FUEL SYSTEM HAVING DUAL FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR
First Claim
1. A pressure regulator, comprising:
- a body;
a cavity formed in the body;
a valve seat dividing the cavity into a first portion and a second portion;
an end stop disposed within the first portion and movable to selectively engage the valve seat and substantially isolate the first portion from the second portion, the end stop being biased against the valve seat;
a liquid fuel inlet port disposed in the first portion;
a first outlet port disposed in the second portion and in selective fluid communication with the first portion via the valve seat;
a gaseous fuel inlet port disposed in the second portion;
a valve element disposed in the second portion and movable based on a pressure difference between the liquid and gaseous fuel inlet ports to any position between a first fully open position at which fluid is allowed to flow from the liquid fuel inlet port through the first outlet port substantially unrestricted by the valve element, to a second fully restricted position against the end stop at which fluid flow from the liquid fuel inlet port through the first outlet port is blocked by the end stop, wherein the valve element is biased toward the second position; and
an actuator biased to urge the valve element toward the second position and selectively actuated to move away from the valve element.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure regulator is disclosed having a body, a valve seat dividing a cavity of the body into first and second portions, and an end stop movable against a bias to selectively engage the valve seat and isolate the first and second portions. The pressure regulator may also have a first inlet port in the first portion, a first outlet port in the second portion and in fluid communication with the first portion via the valve seat, and a second inlet port in the second portion. The fuel system may also have a valve element in the second portion and movable against a spring bias based on a pressure difference between an open position and a restricted position against the end stop. The fuel system may additionally have an actuator biased to urge the valve element toward the second position and selectively actuated to move away from the valve element.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pressure regulator, comprising:
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a body; a cavity formed in the body; a valve seat dividing the cavity into a first portion and a second portion; an end stop disposed within the first portion and movable to selectively engage the valve seat and substantially isolate the first portion from the second portion, the end stop being biased against the valve seat; a liquid fuel inlet port disposed in the first portion; a first outlet port disposed in the second portion and in selective fluid communication with the first portion via the valve seat; a gaseous fuel inlet port disposed in the second portion; a valve element disposed in the second portion and movable based on a pressure difference between the liquid and gaseous fuel inlet ports to any position between a first fully open position at which fluid is allowed to flow from the liquid fuel inlet port through the first outlet port substantially unrestricted by the valve element, to a second fully restricted position against the end stop at which fluid flow from the liquid fuel inlet port through the first outlet port is blocked by the end stop, wherein the valve element is biased toward the second position; and an actuator biased to urge the valve element toward the second position and selectively actuated to move away from the valve element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A fuel system, comprising:
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a first supply of liquid fuel; a second supply of gaseous fuel; a fuel injector configured to receive liquid and gaseous fuel from the first and second supplies; and a pressure regulator in parallel fluid communication with the first and second fuel supplies, the pressure regulator being configured to selectively regulate a pressure of the liquid fuel based on a pressure of the gaseous fuel; a pump configured to pressurize and direct liquid fuel from the first supply to the regulator; a liquid fuel accumulator disposed between the pressure regulator and the injector; and a pressure relief valve fluidly connected between an output of the pump, the liquid fuel accumulator, and the first supply. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of regulating fuel pressures for an engine, comprising:
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directing pressurized liquid fuel from a first supply to an injector of the engine; directing gaseous fuel from a second supply to the injector in parallel with the liquid fuel; selectively regulating a pressure of the liquid fuel based on a pressure of the gaseous fuel; selectively regulating the pressure of the liquid fuel independent of the pressure of the gaseous fuel; and selectively relieving high pressure from a liquid fuel accumulator or from a liquid fuel pump to the first supply, - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification