Electromagnetically Operated Valve (e.g., Ball-type) Patents (Class 239/585.1)
  • Patent number: 7100847
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve with a valve body in which a valve needle that has a longitudinal axis can slide in the longitudinal direction in a bore. The combustion chamber end of the bore is provided with a conical valve seat between the valve needle and the wall of the bore a pressure chamber is formed, which can be filled with fuel and extends to the valve seat. The valve needle has a valve sealing surface that cooperates with the valve seat in order to control at least one injection opening leading from the valve seat and contains an annular groove that extends in a radial plane of the valve needle. The downstream edge of the annular groove is embodied as a sealing edge and is hydraulically connected to the pressure chamber on a continuous basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Christ, Bernd Dittus, Friedrich Boecking
  • Patent number: 7100848
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve of an internal combustion engine for a vehicle is comprised of a nozzle plate which has a plurality of nozzle holes. Fuel injection jets are injected from the nozzle holes and collided with each other. The thickness of the nozzle plate is equal to or greater than the diameter of the nozzle holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Kobayashi, Nobutaka Ishii, Tomoichi Misawa, Hideo Kato
  • 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: 7097115
    Abstract: A fuel injector regulator having combined initial injection and peak injection pressure regulation. The fuel injector regulator includes a rate shaping valve movably supported within a valve bore between a closed position and an open position to regulate a rate of injected fuel. The regulator further includes a waste gate valve having a body movably supported within a bore of the rate shaping valve and between a closed position and an open position to regulate the pressure of injected fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventors: He Jiang, Gerald Gaydek
  • Patent number: 7093778
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device to convey and/or spray free-flowing media, in particular fluids, which works in accordance with the energy storage principle and is designed as an electromagnetically-powered reciprocating pump with at least one armature device as a drive element, whereby the armature device includes at least two armature elements and the armature elements are assigned magnetically corresponding yoke elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: BRP US Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfram Hellmich, Klaus-Jürgen Peter, Robert Kotter, Liang Zhang
  • 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: 7093779
    Abstract: A fuel injector, in particular a fuel injector for fuel-injection systems of internal combustion engines, has a valve needle which cooperates with a valve-seat surface to form a sealing seat, and an armature which is connected to the valve needle, the armature being acted upon in the closing direction by a restoring spring and cooperating with a magnetic coil. The armature has a guide flange which is guided at an opposite surface. The guide flange does contact the opposite surface in all places, so that recesses are formed between the guide flange and the opposite surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Sebastian, Juergen Graner, Wolfgang-Manfred Ruehle, Joachim Stilling, Matthias Boee, Norbert Keim
  • Patent number: 7093776
    Abstract: A director plate system for a fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine. The system includes flow channels for directing the fuel stream radially inward toward the discharge holes. The cross-sectional area of the flow channels diminish inwardly, in the direction of flow, to accelerate the fuel stream. A swirl element, for imparting tangential velocities or eddies to a plurality of individual fuel streams, can be combined with the radially inward directed flow channels. The director plate system may be provided as individual plates in a stack or may be combined with each other and/or the valve seat in a variety of plate configurations to simplify the number of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, INC
    Inventor: Michael Schneider
  • 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: 7086613
    Abstract: A solenoid-operated liquid spray gun having a lightweight, corrosion resistant plastic housing which enables the spray gun to be mounted on and be more easily moved by robotic transfer devices. To effect the necessary flux loop within the plastic-housed spray gun for reciprocating a valve plunger in response to energization of the solenoid coil, the spray gun includes a radially disposed flux-directing member adjacent at least one end of the coil. The flux-directing member, while extending radially outwardly a distance less than the diameter of solenoid coil, effects efficient flux direction for operating the solenoid notwithstanding the lack of a magnetic conductive medium provided by the metal housing of conventional solenoid-operated spray guns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Spraying Systems Co.
    Inventor: Timothy H. Hennessy
  • Patent number: 7086606
    Abstract: A modular fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, including a valve group subassembly and a power group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a first stator member, a second stator member, a non-magnetic shell disposed between the first and second stator members, a valve body, and an armature member. The armature member defines a first working air gap with the first stator member and a second working air gap with the second stator member. The armature member includes a closure member proximate an outlet end and contiguous to a seat in a first configuration. The power group subassembly includes an electromagnetic coil surrounding the passage, a housing encasing the coil, and an ovemold encapsulating the coil and the housing. The coil is energizable to provide magnetic flux that flows through the first and second working air gaps in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Harry R. Brooks, Michael P. Dallmeyer
  • Patent number: 7086615
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a seat, a movable member cooperating with the seat, and an orifice plate. The orifice disc includes a member having first and second generally parallel surfaces, and an orifice extending through the member between first and second generally planar surfaces of the member. The orifice is defined by a wall that couples the first and second surfaces. The wall includes first and second wall portions. The first wall portion is spaced from the first surface and extends substantially perpendicular to the first and second generally planar surfaces and about the longitudinal axis to define a transition perimeter. The second wall portion couples the first wall portion to the first surface to define a inlet perimeter on the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: J. Michael Joseph
  • 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: 7080819
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve includes a solenoid, which is filled with low-pressure oil. The solenoid receives a biasing means and a movable member. The movable member is actuated by the biasing means and magnetic force generated by the solenoid. The movable member includes a flat-plate portion that contacts with the solenoid and departs from the solenoid. The outer circumferential periphery of the flat-plate portion has multiple notches, through which low-pressure fuel flows into to the upper side of the flat-plate portion that has an oil passage groove, through which a center portion of flat-plate portion communicates with the outer circumferential portion of flat-plate portion. Each notch has a deepest portion that is radially most recessed from the outer circumferential periphery of the flat-plate portion. The oil passage groove is apart from a deepest portion of the notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Denson Corporation
    Inventor: Senta Tojo
  • Patent number: 7080796
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve has a nozzle having a valve seat formed along an inner wall of the nozzle. Injection holes are located on an outlet side of the valve seat. An outlet section, at which a fuel outlet of the injection hole is open, is provided to said nozzle on a side opposite to said valve seat. An enlargement section extends away from the valve seat while being gradually enlarged from an edge of said outlet section in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yukio Tomiita
  • Patent number: 7070127
    Abstract: A fuel injector for fuel-injection systems of internal combustion engines has a solenoid coil; a valve needle that is mechanically linked to the solenoid coil and acted upon by a restoring spring in a closing direction, in order to actuate a valve-closure member which, together with a valve-seat face, forms a sealing seat; and a sleeve, which prestresses the restoring spring. The sleeve is integrally formed with a filter element to form a one-part, deep-drawn filter sleeve, which has through-flow openings for filtering the fuel flowing through the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Maier
  • Patent number: 7070128
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a magnetic coil, which cooperates with an armature acted upon by a restoring spring, the armature forming an axially movable valve part together with a valve needle. A valve-closure member which forms a sealing seat with a valve-seat member is provided at the valve needle. Furthermore, the fuel injector includes an inner pole and an outer pole which form a magnetic circuit with the magnetic coil. The restoring spring is acted upon by a guide sleeve so that its axial length during operation of the fuel injector is smaller than the axial length of a bore of the inner pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Zlatko Delas
  • Patent number: 7070126
    Abstract: A fuel injector is provided which has an injector body with a metallic tip having an outer surface. A non-metallic insulator, such as a ceramic, is attached to the tip and covers a portion of the outer surface. Injector tip overheating can be a problem, especially during sustained two-cycle boosted engine compression release braking. In addition, injector tip overheating can be a problem when an engine is experiencing simultaneous engine compression release braking and exhaust braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald D. Shinogle
  • Patent number: 7066410
    Abstract: The invention relates to a common rail injector for injecting fuel in a common rail injection system of an internal combustion engine, having an injector housing, which communicates with a central high-pressure reservoir and in which a nozzle needle is axially displaceable in order to adjust the injection as a function of the pressure in a control chamber, and having a sealing element, which is disposed in an annular chamber that is provided between a valve element and the injector housing. In addition to the sealing element, a support device is disposed in the annular chamber between the valve element and the injector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Siegfried Ruthardt, Juergen Hanneke, Holger Rapp
  • Patent number: 7063278
    Abstract: A fuel injector (1) for the direct injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine has a piezoelectric actuator (2) which is encapsulated in an actuator housing (3); a valve needle (9) which is in operative connection with the actuator and on which a valve-closure member (11) is formed which forms a sealing seat together with a valve-seat surface (13); and a nozzle body (12) into which the actuator housing (3) is able to be inserted. The actuator housing (3) and the nozzle body (12) are sealed by a common connecting part (4), the connecting part (4) having a first and a second diameter step (19; 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Stier, Elmar Okrent, Ulrich Döbler
  • Patent number: 7063279
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve comprises a body, a valve member, a coil, a movable core, a fixed core, and a housing member. The body has a nozzle hole. The valve member allows injection of fuel from the nozzle hole. The coil generates a magnetic field. The movable core axially reciprocates with the valve member. The fixed core is provided adjacent to a side of the movable core that is opposite the nozzle hole. The fixed core attracts the movable core and moves with the valve member due to the magnetic field generated from the coil. The housing member has a first axial end fixed to the body. The housing member covers the coil and forms a magnetic circuit together with the body, the movable core, and the fixed core due to the magnetic field generated by the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shingo Mizuno, Toyoji Nishiwaki, Yoshitomo Oguma
  • Patent number: 7059547
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve is comprised of a nozzle plate which has at least four nozzle-hole sets. Each of the nozzle-hole sets has at least two nozzle holes through which fuel injection flows are injected and are collided with each other. The nozzle-hole sets are arranged into two aggregations so that the collided fuel injection flows are joined and are directed to two different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Kobayashi, Hideo Kato, Hiroshi Okada
  • Patent number: 7061144
    Abstract: A pipe member of a fuel injection valve includes a magnetic pipe and a non-magnetic pipe in this order from the side of a jet nozzle plate. The non-magnetic pipe extends to the end of the fuel injection valve 10 opposed to the jet nozzle plate, and the non-magnetic pipe is formed with a fuel inlet. The non-magnetic pipe has the thickness of not less than 0.2 mm but not more than 1.0 mm. An end of the non-magnetic pipe on the side of the magnetic pipe is positioned on the side of a moving core relative to a facing portion of a fixed core that faces to the moving core, and on the side of the fixed core relative to a second end of a yoke connected to the magnetic pipe. The non-magnetic pipe covers the outer periphery of a gap defined between the moving core and the fixed core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Sugiyama, Shinsuke Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7059549
    Abstract: A fuel injector nozzle assembly includes an injector body including a valve seat with a supply passage through which fuel flows generally along a supply axis. The valve seat presents an upper surface which is adapted to engage a valve to seal the supply passage. A nozzle plate is mounted onto the valve seat and includes a plurality of orifice holes therein through which fuel flows. The valve seat further includes a first edge protrusion protruding into the fuel flow for generating a first separation of the fuel flow, thereby creating a plurality of small eddies which are entrained within the fuel flowing adjacent thereto. A turbulence cavity is defined by the nozzle plate and the valve seat wherein fuel flows into the turbulence cavity through the supply passage and out from the turbulence cavity through the plurality of orifice holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Min Xu
  • Patent number: 7059548
    Abstract: A fuel injector with a magnetic coil which cooperates with an armature acted upon by a restoring spring, the armature forming an axially movable valve part with a valve needle. A valve-closure member which forms a sealing seat with a valve-seat member is provided at the valve needle. At least one damping element is disposed in an opening of the fuel injector through which fuel flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Reiter, Ulrich Fischer, Franz Thömmes
  • Patent number: 7055762
    Abstract: The invention relates to an injection valve in which the movable valve parts and the valve seat (4) form the electrodes of a capacitor that is connected in an electric circuit, the capacity of said capacitor changing with the valve lift of the closing element. According to the invention, the valve seat (4) is configured in the form of an electrically conductive nozzle body (2) that is connected to the electric circuit and the closing element is configured in the form of a valve needle (5) that is connected to the electric circuit by its end surface opposite the valve seat (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Gerber, Uwe Leuteritz, Martin Neumaier, Jörg Wonesch
  • Patent number: 7055765
    Abstract: A fuel injector, in particular a fuel injector for fuel-injection systems of internal combustion engines, including a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive actuator, which, via a valve needle, actuates a valve-closure member arranged on the valve needle, the valve-closure member cooperating with a valve-seat surface to form a sealing seat, the fuel injector having an hydraulic compensation chamber. A pressure piston cooperates with the compensation chamber, which is filled with hydraulic fluid via an hydraulic fluid inlet. The actuator is arranged between the pressure piston and the valve needle and displaceable in the axis of the valve needle and the pressure piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Liskow
  • Patent number: 7055766
    Abstract: A fuel injector has a fuel inlet, and a metering valve which is activated by an electromagnetic actuator to open and close an injection nozzle; the metering valve has a control chamber communicating with the inlet and defined by an end wall, in which is formed an outlet hole closed by a shutter moved along an axis by the actuator; the end wall and the shutter are defined by respective parallel, facing surfaces which rest against each other to compress the film of fuel issuing from the hole during closure by the shutter, and which have channeling formed about the hole to generate, in use, a counterpressure for the outflowing fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Inventor: Mario Ricco
  • Patent number: 7051961
    Abstract: An assembly for a fuel injector having a metallic armature and a metallic poppet attached to the armature at an interface location. The armature and/or the poppet includes a coating at the interface location, where the coating has a higher resistance to corrosion as compared to the base material of the poppet and/or the base material of the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Synerject, LLC
    Inventors: John R Mills, Jordi J Catasus-Servia
  • Patent number: 7051960
    Abstract: A fuel passage is formed through a movable core and a fixed core of a fuel injection valve. Communication passage(s) are formed in the movable core or the fixed core around the fuel passage. The communication passage(s) connect a facing space provided between the movable core and the fixed core with a space remote from the facing space. Fuel flows out of the facing space through the communication passage(s) when the fuel injection valve is opened and fuel flows into the facing space through the communication passage(s) when the fuel injection valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Oguma
  • Patent number: 7051958
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve for internal combustion engines, having a housing in which an outer valve needle and an inner valve needle guided in it are disposed in a bore. The outer valve needle controls an outer row of injection openings, and the inner valve needle controls an inner row of injection openings, to which rows of injection openings fuel is delivered at an injection pressure through a high-pressure conduit embodied in the housing. A control pressure chamber in the housing can be made to communicate with the high-pressure conduit, and by means of its pressure, a closing force is exerted at least indirectly on the inner valve needle. The high-pressure conduit communicates with a control chamber, by whose pressure a closing force is exerted at least indirectly on the outer valve needle, and the control chamber communicates with the control pressure chamber. A control valve is disposed in a housing, and by means of the control valve, the control chamber can be made to communicate with a leak fuel chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Maike Sander-Potz, legal representative, Wendelin Potz, legal representative, Peter Boehland, Thomas Kuegler, Andreas Koeninger, Predrag Nunic, Detlev Potz, deceased
  • Patent number: 7051956
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for increasing entrainment and mixing in an air/fuel zone of a direct fuel injection system. The device comprises an ejector nozzle in the form of an inverted funnel whose central axis is aligned along the central axis of a fuel injector jet and whose narrow end is placed just above the jet outlet. It is found that effective ejector performance is achieved when the ejector geometry is adjusted such that it comprises a funnel whose interior surface diverges about 7° to about 9° away from the funnel central axis, wherein the funnel inlet diameter is about 2 to about 3 times the diameter of the injected fuel plume as the fuel plume reaches the ejector inlet, and wherein the funnel length equal to about 1 to about 4 times the ejector inlet diameter. Moreover, the ejector is most effectively disposed at a separation distance away from the fuel jet equal to about 1 to about 2 time the ejector inlet diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Sandia Naitonal Laboratories
    Inventor: Ansis Upatnieks
  • Patent number: 7048209
    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: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: Perry Robert Czimmek
  • Patent number: 7048202
    Abstract: A valve subassembly of a fuel injector that allows spray targeting and distribution of fuel to be configured using non-angled or straight orifice having an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the subassembly. Metering orifices are located about the longitudinal axis and defining a first virtual circle greater than a second virtual circle defined by a projection of the sealing surface onto the metering disc so that all of the metering orifices are disposed outside the second virtual circle. The projection of the sealing surface converges at a virtual apex disposed within the metering disc. At least one channel extends between a first end and second end. The first end is disposed at a first radius from the longitudinal axis and spaced at a first distance from the metering disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: John Edward Bierstaker, John S. Bright
  • Patent number: 7044405
    Abstract: It is, accordingly, an object of the present teachings to provide fuel injectors that can prevent leakage of noise, which is caused by contact of the valve with the valve seat, to the outside of the fuel injector. a representative injector may comprise a fuel passage, a valve, a valve seat, a jet opening and a jet opening downstream channel. The valve is disposed on the fuel passage and the valve seat receives the valve. The jet opening is formed in the valve seat and through which fuel is exhausted. The jet opening may be opened when the valve is moved apart from the valve seat. The jet opening downstream channel extends downstream from the jet opening through the valve seat and communicates the jet opening to the outside. The diameter of the jet opening downstream channel may be arranged and adapted such that the valve seat has a wall thickness to prevent leakage of noise to the outside through the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawazoe, Toshiro Makimura
  • Patent number: 7044400
    Abstract: A solenoid end cap assembly having a flat mating surface. The flat mating surface is a single planar mating surface and is designed to mate with a substantially flat mating surface of a valve control body. The solenoid, housed within the solenoid end cap, does not protrude past the flat surface and may form part of the substantially flat mating surface of the solenoid end cap. The flat mating surfaces of the valve control body and the solenoid end cap assembly eliminates the need for ring dowels in the assembly between the solenoid and the valve control body. This reduces manufacturing costs and assembly time. The flat mating surfaces also provide a uniform mounting surface for the solenoid from injector to injector. This increases performance characteristics, as well as increases thermal conductivity and magnetic conductivity characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Diesel Systems Technology
    Inventor: Martin Luedicke
  • Patent number: 7036754
    Abstract: An injection valve for an internal combustion engine including at least a nozzle body, in which a nozzle needle is guided axially displaceably, and an at least one-piece retaining body, in which means for actuating the nozzle needle are disposed. On its circumferential surface, the nozzle body has means for engagement of a centering tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Stoecklein, Dietmar Schmieder
  • Patent number: 7036755
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve, for an engine, comprising a nozzle body having a plurality of nozzle holes and a needle valve reciprocated in the nozzle body for controlling the inflow of the fuel into the nozzle holes is disclosed. The fuel is rendered to flow into the nozzle holes from a direction along the inner wall surface of the nozzle body around each of the nozzle holes in a first inflow mode, and from a direction substantially perpendicular to the inner wall surface of the nozzle body in a second inflow mode. The first inflow mode and the second inflow mode can be selectively switched to each other. The fuel is rendered to flow into the nozzle holes in the first inflow mode before the lapse of a predetermined time after the engine is started, and in the first or second mode as required after the lapse of the predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiso Takeda, Tomojiro Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7032846
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve for fuel injection valve systems of internal combustion engines is described, having an energizable actuating element, a valve closing element which is axially movable along a valve longitudinal axis and which works in conjunction with a rigid valve seat that is provided on a valve seat element so as to open and close the valve, and at least one exit opening that is provided downstream from the valve seat. As the injection valve is of the inward-opening type, the opening movement of the valve closing element is oriented away from the exit opening and the closing movement of the valve closing element is oriented toward the exit opening. Fuel flows completely through the interior of the valve closing element, and the valve seat element has an inner trough-shaped recess, so that the opening movement of the valve closing element is fuel-pressure-assisted, due to a flow inversion upstream of the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Joerg Heyse
  • Patent number: 7028928
    Abstract: A fluid control valve assembly controls the flow of actuation fluid to and from a fuel injector. The fluid control valve assembly includes at least one solenoid actuator attached to a valve body. The solenoid actuator includes a stator and an armature comprised of a soft magnetic material. At least one of the armature and the stator include an impact surface. The impact surface is coated with a relatively hard, nonmagnetic material coating. Thus, the relatively hard, nonmagnetic material coating will protect the relatively soft, magnetic material comprising the stator and the armature, and increase the durability of the solenoid actuator and the fluid control valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald D. Shinogle
  • Patent number: 7021558
    Abstract: A fuel injector is provided with a lower nozzle body which is cooled with a small amount of metered fuel. In one embodiment, a blind passage is formed to extend from the upper portion to the lower end of the injector nozzle valve element. A transverse passage is formed in the nozzle valve element connecting the blind passage and the nozzle bore. Rail pressure causes a metered amount of fuel to flow through the nozzle bore, the transverse passage and upwardly along the blind passage to the drain passage. Inward cooling occurs by providing more surface area over which the fuel flows. In another embodiment, a sleeve is formed to fit over an existing nozzle to form a passage surrounding the injector tip. An orifice is located in the nozzle housing to connect the nozzle cavity with the annular passage thereby providing a small amount of fuel to drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Cariappa M. Chenanda, David L. Buchanan, Lester L. Peters
  • Patent number: 7021565
    Abstract: Common rail fuel injectors typically have difficulty in changing an injection rate during an injection event. Fuel injectors for this common rail fuel injection system include a multi-position admission valve. The admission valve is stoppable at a middle position to inject fuel at a low rate. The lower rate is accomplished by leaking some fuel to drain to reduce injection pressure. The admission valve is also stoppable at a fully open position to inject fuel at a high rate. Fuel injection events are ended, and the fuel injectors maintained between injection events, with the admission valve member in contact with a supply seat to close the high pressure supply passage. This strategy can be used in conjunction with a spring-biased needle valve member to expand fuel injector capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, Richard R. Ohs, Scott F. Shafer, Yongxin Wang
  • Patent number: 7021570
    Abstract: A nozzle holder includes a support portion, which supports a downstream end surface of a planar wall of an injection hole plate. The injection hole plate provided with injection holes is welded to one of the valve body and the nozzle holder. The planar wall may be curved and may be thus convex in an upstream direction toward a downstream end opening such that the planar wall is urged against a peripheral edge of the downstream end opening of the valve body. The planar wall may include a reinforcing rib located radially outward of the injection hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhide Tani, Kimitaka Saito, Nobuo Ota, Yoshitaka Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 7021568
    Abstract: A fuel injector (1), in particular a fuel injector (1) for fuel injection systems, includes a first solenoid (2) cooperating with an armature (3), a second solenoid (4) cooperating with the armature (3), and a valve needle (13) friction-locked to the armature (3) for actuating a valve closing body, a force being exertable on the armature (3) in a closing direction using the first solenoid (2) and in an opening direction using the second solenoid (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Rieger, Harald Maisch, Michael Huebel, Ulrich Becker, Juergen Stein
  • Patent number: 7021557
    Abstract: A thin film coating for a low allow steel or tool steel components in a fuel injector (14), such as a fuel injector needle valve (86) is disclosed. A thin film coating (96) consists of a metal carbon material layer less than 2.0 microns thick applied to a low alloy steel substrate (95) or tool steel substrate (95) used in fuel injector components, such as the fuel injector needle valve (86) or a portion thereof. Optionally, a thin bond layer (98) of chromium is deposited between the steel substrate (95) and the primary metal carbon material coating (96). The thin film coating (96) minimizes abrasive and adhesive wear associated with the needle valve (86) and cooperating nozzle surfaces (62,63) of the fuel injector (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Scott F. Shafer, Jay E. Tomaseski, Chuong Q. Dam, Michael C. Long
  • Patent number: 7021566
    Abstract: A modular fuel injector that includes a coil group subassembly and a valve group subassembly. The coil group subassembly is independently testable. The valve group subassembly is independently testable and includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis extending between a first tube end and a second tube end, and a seat assembly disposed in the tube assembly proximate the second tube end. 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 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, William J. Imoehl, James P. Fochtman, Fredrick L. Barnes
  • Patent number: 7021274
    Abstract: A fuel injection equipment to control the instability of combustion when the airflow is weak, and improve the fuel cost. A fuel injection equipment for an cylinder injection type and spark ignition type internal combustion engine that injects gasoline directly to a combustion chamber, wherein the top angle at the point of fuel spray in the pressurized atmosphere of absolute pressure 0.5 MPa is from ?10° to 10°. Further, the fuel is injected at the compression stroke of the internal combustion engine which installs the fuel injection equipment, and said internal combustion engine is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoko Nakayama, Yoshihiro Sukegawa, Toshiharu Nogi
  • Patent number: 7021564
    Abstract: A fuel injector (1) for direct injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of internal combustion engines having an actuator (10), a valve needle (3) operable by the actuator (10) for actuation of a valve closure member (4) which, together with a valve seat face (6) on a valve seat member (5), forms a sealing seat, and at least one spray discharge orifice (7), which is formed downstream from the valve seat (6). A flame protection cone (34) is provided on a downstream end (35) of the fuel injector (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Raimann
  • Patent number: 7021569
    Abstract: A fuel swirler positioned upstream of an injection orifice is disposed at the tip of a nozzle body in a fuel injector, in which the fixed core and the nozzle body are coupled to each other via a non-magnetic cylindrical seal ring press-fitted and welded to the outer circumference of one end on the nozzle body side of the fixed core and the inner circumference of one end of the nozzle body. The inner circumference of the fuel swirler and the inner circumference of the seal ring function serve as a guide for slidably guiding a stroke movement of the needle. The fuel swirler is held between the receiving surface of the nozzle body and the orifice plate, thus defining an annular fuel passage between the outer circumference of the fuel swirler and the inner circumference of the nozzle body, so that fuel flows into a passage groove formed at the lower end surface of the fuel swirler via the annular fuel passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Ogura, Atsushi Sekine, Eiichi Kubota, Masafumi Nakano, Keiichi Uraki, Noriyuki Maekawa, Mizuho Yokoyama, Yoshiyuki Tanabe, Hiromasa Kubo, Tooru Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7017839
    Abstract: A fuel injector, in particular for the direct injection of fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, includes a valve needle at whose discharge-side end a valve-closure member is positioned, which cooperates with a valve-seat surface, formed at a valve-seat member, to form a sealing seat. A spray-discharge orifice calotte connected to the valve-seat member of the fuel injector, or integrally formed in one piece with it, has at least three spray-discharge orifices not all extended axes of the spray-discharge orifices intersecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jörg Heyse
  • Patent number: 4924872
    Abstract: In a blood pressure monitoring system, a transducer which is a conductive rubber tube having conductive terminals at each end,and circumferentially spaced conductors connected to said semi-conductive band,whereby fluid under varying pressure will cause said insulative tube to expand and contract, thereby causing said semi-conductive band to expand and contract, thereby varying the resistance of the semi-conductive band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Medex, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas P. Frank