Fuel injector
First Claim
1. A fuel injector for generating a fuel injection event in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, having a controller being shiftable from a first disposition toward a second disposition and returnably shiftable to the first disposition thereby defining initiation and termination of an injection event, such shifting acting to port an actuating fluid to stroke an intensifier plunger for compressing fuel in an intensifier pressure chamber, the intensifier pressure chamber having a fuel inlet port and being defined in part by a plunger head and further being in fluid communication with a needle valve, comprising;
- at least a first spill port being operably disposed in fluid communication with the intensifier pressure chamber and being spaced apart from the plunger head when the intensifier plunger is in a retracted disposition, the spill port spilling fuel from the pressure chamber for a select duration of time after initiation of the intensifier plunger compressive stroke motion such that no fuel injection occurs during the select duration of time, termination of the select duration of time occurring when the plunger head seals off the first spill port, the intensifier plunger being directly fluidly in communication with a needle valve surface, fuel pressure on the surface acting to open the needle valve, the motion of the compressive stroke motion of the intensifier plunger generating fuel pressure at an injectable level acting on the needle valve surface to provide substantially continuous injected fuel from the time that the plunger head seals off the first spill port until interruption of the compressive stroke motion.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel injector includes a spool control valve, a plunger which moves in a fuel pressure chamber between retracted and full stroke positions. The fuel injector may include a spill port for spilling fuel from the fuel pressure chamber, the spill port being open at the start and closed by the translating motion of the plunger to delay the start of injection. The fuel injector chamber may further include a control port which is closed at the start of plunger motion and is opened by the plunger to connect the pressure chamber to a needle back chamber to bias the needle valve closed. The needle back chamber becomes isolated from the pressure chamber by further movement of the plunger and includes a pressure control passage to allow the pressure therein to decay upon control port closure, thereby effecting split injection or rate shaping.
42 Citations
87 Claims
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1. A fuel injector for generating a fuel injection event in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, having a controller being shiftable from a first disposition toward a second disposition and returnably shiftable to the first disposition thereby defining initiation and termination of an injection event, such shifting acting to port an actuating fluid to stroke an intensifier plunger for compressing fuel in an intensifier pressure chamber, the intensifier pressure chamber having a fuel inlet port and being defined in part by a plunger head and further being in fluid communication with a needle valve, comprising;
at least a first spill port being operably disposed in fluid communication with the intensifier pressure chamber and being spaced apart from the plunger head when the intensifier plunger is in a retracted disposition, the spill port spilling fuel from the pressure chamber for a select duration of time after initiation of the intensifier plunger compressive stroke motion such that no fuel injection occurs during the select duration of time, termination of the select duration of time occurring when the plunger head seals off the first spill port, the intensifier plunger being directly fluidly in communication with a needle valve surface, fuel pressure on the surface acting to open the needle valve, the motion of the compressive stroke motion of the intensifier plunger generating fuel pressure at an injectable level acting on the needle valve surface to provide substantially continuous injected fuel from the time that the plunger head seals off the first spill port until interruption of the compressive stroke motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A hydraulically-actuated, electronically controlled fuel injector comprising:
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a control valve spool that is electronically actuated, translation of said control valve spool from a first position to a second position acting to port an actuating fluid to an intensifier plunger responsive to an electronic actuation command, the intensifier plunger compressively stroking under the urging of the actuating fluid, the stroke increasing the pressure of fuel in an intensifier pressure chamber, the intensifier pressure chamber having a fuel inlet, the fuel being deliverable directly from the intensifier pressure chamber to a needle valve orifice for injection into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the intensifier pressure chamber being in fluid communication with a needle valve opening piston surface during fuel injection, the injection fuel under pressure acting on the needle valve opening piston surface to effect translation of the needle valve and to thereby open the needle valve orifice;
a spill port in fluid communication with the intensifier pressure chamber, the spill port being spaced apart from the intensifier plunger prior to initiation of the intensifier plunger compressive stroke and being open for at least a portion of the stroke of the intensifier plunger for spilling fuel from the intensifier pressure chamber, the spilling of fuel effecting a hydraulic delay in commencement of fuel injection, the delay occurring between the electronic actuation of the control valve and closing of the spill port by the intensifier plunger during the intensifier plunger compressive stroke. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A fuel injector having an intensifier plunger, the intensifier plunger being translatable in a cylinder between a retracted position and a full stroke position, the cylinder being defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder wall defining in part a variable volume intensifier pressure chamber, the intensifier pressure chamber having a fuel inlet port and being in direct fluid communication with a surface during the injection of fuel, a certain pressure bearing on the surface acting to open the needle valve, the fuel injector comprising:
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a spill port intersecting the cylinder wall, the spill port being variably openable and closeable by the intensifier plunger during the translating motion of the intensifier piston for spilling fuel from the variable volume intensifier pressure chamber as desired such that no fuel injection occurs while the spill port is open. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
the spill port including a spill passageway defined in an injector body and being fluidly coupled to the needle back surface.
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29. The fuel injector of claim 28 wherein fuel under pressure spilled through the spill port acts on the needle back surface to control translation of the needle valve.
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30. The fuel injector of claim 29 wherein fuel under pressure spilled through the spill port acts on the needle back surface to oppose forces acting on the needle valve tending to urge the needle to the open position.
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31. The fuel injector of claim 28 further including a needle back vent passage, the needle back vent passage being in fluid communication with the needle back surface for venting of fuel therefrom.
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32. The fuel injector of claim 31 further wherein the needle back vent passage is in fluid communication with a source of fuel disposed external to the injector.
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33. The fuel injector of claim 32 further wherein the needle back vent passage is in fluid communication with a source of fuel disposed external to the injector for the venting of fuel thereto.
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34. The fuel injector of claim 33 further wherein flow of fuel in the needle back vent passage is two way for selective venting of fuel from the needle back surface and for replenishing a volume of fuel at the needle back surface.
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35. The fuel injector of claim 24 wherein the spill port is disposed adjacent an intensifier plunger lower piston head when the intensifier plunger is at the retracted disposition, the lower piston head for acting on fuel in the variable volume intensifier pressure chamber to increase the pressure thereof.
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36. The fuel injector of claim 24 wherein the intensifier plunger acts cooperatively with the spill port to control the beginning of fuel injection.
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37. The fuel injector of claim 24 wherein the intensifier plunger acts cooperatively with the spill port to delay the beginning of fuel injection with respect to initiation of intensifier plunger motion.
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38. The fuel injector of claim 24 wherein the intensifier plunger acts cooperatively with the spill port to delay the beginning of fuel injection with respect to initiation of actuation of an injector control valve.
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39. A fuel injector having an intensifier plunger, the intensifier plunger being translatable in a cylinder between a retracted position and a full stroke position, the cylinder being defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder wall defining in part a variable volume intensifier pressure chamber, the intensifier pressure chamber having a fuel inlet port and being in direct fluid communication with a surface during the injection of fuel, a certain pressure bearing on the surface acting to open the needle valve, the fuel injector comprising:
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a control valve having a spool shiftable between a first position and a second position, defining a round trip of the valve spool, the round trip being translating motion between the first position and the second position and a returning translating motion to the first position, a spill port intersecting the cylinder wall, the spill port being variably openable and closeable by the intensifier plunger during the translating motion of the intensifier piston for spilling fuel from the variable volume intensifier pressure chamber as desired such that no fuel injection occurs until the spill port is closed by the intensifier plunger. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A fuel injector having an intensifier plunger, the intensifier plunger being translatable in a cylinder between a retracted position and a full stroke position, the cylinder being defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder wall defining in part a variable volume intensifier pressure chamber and being in direct fluid communication with a surface during an injection of fuel, a certain pressure bearing on the surface acting to open an injector needle valve to effect the fuel injection, the intensifier pressure chamber having a fuel inlet port, the fuel injector comprising:
a first control port, the control port being variably openable and closeable by the intensifier plunger during the translating motion of the intensifier piston for spilling fuel from the variable volume intensifier pressure chamber as desired to control the opening motion of the injector needle valve such that no fuel injection occurs when the control port is open. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A fuel injector having an intensifier plunger and a needle valve, the intensifier plunger being translatable in a cylinder between a retracted position and a full stroke position, the cylinder being defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder wall defining in part a variable volume intensifier pressure chamber, the needle valve being translatable between an open position and a closed position, a fuel injection orifice being open in the needle valve open disposition, the needle valve having a needle back surface, the needle back surface defining in part a needle back chamber, the fuel injector comprising:
a control port including a control port passageway being fluidly couplable to the needle back surface. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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67. A fuel injector having an intensifier plunger, the intensifier plunger being translatable in a cylinder between a retracted position and a full stroke position, the cylinder being defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder wall defining in part a variable volume intensifier pressure chamber, the fuel injector comprising:
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a first control port, the first control port being variably openable and closeable by the intensifier plunger during the translating motion of the intensifier piston for spilling fuel from the variable volume intensifier pressure chamber as desired to control the opening motion of an injector needle valve; and
a second control port, the second control port being variably openable and closeable by the intensifier plunger during the translating motion of the intensifier piston for spilling fuel from the variable volume intensifier pressure chamber as desired to control the opening motion of the injector needle valve. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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78. A fuel injector for generating a fuel injection event in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, having a controller being shiftable from a first disposition toward a second disposition and returnably shiftable to the first disposition, such shifting acting to port an actuating fluid to stroke an intensifier plunger for compressing fuel in an intensifier pressure chamber, the pressure chamber being in direct fluid communication with a surface during an injection of fuel, a certain pressure bearing on the surface acting to open an injector needle valve to effect the fuel injection, the intensifier pressure chamber having a fuel inlet port, comprising:
a spill passageway operably disposed in fluid communication with the intensifier pressure chamber, the spill passageway spilling fuel from the pressure chamber for a select duration of time after initiation of the intensifier plunger compressive stroke motion, the spill passageway effecting a selected hydraulic delay between the initiation of an actuation command to the controller and the commencement of fuel injection the spill passageway having a spill port opening into the intensifier pressure chamber, the spill port being open when the intensifier plunger is in a first retracted position.
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79. A fuel injector having an intensifier plunger, the intensifier plunger being translatable in a cylinder between a retracted position and a full stroke position, the cylinder being defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder wall defining in part a variable volume intensifier pressure chamber, the pressure chamber being in direct fluid communication with a surface during an injection of fuel, a certain pressure bearing on the surface acting to open an injector needle valve to effect the fuel injection, the intensifier pressure chamber having a fuel inlet port, the fuel injector comprising:
a spill port intersecting the cylinder wall, the spill port being variably openable and closeable by the intensifier plunger during the translating motion of the intensifier piston for spilling fuel from the variable volume intensifier pressure chamber as desired, the intensifier plunger acting cooperatively with the spill port to delay the beginning of fuel injection with respect to initiation of intensifier plunger valve motion.
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80. A fuel injector having an intensifier plunger, the intensifier plunger being translatable in a cylinder between a retracted position and a full stroke position, the cylinder being defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder wall defining in part a variable volume intensifier pressure chamber, the pressure chamber being in direct fluid communication with a surface during an injection of fuel, a certain pressure bearing on the surface acting to open an injector needle valve to effect the fuel injection, the intensifier pressure chamber having a fuel inlet port, the fuel injector comprising:
a spill port intersecting the cylinder wall, the spill port being variably openable and closeable by the intensifier plunger during the translating motion of the intensifier piston for spilling fuel from the variable volume intensifier pressure chamber as desired, the intensifier plunger acting cooperatively with the spill port to delay the beginning of fuel injection with respect to initiation of actuation of an injector control valve.
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81. A fuel injector having an intensifier plunger, the intensifier plunger being translatable in a cylinder between a retracted position and a full stroke position, the cylinder being defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder wall defining in part a variable volume intensifier pressure chamber, the pressure chamber being in direct fluid communication with a surface during an injection of fuel, a certain pressure bearing on the surface acting to open an injector needle valve to effect the fuel injection, the intensifier pressure chamber having a fuel inlet port, the fuel injector comprising:
a spill port intersecting the cylinder wall, the spill port being variably openable and closeable by the intensifier plunger during the translating motion of the intensifier piston for spilling fuel from the variable volume intensifier pressure chamber as desired, the intensifier plunger acting cooperatively with the spill port to delay the beginning of fuel injection with respect to initiation of actuation of an injector control valve.
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82. A fuel injector having an intensifier plunger, the intensifier plunger being translatable in a cylinder between a retracted position and a full stroke position, the cylinder being defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder wall defining in part a variable volume intensifier pressure chamber, the pressure chamber being in direct fluid communication with a surface during an injection of fuel, a certain pressure bearing on the surface acting to open an injector needle valve to effect the fuel injection, the intensifier pressure chamber having a fuel inlet port, the fuel injector comprising:
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a control valve having a spool shiftable between a first position and a second position by magnetic action, defining a round trip of the valve spool, the round trip being translating motion between the first position and the second position and a returning translating motion to the first position, a spill port intersecting the cylinder wall, the spill port being variably openable and closeable by the intensifier plunger during the translating motion of the intensifier piston for spilling fuel from the variable volume intensifier pressure chamber as desired; and
the intensifier plunger acting cooperatively with the spill port to control the beginning of fuel injection.
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83. A fuel injector having an intensifier plunger, the intensifier plunger being translatable in a cylinder between a retracted position and a full stroke position, the cylinder being defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder wall defining in part a variable volume intensifier pressure chamber, the pressure chamber being in direct fluid communication with a surface during an injection of fuel, a certain pressure bearing on the surface acting to open an injector needle valve to effect the fuel injection, the intensifier pressure chamber having a fuel inlet port, the fuel injector comprising:
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a control valve having a spool shiftable between a first position and a second position by magnetic action, defining a round trip of the valve spool, the round trip being translating motion between the first position and the second position and a returning translating motion to the first position, a spill port intersecting the cylinder wall, the spill port being variably openable and closeable by the intensifier plunger during the translating motion of the intensifier piston for spilling fuel from the variable volume intensifier pressure chamber as desired; and
the intensifier plunger acting cooperatively with the spill port to delay the beginning of fuel injection with respect to initiation of intensifier plunger valve motion.
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84. A fuel injector having an intensifier plunger, the intensifier plunger being translatable in a cylinder between a retracted position and a full stroke position, the cylinder being defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder wall defining in part a variable volume intensifier pressure chamber, the pressure chamber being in direct fluid communication with a surface during an injection of fuel, a certain pressure bearing on the surface acting to open an injector needle valve to effect the fuel injection, the intensifier pressure chamber having a fuel inlet port, the fuel injector comprising:
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a control valve having a spool shiftable between a first position and a second position by magnetic action, defining a round trip of the valve spool, the round trip being translating motion between the first position and the second position and a returning translating motion to the first position, a spill port intersecting the cylinder wall, the spill port being variably openable and closeable by the intensifier plunger during the translating motion of the intensifier piston for spilling fuel from the variable volume intensifier pressure chamber as desired; and
the intensifier plunger acting cooperatively with the spill port to delay the beginning of fuel injection with respect to initiation of actuation of the injector control valve spool.
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85. A fuel injector having an intensifier plunger, the intensifier plunger being translatable in a cylinder between a retracted position and a full stroke position, the cylinder being defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder wall defining in part a variable volume intensifier pressure chamber, the pressure chamber being in direct fluid communication with a surface during an injection of fuel, a certain pressure bearing on the surface acting to open an injector needle valve to effect the fuel injection, the intensifier pressure chamber having a fuel inlet port, the fuel injector comprising:
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a control valve having a spool shiftable between a first position and a second position by magnetic action, defining a round trip of the valve spool, the round trip being translating motion between the first position and the second position and a returning translating motion to the first position, a spill port intersecting the cylinder wall, the spill port being variably openable and closeable by the intensifier plunger during the translating motion of the intensifier piston for spilling fuel from the variable volume intensifier pressure chamber as desired; and
the intensifier plunger acting cooperatively with the spill port to delay the beginning of fuel injection with respect to initiation of actuation of the injector control valve spool.
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86. A fuel injector having an intensifier plunger, the intensifier plunger being translatable in a cylinder between a retracted position and a full stroke position, the cylinder being defined by a cylinder wall, the cylinder wall defining in part a variable volume intensifier pressure chamber, the pressure chamber being in direct fluid communication with a surface during an injection of fuel, a certain pressure bearing on the surface acting to open an injector needle valve to effect the fuel injection, the intensifier pressure chamber having a fuel inlet port, the fuel injector comprising:
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a control valve having a spool shiftable between a first position and a second position by magnetic action, defining a round trip of the valve spool, the round trip being translating motion between the first position and the second position and a returning translating motion to the first position, a spill port intersecting the cylinder wall, the spill port being variably openable and closeable by the intensifier plunger during the translating motion of the intensifier piston for spilling fuel from the variable volume intensifier pressure chamber as desired; and
the intensifier plunger acting cooperatively with the spill port to delay the beginning of fuel injection with respect to initiation of actuation of the injector control valve spool. - View Dependent Claims (87)
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Specification