Spring Type Or Biased Regulator* Patents (Class 239/533.9)
  • Patent number: 7309031
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve includes a fuel injection port, a needle for cutting the fuel flow into the fuel injection port and a needle mover for moving the needle away from the fuel injection port and allowing the fuel to flow into the fuel injection port. When the needle is moved away from the fuel injection port by the needle mover, the force is applied by a force applicator to the needle away from the fuel injection port only during the period when the needle is moved away from the fuel injection port to less than a predetermined degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Moriyasu Goto, Shigeiku Enomoto, Kazuhiro Omae
  • Patent number: 7278593
    Abstract: A common rail fuel injector comprises a three-way control valve that controls the flow of high-pressure fuel to a fuel cavity for fuel injection. Specifically, when the control valve is transitioning to a first, on position, from a second, off position, high-pressure fuel is provided to both the fuel cavity and to a check control cavity, thereby preventing fuel injection until the control valve seats in the first, on position. Once seated in the first, on position, the control valve only provides high-pressure fuel to the fuel cavity allowing fuel injection to occur. To stop injection, the control valve is moved from the first, on position to the second, closed position. Once again, while the control valve is in the transition location between the two positions, high-pressure fuel is provided to both the fuel cavity and to the check control cavity thereby terminating injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yongxin Wang, Ye Tian, Norman D. Knapp, Norval J. Wiemken
  • Publication number: 20070194152
    Abstract: An injector used for an internal combustion engine includes a valve needle which closes a fuel passage by being contacted on a valve seat and opens the fuel passage by separating from the valve seat, a coil and a magnetic core which are provided as a drive means of the valve needle, an anchor held in a relatively displaceable state with respect to the valve needle, a first biasing means biasing the valve needle in a direction opposite to a direction of a drive force, a second biasing means biasing the anchor in the direction of the drive force with a set load smaller than that of the first biasing means, and a restricting means restricting relative displacement of the anchor with respect to the valve needle in the direction of the drive force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi. Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyuki Abe, Masahiko Hayatani, Atsushi Sekine, Yasuo Namaizawa, Tohru Ishikawa, Noriyuki Maekawa
  • Patent number: 7258284
    Abstract: A fuel injector is described that includes a polymeric housing, pole piece, filter assembly, coil assembly, spring member, armature assembly and metering assembly. The polymeric housing has a passageway extending between an inlet and an outlet along a longitudinal axis. The pole piece is disposed in the passageway. The metering assembly is secured to the polymeric housing proximate the outlet. The metering assembly has an O-ring disposed between a seat molded to a polymeric support member. The polymeric support member includes a peripheral portion bonded to the polymeric housing proximate the outlet. A method of sealing a fuel injector outlet end is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Hornby
  • 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: 7237731
    Abstract: A fuel injector has a housing extending along a longitudinal axis between an inlet and an outlet. A seat assembly is disposed in a body proximate the outlet. The seat assembly includes a flow portion and a securement portion. The flow portion extends along the longitudinal axis between a first surface and an orifice disk retention surface at a first length. The flow portion has a seat orifice extending therethrough and an orifice disk coupled to the orifice disk retention surface so that the orifice plate is aligned in a fixed spatial axial orientation with respect to the flow portion. The securement portion extends along the longitudinal axis away from the orifice disk retention surface at a second length greater than the first length. A method of maintaining a fixed spatial axial orientation and dimensional symmetry of at least one of the seat and orifice disk in the body is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, William J. Imoehl, James P. Fochtman, Fredrick L. Barnes
  • Patent number: 7213775
    Abstract: The invention describes an injector device specifically designed for the injection of an alternative fuel such as LPG, methane, hydrogen or others, in an internal combustion engine. In the injector device, the shutter ensuring sealing in closing condition is separated with respect to the metering means with gauged hole, which perform the function of metering fuel during injection, and it is arranged downstream from said metering means. The shutter is controlled by a solenoid, which is again arranged on the downstream side with respect to said metering means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Ricco, Sisto Luigi De Matthaeis, Claudio Amorese, Dario Manodoro, Raffaele Ricco
  • Patent number: 7175112
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve for internal combustion engines, with a housing that contains a moving valve element whose movement counter to the elastic force of a spring element controls the fuel supply to the combustion chamber of the engine. The spring element has the form of a cylindrical sleeve whose wall contains openings at a number of locations that allow the spring element to be elastically deformed in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Dietmar Uhlmann
  • Patent number: 7172140
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve for internal combustion engines, having a housing (12; 48) in which a pistonlike valve member (35; 60) is disposed longitudinally displaceably in a bore (34; 57). The valve member (35; 60) is surrounded, over at least part of its length, by a pressure chamber (37; 68), embodied in the housing (12; 48), that can be filled with fuel at high pressure; the valve member (35; 60) controls the communication of the pressure chamber (37; 68) with at least one injection opening (39; 66). The pressure chamber (37; 68) communicates with a damping chamber (46; 80), embodied in the housing (12; 48), via at least one throttle (44; 78) disposed in the housing (12; 48), so that pressure fluctuations that occur in the damping chamber (46; 60) rapidly fade (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Egler, Peter Boehland, Sebastian Kanne
  • Patent number: 7163162
    Abstract: A fuel-injection valve includes a fuel-injection hole, a valve element and a valve seat for opening and closing the fuel-injection hole, a force-applying member for applying force to the valve element in a direction of motion of the valve element, and a drive unit for applying force to the valve element in the direction opposite to that of the force applied by the force-applying member; wherein a secondary oscillation system, which interacts with a primary oscillation system including the valve element and the force-applying member, is added to the primary oscillation system, and the phase angle of force applied to the primary oscillation system by the secondary oscillation system is also staggered from that of force applied to the primary oscillation system, which is other than the force applied to the primary oscillation system by the secondary oscillation system, whereby the bouncing of the valve element during opening and closing of the valve is reduced, which in turn makes it possible to achieve very acc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Tsuchiya, Tosuke Hirata, Yoshio Okamoto, Tohru Ishikawa, Noriyuki Maekawa, Yoshiyuki Tanabe, Atsushi Sekine, Yuzo Kadomukai, Makoto Yamakado, Motoyuki Abe
  • 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: 7143955
    Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus having at least one solenoid valve for controlling the fuel injection that is contained in a housing part and a solenoid assembly having a magnetic coil and a magnet armature inserted into a recess of the housing part. A cover piece that can be attached to the housing part fixes the solenoid assembly in the housing part. A spring element is disposed between the cover piece and the solenoid assembly and clamps the solenoid assembly in the housing part. At least one securing element is formed onto the spring element and is of one piece with it, which secures the spring element to the housing part and secures the solenoid assembly in the recess of the housing part without the cover piece being attached to the housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Geiger, Peter Grabandt, Uwe Baerenwaldt
  • Patent number: 7143966
    Abstract: A fuel injector for the direct injection of fuel, especially into the combustion chamber of a mixture-compressing internal combustion engine having external ignition, is located in a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine in a receiving bore of the cylinder head, and includes a nozzle body and a sealing ring which seals the fuel injector from the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine. At an end on the discharge side of the fuel injector, an at least partially spherical body is formed which abuts at least partially against a wall of the receiving bore, a groove being circumferentially formed on the body in which the sealing ring is positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Liskow
  • Patent number: 7134616
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an auxiliary valve member that can assist in raising a mean injection pressure, increase a nozzle valve opening pressure, and hasten the closure rate of a nozzle valve member over an equivalent fuel injector without the auxiliary valve. The auxiliary valve member is fluidly positioned between a needle control chamber and a high pressure space, which includes a fuel pressurization chamber within the fuel injector. The auxiliary valve member includes a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in the high pressure space. The plumbing and the auxiliary valve member allow high pressure fuel to act upon a closing hydraulic surface of the nozzle valve member to increase valve opening pressure and mean injection pressure. The needle control chamber may be vented or may be a closed volume when the auxiliary valve member is in its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Mingchun Dong, Dana R. Coldren, Daniel R. Ibrahim
  • Patent number: 7128280
    Abstract: An injection nozzle is proposed in which the nozzle needle has an annular groove in the vicinity of the transition between the blind hole and the nozzle needle seat. In seat hole injection nozzles, the annular groove is disposed in the vicinity of the injection orifice(s). The annular groove reduces the tolerance of the flow resistance of the injection nozzle with a partial stroke of the nozzle needle and thus permits a more precise measurement of the fuel quantity injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Boecking
  • Patent number: 7118046
    Abstract: In a sliding structure in which a shaft member is retained slidably in a guide hole, the lack of an oil film caused by the edge contact of the shaft member to which a pressing load in the axial direction is applied is prevented. With the fact being taken into account that end portions 25c1 and 25c2, which are always in slidable contact with a side surface 1232a of a guide hole 1232, of a side surface 25c of a shaft member 251 are the partial edge portion, a plurality of labyrinth grooves 2501 and 2502 are formed in the end portions 25c1 and 25c2, respectively, thereby it is possible for an oil film to cover the entire contact portion without increasing the groove width extremely. Because the groove width is not increased extremely, the length of the sliding portions can be ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yoshimura, Shuichi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7093769
    Abstract: In a dynamic flow rate adjusting method, a press-fitting degree of an adjusting pipe is adjusted to regulate a load applied to a needle by a spring in a direction for closing an injection hole. Thus, a dynamic injection quantity of an injector is adjusted. An injection command signal having one-minute long pulse width is applied to the injector to measure a static flow rate, from which the press-fitting degree is calculated. Thus, the press-fitting degree, in which variation in the static flow rate is taken into consideration, can be calculated. Therefore, variation in the dynamic flow rate of each injector, which is calculated from the press-fitting degree, includes only a dynamic flow rate error, while a static flow rate error is eliminated from the variation in the dynamic flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Seigi Toiyama
  • Patent number: 7090151
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for actuating a control piston or nozzle needle (27) via a control chamber (26). The control chamber communicates via a control chamber line (25) with valve chambers (3, 22) of a 3/2-way valve (5). The valve body (6, 40, 51) of this valve is switchable by means of an actuator (11). By means of a restoring spring (14), the valve body (6, 40, 51) is acted upon such that a seat portion (7), embodied in the housing (4) on the valve body (6, 40, 51), is put into its valve seat (20). The valve body (6, 40, 51) of the 3/2-way valve (5) has a seat portion (7) and a longitudinal slide portion (8), as well as hydraulic faces (31,32), facing one another, that make the state of pressure equilibrium of the valve body (6, 40, 51) possible. The valve body (6, 40, 51) is moved to different stroke lengths (10; 23, 24) by means of an actuator (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Roger Potschin, Peter Grabandt
  • Patent number: 7090145
    Abstract: A liquid cooled fuel injection valve is operable to inject fuel directly into a combustion chamber through a nozzle orifice provided in an injector tip. The fuel injection valve further comprises a cooling system for draining fuel from a fuel cavity disposed within the injector tip and a drain valve that opens when pressure within the fuel cavity is greater than a predetermined set point. Fuel drained through the cooling system is directed to a drain system that may be combined with drain passages typically found in fuel injection valves. In a preferred embodiment, the drain valve is disposed within the fuel injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Westport Research Inc.
    Inventors: S. Michael Baker, Victor J. Perr, P. Douglas Free
  • Patent number: 7090152
    Abstract: A fuel injector including a tubular casing having an axial fuel passage. Disposed within the fuel passage are a valve seat element, a core cylinder, and a valve element axially moveably disposed therebetween and opposed to the core cylinder with an axial air gap. An electromagnetic actuator cooperates with the casing, the valve element and the core cylinder to form a magnetic field forcing the valve element to the open position against a spring between the valve element and the core cylinder upon being energized. The casing includes a reluctance portion producing an increased magnetic reluctance and allowing the magnetic field to extend to the valve element and the core cylinder through the air gap. The reluctance portion has a reduced radial thickness and an axial length extending over the air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Kobayashi, Hideo Kato, Hiroshi Okada
  • Patent number: 7086377
    Abstract: A dual mode fuel injector having first (15) and second (30) valve members. The valve members are actuatable independently of one another and are arranged to open in opposite directions. The valve members control the flow through first (18) and second (29) orifices, one of which injects the fuel at a narrow angle with respect to the injector axis, and the other of which injects the fuel at a wider angle with respect to this axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Ricardo Consulting Engineers Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Howard Best
  • Patent number: 7083114
    Abstract: A fuel injector for the direct injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine includes an actuator, which is encapsulated in a first sleeve and is sealed from an inner chamber of the fuel injector; a valve needle actuable by the actuator, which includes a valve-closure member cooperating with a valve-seat surface to form a sealing seat; and a locking spring, by which the valve needle is acted upon in such a manner that the valve-closure member is held in sealing contact at the valve-seat surface. An inflow-side end face of the first sleeve is dimensioned such that a linear deformation of the first sleeve, caused by the fuel pressure present at the inflow-side end face, is compensated by a linear deformation of the actuator and an activating piston extending the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Maeurer, Ulrich Doebler, Hubert Stier, Guenther Hohl, Rene Deponte
  • Patent number: 7066400
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for internal combustion engines with a fuel injector that can be supplied from a high-pressure fuel source has an injection valve, with injection nozzles pointing toward the combustion chamber, and coaxial inner and outer nozzle needles assigned to the injection nozzles are triggerable as a function of pressure to open and close various injection cross sections at the injection nozzles. Each of the nozzle needless is assigned a respective damping piston, and the damping pistons are movable relative to one another and act on a damping chamber which can be made to communicate with a low-pressure return system via an outlet throttle. In addition to the damping chamber, a closing chamber is provided, to which an end face of the outer nozzle needle is exposed in the closing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Brenk, Martin Kropp
  • Patent number: 7066399
    Abstract: A fuel injector for fuel-injection systems of internal combustion engines having a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive actuator, includes a hydraulic coupler which actuates a valve-closure member (3) formed on a valve needle. The valve-closure member cooperates with a valve-seat surface to form a valve-sealing seat. The coupler includes a master piston and a slave piston which are guided in bores of a guide sleeve. Located between the master piston and the slave piston is a pressure chamber filled with a hydraulic fluid. A corrugated tube is positioned around the guide sleeve which is sealingly joined to the master piston at one end and to the slave piston at the other end, and which seals a supply chamber for the hydraulic fluid from a surrounding fuel chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Günther Hohl
  • Patent number: 7044407
    Abstract: A fluid dosing device for a pressurized liquid is disclosed, which comprises a chamber (35) which is supplied with pressurized liquid by means of a liquid supply line (17, 19); a valve needle (9) which is guided through the chamber (35), the first end section of said valve needle being able to be lifted and the second end section thereof forming a valve in conjunction with a valve seat disposed on the housing (3). Metal bellows (33) are provided as a leadthrough element for the first end section of the valve needle (9). The metal bellows seal the chamber in said region in a tight manner. A throttle point (37, 39) is provided between the valve needle (9) and the inner wall of the chamber between the metal bellows (33) and the mouth (18) of the liquid supply line (17) leading into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernhard Fischer, Bernhard Gottlieb, Andreas Kappel, Randolf Mock, Enrico Ulivieri
  • Patent number: 7040550
    Abstract: A fuel injector for the direct injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine includes a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive actuator, a hydraulic coupler, the hydraulic coupler having a master piston and a slave piston that are connected to a pressure chamber, and the pressure chamber being filled with an hydraulic fluid. The pressure chamber is sealed from an actuator chamber by a first seal and from a valve interior chamber by a second seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenther Hohl, Michael Huebel, Juergen Stein
  • Patent number: 7017840
    Abstract: An injection device for injecting fuel comprises a nozzle needle (2), which is arranged in a nozzle body (1), and a micro-bore (10) formed in the nozzle body (1), in which at least one injection hole (8) is configured. Here one tip (3) of the nozzle needle (2) projects into the micro-bore (10) in such a way that the tip (3) is arranged at the level of the injection holes (8) in the axial direction (X—X) of the nozzle needle, with recesses being formed in the tip at the tip (3) of the nozzle needle (2) level with the injection holes (8), in order to ensure a minimum distance between the tip (3) and the injection holes (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Grit Krüger, Eberhard Kull, Ferdinand Löbbering, Jürgen Schindlatz, Clemens Senghaas
  • Patent number: 7014129
    Abstract: A fuel injector for fuel-injection systems of internal combustion engines includes an actuator, a valve needle, which is able to be activated by the actuator to actuate a valve-closure member, which, together with a valve-seat surface formed at a valve-seat member, forms a sealing seat; and at least one spray-discharge orifice which is formed in the valve-seat member. At a downstream end of the fuel injector, a flameproofing screen is positioned, which shields the spray-discharge orifices from the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Dantes, Detlef Nowak
  • Patent number: 7011257
    Abstract: A fuel injector for fuel injection systems of internal combustion engines having a magnetic coil, a valve needle, which is in operative connection with the magnetic coil and acted upon in a closing direction by a restoring spring to actuate a valve-closure member, which, together with a valve-seat surface formed at a valve-seat member, forms a sealing seat; and having at least one spray-discharge orifice which is formed in the valve-seat member. The spray-discharge orifices discharge from elevations which project beyond an outer end face of the valve-seat member, the fuel being guided through flow channels in the elevations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jörg Heyse
  • Patent number: 7007869
    Abstract: A fuel-injection nozzle for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The nozzle comprises a nozzle body (2), in which a nozzle needle (10) with a stop (34) is positioned so that it can be displaced, and a nozzle holder (6), in which a pressure pin (16) is displaceably mounted. A disc-shaped stop element (26) is provided in a zone between the nozzle body (2) and the nozzle holder (6). The nozzle body (2) and the nozzle holder (6) are axially braced against one another in such a way that the stop element (26) forms a first sealing surface (30), which lies adjacent to one section (23) of the nozzle holder and a second sealing surface (31), which lies adjacent to one section (24) of the nozzle body. Both the first and second sealing surfaces (30, 31) respectively have at least one cavity (36), which is punched, drilled and/or stamped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Günter Lewentz, Klaus Rübling
  • Patent number: 7007860
    Abstract: A fuel injector in an engine includes a spring cavity, a piston, a plunger, a spring, a fuel cavity, and a stop plate. The piston is hydraulically controlled to force the plunger down to compress fuel in the fuel cavity. However, under certain conditions, the plunger can contact the stop plate and/or the spring can become overcompressed. Both of these conditions can cause damage to the fuel injector. The present invention locates a pressure equalization channel in such a way as to dampen the motion of the piston to prevent this damage to the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Tan Dongming, Thomas R. McClure, Scott R. Schuricht, Wang Yongxin
  • Patent number: 7004406
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a needle valve of a spring closing type fuel injector includes a fluid assist selectively exerting a force on the needle valve, the force acting in cooperation with a bias exerted by a return spring on the needle valve to effect a relatively low valve opening pressure of the needle valve and relatively very high valve closing pressure. A spring closing type fuel injector and a method for controlling a needle valve of a spring closing type fuel injector are further included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Xilin Yang, Ning Lei, Puning Wei
  • Patent number: 6994281
    Abstract: A fuel injector for fuel-injection systems of internal combustion engines includes a valve needle cooperating with a valve-seat surface to form a sealing seat, and an armature engaging with the valve needle, the armature being axially moveable at the valve needle and being damped, via a damping element, which is located in a recess in a downstream-side end face of the armature, with respect to a cup-shaped sleeve positioned downstream from the armature and joined to the valve needle in force-locking manner. Furthermore, the fuel injector includes a filter element, the filter element being positioned downstream from the armature in the cup-shaped sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ferdinand Reiter
  • Patent number: 6994273
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve for an internal combustion engine which includes an axially moveable needle-like injection valve member 10 mounted in a tubular housing 2. A control element 22 with a control passage 25 is mounted in the upper end portion of the housing, and a valve element 21, 41, 46 is mounted for movement below the control element. A control chamber 20 is formed below the valve element, and a control piston 18 which is formed at the upper end of the valve member 10 bounds the lower side of the control chamber. A throttle passage 26, 42, 47 in the valve element is connected via a throttle constriction between the control passage 25 in the control element 22 and the control chamber 20. A throttle inlet 33, which is formed in the valve element 21 or in a sleeve 19 which laterally bounds the control chamber, is connected between a high pressure chamber 9 in the housing and the control chamber 20 without passage through an intermediate throttle point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: CRT Common Rail Technologies, AG
    Inventors: Marco Ganser, Markus Tappolet, Andreas Carelli
  • Patent number: 6994272
    Abstract: An injector for high-pressure injection of fuel in self-igniting internal combustion engines includes an actuator valve for opening and closing the injector; a nozzle needle, which in the closed state of the injector closes at least one injection opening; a metering valve, which establishes a hydraulic communication between the actuator valve and the relief chamber of the injector; a pressure holding device, which serves to maintain a static pressure required for the metering valve; and a first control quantity line for control quantities that flow via the actuator valve, and a second control quantity line for control quantities that flow via the metering valve. The pressure holding device dynamically separates the control quantities of the metering valve from the control quantities of the actuator valve by means of a hydraulic fluctuation damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Kurrle, Reiner Koch, Joerg-Peter Fischer
  • Patent number: 6991187
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of compensating for thermal expansion and tolerance variations (wear, brinelling, mounting distortion) in a fuel injector is provided. The apparatus includes a magneto-hydraulic thermal expansion compensator containing magnetically-active fluid positioned in operative contact with the fuel injector actuation element. A electromagnetic coil is provided proximate the magneto-hydraulic compensator. Magnetic flux generated by the electromagnetic coil causes the viscosity of the magnetically-active fluid within the magneto-hydraulic compensator to increase, causing the magneto-hydraulic compensator to become substantially rigid during actuation of the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: Perry Robert Czimmek
  • Patent number: 6988680
    Abstract: A common rail injector is proposed which is very compact in structure and nevertheless brings high closing forces to bear at the end of the injection. This is attained, among other provisions, in that the closing piston has a larger diameter than the nozzle needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Boecking
  • Patent number: 6988679
    Abstract: An injection valve for an internal combustion engine, including a valve control piston, a valve control chamber with an inlet throttle and an outlet throttle for actuating the valve control piston, a valve control unit, actuated by means of a piezoelectric actuator unit for controlling the valve control chamber, which valve control unit is embodied in valvelike fashion and has a valve closing member cooperating with at least one valve seat. To assure a high closing speed of the valve closing member, the valve closing member and the at least one valve seat are disposed in the valve control chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Patrick Mattes
  • Patent number: 6983895
    Abstract: A temperature compensated actuator device comprises a piezoelectric stack having first and second ends along a central axis and having a first thermal expansion coefficient; and a compensator arranged on one end of the piezoelectric stack. The compensator comprises a first member in form of a cylinder; a second member in form of a piston plate wherein the first member and the second member are arranged movably along the axis with respect to each other and define a hollow space between them; and a compensation member having a thermal expansion coefficient higher than the first thermal expansion coefficient for filling the hollow space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, DST Siemens Diesel Systems Technology LLC
    Inventors: Ulrich Augustin, Wendelin Klügl
  • Patent number: 6959878
    Abstract: A compact fuel injection nozzle includes a unitary nozzle body, a nozzle cap, a valve member and a spring sub assembly. The spring sub assembly provides a biasing force against a valve member that includes an integral lift stop. The biasing force holds the nose of the valve member against the valve seat of the nozzle body until the fuel pressure inside the injector exceeds a minimum opening pressure. The lift stop provides a stop limit, permitting the valve member to move away from the valve seat a predetermined axial distance. The minimum opening pressure and valve opening axial distance may be calibrated by selection and installation of shims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Stanadyne Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. O'Brien, Robert W. Martin
  • Patent number: 6953162
    Abstract: A fuel injector for the direct injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of a mixture-compressing internal combustion engine having external ignition, includes a valve housing formed from a nozzle body, and a sealing ring which seals the fuel injector from a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine. In the mounted state, a radial extension of a stamping sleeve that is disposed on the intake side of the sealing ring acts upon the sealing ring in such a way that the axial extension of the sealing ring is reduced in favor of the radial extension of the sealing ring relative to the unstrained state of the sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Waldemar Hans
  • Patent number: 6945475
    Abstract: A fuel injection system has the ability to produce two different spray patterns depending on the positioning of a needle control valve member. Positioning of the needle control valve member determines which of the two needle control chambers are placed in a low pressure condition. First and second needle valve members have closing hydraulic surfaces exposed to fluid pressure in the two needle control chambers. The injector preferably includes a homogenous charge nozzle outlet set and a conventional nozzle outlet set controlled respectively, by the first and second needle valve members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Keith E. Lawrence, Ye Tian
  • Patent number: 6921036
    Abstract: A fuel injector, in particular for direct injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine having mixture compression and spark ignition, has an armature, which cooperates with a solenoid, and a valve needle, which is connected to the armature, and on which a valve-closure member is provided which, together with a valve-seat surface, forms a sealing seat. The valve needle has a conical area, which cooperates with a conical recess in the armature so that the armature, is joined to the valve needle in a friction-locking and form-locking manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ferdinand Reiter
  • Patent number: 6901953
    Abstract: A fluid metering device including a metering valve capable of sliding in a bushing under fluid feed pressure in order to enable a fluid to be admitted and then ejected. The valve can have, at a first end, an opening opening out into a longitudinal fluid admission bore, and at a second end forming an end wall, a valve head provided with fluid metering slots opening out into the longitudinal bore and defining varying flow sections. The valve head can further include at least one substantially transverse orifice disposed downstream from the metering slots in the fluid flow direction, the orifice communicating with the longitudinal bore and defining at least one fixed flow section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Hispano-Suiza
    Inventors: Guy D'Agostino, Michel Hugues, Marion Michau, Alain Tiepel, José Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 6896208
    Abstract: For each cylinder of the internal combustion engine, the fuel injection system has one high-pressure fuel pump with a pump work chamber and one fuel injection valve communicating with the pump work chamber. A control valve actuated by means of a piezoelectric actuator control connection of the pump work chamber with a relief region. The fuel injection valve has a first injection valve member, by which at least one first injection opening is controlled and which is movable by the pressure generated in the pump work chamber in an opening direction, counter to a closing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Kuegler
  • Patent number: 6892967
    Abstract: The control space of the fuel injection valve is delimited, on the one hand, by the piston of the injection-valve member, on the other hand by the slide-valve body and circumferentially by the sleeve. Both the double-acting piston and the slide-valve body are guided in a narrow sliding fit on the sleeve. The throttle passage runs through the slide-valve body and is flow-connected permanently to the control passage in the control body. The throttle inlet leads from the high-pressure space into the control passage. The latter, on the side facing away from the slide-valve body, can, via a pilot valve, be connected to a low-pressure space and be separated again from the latter. The connection of the control passage to the low-pressure space leads to a pressure drop in the control space, with the result being that the injection-valve member moves in the direction of the slide-valve body and releases the injection nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: CRT Common Rail Technologies AG
    Inventors: Markus Tappolet, Andreas Carelli, Marco Ganser, Severin Kern, Roland Kolb
  • Patent number: 6874710
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve includes: a magnetic barrel body made of a magnetic material and shaped substantially into a barrel, a core barrel made of a magnetic material and shaped substantially into a barrel, a valve seat member positioned on a downstream side of the core barrel and disposed in the magnetic barrel body, a valve body positioned between the core barrel and the valve seat member, an O-ring positioned in a vicinity of a flange portion of the magnetic barrel body, a fuel filter assembly disposed at the first end on the fuel's influx side of the magnetic barrel body. A flange of the fuel filter assembly is made of a material lower in hardness than the magnetic material of the magnetic barrel body. The flange of the fuel filter assembly has a diameter larger than the diameter of the flange portion of the magnetic barrel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Unisia Automotive, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Ishii, Hideo Kato, Tomoichi Misawa, Nobuaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6871800
    Abstract: A fuel injector (10; 100) comprises an inlet (60) from which fuel can be transferred into a cavity (61) of the injector, at least one outlet orifice (86) communicating with said cavity (61), and ejecting means (44, 88) operable to apply force to fuel in said cavity to cause said fuel to be ejected through said orifice as discreet charges at pre-determined intervals. The operation of said ejecting means (44, 88) is also operable to transfer further fuel into said cavity (61).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Ignition (U.K.) Limited
    Inventors: Paul Tinwell, John Anthony Burrows
  • Patent number: 6871801
    Abstract: An injection nozzle has a nozzle body, a nozzle needle that is supported displaceably in the nozzle body, a control chamber that communicates with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a valve element that can open and close the fluid outlet. The control chamber is laterally defined by a displaceable ring which rests on the nozzle needle, and a closing spring presses the ring against the nozzle needle in fluid-tight fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Kienzler, Patrick Mattes, Wolfgang Stoecklein, Friedrich Boecking