Abstract: In one aspect, a fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a fuel inlet, a drain outlet and a nozzle outlet. A direct operated check valve is positioned in the injector body and includes a needle valve member with an opening hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a nozzle supply passage, and a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a needle control chamber. The needle valve member is movable between a first position at which the nozzle supply passage is blocked to the nozzle outlet, and a second position at which the nozzle supply passage is open to the nozzle outlet. A needle control valve is positioned in the injector body and includes a control valve member movable between a first position at which the needle control chamber is fluidly connected to the drain outlet, and a second position at which the needle control chamber is fluidly blocked to the drain outlet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method of processing print order requests in a print system comprising a central print controller, a plurality of remote print customers and a plurality of remote print suppliers, the central print controller being connected to the plurality of remote print customers and the plurality of remote print suppliers by way of a communications network. Print customers transmit their print order requests to one central print controller. The central print controller will have information relating to a number of print suppliers stored in the central print controller database and can ascertain which of the print suppliers is the most suitable print supplier for executing a particular order.

Abstract: A method of heat treating a component is disclosed. The method may heat a first feature of the component and heat a second feature of the component differently than the first feature. The method may measure a temperature value of the first feature and of the second feature. The method may also compare the measured temperature values to a threshold temperature value. The method may modify the heating of at least one of the first and second features based on the comparison.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method of processing print order requests in a print system comprising a central print controller, a plurality of remote print customers and a plurality of remote print suppliers, the central print controller being connected to the plurality of remote print customers and the plurality of remote print suppliers by way of a communications network. Print customers transmit their print order requests to one central print controller. The central print controller will have information relating to a number of print suppliers stored in the central print controller database and can ascertain which of the print suppliers is the most suitable print supplier for executing a particular order.

Abstract: A gas spring comprises a first bypass with a one-way valve that allows fluid to bypass the piston when the piston moves outward and a second bypass with a temperature-compensating spring-biased one-way valve that allows fluid to bypass the piston when the piston is pushed inward with a force exceeding the total of the force due to the gas pressure of the gas spring and the force required to open the spring-biased valve. Variations due to temperature changes in the force required to retract the gas spring are minimized.