Abstract: The present invention relates to high speed control valves which are especially applicable for use in fuel injection systems. Producing a valve with a quick response time within acceptable packaging constraints and with a structure that allows the valve to be mass produced with consistent performance between valves is extremely problematic. By moving flow restrictions within the valve away from the valve seats, flow forces on the valve member can be reduced, while possibly also permitting a reduction in the necessary travel distance of the valve member to improve response time and other performance characteristics. The valve is particularly applicable in controlling hydraulic pressure applied to the closing hydraulic surface of a direct control needle valve in a fuel injector.

Abstract: An engine includes an exhaust conduit, an intake conduit, and a vortex tube disposed between the exhaust conduit and the intake conduit. The vortex tube has an inlet in fluid communication with the exhaust conduit, a cold gas outlet in fluid communication with the intake conduit, and a hot gas outlet.

Abstract: A direct injection fuel injector includes a nozzle tip having a plurality of passages allowing fluid communication between an inner nozzle tip surface portion and an outer nozzle tip surface portion and directly into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A first group of the passages have inner surface apertures located substantially in a first common plane. A second group of the passages have inner surface apertures located substantially in at least a second common plane substantially parallel to the first common plane. The second group has more passages than the first group.

Abstract: Because of the relatively high pressures experienced within fuel injectors, several internal components can undergo substantial deformation each time fuel is pressurized to injection levels. In some instances, such as when a solenoid operated control valve is positioned near a distortion region, the internal distortion can cause a fuel injector to behave with less predictability, and can undermine consistency from one fuel injector to another, since distortion levels and affects therefrom are likely to vary substantially from one injector to another. In order to desensitize fuel injector performance to this internal distortion, a deflection cavity is disposed within the fuel injector between the distortion region and the needle valve of the fuel injector. This strategy finds particular applicability to needle control valves disposed deep within fuel injectors in order to control fluid pressure on a closing hydraulic surface of a direct control needle valve, which opens and closes the nozzle outlets.

Abstract: A method of controlling a valve actuation system is provided. An intake cam assembly is operated to move an intake valve between a first position and a second position. An exhaust cam assembly is operated to move an exhaust valve between a first position a second position. An engine brake is operated to selectively move the exhaust valve from the first position towards the second position when a piston is at or near a top-dead-center position of a compression stroke. At least one operating parameter of the engine is sensed. A desired intake valve actuation period is determined based on the at least one operating parameter. A valve actuator is engaged with the intake valve to prevent the intake valve from returning to the first position in response to operation of the intake cam assembly. The valve actuator is released to allow the intake valve to return to the first position at the end of the determined valve actuation period.

Abstract: A novel and improved closed nozzle injector is provided which effectively and accurately controls the timing and rate of fuel injection while minimizing parasitic losses and needle valve element wear. The closed nozzle injector includes a needle valve element movable between open and closed positions, an outer control volume, an injection control valve for controlling the flow of pressurized fuel from the outer control volume to affect opening and closing of the needle valve element and a needle valve biasing feature for optimizing the speed of needle valve opening and closing. The needle valve biasing feature includes an inner guide portion formed on the needle valve element with a larger diameter than an outer guide portion, an inner control volume, and an inner restriction orifice for restricting the flow of pressurized supply fuel to the inner control volume to create a fuel pressure bias closing force which advantageously slows down the opening of the needle valve element.

Abstract: An injector is provided which includes a nozzle valve element, a control volume, and an injection control valve for controlling fuel flow from the control volume so as to control nozzle valve movement. Importantly, the injector includes a nozzle valve lift detecting device for detecting nozzle valve lift and providing a nozzle valve element lift feedback signal. In addition, an injection control valve member movement detecting device may be provided for detecting movement of the injection control valve member into open and/or closed positions and generating a control valve member position feedback signal. One or both of the feedback signals may be used for adjusting the timing and/or rate of opening of the injection control valve thereby controlling the timing and/or rate of opening of the nozzle valve element to control the timing and/or rate of fuel injection of subsequent injection events.

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 stepped rotation fuel distribution valve for receiving and conducting metered, pressurized fuel pulses to the combustion cylinders of a diesel engine is provided. The valve includes a fuel distribution shaft rotatably mounted in a valve housing. The shaft includes a fuel discharge port that is sequentially registrable with fuel distributing passages in the housing that ultimately lead to the diesel fuel injectors associated with the combustion cylinders of the engine. A drive mechanism, which may include a stepper motor, intermittently rotates the fuel distributor shaft so that the shaft discharge port dwells in registration with one of the fuel distributing passages at the time a pressurized pulse of fuel is discharged through the shaft discharge port. The drive mechanism may also include either a set of timing gears or a spring coupling to achieve the desired intermittent rotation.

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: An hydraulic reset mechanism is provided for an engine retarder of the compression relief type. The mechanism senses the force required to hold open an exhaust valve. When this force has decreased substantially from the force required to open the exhaust valve initially, a valve is opened in the hydraulic system to release the hydraulic pressure and permit the exhaust valve to close. The mechanism assures that the engine exhaust valves are closed, or substantially closed, prior to the normal opening of the exhaust valves at the end of the power stroke of the engine without affecting the retarding horsepower produced by the engine brake.