outlet is open, and a closed position, in which the nozzle outlet is blocked.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated device comprises a device body defining an inlet passage separated from an outlet passage by a first valve seat and a second valve seat, and a control passage that opens into an area between the first valve seat and the second valve seat. An essentially spherical ball valve member having a first radius of curvature is trapped between the first valve seat and the second valve seat. The inlet passage is fluidly isolated from the control passage by the ball valve member when the ball valve member is in contact with the first valve seat, and the outlet passage is fluidly isolated from the control passage by the ball valve member when the ball valve member is in contact with the second valve seat. An electrical actuator is attached to the device body. A pin is movable by operation of the electrical actuator to come into contact with and push against the ball along a curved striking surface of the pin having a second radius of curvature that is larger than the first radius of curvature.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injector is disclosed having an injector body defining an actuation fluid inlet, an actuation fluid cavity, a nozzle outlet, and a needle control chamber. An actuator is attached to the injector body and a first valve member is disposed in the injector body and is moveable in response to the actuator between a first position in which the actuation fluid inlet is open to the actuation fluid cavity and a second position in which the actuation fluid inlet is closed to the actuation fluid cavity. A needle valve member is disposed in the injector body and is moveable between an open position in which the nozzle outlet is open and a closed position in which the nozzle outlet is blocked. The needle valve member has a closing hydraulic surface exposed to pressure in the needle control chamber.

Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a plurality of hydraulically actuated fuel injectors with direct control needle valves. Each injector has an injector body that defines an actuation fluid inlet, a fuel supply passage and a needle control chamber. A needle valve member is movably mounted in the injector body and has a closing hydraulic surface exposed to pressure in the needle control chamber. Each injector also includes a relatively slow moving actuation fluid control valve member and a relatively fast moving needle control valve member. A source of low pressure fluid is connected to the fuel supply passage, and a source of high pressure fluid is connected to the actuation fluid inlet.

Abstract: An actuation fluid control valve for a hydraulically actuated fuel injector comprises an injector body having an actuation fluid control passage, a low pressure actuation fluid drain passage, and a high pressure actuation fluid supply passage for accepting high pressure actuation fluid into the fuel injector. An actuator is attached to the injector body. A rotatable valve member includes a first valve passage and a second valve passage and is disposed in the injector body such that high pressure actuation fluid entering from the high pressure actuation fluid supply passage will not bias the rotatable valve member either toward the first position or toward the second position.

Abstract: A jumper tube with improved misalignment capability comprising a cylindrically shaped receiver portion having a central bore that receives an electronically controlled hydraulically actuated unit fuel injector, an annular groove disposed adjacent each end of the bore, a resilient seal ring disposed in each annular groove, forming a seal between the injector and the bore and providing three degrees of freedom between the injector and bore, a tubular portion having an elongated passage in fluid communication with the bore and a conduit in fluid communication with an actuating fluid manifold and the elongated passage and a bolt extending through the tubular portion, the conduit portion and a portion of the actuating fluid manifold removably attaching the jumper tube to a head of an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A valve assembly with coupled seats includes a first body with a first annular valve seat and a pin bore centered about an axis. A second body is attached to the first body and has a second annular valve seat centered about the axis and located in a position opposite to the first annular valve seat. A ball is positioned to move between the annular valve seats. A pin is mounted to move in the pin bore along the axis such that one end can contact the ball to move the same. The pin bore along with the annular valve seats are coupled by providing one of the first body and the second body with a locating bore centered on the axis. The other of the first body and the second body has a cylindrical portion substantially parallel to the axis and sized to be tightly received in the locating bore. The valve assembly was developed for use with a solenoid as a control valve in a fuel injector.