Variable Rate Of Injection Stroke Patents (Class 123/496)
  • Patent number: 11525427
    Abstract: A high pressure fuel pump includes: a pump body that forms a suction passage and a pressurizing chamber and slidably supports a plunger; and a control valve that opens a connection between the suction passage and the pressurizing chamber in a suction stroke, during which the plunger is driven toward a suction side for suctioning fuel into the pressurizing chamber, while the control valve controls closing timing, at which the connection between the suction passage and the pressurizing chamber is closed by the control valve in a delivery stroke, during which the plunger is driven toward a delivery side for delivering the fuel out of the pressurizing chamber. The pump body forms a release passage that is communicated with the suction passage. The release passage relieves the fuel, which is pressurized by the plunger, from the pressurizing chamber before the closing timing during the delivery stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuhei Yamamoto, Kazuhiro Onishi
  • Patent number: 10947930
    Abstract: What is proposed is an emulsifying system for an internal combustion engine, wherein the emulsifying system comprises an emulsifying device for producing a water-fuel emulsion and an injector for injecting the water-fuel emulsion in a combustion chamber, the emulsifying device being arranged within the injector. Also proposed is an emulsifying method for preparing a water-fuel emulsion for an internal combustion engine, wherein fuel is pressurized in a fuel pressure accumulator and water is pressurized in a water pressure accumulator and fed separately to an injector for injecting the fuel and water into an associated combustion chamber, and/or fuel and water are emulsified by means of an emulsifying device that is integrated into an injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventor: Roman Taniel
  • Patent number: 10370825
    Abstract: Pump controller: when operation device receives neither first or second operation, outputs standby rotation speed as command rotation speed to engine controller, standby rotation speed being lower than selected reference rotation speed; when operation device receives first operation, changes command rotation speed from standby rotation speed to first target rotation speed in such a manner that as an amount of first operation increases, increasing rate of command rotation speed decreases gradually; when operation device receives second operation, changes command rotation speed from standby rotation speed to second target rotation speed in such a manner that as an amount of second operation increases, increasing rate of command rotation speed increases gradually; and feeds command current to a solenoid proportional valve that outputs secondary pressure to regulator that adjusts tilting angle of a pump, such that a discharge flow rate of the pump is proportional to amount of first and second operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Kondo, Hideyasu Muraoka
  • Patent number: 10174732
    Abstract: A method for controlling a high-pressure pump for the injection of fuel into a combustion engine, the high-pressure pump being connected to a camshaft of the combustion engine, wherein the high-pressure pump is controlled in a camshaft-synchronous manner by ascertaining an angular offset between the flank positions of a camshaft pulse-generating wheel and a predefinable point above the bottom dead center of a cam of the high-pressure pump on the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Alexandra Woerz, Arthur Pichlkostner, Burkhard Hiller, Robert Schmidt, Torsten Baumann, Julia Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10151178
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring, calculating, and/or optimizing the consumption of fuel in operating motorized equipment in well site operations or other jobs are provided. In one embodiment the methods comprise: calculating a set of fuel consumption rates for one or more engines at a job site as a function of a speed of each engine, a hydraulic horsepower load to be provided by each engine, and an external parasitic load to be provided by each engine; identifying one or more operating speeds for the one or more engines during an operation at the job site based at least in part on the set of fuel consumption rates for the one or more engines; and operating the one or more engines at the one or more operating speeds during an operation at the job site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley V. Stephenson, Matthew R. Margis, Philip A. Rogers
  • Patent number: 9903324
    Abstract: An engine device, which employs various types of fuels, plural fuel pipes can compactly be disposed without being thermally affected by exhaust gas. In the engine device, a gas fuel pipe that supplies gas fuel to a gas injector, a fuel oil pipe that supplies liquid fuel to a main fuel injection valve are disposed to be divided on both sides of a row of head covers arranged in a line. In addition, in the engine device, an intake manifold that supplies air taken in by a main combustion chamber toward an intake valve extends in parallel to the row of head covers in a cylinder block, and the fuel gas pipe and the intake manifold are arranged on the same side of the row of head covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Nishimura, Sadao Kuwazuru, Kouichi Hirose
  • Patent number: 9874185
    Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling a solenoid spill valve of a direct injection fuel pump, wherein the solenoid spill valve is energized and de-energized according to certain conditions. A control strategy is needed to operate the direct injection fuel pump when small fractional trapping volumes are commanded, wherein a small amount of fuel is compressed and sent to the direct injection fuel rail. To maintain reliable and repeatable solenoid spill valve behavior for small fractional trapping volumes, methods are proposed that involve energizing the solenoid spill valve for a minimum angular duration below a trapping volume fraction threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Mark Meinhart
  • Patent number: 9677468
    Abstract: A two-cycle engine that includes a high pressure fuel pump that pressurizes fuel to produce pressurized fuel and pumps the pressurized fuel from a fuel controller to a fuel injector. The fuel injector injects the pressurized fuel into a cylinder. A high pressure air pump pressurizes air to produce pressurized air and pumps the pressurized air from an air controller to an air injector. The air injector injects the pressurized air into the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Inventor: Kan K Cheng
  • Patent number: 9394671
    Abstract: A control device is configured to sufficiently reduce the drive loss of a hydraulic pump. The control device is provided with a controller configured to control a regeneration valve to switch to a regeneration state, and to control the flow rate of a second hydraulic pump to reduce the ejection flow rate of the second hydraulic pump in accordance with regeneration of hydraulic oil through the regeneration valve when a combined operation of lowering a boom and pressing an arm is performed. The controller outputs a command for setting the number of rotations of an engine to be smaller than the rotation number designated by a rotation number designating unit when the ejection flow rate of the second hydraulic pump is not larger than a predetermined flow rate during the combined operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsunori Hirozawa, Koji Ueda
  • Patent number: 9382885
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine includes a movable armature including first and second armature parts, and a magnetic coil that generates a magnetic field for effecting an axial travel of the armature to displace a valve needle away from a closing position. During a first period of axial travel, the second armature part is axially displaced while the valve needle remains closed. During a subsequent second period of the axial travel, the first and second armature parts and the valve needle are fixed with respect to each other and travel axially with respect to the housing. During a third period of the travel, only the first armature part travels further towards the pole element for moving the valve needle further away from the closing position and the axial travel of the first armature part is subsequently stopped at the end of the third period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Antonio Agresta, Luigi Gargiulo, Marco Mechi, Salvatore Varchetta
  • Patent number: 9359984
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an injection valve may include a valve body having a central longitudinal axis and a cavity with a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet portion, the fluid inlet portion having a step, a valve needle axially movable in the cavity, the valve needle preventing a fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion in a closing position and releasing the fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion in an open position, and an electro-magnetic actuator unit configured to actuate the valve needle and comprising an axially movable armature, the armature including a first armature part fixedly coupled to the valve needle and a second armature part axially movable relative to the first armature part, the second armature part configured such that the second armature part is mechanically decoupled from the first armature part by hitting the step when the valve needle reaches its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Anatoliy Lyubar, Antonio Agresta
  • Patent number: 9217406
    Abstract: An electrically controllable electromechanical inlet valve (2a) which is closed in the currentless state and is held in the closed state by the force of a spring (2b), an outlet valve (5a), and a displacement element (6), the inlet valve is operated in a self-controlling operating mode after a start command is present. In the self-controlling operating mode, the rail pressure is built without knowledge of the phase position of the displacement element. During the self-controlling operating mode, the phase position of the displacement element is determined. After the phase position of the piston or displacement element is determined, the inlet valve is switched over to a non-self-controlling operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Jung, Janos Radeczky, Michael Wirkowski
  • Patent number: 9068544
    Abstract: A fuel-injection system for an internal-combustion engine has at least one fuel injector with a fuel-metering servo valve provided with an open/close element, which is movable in response to the action of an electric actuator; and an electronic control unit which issues to the electric actuator two electrical commands, one for carrying out a pilot injection and one for carrying out a main injection; the two electrical commands being separated by an electrical dwell time such that the main injection starts, without solution of continuity with the pilot injection, when an open/close needle for carrying out fuel injections into a cylinder of the internal-combustion engine remains at a lift value in which the fuel flow rate is negligible; in particular, the second electrical command is issued during a rebound of the open/close element on the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Sergio Stucchi, Raffaele Ricco, Onofrio De Michele, Marcello Gargano
  • Publication number: 20150107560
    Abstract: A plunger of a fuel pump is disclosed. The plunger may have a cylindrical base configured for axial movement and rotation within a pump barrel. The plunger may also have a fuel amount controlling end. The fuel amount controlling end may have a recessed surface region. The fuel amount controlling end may also have a sealing surface region. Further, the fuel amount controlling end may have a control interface connecting the recessed surface region with the sealing surface section in a radial direction. The transition from the recessed surface region to the control interface may be curved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Von Der Osten-Sack, Ole Ohrt
  • Patent number: 8881709
    Abstract: A common rail single fluid injection system includes fuel injectors ramp shaped injection curves at both the front and back ends of an injection event. This is accomplished by including a check speed control device fixed in position within the check control chamber of a fuel injector. The check speed control device controls the speed of a check by restricting fuel flowing into and out of the check control chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Hoisan Kim, Mark F. Sommars
  • Publication number: 20140182547
    Abstract: A method of controlling an oil pump of an engine with a variable valve lift apparatus includes: detecting the operation status of a vehicle; determining whether mode change conditions of a variable valve lift apparatus are satisfied; determining whether the mode change condition of the variable valve lift apparatus is a condition for changing from a low lift to a high lift; comparing whether the current oil hydraulic pressure is larger than the current necessary hydraulic pressure, when the mode change condition of the variable valve lift apparatus is a condition for changing from a low lift to a high lift; and increasing oil pressure by controlling the oil pump, when the current oil hydraulic pressure is not larger than the current necessary hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyoung Hyoun KIM
  • Publication number: 20140174408
    Abstract: A method for determining a fuel fraction in the oil of an oil circuit (6), in particular in oil of an oil circuit (6) of an internal combustion engine (7), wherein a variably adjustable oil delivery pump (1) is provided in the oil circuit, which oil delivery pump can be actuated by means of a control unit (4), wherein the control unit performs an adjustment of parameters and/or adaptation values of the oil delivery pump as a function of the viscosity of the oil, wherein a determination of the fuel fraction in the oil is performed on the basis of the parameters and/or adaptation values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Juergen PFEIFFER
  • Publication number: 20130340721
    Abstract: Provided is an abnormality detection apparatus for a fuel supply system that can reliably detect an abnormality of the fuel pressure changing operation of the fuel supply system, comprising a fuel pump unit (11) to supply a fuel to an injector (3), a pressure regulator (20) capable of regulating a pressure of the fuel to a desired one set pressure and a set pressure changing operation mechanism (40) to change the set pressure, a state change detection section (51a) to change the set pressure to a high set pressure in response to a fuel supply amount to the injector (3) being substantially constant and to detect a variation of an energization state of the pump drive motor (11m) after changing the set pressure, and an abnormality determination section (51b) to determine whether or not there is an abnormality occurred in changing the set pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Suda
  • Publication number: 20130255643
    Abstract: The engine with a variable flow rate oil pump includes a subsidiary relief passage that extends from an oil passage-switching valve to a subsidiary oil pump, a main relief passage that extends from the oil passage-switching valve to the main oil pump separately from the subsidiary relief passage, and a check valve that is provided in the subsidiary discharge passage and cuts off the flow of oil from the main discharge passage side to the oil passage-switching valve side. The oil passage-switching valve has a main pressure-adjusting chamber for the main oil pump, a subsidiary pressure-adjusting chamber of for the subsidiary oil pump, and a spool valve that performs partitioning between the main pressure-adjusting chamber and the subsidiary pressure-adjusting chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicants: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasunori ONO, Junichi MIYAJIMA, Noriyuki KAWAMATA, Hayato MAEHARA, Eisuke KAJIHARA, Kazuhiro TAKEUCHI, Norihiko GOGAMI, Satoshi INO
  • Patent number: 8413636
    Abstract: The temperature of the fuel is raised without consuming the fuel in a fuel injection apparatus for an internal combustion engine. The fuel injection apparatus for the internal combustion engine comprises judging means which judges whether or not a fuel cut state, in which supply of fuel to the internal combustion engine is temporarily stopped during deceleration of a vehicle, is given; and discharge means which discharges the fuel by means of a motive power applied from a rotary shaft of the internal combustion engine; the fuel injection apparatus for the internal combustion engine further comprising increasing means which increases work of the discharge means when it is judged by the judging means that the fuel cut state is given as compared with when it is not judged by the judging means that the fuel cut state is given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Takashi Koyama
  • Patent number: 8315780
    Abstract: There is provided a high pressure fuel pump control system for an internal combustion engine which enables fuel pressure control with high precision without being restricted by the number of cylinders of the internal combustion engine or the number of phase sensor signals and the number of cam noses which vertically drives a plunger of a high pressure fuel pump even when a camshaft phase varies by a variable valve timing mechanism by using the high pressure fuel pump with a solenoid valve. The control system has a means which changes an effective stroke by driving the solenoid valve in the high pressure fuel pump, and has a means which changes the drive timing of the high pressure fuel pump based on a cylinder recognition value of the internal combustion engine with the cam angle detecting means as an origin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Toyohara, Kazunori Kondo, Satoru Okubo, Takashi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8240290
    Abstract: In a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, when a fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure detecting unit is not smaller than a threshold P_a, the value opening time duration of a injector is increased to a value larger than its normal value, such control as to stop fuel injection from the injector is inhibited, the low pressure fuel pump is stopped, thus quickly lowering the fuel pressure. After the fuel pressure is lowered, the valve opening time duration of the injector is returned to the normal value, and a discharge quantity of the low pressure fuel pump is changed on the basis of a difference between the fuel pressure detected by the fuel pressure detecting unit and a target fuel pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Miyake, Masahiro Toyohara, Tomohiro Ohisa, Yoshikazu Ishii
  • Patent number: 8141543
    Abstract: A vehicle has an engine and a fuel tank, which is located above the engine, mounted on a vehicle-body frame. A fuel pump, which supplies fuel is spaced-apart from the fuel tank and is located below the fuel tank and in front of the engine. Further, a center of the fuel pump in the vehicle-width direction is located so as to overlap a vehicle-body center line which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Additionally, the fuel pump is mounted on lower main frames, which are positioned below the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Shigeto Inami, Tsuneo Kajikawa, Tadashi Oshima
  • Patent number: 7926737
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is proposed having a directly actuatable injection valve element. The fuel injector has a nozzle needle, axially guided in a nozzle body, and an actuator accommodated in an injector housing. The nozzle needle is connected to a coupling piston on the nozzle-needle side and the actuator is connected to a coupling piston on the actuator side. The coupling piston on the actuator side acts on a coupling chamber and the coupling piston on the nozzle-needle side acts on a control chamber. The nozzle needle is lifted from a nozzle-needle sealing seat as a function of the pressure in the control space. An intermediate plate is provided between injector housing and nozzle body. The plate has a conduit hydraulically connecting the coupling chamber to the control chamber. The conduit contains a hydraulic throttle which has at least two sections having different cross sections of flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Stoecklein, Thomas Pauer, Christian Kuhnert
  • Patent number: 7819335
    Abstract: In a control system and method for operating an ultrasonic liquid delivery device, an ultrasonic waveguide, separate from the housing, is disposed at least in part within an internal chamber of the housing to ultrasonically energize liquid prior to the liquid being exhausted from the housing through an exhaust port. An excitation device is operable to ultrasonically excite the waveguide and a control system controls operation of the liquid delivery device between an excitation mode in which the excitation device is operated at an excitation frequency to excite the ultrasonic waveguide and a ring down mode in which the excitation device is inoperable to excite the waveguide such that the waveguide rings down. The control system monitors the ring down and is responsive to the ring down to adjust the excitation frequency of the excitation device in the excitation mode thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas David Ehlert, Patrick Sean McNichols, Douglas M. Baker
  • Patent number: 7712685
    Abstract: The present invention relates to fuel injection in internal combustion engines and to fuel rate shaping. Especially, the invention relates to combustion engines utilizing heavy fuel oil as a fuel. In the body of the device there is arranged a chamber, in which a movable piston is arranged dividing the chamber into a first main volume and a second main volume, the volumes of which depend upon the position of the piston. Moreover, the device comprises at least one auxiliary volume, which can be united with the main volumes. The auxiliary volume can be filled with the fuel entering the device through the first main volume by utilizing the piston motion. By establishing a connection from the auxiliary volume to the second main volume a fuel flow to the second main volume is allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventor: Kai Lehtonen
  • Patent number: 7690355
    Abstract: A fuel metering system for supplying fuel to a plurality of loads includes a variable displacement piston pump having an adjustable hanger that is movable to a plurality of positions. The variable displacement piston pump is configured to receive a drive torque and, upon receipt of the drive torque, to supply fuel to the plurality of loads at a flow rate dependent on the position of the adjustable hanger. A hanger actuator is coupled to receive hanger position commands and is operable, in response thereto, to move the adjustable hanger to the commanded position. A pump control mechanism is coupled to receive the fuel flow commands supplied by the gas turbine engine controller and is operable, in response thereto, to supply the hanger position commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steve M. Emo, William S. Rowan, Larry A. Portolese
  • Patent number: 7559314
    Abstract: A method in an internal combustion engine for controlling a fuel injector of the unit injector type which includes a plunger that is driven by a rotating camshaft and during a working stroke generates a hydraulic pressure increase in the fuel. Pressure build-up is regulated by a spill valve the injection sequence is regulated by a needle control valve. The spill valve and the needle control valve are regulated in such a way that additional plunger retardation force is produced in a part of a working stroke in addition to the normal retardation force that is produced by the plunger return spring and the flow resistance in the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagna AB
    Inventor: Johan Remmelgas
  • Patent number: 7540274
    Abstract: An intake valve automatically opened and closed by pressure of a pressuring chamber is provided in a fuel intake passage, the intake valve is pushed to open by a plunger of an electromagnetic plunger mechanism, pulling-in operating timing of the plunger is controlled according to the operating condition of an internal combustion engine, and opening time of the intake valve during compression stroke of a pump is controlled to make discharge flow-rate of high pressure fuel variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamada, Shigenori Tahara, Atsuji Saito, Yukio Takahashi, Masami Abe
  • Patent number: 7527041
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve introduces a fuel into an engine and controlling fuel flow to reduce variability between injection events. The fuel injection valve employs an arrangement for a valve nozzle that cooperates with a valve needle to provide a range of needle movement within which the fuel mass flow rate is substantially constant. This can be achieved by providing a restriction with a constant flow area for a predetermined range of needle movement. The method comprises commanding a valve needle to a position within the predetermined range of needle movement to reduce variability in the fuel mass flow rate, particularly when the engine is idling or operating under low load conditions. Valve needle lift is variable during an injection event and from one injection event to another injection event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Westport Power Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Wing, Ian Lockley, Kevin Oversby
  • Patent number: 7472689
    Abstract: During a short duration injection, a triangular geometry is drawn in terms of the injection rate with respect to time, while a trapezoidal geometry is drawn during a long duration injection. The ON timing of the drive pulse is determined to be at a valve opening pressure achieving time before the start point of formation in time of the geometry. An injection pulse duration is determined from “the valve opening pressure achieving time+a needle rise time?a valve closing pressure achieving time,” and then the OFF timing of the drive pulse is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Ishizuka, Takayuki Fukushima, Takashi Kikutani
  • Patent number: 7431220
    Abstract: A fuel injector having a piezoelectric actuator in an injector body and held in contact with the injector body on one side and with a sleevelike booster piston on the other via first spring means. A nozzle body joined to the injector body and a stepped nozzle needle is guided in the body. A second spring disposed inside the booster piston which together with the injection pressure acting on the back side of the nozzle needle keeps the nozzle needle in the closing position. A control chamber on the end toward the nozzle needle of the booster piston communicates, via at least one leakage gap with a fuel supply at injection pressure, and the nozzle needle is urged in the opening direction by the fuel located in the control chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Kanne, Godehard Nentwig
  • Patent number: 7395812
    Abstract: The injection system comprises a high-pressure pump (7) with variable flowrate, having a number of pumping elements (18) actuated with reciprocating motion and provided each with a corresponding intake valve (22). An accumulation volume (28) is supplied with fuel at low pressure from an intake pipe (10) of the pump (7) through a solenoid valve (31) controlled as a function of the operating conditions of the engine (2). The accumulation volume (28) is in communication with the intake valves (22) through corresponding outlet holes (29), and the solenoid valve (31) is provided with nebulizer holes (36) such as to generate corresponding jets of fuel, each directed towards at least one of said outlet holes (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Ricco, Adriano Gorgoglione, Raffaele Ricco, Sergio Stucchi
  • Patent number: 7353805
    Abstract: A pumping system (10) for a fuel injection system including a pump body defining a pumping chamber, a plunger (14), a high-pressure outlet, a high-pressure fluid line (18) connecting the pumping chamber to the outlet and a trapped volume (20) in communication with either the fluid line (18) or the pumping chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Gregg R. Spoolstra
  • Patent number: 7350505
    Abstract: A common rail fuel pump for an internal combustion engine includes a pumping plunger (10) that is reciprocable within a plunger bore (14) provided in a pump housing (16) under the influence of a drive arrangement (18, 20) to cause fuel pressurisation within a pump chamber (12). An inlet metering valve (46) is operable to meter the quantity of fuel supplied to the pump chamber (12) during the return stroke of the plunger (10). An outlet valve (58) controls the supply of pressurised fuel from the pumping chamber (12) through an outlet passage (30) to the common rail fuel volume in circumstances in which the inlet metering valve is closed. The outlet passage (30) has a pump outlet (38), from where fuel is supplied to the common rail fuel volume. The inlet metering valve (46), the plunger (10) and the pump outlet (38) are arranged in axial alignment, providing a compact and lightweight pump for installation in existing and purpose-built engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: George Nicholas Felton
  • Patent number: 7334741
    Abstract: A closed nozzle fuel injector is provided which effectively controls the fuel injection flow rate, especially during an initial portion of an injection event, while also permitting accurate control over pilot and/or post injection flow rates at all operating conditions thereby advantageously reducing emissions and combustion noise. The injector includes a rate shaping orifice to restrict fuel flow during an initial portion of an injection event and a rate shaping sleeve mounted for movement to cause a greater flow of injection fuel during a later portion of the injection event. A damping chamber and orifice are also provided to control movement of the rate shaping sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Benson, David M. Rix, Lester L. Peters, Shankar C. Venkataraman, C. Edward Morris, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7325536
    Abstract: A high-pressure fuel pump control device is capable of reducing current consumption, increasing pump durability, and promoting a rise of fuel pressure from startup. The high-pressure fuel pump control device comprises a fuel injector valve for directly injecting fuel in a common rail into a combustion chamber and a high-pressure fuel pump for feeding the fuel under pressure to the common rail. The high-pressure fuel pump comprises a pressurization chamber, a plunger for pressurizing the fuel in the pressurization chamber, a fuel passage valve disposed in the pressurization chamber, and an actuator for actuating the fuel passage valve. The control device includes a control unit for executing output control of a drive signal for the actuator to vary a discharge rate of the high-pressure fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7252072
    Abstract: A fueling system for an internal combustion engine. The system has a voltage booster and a fuel injector. The voltage booster is operatively coupled to the injector to selectively drive the injector. A method includes determining compliance of a booster voltage with a threshold. The method further includes diagnosing fuel system error based upon the determining compliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Slater, John E. Rogers, Michael D. Zieles
  • Patent number: 7240666
    Abstract: A high-pressure fuel pump control device capable of reducing current consumption, increasing pump durability, and promoting a rise of fuel pressure from startup. The high-pressure fuel pump control device comprises a fuel injector valve for directly injecting fuel in a common rail into a combustion chamber and a high-pressure fuel pump for feeding the fuel under pressure to the common rail. The high-pressure fuel pump comprises a pressurization chamber, a plunger for pressurizing the fuel in the pressurization chamber, a fuel passage valve disposed in the pressurization chamber, and an actuator for actuating the fuel passage valve. The control device includes a control unit for executing output control of a drive signal for the actuator to vary a discharge rate of the high-pressure fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7225794
    Abstract: Immediately before fuel pressure is increased by a pressure-increase mechanism, a pressure-increase control valve of each cylinder is opened in timing that does not overlap the timing of opening of an injection control valve, and the period of time for which the pressure-increase control valves is opened is gradually increased. As a result, it is possible to prevent the quantity of fuel consumed by the pressure-increase mechanism from rapidly increasing when the increase of fuel pressure is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation
    Inventors: Keiki Tanabe, Shinji Nakayama, Susumu Kohketsu
  • Patent number: 7216815
    Abstract: A servo-valve for a fuel injector equipped with a pressure booster whose working chamber is separated from a differential pressure chamber by a booster piston in which an actuator can connect a control chamber to a first low-pressure return and the differential pressure chamber can be connected to a second low-pressure return or to a return system in which the returns are connected to each other. A first servo-valve piston has a first sealing seat, and a second piston, embodied as a sealing sleeve, is accommodated on the first servo-valve piston and, together with a valve housing, constitutes a second sealing seat. When the pressure in the control chamber is relieved, this second sealing seat is closed with a shorter stroke, sooner than the first sealing seat. When the control chamber is subjected to pressure, the second sealing seat opens only after the first sealing seat is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Christoph Magel
  • Patent number: 7182070
    Abstract: A method for triggering a fuel injector via an on/off valve and a control valve that actuates it. The fuel injector has a pressure booster whose piston parts separate a working chamber from a differential pressure chamber. Via a compression chamber of the pressure booster, a nozzle chamber of the fuel injector can be acted on with highly pressurized fuel. The working chamber of the pressure booster communicates continuously with a common rail. During the main phase in which fuel is injected into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the control valve that actuates the on/off valve is triggered once or multiple times so that the maximum pressure level occurring at the combustion chamber end of a one-part or multipart injection valve member falls below the maximum achievable pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Christoph Magel
  • Patent number: 7178510
    Abstract: A fuel system for use in an internal combustion engine, the fuel system comprising a source of high pressure fuel for supplying fuel through a single fuel supply path to an injector for injecting fuel, a first valve arrangement for controlling initiation of fuel injection and a second valve arrangement arranged in the fuel supply path, comprising a valve member which is operable between first and second positions to vary the rate of flow of fuel through the second valve arrangement, thereby to permit the fuel injection characteristics to be varied, in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Woodward Governor Company
    Inventors: James Martin Anderton Askew, Peter Derek Bogle
  • Patent number: 7134424
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering fuel includes a fuel pump having a fuel inlet side and a fuel outlet side, and a fuel pumping mechanism operable to draw fuel from the fuel inlet side and pressurize the fuel for transmission to the fuel outlet side. A pressure regulator relieves pressure in the fuel outlet side when such pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum pressure. The pressure regulator includes a by-pass valve, a first fuel port between the fuel outlet side and the by-pass valve, and a second fuel port between the by-pass valve and the fuel inlet side. The by-pass valve is operative, in response to a pressure in the fuel outlet side in excess of the predetermined maximum pressure, to fluidly connect the first and second ports for the return of at least a portion of the fuel from the fuel outlet side to the fuel inlet side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Alona E Pehrson, Timothy Vernatter
  • Patent number: 7124746
    Abstract: Controlling fuel injectors to create varying injection rates and injection rate shapes typically involves using multiple control valves to control fuel pressure and check valve opening pressure independently. The fuel injector of this application uses a single control valve positioned between a fuel supply passage and a tip supply passage. The control valve has at least three positions. In a second position allowing a first maximum fuel injection rate and allowing a second maximum fuel injection rate in a third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Inventors: Douglas S. Brocco, Dana R. Coldren, Daniel R. Ibrahim, Berfan K. Kochgiri
  • Patent number: 7124744
    Abstract: Engineers have determined that the ability to front end rate shape injection events can result in a number of advantages, including improved injector performance and a reduction in undesirable emissions. In addition, engineers have learned that it is desirable for the needle valve to open slowly at the beginning of an injection event and to close abruptly to end the injection event. Therefore, the present invention utilizes at least one orifice member that is movably positioned in an injector body such that fluid flowing away from the needle valve member closing hydraulic surface flows through a relatively restricted flow path and fluid flowing toward the needle valve member flow through a relatively unrestricted flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Norval J. Weimken, Xinshuang Nan, Ye Tian, Lifeng Wang, Jianyuan Yang, Ronald D. Shinogle, Chetan J. Desai
  • Patent number: 7121263
    Abstract: A high-pressure pump is provided in order to supply fuel to the fuel rail of a common rail injection system in an internal combustion engine. The input-side control valve of the pump is closed during the pumping cycle in order to separate the inner chamber of the pump from the low-pressure side. According to the invention, the valve control pulse, by which means the control valve is closed, is active when the pressure wave generated by the upward movement of the pump plunger hits the control valve. The closing of the control valve is assisted by the impact of the pressure wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Eser
  • Patent number: 7096856
    Abstract: A fuel feed pump is provided that has a fuel flow-rate regulating valve, on the inlet side. The fuel flow-rate regulating valve includes a housing with a fuel inlet port and a fuel outlet port, a valve mechanism for controlling the flow rate of the fuel from the inlet port to the outlet port, and a regulating mechanism for regulating a backpressure to control the position of a needle valve of the valve mechanism in response to a system pressure, to thereby control the flow rate by controlling the fuel flow through an opening provided in a valve chamber. This arrangement makes it difficult for contamination to accumulate, and also enables a low-cost implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Fukuhara, Nobuo Aoki, Koji Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 7047946
    Abstract: In a method for forming a fuel/air mixture in a direct-injection internal combustion engine with a fuel injection nozzle arranged in each cylinder, a closing member of the fuel injection nozzle is moved from a closed position to an operating position by means of a control device at different speeds until the operating stroke is reached, in order to obtain optimum combustion, and a uniform concentration of the fuel particles introduced with increased impulse into the combustion chamber is achieved providing for the formation of a swirl with a constant symmetry and uniform distribution of fuel in the swirl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Lothar Herrmann, Oliver Steil
  • Patent number: 7032574
    Abstract: Multi-stage intensifiers for injectors of pressurized fluid (e.g., fuel) allowing selection of intensified injection fluid pressure and thus fluid injection flow rate by selectively applying actuating fluid supply pressure to one or more of the multi-stage intensifiers. In a disclosed embodiment, two coaxial unequal sized intensifier pistons are used, with a control valve controlling selective pressurization of either the relatively smaller intensifier piston, or pressurization of both the relatively smaller intensifier piston and the relatively larger intensifier piston to control the intensified injection fluid pressure and flow rate of injection. Other embodiments, including ones using multi-stage intensifiers mechanically coupled together, controlled by different types of control valves and having more than two stages are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Sturman Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Oded E. Sturman