With Means To Vary Or Pulse Flow Within Engine Cycle Patents (Class 239/533.4)
  • Patent number: 11346307
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a fluid injector comprising: an injector housing defining a fluid path; a needle within the housing and movable to a closed position and an open position. The needle comprises two axial ends, an end face on the second, and an axial needle section surrounded by the housing. Between the axial section and the surrounding housing, there is a gap comprising at least part of the fluid path. The needle includes a hole extending from the end face and a connecting hole providing fluid connection between the hole and the gap. The valve also includes a plate defining a through-hole. A first valve seat is defined at a surface of the plate facing the end face and adjoining the through-hole and when the needle is in the closed position the through-hole is closed by the end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Mauro Grandi, Michael J. Hornby, Valerio Polidori
  • Patent number: 10907567
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a direct fuel injector of an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, a nozzle needle is moved in two directions to maintain fuel flow through the direct fuel injector and to reduce the possibility of the nozzle needle impacting a piezoelectric actuator. The method and system may permit long fuel injection times without causing undesirable impacts between components of a fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Pohlkamp, Eric Kurtz
  • Patent number: 10280887
    Abstract: In a fuel injection device including a body portion that forms an injection hole through which a fuel is injected, the body portion includes an inlet-channel-forming portion that is connected to an inflow port of the fuel in the injection hole and forms an inlet channel which is a fuel flow channel, and an outlet-channel-forming portion that is connected to the inlet channel and an outflow port of the fuel in the injection hole, and forms an outlet channel that is a fuel flow channel. A surface roughness of the outlet-channel-forming portion is larger than a surface roughness of the inlet-channel-forming portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noritsugu Kato, Keita Imai
  • Patent number: 10094350
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an injection valve. The valve may comprise a fluid inlet tube with a recess, a valve body, a valve needle, a spring element, and an elastic body. The valve body may have a central longitudinal axis and a cavity with a fluid outlet portion. The valve needle may be arranged in the recess of the fluid inlet tube and movable in the cavity. The spring element and elastic body may be arranged in the recess and interact with a portion of the valve body on one side and with a spring rest fixed to the valve needle on another side. The elastic body and the spring element are compressed as the valve needle is moved along the longitudinal axis away from its closing position. The elastic body, in the presence of a fluid pressure in the recess, exerts a fluid-pressure-dependent longitudinal force on the valve needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Stefano Filippi, Mauro Grandi, Francesco Lenzi, Valerio Polidori
  • Patent number: 9903329
    Abstract: A fuel injector is provided that includes various precise configuration parameters, including dimensions, shape and/or relative positioning of fuel injector features, resulting in improved efficiency of fuel flow through the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
    Inventors: Lester L. Peters, Jeffrey C. Huang, David L. Buchanan, Corydon Edward Morris, Gary Gant, Denis Gill, Heribert Kammerstetter, Ernst Winklhofer
  • Patent number: 9897059
    Abstract: A diesel engine includes a piston, a cylinder head, and a fuel injector. The fuel injector has a valve body with bored nozzle holes in its tip part. A cavity having a circular shape in plan view is formed in a crown surface of the piston to concave to the counter cylinder head side. A wall surface constituting the cavity has a central ridge portion bulging toward the fuel injector while bulging larger toward the center of the cavity, a periphery concave portion formed radially outward of the central ridge portion to concave radially outward, and a lip portion formed between the periphery concave portion and the crown surface to convex radially inward. A lip radius R, a nozzle hole length L, a nozzle hole diameter D, and a bore radius B are designed to satisfy the following equation: 99.4D×(1?3D)×(L+2.7)?R?min{237.1D×(1?3D)×(0.8L+1),2B/3}.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Shimo, Sangkyu Kim, Kazunori Hirabayashi, Makoto Namba, Masahiro Miyazaki, Yudai Kato
  • Patent number: 9662709
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a fuel injection element having channels, as well as to a fuel injection element. A fuel injection element according to the invention has helically extending channels and is produced with use of an extrusion tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Arno Friedrichs
  • Patent number: 9188093
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a two-stage fuel injection valve. The two-stage fuel injection valve of the present invention is configured such that the pressure of main fuel delivered from an injection pump is applied to a plunger in a main fuel chamber, and subsequently delivered to an ancillary fuel pressure chamber via the plunger so as to compress ancillary fuel, such that a needle is retracted in a manner similar to those of slide valves by means of the pressure of the ancillary fuel so as to open an ancillary fuel nozzle hole and inject the ancillary fuel, and a main fuel nozzle hole is opened after the injection of the ancillary fuel so as to inject the main fuel, thereby conducting two-stage fuel injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung Hyun Jeon, Ju Tae Kim, Kwang Hean An, Seung Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 9157404
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injector (1) having a high pressure region (32) which contains fuel that is under high pressure during operation, and a low pressure region (38) in which a lower pressure is present during operation than in the high pressure region (32). A sensor (12) is located in the low pressure region (38) and a transmission means (9) is arranged such that a force which is equal to the pressure of the fuel in the high pressure region (32) is exerted on the sensor (12) at least some of the time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Christoph Magel
  • Patent number: 9038930
    Abstract: In a fuel injection device, a pressing surface of a pressing member presses an opening wall surface to interrupt communication between an inflow port and a pressure control chamber when communication between an outflow port and a return channel is made by a pressure control valve, and the pressing surface of the pressing member is displaced and separated from the opening wall surface to open the inflow port of the opening wall surface to the pressure control chamber when the communication between the outflow port and the return channel is interrupted by the pressure control valve. One of the pressing surface of the pressing member and the opening wall surface of the control body is provided with an inflow depressed portion and an outflow depressed portion partitioned from each other, and a depressed dimension of the inflow depressed portion is larger than a depressed dimension of the outflow depressed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukihiro Fukuta, Tsukasa Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9022303
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve co-injects a liquid and a gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A solid needle regulates the injection of liquid and gaseous fuels from a cavity in the fuel injection valve into the combustion chamber when the needle is lifted to its open position. In preferred embodiments, liquid fuel is metered and pressurized in an intensifier's cylinder provided within the valve body and the liquid fuel is delivered through a restricted flow passage into the cavity where it mixes with the gaseous fuel. The restricted flow passage can be formed by a small passage formed in the valve body or an annular passage between the needle and the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Westport Power Inc.
    Inventors: David Mumford, Sandeep Munshi
  • Patent number: 8602328
    Abstract: The invention has an object for improving response of a fuel injection device. A flow-in recessed portion and a flow-out recessed portion are formed at a press-contacting surface of a floating plate, which is movably accommodated in a pressure control chamber. A flow-in port and a flow-out port are formed at a pressure control surface of a valve body. The flow-in port is opened to the flow-in recessed portion, while the flow-out port is opened to the flow-out recessed portion. When the floating plate is moved upwardly and the press-contacting surface is brought into contact with the pressure control surface, the flow-in port is surely closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Naofumi Adachi, Shuichi Matsumoto, Keisuke Suzuki, Tomoyuki Tsuda, Yoichi Kobane, Yoshinori Okuno
  • Patent number: 8500036
    Abstract: A component includes a transmission arrangement for transmitting a force between an actuator and a control valve. The transmission arrangement includes a post that is associated with the actuator. The control valve is displaceable to an open position from a closed position when an opening force is applied to the control valve that is greater than a closing force provided to the control valve. The transmission arrangement is disposed in the component between the post and the control valve actuator and arranged to mechanically transmit by physical contact an actuator force from the post to the control valve when the post begins to travel towards the extended stroke position, and hydraulically amplify the actuator stroke between the post and the control valve when the post travels from the retracted stroke position to the extended stroke position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Venkataraghavan, Alan R. Stockner
  • Patent number: 8490888
    Abstract: A fuel injector for delivering fuel to a combustion chamber having a chamber ceiling, the fuel injector having a primary axis and able to control fuel delivery through a first outlet opening or together through both the first outlet opening and a second outlet opening. The first and second outlet openings are oriented such that, in use, when fuel delivery is permitted through only the first outlet opening, a first spray formation reaches a first target distance below the chamber ceiling at a radial distance from the primary axis. When fuel delivery is permitted through both openings together, respective first and second spray formations merge externally of the injector so as to give rise to a combined spray formation reaching second target distance below the chamber ceiling at the radial distance from the primary nozzle axis, wherein the second target distance is larger than the first target distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies Holding S.arl
    Inventors: Godfrey Greeves, Simon David Tullis
  • Publication number: 20130153675
    Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for setting an idle stroke of an actuating drive of an injection valve with respect to an actuating element actuated by the actuating drive. The actuating drive is arranged in an injector body and the actuating element is arranged in an actuating-element housing such that it is movable in an axial. An axial stressing force is applied to the injector body and the actuating-element housing such that part of the injector body or actuating-element housing arranged in a force flow path defined the axial stressing force is deformed permanently, until a value of a representative electric variable determined directly or indirectly for the idle stroke of the actuating drive lies in a predefined value range. Further, an injector assembly for an injection valve may include an injector body and/or an actuating-element housing having a contact section elevated in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Maximilian Kronberger, Hellmut Freudenberg, Robert Schäpers, Matthias Wicke, Stefan Mindl, Wolfgang Wechler
  • Patent number: 8459571
    Abstract: An injection valve has a valve body and a valve pin. The valve body has a metering orifice. In a closed position of the valve pin, the flow of fluid through the metering orifice is disabled and otherwise released. A control signal (ANS_SIG) for metering fluid with the injection valve is generated for a first valve pin actuator which is coupled to the valve pin to drive the valve pin. At least one first atomization signal (ZER_SIG—1) for the first and/or the second valve pin actuator is generated at least during a predetermined interval during the control of the first valve pin actuator with the control signal (AN_SIG) in such a manner that the valve pin is oscillatingly displaced relative to a position of the valve pin in response to the first atomization signal (ZER_SIG—1), the valve pin having said position in response to the control signal (ANS_SIG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Graupner, Klaus Wenzlawski
  • Publication number: 20130048751
    Abstract: An injection valve includes a nozzle needle that suppresses a metered addition of fluid in a closed position and otherwise allows the metered addition of fluid. The valve includes a control chamber hydraulically coupled to the nozzle needle such that the fluid pressure of the chamber influences the nozzle needle position. The pressure of the chamber can be influenced by a control valve having a control valve body. The injection valve includes a solid state actuator that acts on the control valve body. To perform a closing operation of the nozzle needle, the control valve body is controlled to the closed position by partially discharging the solid state actuator to a predetermined partial charge such that the actuator remains force-coupled to the control valve body even after the closed position of the control valve body has been reached. The actuator is used as a pressure sensor during the closing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Vincent Dian, Christian Stahl
  • Patent number: 8371107
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the regeneration, temperature loading and/or thermal management of a component, assigned to an exhaust system, of an internal combustion engine. The device includes at least one injection valve which injects a fluid, in particular fuel, into the exhaust system, preferably in chatter mode, for example as a function of the pressure of the supplied fluid. The injection valve has a valve head and a valve seat which have geometries designed in such a way that a fluidic force of the supplied fluid acting on the injection valve drops continuously over a stroke of the valve head. The invention also relates to an injection valve having such valve-head and valve-seat geometries and to a corresponding method for the regeneration, temperature loading and/or thermal management of a component, assigned to an exhaust system, of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Haeberer, Joerg Lange, Volker Reusing, Tobias Reiser, Stefan Stein
  • Patent number: 8220660
    Abstract: A system for supplying at least two fluids in proportioned quantities may include a first and second intake passages configured to be in flow communication with sources of first and second fluids, respectively. The system may include a fluid transfer device in flow communication with the first intake passage and the second intake passage, and a pump in flow communication with the first intake passage. Operation of the pump is configured to supply a quantity of the first fluid to a first chamber of the fluid transfer device such that a quantity of the second fluid is expelled from a second chamber of the fluid transfer device. When operation of the pump is ceased, a quantity of the second fluid enters the second chamber and a quantity of the first fluid is expelled from the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventor: Clyde M. Smith
  • 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: 7992810
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injector having a coupler. The reciprocating movement of an actuator is transmitted by the coupler to a pin-shaped injection valve member which is guided into the nozzle body. The coupler has a valve piston and a coupler sleeve, and the valve piston is displaced in the inner diameter area of the coupler sleeve. The inner diameter of the coupler sleeve is greater than the outer diameter of the injection valve member. The difference between the inner diameter of the coupler housing and the outer diameter of the injection valve member is 0.2 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Kellner, Holger Rapp, Martin Katz
  • Patent number: 7950596
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a fuel injector body defining a fuel inlet and at least one fuel outlet, a valve having a first valve state and a second valve state and an actuator for the valve. The fuel injector includes a biasing spring including a cylindrical rolled sheet having a first spring end, a second spring end and defining a longitudinal center axis. The cylindrical rolled sheet is configured to change in length to bias the actuator toward the first actuator position and includes a helical seam located between the first spring end and a second spring end which has a shape adapted to reduce non-uniformity in a spring constant via distributing stiffness about the longitudinal center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Venkataraghavan, Michael Long, Zhenlong Xu, Stephen Lewis
  • Patent number: 7891586
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel injection valve (4) comprising a control member (70) that is provided with a control passageway (114) which is arranged eccentrically relative to the housing axis (8) and can be opened and closed by a closure piece (96) with the aid of an actuator assembly (26) in order to obtain intermittent injections. The control member (70) is positioned by means of a centering pin (124) in order to define the circumferential position of the eccentric control passageway (114). The centering pin (124) is guided within a pocket bore of the control member (70) as well as within a bore of an intermediate plate (12), a cylindrical element (13), or a spacing sleeve (202). The actuator assembly (26) is designed as an electromagnetic actuator (80) in which the stop (98; 99) for limiting the lift of the pilot valve member is designed as a monolithic component of the intermediate plate (12) or as a flat stop disk (97) in a separate workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ganser-Hydromag AG
    Inventors: Marco Ganser, Ulrich Moser
  • Patent number: 7832656
    Abstract: A fluid injector has a housing, a valve body and an actuator unit inserted into the housing. The valve body has a cartridge with a recess that takes in a needle. The valve body further has a hollow body arranged in a fixed position to the needle and forming a first spring rest. The valve body further has a valve cap, which takes in the cartridge and forms a second spring rest. A return spring rests on the first spring rest and on the second spring rest. The valve cap, the housing and the cartridge are formed such, that before the valve cap and the housing and the valve cap and cartridge are permanently fixed to each other the valve cap is moveable relative to the housing and the cartridge while the housing and the cartridge stay in a fixed position relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Luca Matteucci, Raffaele Squarcini
  • Patent number: 7815128
    Abstract: A method for injecting a fluid, in particular a fuel, performs the following steps: A nozzle (1) which can be actuated by a piezo element (5) is provided. A current pulse (12a) is supplied to the piezo element (5). The capacity (16) of the piezo element (5) is recorded at the time when the current pulse (12a) is supplied. An actual characteristic curve of the injection is recorded based on the capacity (16). The current pulse (12a) is regulated in order to optimize the injection based on the actual characteristic curve of the injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Beilharz, Nicholas Nozeran, Richard Pirkl, Christian Riβler, Harald Schmidt, Hans-Jörg Wiehoff
  • Patent number: 7690587
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine, the fuel injector comprising: a valve needle which is engageable with a valve needle seat to control fuel injection through an injector outlet; an actuator arrangement arranged to control fuel pressure with in a control chamber, a surface associated with the valve needle being exposed to fuel pressure with in the control chamber such that fuel pressure variations within the control chamber control movement of the valve needle relative to the valve needle seat; damping means for damping opening movement of the valve member, the damping means comprising a damper chamber and the damping means being arranged such that fuel pressure variations within the damper chamber damp opening movement of the valve member wherein the damping means is arranged such that in use there is a through flow of fuel through the damper chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Cooke
  • Patent number: 7665198
    Abstract: A fuel injector with various embodiments of a annular damper member that reduces noise generated between a valve group subassembly and a power group subassembly during operation of the fuel injector. A mass annular damper member is also shown and described. A method of reducing sound in the valve group subassembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong D. Cho, Massimlliano Cipriani
  • Publication number: 20090194604
    Abstract: A system for spraying fluids at variable flow rate using pulse width modulation utilizing a circuit including a reservoir, pump, spray nozzle, pulse width modulated valve. While no spray issues from a nozzle, the fluid circuit is closed with the reservoir as the initial and end point of the circuit. While no spray issues from a nozzle, the fluid flow through a heated nozzle functions as a heat sink. While spray issues from a nozzle, the circuit contains a means to maintain a specific fluid pressure. While no spray issues from a nozzle, the circuit pressure is much lower than the spray pressure allowing reduced energy consumption and lessening wear on the pump and motor. This system may be incorporated into a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system for controlling NOX emissions from diesel engines using a urea-water solution as a fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventor: Clyde Meriwether Smith
  • Publication number: 20090150044
    Abstract: A fuel injector is coupled to an engine. The fuel injector includes an injection opening configured to vary in cross-section between a open state and a fully closed state. The fuel injector is configured to provide a plurality of discrete commanded fuel injections into an engine cylinder by modulating the size of the injection opening without completely closing the opening to the fully closed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jennifer Ann Topinka, James Peter DeLancey, Roy James Primus, Florian Peter Pintgen
  • Publication number: 20090020632
    Abstract: A fuel injection device for an internal combustion engine includes a housing and a valve element which is arranged in the housing. The valve element interacts, in the region of a fuel outlet opening, with a valve seat. The valve element is embodied by at least one first part and at least one second part which are coupled to one another by means of a hydraulic coupler. The hydraulic coupler has a coupling chamber which is delimited at least partially by a sleeve which is guided on the first part of the valve element. Additionally a guide element guides an end region of the first part of the valve element, which end region being oriented toward the second part of the valve element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Wolfgang Braun, Dirk Vahle, Martin Katz, Alexander Wernau
  • Publication number: 20080296413
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high-pressure accumulator injection system (10) for an internal combustion engine, preferably a diesel engine. Said injection system (10) comprises a number of injection valves (18) which are connected to a high-pressure conveying device (12) via fuel pipes (16, 14). A reservoir (22) and a check valve encompassing a bypass throttle (24) that is connected in parallel are assigned to each injection valve (18). Said check valve which is assigned to each injection valve (18) and encompasses a bypass throttle (24) that is connected in parallel allows the accumulator injection system (10) to perform stable and reproducible injection processes with a favorable pressure curve during each injection process even when the discrete reservoirs (22) are provided with an unusually low volume. The reservoirs (22) can be integrated in the housing of the injection valves (18). The inventive injection system dispenses with the need for a complex common rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Marco Ganser
  • Patent number: 7455243
    Abstract: An electronically controlled fuel injector includes a reduced part count and complexity over similar fuel injectors without a substantial reduction in performance capabilities. This is accomplished by using a one-piece needle that is hydraulically balanced and biased toward a closed position with a spring positioned in the needle control chamber. Although subtle, this injector has some ability to control the fuel pressure when the needle valve is opening and closing by adjusting a relative timing of a pressure control valve opening relative to a needle control chamber, using separate electrical actuators. The invention is particularly applicable to fuel injectors that cycle through high and low pressure states during and between injection events, respectively. Cam actuated fuel injectors being particularly well suited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, Mingchun Dong, Michael R. Huffman
  • Publication number: 20080245902
    Abstract: The invention disclosed a mixed-mode fuel injector with micro-variable-circular-orifice (MVCO), which is a fuel injection device for internal combustion engines, either diesel or gasoline engines. The fuel injector is a high-accuracy couple of components comprising a needle valve (1) and a nozzle body (5). Said needle valve is movable back and forth and received in said nozzle body to provide an opening position for fuel injection and a biased closing position. Said nozzle body has multiple-micro-channels (6) on the inner conical surface (C) close to the tip of the nozzle body. The injector has a MVCO (4) comprising a micro-variable-circular aperture and multiple-micro-channels, and has means of generating variable mixed-mode sprays of conical and multi-jet shapes, with a major homogeneous conical spray at low to medium injection loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicants: QUANTLOGIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Deyang Hou
  • Publication number: 20080135016
    Abstract: When a homogeneous combustion is to be executed at a lean air-fuel ratio, a tumbling flow that whirls in the cylinder descending in the cylinder bore on the exhaust valve side and ascending in the cylinder bore on the intake valve side, is intensified by the fuel that is injected from the fuel injection valve toward the exhaust valve side in the cylinder bore in the last stage of the intake stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Ashizawa, Hiroshi Nomura, Osamu Tomino
  • Patent number: 7341205
    Abstract: An existing diesel engine vehicle of light oil fuel is enabled to run as a diesel engine vehicle using DME as fuel without exchanging a whole diesel engine and at very low cost and easily. The shape of a tip part 21 of a needle valve 2 is set by a center diameter L3 for regulating a minimum flow path area at full lift of a fuel injection nozzle 1, a seat diameter L2 of a seat part 211 coming in contact with a valve seat part 33 and blocking communication with a fuel injection hole 31, and a shaft diameter L1, and a tip end angle is about 92 degrees. The center diameter L3 is set to ?2.5 mm, the seat diameter L2 is set to ?3.0 mm, and the shaft diameter L1 is set to ?3.25 mm. The ratio of the center diameter L3 and the seat diameter L2 is L3/L2=2.5 mm/3.0 mm=about 0.833, and the ratio of the seat diameter L2 and the shaft diameter L1 is L2/L1=3.0 mm/3.25 mm=about 0.92.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Nozaki, Toshifumi Noda, Daijo Ushiyama, Yukihiro Hayasaka
  • 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: 7309029
    Abstract: A fuel injection device includes at least two valve elements, disposed in a housing and coaxial with one another, with at least one fuel outlet opening associated with each valve element. On the outer valve element, radially outward from the at least one fuel outlet opening associated with it, there is a first sealing edge which cooperates with a valve seat on the housing and can separate the at least one fuel outlet opening from a high-pressure connection. An additional sealing edge is provided on the outer valve element, between the at least one fuel outlet opening associated with it and the inner valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Boecking
  • Patent number: 7273185
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, and which includes a fuel injector which can be acted upon by fuel at high pressure via a high-pressure source and is actuatable via a metering valve. Associated with the injection valve member is a damping element, which is movable independently of it and defines a damping chamber. The damping element has at least one overflow conduit for connecting the damping chamber to a further hydraulic chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Christoph Magel
  • Patent number: 7258283
    Abstract: A fuel injector with a direct needle control for an internal combustion engine, having an actuator, a hydraulic booster, and a nozzle needle guided in a nozzle body and acting on a nozzle needle sealing seat. The hydraulic booster includes a booster piston connected to the actuator and a nozzle needle booster piston connected to the nozzle needle; a booster chamber in the form of an actuator coupler chamber is associated with a pressure surface of the actuator booster piston; and depending on the pressure in the actuator coupler chamber, the nozzle needle is lifted away from the nozzle needle sealing seat, thus initiating an injection. In addition to the actuator booster piston, a control element is provided that is able to execute a stroke motion, is hydraulically coupled to the actuator coupler chamber by means of a first control surface, and is associated with a control chamber by means of a second control surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Heinz, Stefan Schuerg, Wolfgang Stoecklein, Michael Mennicken, Holger Rapp, Thomas Kuegler, Hans-Christoph Magel, Andreas Wengert, Thomas Pauer, Andreas Rau, Andreas Bartsch, Christian Kuhnert
  • Patent number: 7249722
    Abstract: A fuel injector incorporates a flow control into the needle valve and valve body to regulate fuel flow through the injector. The flow control defines an initial pilot fuel flow path that is closed by needle valve movement away from the nozzle seat. A primary fuel flow path requires axial movement of the needle valve through a mid-range position in which neither fuel flow paths are open. At low engine speeds, the needle valve is not driven through its mid-range position and closes prior to being driven to its fully open position, resulting in a pilot injection. At higher engine speeds, the needle valve is driven through its mid-range position eliminating a distinct pilot injection to provide only rate shaping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Stanadyne Corporation
    Inventor: Glen J. Cibotti
  • Patent number: 7216632
    Abstract: A valve body surrounds a first passage connecting with a cylinder of an engine. A valve member is adapted to be seated on and lifted from the valve seat. An injector body connects with the valve body. The injector body has a pressure control chamber for controlling hydraulic pressure applied to the valve member thereby controlling a lift of the valve member. The injector body has a second passage through which fuel in the pressure control chamber is exhausted. An actuator is adapted to communicating the pressure control chamber with the first passage through the second passage and blocking the pressure control chamber from the first passage. The first passage introduces fuel from the pressure control chamber into the cylinder through the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nagatomo, Kimitaka Saito, Masatoshi Kuroyanagi
  • Patent number: 7188788
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a needle valve having a metering land that corresponds with the metering edge to define a metering gap. The metering gap produces a pressure drop utilized to tailor needle valve opening and closing response times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: Ulrich Augustin
  • Patent number: 7188790
    Abstract: The fuel injection valve, for an internal combustion motor, has a valve body with injection openings (20) at its point. A valve needle has an axial movement within the valve body, with a conical needle point to give a selective blocking and release of the fuel flow through the injection openings. The point of the valve needle has recessed grooves matching each of the injection openings. The width of each groove matches the diameter of an injection opening, with a stepped contour and a curved cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andrej Astachow, Grit Krüger
  • Patent number: 7185828
    Abstract: A supplying unit supplies energy to an actuator so that the supplied energy is kept therein, making displacement the actuator. An interrupting unit interrupts the supply of energy to cause the actuator to discharge the kept energy, making displacement the actuator. A converting unit is adapted to convert the displacement of the actuator corresponding to the kept energy into hydraulic pressure applied to the valve member, moving the valve member to open the low pressure port and close the high pressure port. The convert unit converts the displacement of the actuator corresponding to the discharged energy into hydraulic pressure applied to the valve member, moving the valve member to open the high pressure port and close the low pressure port. Energy which the actuator requires to move the valve member so as to close the high pressure port is larger than energy which the actuator requires to move the valve member so as to open the low pressure port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiko Igashira, Satoshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7159799
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine has a nozzle body (36) provided with a nozzle bore (42), an inner valve (16) which is engageable with an inner valve seating (48) to control fuel delivery through one or more first nozzle outlets (38), and an outer valve (18) which is received within the nozzle bore (42) and engageable with an outer valve seating (48) to control fuel delivery through one or more second nozzle outlets (40). An actuator (14) for controlling movement of the inner and outer valves (16, 18) transmits an actuation force to the valves (16, 18) so as to permit either movement of the inner valve (16) only to provide a first injection state in which fuel is delivered through only the or each of the first outlets (38), or movement of the outer valve (18) only to provide a second injection state in which fuel is delivered through only the or each of the second outlets (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Peter Cooke
  • Patent number: 7143964
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve for internal combustion engines includes a valve body (1) in which a bore (5) is defined in one end, in which a first row of injection openings (20) and a second row of injection openings (22) are formed. In the bore (5), an outer valve needle (8) cooperates with the valve seat (18) for controlling the first row of injection openings (20); between the outer valve needle (8) and the wall of the bore (5), a pressure chamber (14) is formed. In the outer valve needle (8), an inner bore (11) is formed, in which an inner valve needle (10) is located and which cooperates with the valve seat (18) for controlling the second row of injection openings (22). A pressure shoulder (30) is formed on the inner valve needle. A hydraulic opening force is exerted on the inner valve needle (10); by its opening stroke, the outer valve needle (8) opens a throttle connection (32) from the pressure chamber (14) to the pressure shoulder (30) of the inner valve needle (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Kuegler
  • Patent number: 7097114
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a self-cleaning injector nozzle or other fluid conduit that maintains deposits at a low level by sonic tuning the shock wave generated during fluid flow through that nozzle or conduit. Methods of producing an injector nozzle and a method of cleansing deposits from liquid or gaseous fluids are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Afton Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Allen A. Aradi
  • Patent number: 7082921
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve with high freedom to optimize the direction of fuel spray, the shape of spray, the length of penetration, the existence/absence of lead spray and the like, in correspondence with each type of internal combustion engine is provided. A swirling force about a central axis of an injection orifice is supplied by a swirler to fuel injected from the injection orifice. A central axis E of the injection orifice is slanted at a predetermined deflection angle to a central axis of a valve body. Further, a step portion is formed in an end surface of the injection orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuuichi Shimizu, Takuya Shiraishi, Motoyuki Abe, Masahiko Hayatani, Kouji Shibata
  • Patent number: 7063272
    Abstract: An injection nozzle (10), for use in a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, has an inner valve needle (26) which is engageable with an inner valve seating (24, 58) to control fuel delivery through one or more first nozzle outlets (14), and an outer valve (28) which is engageable with an outer valve seating (24, 70) to control fuel delivery through one or more second outlets (16). The outer valve (28) is provided with a valve bore (36) within which at least a part of the inner valve needle (26) is received. Coupling means (46, 48) are provided for coupling movement of the inner valve needle (26) to the outer valve (28) in circumstances in which the inner valve needle (26) is moved away from the inner valve seating (24, 58) through an amount exceeding a predetermined threshold amount (D). This allows the outer valve (28) to be lifted away from the outer valve seating (24, 70) to provide an increased injection rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Peter Cooke, Godfrey Greeves, Louise A Connelly
  • Patent number: 7021567
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve for internal combustion engines, having a housing with a bore inside it that contains a longitudinally sliding outer valve needle which in turn contains a longitudinally sliding inner valve needle and the end of each valve needle oriented toward the combustion chamber controls at least one injection opening. The pressure in a control pressure chamber at least indirectly exerts a closing force on the outer valve needle and the pressure in a control pressure chamber at least indirectly exerts a closing force on the inner valve needle. The housing contains a control valve that has a valve chamber and a valve element contained in it, wherein the valve chamber has a connection to the leakage oil chamber a continuously open connection to the control chamber and a connection to the control pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Maike Sander-Potz, legal representative, Wendelin Potz, legal representative, Thomas Kuegler, Andreas Koeninger, Predrag Nunic, Detlev Potz, deceased