The present invention is a fuel injection system having one or more fuel injectors and an electronic control system therefore. The preferred fuel injector has a double magnetic latching solenoid three-way or four-way spool valve that controls the flow of a working fluid that is used to control the discharge of fuel into the combustion chamber or intake manifold of an engine through the nozzle of the injector. The control system provides actuating current pulses to each of the solenoids to actuate and latch the solenoids to effect initiation and termination of the injection. Disclosed are control systems that provide a snap action in one or both actuating directions of the valve by electromagnetically retaining the valve in the latched condition until the force in the actuated solenoid builds to a high level, and then releasing the valve for higher acceleration to the actuated position. Also disclosed is an exemplary control system that senses the arrival of valve at the actuated position so that the actuating current pulse can be terminated as soon as possible so as to allow a strong current pulse drive, but of low total energy, for fast actuation of a relatively small valve. Other embodiments, features and uses of the invention are disclosed.

Valve controller systems and methods and fuel injection systems utilizing the same

A fuel injector which has a double solenoid three-way or four-way spool valve that controls the flow of a working fluid that is used to move an intensifier piston of the injector.

High speed fuel injector

A fuel injection system having a novel electromagnetic-actuated fuel pump in which four pumping elements, equally-spaced around a camshaft are mounted such that a pair of opposed pumping elements alternate to deliver pressure to a high pressure common rail with a second pair of pumping elements. In one embodiment of the invention the pumping elements are mechanically actuated, in another they are electronically actuated. The high pressure common rail is adapted to reduce surges in the fuel pressure from the pump up to levels of 20,000 psi. The common rail has a relief valve for controlling the maximum pressure in the common rail chamber. The electromagnetic injection nozzle has a needle valve that is closed by pressure in a balancing chamber having a reduced pressure level less than that of the pressure required to open the valve. When the supply fuel flow is blocked, the valve is closed by a spring, assisted by the pressure in the balancing chamber which overbalances the needle valve when the nozzle pressure has dropped by the termination of the supply fuel flow.

High pressure electronic common-rail fuel injection system for diesel engines

A control valve that has a pair of solenoids which move a spool between first and second positions. The spool and housing are constructed from a magnetic steel which maintains the spool in either the first or second position. The spool is located within a valve chamber of a housing which has at least two fluid ports. The valve controls the flow of fluid between the ports in accordance with the position of the spool. The valve can be constructed to be either a two-way, three-way or a four-way valve. The spool has an inner chamber which is in fluid communication with both the valve chamber and the drain port of the valve. The inner chamber insures that the ends of the spool are balanced and that a hydraulic pressure does not build up in the valve chamber.

Digital two, three, and four way solenoid control valves

A unit fuel injector is provided comprising an injector body containing a pumping chamber for receiving fuel at a low pressure level from a fuel supply passage for subsequent discharge at a high pressure level, a discharge orifice and a transfer passage communicating with the pumping chamber and the discharge orifice. A valve element is provided for movement between (i) an advanced position wherein the supply passage communicates with the pumping chamber through the transfer passage and (ii) a retracted position wherein communication between the supply passage and the pumping chamber is blocked to allow fuel to flow from the pumping chamber through the transfer passage and out the discharge orifice. The valve element includes a control valve integrally formed with a tip valve, and a force balancing element for tending to balance the forces acting on the valve element by reducing the force tending to bias the valve element toward its second position closing the discharge orifice, when the pressure within the pumping chamber increases to the high pressure level.

Force balanced electronically controlled fuel injector

An electromagnetic unit fuel injector includes a pump assembly having an external actuated plunger reciprocable in a bushing with flow therefrom during a pump stroke being directed to a fuel injection nozzle of the assembly. Fuel flow from the pump can also flow through a passage means, containing a normally open, substantially pressure-balanced control valve actuated by a solenoid assembly in the valve closing direction to block drain flow during a pump stroke, as desired. A piston, actuated by discharge fuel pressure is operatively connected to the control valve to assist the solenoid in holding the control valve in a closed position.

Ricky C. Wirth

Papers

Electromagnetic unit fuel injector with piston assist solenoid actuated control valve