With Accumulator Patents (Class 123/447)
  • Patent number: 8245695
    Abstract: A high vapor pressure liquid fuel (e.g. LPG) injection system is provided that keeps the fuel liquid at all expected operating temperatures by use of a high pressures pump capable of at least 2.5 MPa pressures. The fuel can be injected directly into the cylinder or into the inlet manifold of an engine via axial or bottom feed injectors and also could be mixed with a low vapor pressure fuel (e.g. diesel) to be injected similarly. The fuel, mixed or unmixed, can be stored in an accumulator under high pressure assisting in keeping the engine running during fuel changeovers and injection after a period of time as in re-starting the engine. The same injectors can be used to inject any of the fuels or mixtures of them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Interlocking Buildings Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: John T. Martin
  • Publication number: 20120204834
    Abstract: An injection system for an internal combustion engine (50) has an injector (22) that is hydraulically coupled to a field reservoir (16), a pump element (14) of a pump-nozzle arrangement or a pump-line-nozzle arrangement. The pump element (14) can be adapted to feed fuel from a fuel tank (10) to the fuel reservoir (16), and the pump element (14) is mechanically coupled to a crankshaft (18) of the internal combustion engine (50) in such a way that the pump element (14) can be driven by the crankshaft (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventor: Stephan Jonas
  • Publication number: 20120174894
    Abstract: A fuel system, in particular of a motor vehicle, with a fuel tank and a ventilation device for ventilating the fuel tank, wherein the ventilation device has at least one separation device which has a temporary accumulator for liquid fuel. The separation device has a fill level determination device for determining the fill level of in the temporary accumulator. The invention further relates to a method for operating a fuel system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventor: Harald Hagen
  • Patent number: 8215288
    Abstract: A method and control module for operating an engine that includes a pressure range determination module that determines a pressure value for a pressure sensor in a fuel rail is out of range. A fuel rail pressure estimate module that determines a predicted pressure value. An engine control module that operates the engine using the predicted pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventors: Jesse M. Gwidt, Michael J. Lucido, Jon C. Miller, Michael N Kotsonas
  • Patent number: 8210155
    Abstract: A method of and a device for controlling a pressure is provided in which control performance of accumulation chamber pressure is not deteriorated even in the presence of a disturbance by estimating, with observer control, a disturbance pressure that acts on an accumulation chamber (common rail) constituting an accumulator fuel injection apparatus adapted for use in a diesel engine and the like, and by correcting a pump discharge command with a compensation value capable of compensating for the estimated disturbance pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Ohta, Tomohide Yamada
  • Publication number: 20120145126
    Abstract: The present invention relates to fuel systems for diesel engines. In particular, the invention relates to a dual fuel supply system (10) for a diesel engine having an indirect-injection system (12). The invention extends to a diesel engine incorporating the dual fuel supply system (10) and to a vehicle that incorporates a diesel engine having the dual fuel supply system (10). The dual-fuel supply system (10) includes a mixed fuel supply system (17) that includes a first stage (14) having a diesel tank (42) and LPG tank (44), and as second stage (16) to supply the fuel mixture to the injection system (12). The dual-fuel supply system (10) also includes diesel supply system (80) for delivering diesel to the injection system (12). Moreover, the dual fuel system (10) is configured to permit selective change over between the diesel supply system (80) and the mixed fuel system (17) to supply the injection system (12) selectively with either diesel or liquid fuel mixture respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: DGC INDUSTRIES PTY LTD
    Inventors: Uwe Alexander Krug, Will Fisher
  • Patent number: 8196564
    Abstract: In a method for determining a controlled variable of pressure control of a high-pressure accumulator of an injection system, a setpoint pressure gradient value is determined in the high-pressure accumulator as a function of the maximum possible actual pressure gradient value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Fredrik Borchsenius, Michael Wirkowski
  • Patent number: 8195376
    Abstract: A fuel injection control device for a diesel engine controls the first fuel injection timing so as to reduce the amount of white smoke generated in large amounts immediately after starting an engine. The fuel injection control device for the diesel engine comprises a high-pressure pump, a common rail for accumulating a highly-pressured fuel, injectors for injecting the fuel into a combustion chamber and a control means. Due to the fuel injection control device for the diesel engine, the fuel injection is performed after the cranking, without injecting the fuel for a certain period of time after an engine starting switch is turned on so that the pressure in the common rail becomes a set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichiro Yuzaki, Tomohiro Ootani, Gou Asai
  • Publication number: 20120103308
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Gregory W. Hefler, Avinash R. Manubolu, Bryan D. Moore
  • Patent number: 8161947
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure boosting system for at least one fuel injector of a high pressure injection system of an internal combustion engine, having a hydraulic pressure booster that is actuated by a control valve. The hydraulic pressure booster is configured with a pressure boosting piston, which comprises a first pressure booster piston part having a first diameter and a second pressure booster piston part having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. The pressure booster piston is disposed within a hydraulic reservoir chamber, onto which pressure is applied, together with the first pressure booster piston part having the greater diameter, wherein the accumulator chamber in turn is configured within a base body. The base body has a piston guide body for at least one of the pressure booster piston parts. The piston guide body is at least partially surrounded by an annular space, which is part of the hydraulic accumulator chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dominik Kuhnke, Dirk Vahle
  • Publication number: 20120042853
    Abstract: A controller for a pressure reducing valve is applied to a fuel injection system which is provided with a pressure reducing valve in a common-rail and a fuel pressure sensor detecting a fuel pressure in a fuel supply passage from the accumulator to an injection port of the fuel injector. The controller includes a fuel-pressure-variation detector for detecting a fuel pressure variation timing at which a detection value of the fuel pressure sensor is varied due to an opening operation or a closing operation of the pressure reducing valve. The controller further includes a response-delay-time computing portion for computing a response delay time of the pressure reducing valve based on a command timing and a fuel pressure variation timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masakazu Sakata
  • Patent number: 8113175
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine comprises: a first fuel injector which is arranged within a housing unit; an accumulator volume for supplying fuel to the first fuel injector; a first fuel pump arrangement comprising a pumping plunger which is driven, in use, to cause pressurisation of fuel within a first pump chamber; a first metering valve which is operable to control fuel flow into the first pump chamber; a first fuel passage providing communication between the first pump chamber and the accumulator volume; and a first non-return valve located in the first fuel passage between the first pump chamber and the accumulator volume; wherein the first fuel injector communicates with the first fuel passage at a position between the first non-return valve and the accumulator volume; and wherein communication between the first fuel injector and the accumulator volume is uninterrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies Holding S.arl
    Inventor: Anthony John Williams
  • Publication number: 20120017874
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid dispenser for the provision of a work fluid (2) wherein the fluid dispenser includes a feed cylinder (3) having a feed piston (4, 41) arranged therein which divides the feed cylinder (3) into a control space (5) and a feed space (6). A control fluid (8) can be supplied to the control space (5) via a control inlet (7) at a predeterminable control pressure (PS) such that the work fluid (2) provided to the feed space (6) via an inlet opening (9) is available at an outlet opening (10) at a predeterminable work pressure (PA). In accordance with the invention a pressure release means (11) is provided so that the work pressure (PA) of the work fluid (2) can be modulated in dependence on time at the outlet opening (10) in accordance with a predeterminable scheme (12). The invention further relates to a combustion engine having a fluid dispenser (1), as well as to a method for the provision of a work fluid (2) by means of a fluid dispenser (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: WAERTSILAE SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Turhan Yildirim, Leif Knipstrom, Andreas Carelli
  • Patent number: 8100110
    Abstract: A system for selectively intensifying fuel for injection utilizing a fuel injector having an intensifier piston connected to a drain and a pressurized fuel source. The intensifier piston includes a control chamber co-axially positioned opposite from an intensification chamber, and a pressurization chamber co-axially positioned between the control chamber and the intensification chamber. The control chamber selectively fluidly communicates with the pressurized fuel source and the drain. The intensification chamber fluidly communicates with the pressurized fuel source and the pressurization chamber fluidly communicates with the pressurized fuel source and a nozzle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Dean Shinogle, Daniel Richard Ibrahim
  • Patent number: 8100349
    Abstract: A piston can reciprocate in a piston guide cylinder in an axial direction and has a cavity on a piezo driver side thereof. If the piezo driver is energized, a tip of a projecting section of a pushing member pushes a bottom wall of the piston defining the cavity. If fuel pressure of a pressure control chamber increases via a pressurization chamber and a communication passage due to pressurization by the piston, a needle moves in a valve-opening direction against a first compression coil spring. Since the piston has the cavity, a movable mass of the piston is reduced while securing axial length of a sliding section. Thus, fuel leak from the sliding section between the piston and the piston guide cylinder can be suppressed, and an inertial resistance caused in the piston can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Teppei Matsumoto, Kouichi Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 8100111
    Abstract: A fuel injection system of the common rail type for an internal combustion engine with two rows of cylinders is to be designed such that the deviations in the injection quantities of their injectors from one another are as slight as possible. The fuel injection system has a high-pressure pump, from which fuel flows to a first rail and a second rail which each have respective associated injectors for the two rows of cylinders. The first rail, in a structural unit with a throttle as a hydraulic connection, is preceded by a distributor block. From the distributor block, a connecting line leads to the second rail. The fuel injection system is preferably used in the automobile industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: David Stingele
  • Publication number: 20110315117
    Abstract: A fuel system for an engine is disclosed. The fuel system may have a pump, a plurality of fuel injectors, and a plurality of fuel accumulators. Each of the plurality of fuel accumulators may be disposed at least partially within a different cylinder head of the engine in fluid communication with an associated fuel injector of the plurality of fuel injectors. Each of the plurality of fuel accumulators may also be in fluid communication with adjacent fuel accumulators of the plurality of fuel accumulators. At least one of the plurality of fuel accumulators may also be in fluid communication with the pump. The fuel system may further have a plurality of flow limiters. Each of the plurality of flow limiters may be disposed between an associated fuel accumulator of the plurality of fuel accumulators and an associated fuel injector of the plurality of fuel injectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Michael D. GERSTNER, Kenneth C. Adams, Benjamin R. Tower, Bharath Chandrashekar, Zhenyu Li
  • Patent number: 8082902
    Abstract: A common rail fuel injection system includes a piezo intensifier fuel injector that includes a plurality of components. Among these are a needle valve member, an intensifier piston, a first piezo stack electrical actuator and a second piezo stack electrical actuator. These components have a first configuration at which the needle valve member blocks a nozzle outlet of the fuel injector, and a shoulder of the intensifier piston is exposed to fluid pressure in a common rail. The components have a second configuration at which the nozzle outlet is fluidly connected to the common rail for a low pressure injection event. The components have a third configuration at which the nozzle outlet is fluidly blocked from the common rail, but movement of the intensifier displaces fluid through the nozzle outlet for a high pressure injection event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Hoisan Kim, Mark Sommars, Dennis Gibson
  • Patent number: 8061329
    Abstract: An economical method for controlling a lift pump operating as part of a direct injection fuel system is described. According to the method, at least two distinct operating modes are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Publication number: 20110277730
    Abstract: A fuel injection system is described, and which has an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The upstream portion includes a source of fuel, the fuel inlet of a fuel injection servo or flow regulator, and a first fuel flow line connected in fuel flowing relation relative to the source of fuel and to the fuel inlet of the fuel injection servo. The downstream portion includes a flow divider, at least one fuel outlet of the fuel injection servo, and a second fuel flow line connected in fuel flowing relation relative to the flow divider and the fuel outlet of the fuel injection servo. A fuel accumulator pressure damper is mounted in fuel flowing relation relative to the downstream portion of the fuel injection system so as to substantially reduce standing waves in the fuel injection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Jim Gregoire
  • Patent number: 8052404
    Abstract: A high pressure pump draws fluid from a fluid inlet into a compression chamber through an inlet chamber. The high pressure pump has a fluid chamber that communicates with the fluid inlet via the inlet chamber. The high pressure pump includes a plunger and a cylinder. The plunger draws fluid from the inlet chamber into the compression chamber when the plunger moves in a drawing direction. The plunger is capable of pressurizing fluid in the compression chamber when the plunger moves in a pressurizing direction. The cylinder movably supports the plunger therein. When the plunger moves in the drawing direction, fluid in the inlet chamber is drawn into the compression chamber, so that fluid flows from the fluid chamber into the inlet chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8052405
    Abstract: A high pressure pump draws fluid from a fluid inlet into a compression chamber through an inlet chamber. The high pressure pump has a fluid chamber that communicates with the fluid inlet via the inlet chamber. The high pressure pump includes a plunger and a cylinder. The plunger draws fluid from the inlet chamber into the compression chamber when the plunger moves in a drawing direction. The plunger is capable of pressurizing fluid in the compression chamber when the plunger moves in a pressurizing direction. The cylinder movably supports the plunger therein. When the plunger moves in the drawing direction, fluid in the inlet chamber is drawn into the compression chamber, so that fluid flows from the fluid chamber into the inlet chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8050845
    Abstract: An ECU estimates a variation amount of fuel which is actually suctioned by a fuel pump based on a fuel pressure in a common rail. Even though the fuel pressure in the common rail deviates from a target fuel pressure, when the estimated variation amount of fuel is substantially zero, an energization quantity to a solenoid of a flow control valve is compulsorily reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Ryo Katsura
  • Publication number: 20110259301
    Abstract: A device for controlling a variation in pressure upstream of a common rail, the device being an extremely simple and small-sized compact device which is used in a pressure accumulating common rail type fuel injection apparatus. The device for controlling a variation in pressure upstream of a common rail can supply high-pressure fuel to the common rail in a stable pressure state by preventing pulsation of a high-pressure pump from occurring in each cylinder of the pump and also preventing generation of a surge pressure caused by opening and closing of a check valve. The device is provided with a secondary common rail which is connected to the fuel outlets of the check valves each provided to each of the cylinders of the high-pressure pump and which has a volume equal to or less than the volume of the common rail, and the device is also provided with injection pipes which connect between the common rail and the fuel outlets of the secondary common rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Kensho Kato, Hisao Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20110259300
    Abstract: An injection system for an internal combustion engine has a prefeed pump for delivering fuel from a fuel tank, a high pressure pump for delivering the fuel to a fuel accumulator arranged downstream of the prefeed pump, an accumulator return line arranged downstream of the fuel accumulator and used to return the fuel from the fuel accumulator to the fuel tank, and a valve arranged in the accumulator return line and by which the fuel can be optionally supplied to the fuel tank or to a tank bypass line which hydraulically leads to a point between the prefeed pump and the high pressure pump. A pressure relief valve is arranged in the accumulator return line downstream of the valve and upstream of the fuel tank. The pressure relief valve is suitably designed to allow adjustment of a fuel pressure in the accumulator return line upstream of the pressure relief valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Daniel Anetsberger, Andrej Astachow, Christoph Klesse
  • Publication number: 20110251776
    Abstract: A fuel accumulator is provided to assist restarting a direct injection engine fuel system. The fuel accumulator includes a central guide post with a fuel passage. A cup shaped plunger with a closed end is slideably disposed on the central guide post. A seal means is disposed between the plunger and the central guide post to define a substantially sealed fuel chamber. A biasing means is provided to urge the plunger onto the central guide post. A fuel admission valve selectively prevents and permits fuel from entering and exiting the fuel accumulator. When a fuel system stop is commanded, pressurized fuel is admitted into the fuel chamber, thereby compressing the biasing means which maintains a restart pressure. When a fuel system start is commanded, pressurized fuel is expelled from the fuel accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Peter E. Bartell, Lucille G. Lavan, David Howard Burke
  • Patent number: 8011350
    Abstract: In a high pressure fuel pump control apparatus for an internal combustion engine which has a high pressure fuel pump of an engine driven type capable of pressure feeding a controlled amount of fuel by driving a fuel suction valve to close at predetermined timing in a fuel delivery stroke, fuel pressure in an accumulator is swiftly raised by reliably pressure feeding a maximum amount of fuel from a fuel delivery stroke immediately after engine starting while avoiding heat generation by a solenoid for controlling the fuel suction valve, whereby deterioration of a combustion state and exhaust emissions at engine starting can be prevented. A starting time control section continuously energizes the solenoid over a period from the beginning of engine starting until when it becomes possible to perform valve closing timing control on the fuel suction valve based on the rotational position of the engine after completion of cylinder identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiko Oono
  • Patent number: 8011349
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine comprises a plurality of pumps arranged to supply respective flows of pressurized fuel to a common accumulator volume that supplies the pressurized fuel in turn to a plurality of fuel injectors. An engine control unit controls the flow rate of pressurized fuel into the accumulator volume in response to engine load. The flow rate of pressurized fuel from at least one pump of the plurality is dependent upon engine speed; whereas at least one other pump of the plurality comprises a fuel output control responsive to the engine control unit enabling the flow rate of pressurized fuel from that pump to be varied independently of engine speed. In this way, the engine control unit controls the aggregate flow rate of pressurized fuel from the pumps into the accumulator volume, while controlling only one of the pumps. This reduces the cost of control apparatus and allows greater freedom of pump selection and flow circuit design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies Holdings S.arl
    Inventor: George Nicholas Felton
  • Patent number: 7991488
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a parallel computation unit including an input port and an output port and a one-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model. The input port is configured to sample at a time t1 a boundary condition signal for the one-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model and the output port is configured to provide an output signal before the boundary condition signal is sampled at a time t2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Colorado State University Research Foundation
    Inventor: Matthew Viele
  • Patent number: 7980492
    Abstract: A fuel injector provided with: an injection valve comprising an injection nozzle; a mobile needle for regulating the fuel flow through the injection valve and ending with a shutting head, which engages a valve seat of the injection valve, is arranged externally with respect to injection valve and presents a predetermined sealing diameter; an actuator for displacing the needle between a closing position and an opening position of the injection valve; a closing spring which tends to maintain the needle in the closing position of the injection valve pushing the shutting head against the valve seat itself in a sense contrary to the feeding sense of the fuel; and a supporting body having a tubular shape and presenting a feeding channel within which a needle is arranged; the needle, at an opposite end of the shutting head, is coupled to a balancing channel, which is at ambient pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luca Mancini, Michele Petrone, Marcello Cristiani
  • Patent number: 7980225
    Abstract: A device includes two fuel injection systems and a pulsation damper. Each system includes fuel injection valves and first and second delivery pipes. While fuel is pumped to the two fuel injection systems with a common fuel pump, the device intermittently drives the fuel injection valves to open, thereby supplying the fuel within the delivery pipes from the fuel injection valves. The paths through which the fuel passes include a first passageway, which has the first delivery pipe and a communication path, and a second passageway which has a branch path and the second delivery pipe. An opposing portion opposite to the opening of a placement channel in the first delivery pipe includes the opening of the branch path in the first delivery pipe. This enables one pulsation damper to precisely suppress fuel pressure pulsations occurring in the two delivery pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Yamanari
  • Patent number: 7980224
    Abstract: A fuel system includes a plurality of fuel injectors fluidly connected to a common rail. Each of the fuel injectors has at least one body component and includes an intensifier control valve for controlling movement of an intensifier piston, a needle control valve for controlling movement of a needle valve member, and exactly one electrical actuator coupled with the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve via a coupling linkage. The intensifier control valve and the needle control valve each include a valve member that is movable with respect to a valve seat. The electrical actuator includes an intermediate position during which the valve member of one of the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve is in contact with the respective valve seat, and the valve member of the other of the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve is out of contact with the respective valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Lewis, Bradley E. Bartley, Avinash R. Manubolu, Shriprasad G. Lakhapati, Dianqi Fang, Michael Gerstner, Christopher D. Hanson, Jeffrey M. Mullinix
  • Publication number: 20110120417
    Abstract: In a method and a device for controlling the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulator of a common-rail injection system, the difference between the actual engine speed and a target engine speed is established, and an injection time is determined based on the determined difference. The fuel pressure is controlled according to the determined injection time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Uwe Jung, Janos Radeczky, Michael Wirkowski
  • Patent number: 7942131
    Abstract: In an injection system having a device for metering fuel into an exhaust system of a Diesel engine, and a method for controlling the injection of fuel into the exhaust system, wherein the injection system has a high-pressure pump which feeds fuel to an accumulator under high pressure and injectors which inject fuel from the accumulator into the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine, a fuel spray nozzle arranged in the exhaust system is in communication with the injection system via a fuel metering unit including a control valve and a metering valve and a pressure regulating valve is arranged between the control valve and the metering valve for controlling the pressure of the fuel being metered by the metering valve for injection into the exhaust system via the spray nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Michael Hoffmann, Helmut Pichler
  • Patent number: 7942130
    Abstract: Vapor reducing structure (25) is constructed and arranged to be associated with a fuel pressure regulator (18) of a fuel system (10?) of a vehicle. The pressure regulator has an outlet (28) for fuel that is in excess of fuel required by an engine of the vehicle. The reducing structure includes a fuel accumulator (26) associated with an outlet of the pressure regulator defining a volume in which fuel exiting the outlet of the regulator can accumulate. Flow restricting structure (30?) is associated with the accumulator and is constructed and arranged to create sufficient back-pressure to eliminate vaporization of the fuel exiting the outlet of the pressure regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Briggs, Jeffery J. Milton
  • Patent number: 7926469
    Abstract: This fuel injector assembly (1) is used to inject fuel into a combustion chamber (52) of an engine. It comprises a needle control unit (14) adapted to actuate a needle (15) to deliver fuel to the chamber (52), an amplifier unit (13) adapted to increase the pressure of a quantity of fuel coming from an accumulator (3) of fuel under pressure and a cam (4) driven feeder unit (12) adapted to feed the accumulator (3) with fuel under pressure. No external pump is needed to feed the accumulator (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Renault Trucks
    Inventors: Guillaume Millet, Mourad Hedna
  • Patent number: 7926736
    Abstract: An apparatus for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine having a fuel injector acted on with highly pressurized fuel actuated by means of a metering valve device that is able to control the pressure in a pressure booster control chamber so that in a pressure booster pressure chamber delimited by a pressure booster piston which can be filled via a check valve with high-pressure fuel and communicates with an injection valve member pressure chamber, the pressure booster piston increases the pressure, causing an injection valve member for injecting fuel to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Brenk, Hans-Christoph Magel, Volkmar Kern, Goran Kanis
  • Patent number: 7921826
    Abstract: To make it possible to pump a fuel from a supply pump into an accumulator, even when a pressure control means provided with a pressurized fuel pathway is out of action. In a fuel supply system of an engine, which is provided with pressure control means controlling a fuel pressure in an accumulator, on the pressurized fuel pathway delivering the fuel from a feed pump via a supply pump having a plurality of plungers into the accumulator, at least one pressurized fuel pathway is not provided with the pressure control means and the other pressurized fuel pathways are provided with the pressure control means, out of the plurality of pressurized fuel pathways delivering the fuel from the feed pump via plurality of plungers into the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobu Kobayashi, Hajimu Imanaka, Mitsuyoshi Kawarabayashi
  • Publication number: 20110077842
    Abstract: In a method for testing a pressure sensor of a fuel accumulator device in an internal combustion engine, the pressure in the fuel accumulator device is altered and the influence of said alteration on the torque generated by the internal combustion engine is determined. A deviation of the measured alteration from the expected alteration is then calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Carl-Eike Hofmeister, Michael Käsbauer, Matthias Stampfer
  • Patent number: 7913666
    Abstract: In order to reduce the quantity deviation of a fuel injection valve, it is proposed according to the various embodiments that a test injection be carried out during an overrun cut-off phase of a motor vehicle in operation. In the process, the fuel rail (2) is closed on the inlet side and the selected injection valve (1) is activated. A quantity difference between the predetermined setpoint and the actual value can be determined by measuring a pressure difference in the fuel rail (2) before and after the test injection. This results in a correction factor with which the activation for the selected injection valve (1) is corrected for subsequent injections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Achleitner, Thomas Maurer, Carlos Eduardo Migueis
  • Patent number: 7900605
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, the fuel injector comprising an injector body, a fuel supply passage defined in the injector body, the fuel supply passage containing fuel under high pressure in use of the injector, a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of fuel in the passage in use, wherein the pressure sensor is situated within the injector body and is separated from fuel in the passage in use, and a method of fuel injection, comprising constructing an hydraulic behavior profile by fuel pressure measurement, using the hydraulic behavior profile to predict fuel pressure that will prevail in a fuel injector during an injection event, and supplying a control signal to the fuel injector to control the amount of fuel injected during the injection event in accordance with the predicted fuel pressure. By predicting the fuel pressure that will prevail during an injection event, the fuel delivered during the injection event can be accurately controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies Holding S.arl
    Inventor: Philip J. G. Dingle
  • Patent number: 7891339
    Abstract: A control apparatus is provided to control a fuel injection apparatus. The fuel injection apparatus includes an accumulator that accumulates high-pressure fuel, at least one injector that injects the high-pressure fuel accumulated in the accumulator into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, and a pressure sensor that senses fuel pressure in the accumulator and outputs a signal indicative of the sensed fuel pressure. The control apparatus includes an estimator, a determiner, and a setter. The estimator estimates an actual injection duration of the injector. The determiner determines, during the actual injection duration estimated by the estimator, a value of the fuel pressure in the accumulator based on the signal output from the pressure sensor. The setter sets a manipulated variable for controlling fuel injection quantity of the injector based on the value of the fuel pressure determined by the determiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Takahashi, Toyomori Tsuiki
  • Publication number: 20110023831
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine has a fuel distributor (2), in the interior space (4) of which is formed a high-pressure accumulator, wherein transverse bores (6) open into the interior space (4). The transverse bores (6) are connected by connecting pipes (8a, 8b) to pressure lines (10) for the supply and discharge of fuel. A high-pressure sensor (30) is arranged at the face-side end of the fuel distributor (2), which high-pressure sensor (30) is connected by a measurement bore (30c) to the interior space (4), and a permanent magnet ring is arranged at that face-side end of the interior space (4) which is assigned to the high-pressure sensor (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Christoph Klesse, Thomas Riedel, Wolfgang Stapf, Björn von Willmann
  • Publication number: 20110017844
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a compression ignition internal combustion engine which comprises a fuel injection valve having an injection valve member which is moveable in use, under the influence of fuel pressure within an injection valve member control chamber acting upon it, between a closed position and an open position. The fuel injector further comprises a high pressure fuel supply passage to the injection valve member control chamber, and an actuator operable to open and close a discharge valve connected between the injection valve member control chamber and a fuel outlet passage to a low pressure reservoir or drain. A shut-off valve is provided in the high pressure fuel supply passage and the shut-off valve has a shut-off valve member which is moveable in use, under the influence of fuel pressure within a shut-off valve member control chamber acting upon it, between a closed position and an open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES HOLDING, S.ARL
    Inventors: Eric Lecluse, Richard Denis Jacques Alain Enters, Eric Charleux
  • Patent number: 7866300
    Abstract: In a device for the injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, including at least one high-pressure accumulator (1), an injector (4), at least one high-pressure line (7) connecting the high-pressure accumulator (1) with the injector (4), and a resonator line (16) arranged in parallel with the high-pressure line (7) between the injector (4) and the high-pressure accumulator (1) and including a resonator throttle (17) on the side of the high-pressure accumulator, the resonator line (16) is formed by an insert piece (18) pressed into the bore of the high-pressure line and is, in particular, formed within the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Heribert Kammerstetter, Jaroslav Hlousek, Christian Graspeuntner, Markus Kathan, Christian Meisl
  • Patent number: 7866424
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle with an internal-combustion engine and an electric motor has a tank ventilation system that includes a fuel tank and a suction pipe leading from a filtering device, which can be regenerated, to the intake path of the internal-combustion engine. A control device is configured to actuate different valve devices for flushing the filtering device, so that ambient air can be fed to the internal-combustion engine through the filtering device and the suction pipe. In addition, the control device is configured such that, during purely electric operation of the hybrid vehicle, it connects the internal-combustion engine as a function of the loading condition of the filtering device or of the flushing gas concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Nils Sauvlet, Thomas Rauner
  • Patent number: 7856960
    Abstract: A control method of a direct injection system of the common-rail type provided with a shut-off valve for controlling the flow rate of a high-pressure fuel pump; the control method contemplates the steps of: feeding the pressurized fuel to a common rail by means of a high-pressure pump which receives the fuel through a shut-off valve; cyclically controlling the opening and closing of the shut-off valve for choking the flow rate of fuel taken in by the high-pressure pump; adjusting the flow rate of fuel taken in by the high-pressure pump by varying the ratio between the duration of the opening time and the duration of the closing time of the shut-off valve; determining a lower limit value of the opening time of the shut-off valve; and adjusting the driving frequency of the shut-off valve so that the real opening time of the shut-off valve is always over the lower limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gabriele Serra, Matteo De Cesare
  • Patent number: 7850435
    Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus has a high-pressure pump and a fuel-supply pump that delivers fuel from a fuel tank to the high-pressure pump. The high-pressure pump has a housing with an internal chamber that contains a drive unit for at least one pump element having a pump piston driven by the drive unit and delimiting a pump working chamber into which fuel is supplied via an inlet during an intake stroke and from which fuel is displaced via an outlet into the reservoir during a delivery stroke of the pump piston. The fuel-supply pump delivers fuel into the internal chamber via a connection that contains a check valve which opens toward the internal chamber of the housing and the inlet of the pump working chamber is connected to the internal chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Boehland, Godehard Nentwig, Michael Bauer
  • Patent number: 7832374
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for pressurization of a fuel line of an engine. In one embodiment, a fuel charging system for an engine is provided. The fuel charging system includes a first fuel pump in fluid communication with a fuel tank to generate a first fluid pressure within a first fuel line. The fuel charging system also includes a second fluid pump having a reciprocating piston including a low pressure end and a high pressure end. The low pressure end is in fluid communication with the first fuel pump through the first fuel line and the high pressure end is in fluid communication with an engine fuel rail through a second fuel line. The reciprocating piston is driven by the first fluid pressure to generate a second fluid pressure within the second fuel line, wherein the second fluid pressure is greater than the first fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas R Verner, Craig D Marriott, Kenneth J Buslepp, Jeff L Swain
  • Publication number: 20100282211
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine, the system comprising at least one fuel injector, said fuel injector comprising a control chamber having an inlet for receiving highly pressurised fuel and an outlet enabling fuel to flow out of the control chamber into a back-leak passage associated with the fuel injector, wherein the fuel injector is operable between an injecting state and a non-injecting state in dependence on the fuel pressure within the control chamber. The system further includes a pressure regulator for regulating the fuel pressure within the back-leak passage so as to maintain the injector back-leak pressure at a predetermined target value which is below atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: PATRICK DANIEL, MARCOS PAGOTO