Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090302130 | Apparatus for cooling a fuel injector - A fuel injector including a nozzle portion, a solenoid operated valve assembly configured to control a flow of fuel to the nozzle portion, a housing, at least a portion of the solenoid operated valve assembly disposed in the housing, the housing formed of a first material having a first thermal conductivity value, and a heat transfer element associated with the solenoid operated valve assembly, the heat transfer element attached to the housing, the heat transfer element formed of a second material having a second thermal conductivity value, the second thermal conductivity value being greater than the first thermal conductivity value. | 12-10-2009 |
20090321668 | Distributed stiffness biasing spring for actuator system and fuel injector using same - A fuel injector includes a fuel injector body defining a fuel inlet and at least one fuel outlet, a valve having a first valve state and a second valve state and an actuator for the valve. The fuel injector includes a biasing spring including a cylindrical rolled sheet having a first spring end, a second spring end and defining a longitudinal center axis. The cylindrical rolled sheet is configured to change in length to bias the actuator toward the first actuator position and includes a helical seam located between the first spring end and a second spring end which has a shape adapted to reduce non-uniformity in a spring constant via distributing stiffness about the longitudinal center axis. | 12-31-2009 |
20100001094 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COOLING A FUEL INJECTOR INCLUDING A PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT - A fuel injector including a nozzle portion and an electrically actuated valve assembly configured to control a flow of fuel to the nozzle portion. The electrically actuated valve assembly may include a piezoelectric element and a biasing member. The fuel injector also may include a housing with at least a portion of the electrically actuated valve assembly disposed in the housing. The housing may define a cavity between the piezoelectric element and the housing. A thermally conductive material may be disposed at least partially within the cavity and may be configured to transfer heat from the piezoelectric element to the housing. | 01-07-2010 |
20110272499 | HYDRAULICALLY AMPLIFIED MECHANICAL COUPLING - A component includes a transmission arrangement for transmitting a force between an actuator and a control valve. The transmission arrangement includes a post that is associated with the actuator. The control valve is displaceable to an open position from a closed position when an opening force is applied to the control valve that is greater than a closing force provided to the control valve. The transmission arrangement is disposed in the component between the post and the control valve actuator and arranged to mechanically transmit by physical contact an actuator force from the post to the control valve when the post begins to travel towards the extended stroke position, and hydraulically amplify the actuator stroke between the post and the control valve when the post travels from the retracted stroke position to the extended stroke position. | 11-10-2011 |
20120067329 | Efficient Wave Form To Control Fuel System - An efficient control wave form is utilized to actuate the solenoids of a fuel system to reduce boost power/energy consumption. The solenoid is initially energized by applying a boost voltage from an electronic controller across a solenoid coil circuit. The electronic controller monitors the current level in the solenoid coil circuit, and changes to a reduced battery voltage when the current level in the solenoid coil circuit reaches a predetermined trigger current. The controller then maintains a pull-in current based upon battery voltage for a pull-in duration that initiates movement of the solenoid armature from an initial air gap position toward a final air gap position. After the pull-in duration, the current level is dropped to a hold in level for the remaining duration of the actuation event. The solenoid may be used for fuel injector control and/or pump control, such as to control fuel injection and pumping events respectively. | 03-22-2012 |
20130152555 | FLUID INJECTION LANCE WITH BALANCED FLOW DISTRIBUTION - An injector configured to introduce a reductant into an exhaust stream, the injector includes: a body including a conduit with a first diameter, a nozzle fluidly coupled to the conduit and disposed at a distal end of the body, and an extension extending from the distal end of the body, the extension extending from the distal end of the body by at least a distance equal to the first diameter. | 06-20-2013 |
20130160570 | SOLENOID FORCE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A solenoid force measurement system includes: a first plate having an opening for receiving a solenoid; a second plate separated from the first plate by an air-gap; a force detection unit located within the second plate for measuring a force exerted by the solenoid; a height control device coupled to the second plate the height control device configured to adjust the size of the air-gap. | 06-27-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090140072 | Piezoelectric actuator with multi-function spring and device using same - A piezoelectrically actuated device includes a body, a valve disposed within the body and an actuator for the valve, the actuator including a casing coupled with the body and a piezoelectric element disposed within the casing. The actuator further includes a multi-function spring applying a preloading force to the piezoelectric element. The multi-function spring includes a first segment having a piston configured to translate a motion of the piezoelectric element during operation of the actuator, a second segment having at least one flexural element and a third segment having a first set of threads. The first set of threads is engaged with a second set of threads of the actuator and maintains the second segment in a tension state which corresponds with the preloading force. | 06-04-2009 |
20090140610 | System for preloading piezoelectric actuators and method - A system for preloading piezoelectric actuators includes a fixture, a preloading mechanism configured to apply a mechanical force to a piezoelectric element supported by the fixture, and a sensor configured to sense an electrical property induced by the mechanical force in an electrical circuit having the piezoelectric element therein. A control device is coupled with the sensor and configured to generate a signal based on the sensed electrical property. A method of setting or testing preload includes applying a mechanical force to a piezoelectric element, and correlating an electrical property induced by the mechanical force with a magnitude of the mechanical force. Closed loop control allows preload to be set highly accurately. | 06-04-2009 |
20090236441 | Fuel injector having piezoelectric actuator with preload control element and method - A fuel injector includes a piezoelectric actuator subassembly having a casing and a piezoelectric element disposed within the casing. The piezoelectric element has an operating temperature range and includes a thermally contractive material having a negative thermal expansion coefficient over a second temperature range overlapping with the operating temperature range. A preload control element is coupled with the piezoelectric element and includes a thermally expansive material having a positive thermal expansion coefficient over the second temperature range. The preload control element maintains a constant preload on the piezoelectric element over a wide temperature range to inhibit temperature induced variability in operation, and can axially lengthen in opposition to axial shortening of the piezoelectric element, responsive to a temperature increase. | 09-24-2009 |
20100275423 | SYSTEM FOR PRELOADING PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATORS AND METHOD - A system for preloading piezoelectric actuators includes a fixture, a preloading mechanism configured to apply a mechanical force to a piezoelectric element supported by the fixture, and a sensor configured to sense an electrical property induced by the mechanical force in an electrical circuit having the piezoelectric element therein. A control device is coupled with the sensor and configured to generate a signal based on the sensed electrical property. A method of setting or testing preload includes applying a mechanical force to a piezoelectric element, and correlating an electrical property induced by the mechanical force with a magnitude of the mechanical force. Closed loop control allows preload to be set highly accurately. | 11-04-2010 |
20100282212 | PRESSURE CONTROL IN LOW STATIC LEAK FUEL SYSTEM - A pressure relief valve includes a valve body having a valve seat fluidly positioned between an inlet and an outlet. A valve member is movable among a first position, a second position, and a third position. The valve member is in contact with the valve seat and fluidly blocks the inlet from the outlet at the first position. At the second position of the valve member, the inlet is fluidly connected to the outlet via a small flow area. The inlet is fluidly connected to the outlet via a large flow area when the valve member is at the third position. An electrical actuator is attached to the valve body and is operably coupled to move the valve member when energized. The valve member includes an opening hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in the inlet when at the first position. A spring is operably positioned to bias the valve member toward the second position when the valve member is at the third position. | 11-11-2010 |
20120153034 | Solenoid Actuator And Fuel Injector Using Same - In one aspect, a fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a fuel inlet, a drain outlet and a nozzle outlet. A direct operated check valve is positioned in the injector body and includes a needle valve member with an opening hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a nozzle supply passage, and a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a needle control chamber. The needle valve member is movable between a first position at which the nozzle supply passage is blocked to the nozzle outlet, and a second position at which the nozzle supply passage is open to the nozzle outlet. A needle control valve is positioned in the injector body and includes a control valve member movable between a first position at which the needle control chamber is fluidly connected to the drain outlet, and a second position at which the needle control chamber is fluidly blocked to the drain outlet. A solenoid actuator is positioned in the injector body and includes a stator assembly and an armature assembly coupled to the control valve member. One of the stator assembly and the armature assembly includes a non-magnetic insert that moves into and out of contact with another of the stator assembly and the armature assembly at an energized position and a de-energized position, respectively. | 06-21-2012 |
20140203113 | Solenoid Actuator And Fuel Injector Using Same - In one aspect, a fuel injector includes an injector body that defines a fuel inlet, a drain outlet and a nozzle outlet. A direct operated check valve is positioned in the injector body and includes a needle valve member with an opening hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a nozzle supply passage, and a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a needle control chamber. The needle valve member is movable between a first position at which the nozzle supply passage is blocked to the nozzle outlet, and a second position at which the nozzle supply passage is open to the nozzle outlet. A needle control valve is positioned in the injector body and includes a control valve member movable between a first position at which the needle control chamber is fluidly connected to the drain outlet, and a second position at which the needle control chamber is fluidly blocked to the drain outlet. A solenoid actuator is positioned in the injector body and includes a stator assembly and an armature assembly coupled to the control valve member. One of the stator assembly and the armature assembly includes a non-magnetic insert that moves into and out of contact with another of the stator assembly and the armature assembly at an energized position and a de-energized position, respectively. | 07-24-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100007224 | Precision ground stator assembly for solenoid actuator and fuel injector using same - A method to set a small air gap by improving the parallelism between the armature and the stator assembly includes attaching a guide sleeve to a pole piece and grinding the surfaces on the guide sleeve and the pole piece after the attaching step to improve parallelism. By decoupling the armature assembly from a valve member in a fuel injector assembly, an improved parallel orientation between the armature assembly and the stator assembly can be achieved by grinding the outer surface of the guide sleeve perpendicular to the planar bottom surface of the stator assembly in a single chucking. When the solenoid is energized, the armature is at a final air gap with the flux piece parallel to the bottom surface of the armature and the armature not in contact with the valve member. | 01-14-2010 |
20100077971 | Engine having fuel injector with actuator cooling system and method - An internal combustion engine, such as a direct injection compression ignition diesel engine, includes an engine housing having a plurality of cylinders and a plurality of fuel injectors associated one with each of the cylinders. The fuel injectors each include a first fuel inlet and a second fuel inlet, and an actuator subassembly which is configured to actuate a control valve assembly positioned within the fuel injector. The engine further includes a fuel system having a fuel supply circuit, and a cooling system for the actuator subassembly having a cooling circuit with a segment in common with a segment of the fuel system. The cooling system is configured to pass cooling fuel across a heat exchange interface of the actuator subassembly to exchange heat therewith. The actuator subassembly may include a piezoelectric actuator and a preloading spring, which are each fluidly sealed within a casing of the actuator subassembly. | 04-01-2010 |
20100176223 | Stator assembly and fuel injector using same - A fuel injector for a common rail fuel system includes a common rail inlet port fluidly connected to a high pressure common rail, and a cooling inlet fluidly connected to an output from a lower pressure fuel transfer pump. The cooling fluid circulates internally through the fuel injector to cool a single pole solenoid via both internal and peripheral cooling passages. In order to accommodate a small spatial envelope while providing superior performance, a thin insulating layer may separate the solenoid coil winding from an inner pole piece, and small flux gap clearances may permit a flux carrying portion of the injector body to be a portion of the single pole solenoid assembly. | 07-15-2010 |
20100186719 | Self-guided armature in single pole solenoid actuator assembly and fuel injector using same - A self-guided armature assembly for a single pole solenoid assembly includes an armature stem and an armature. The solenoid assembly includes a flux ring component and an actuator body. The armature is movable inside the flux ring. An axial air gap is defined between the top armature surface of the armature and a bottom stator surface of a stator assembly. A sliding air gap is defined between an inner diameter surface of the flux ring and an outer diameter surface of the armature. The self-guided armature is guided along the flux ring via a guiding interaction between the armature and the flux ring. The sliding air gap is smaller than the axial air gap. A stem clearance gap is defined between the armature stem and the actuator body. The sliding air gap is also smaller than the stem clearance gap. | 07-29-2010 |
20110147495 | Fuel Injection Systems and Armature Housings - A housing for an armature of a fuel injector, a fuel injector and a fuel injection system are disclosed. The armature housing includes a first cylindrical portion for slidably accommodating the armature pin. The first cylindrical portion has a minimum inner diameter that is closely matched to the maximum outer diameter of the armature pin. A second cylindrical portion of the armature housing accommodates the armature. The second cylindrical portion has an inner minimum diameter that is closely matched to the maximum outer diameter of the armature. The disclosed armature housing provides more reliable and more consistent movement of the armature. | 06-23-2011 |
20110168813 | SOLENOID ACTUATED DEVICE AND METHODS - A solenoid actuated device such as a fuel injector includes an actuator body having a plurality of body pieces, and a single-pole solenoid actuator assembly positioned at least partially within the actuator body. The single-pole solenoid actuator assembly includes a one-piece compound armature housing having a load carrying component clamped between the first body piece and the second body piece, and a flux carrying component. The load carrying component includes a high structural strength and a low flux permeability, and the flux carrying component includes a low structural strength and a high flux permeability. A method of making a solenoid actuated device includes placing an armature at a sliding radial air gap with a flux carrying component of a one-piece compound armature housing, and establishing a structural load path by placing a load carrying component of the compound armature housing between a first actuator body piece and a second actuator body piece. A method of operating a single-pole solenoid actuator device includes supporting a flux carrying component of a one-piece compound armature housing with a load carrying component of the compound armature housing, channeling magnetic flux across a sliding air gap between a flux carrying component and the armature, and channeling a clamping load between a first actuator body piece and a second actuator body piece through the load carrying component of the compound armature housing. | 07-14-2011 |
20120061491 | STATOR ASSEMBLY AND FUEL INJECTOR USING SAME - A fuel injector for a common rail fuel system includes a common rail inlet port fluidly connected to a high pressure common rail, and a cooling inlet fluidly connected to an output from a lower pressure fuel transfer pump. The cooling fluid circulates internally through the fuel injector to cool a single pole solenoid via both internal and peripheral cooling passages. In order to accommodate a small spatial envelope while providing superior performance, a thin insulating layer may separate the solenoid coil winding from an inner pole piece, and small flux gap clearances may permit a flux carrying portion of the injector body to be a portion of the single pole solenoid assembly. | 03-15-2012 |
20130113583 | PROTECTED POWDER METAL STATOR CORE AND SOLENOID ACTUATOR USING SAME - A solenoid actuator includes a stator assembly with a stator core of formed powder metal received in a stator housing. A ferromagnetic protective sleeve is in contact with and covers a majority of an inner end face and a cylindrical wall of the stator core, while a flux ring is in contact with and covers an outer end face of the stator core. An armature assembly includes an armature attached to a stem that is movable in an air gap relative to the ferromagnetic protective sleeve. A spring is operably positioned in the ferromagnetic protective sleeve but electrically isolated from the stator housing. The stator core is encapsulated to protect against erosion and fragmentation. A magnetic flux line around a solenoid coil passes through the stator core, the ferromagnetic protective sleeve, the armature, the flux ring and back to the stator core. | 05-09-2013 |
20130248612 | Solenoid Actuator And Fuel Injector Using Same - Starting and ending an injection event are accomplished by respectively energizing and de-energizing a solenoid actuator to move an armature assembly with respect to a stator. The stator is protected from impact damage by maintaining the armature assembly out of contact with the stator. The inducement of residual magnetism in the armature assembly is reduced by stopping the armature assembly at a large radius outside of the magnetic flux circuit through the stator and soft magnetic armature of the armature assembly, when the solenoid actuator is energized. | 09-26-2013 |
20140298781 | MIXER FOR FLUID INJECTION SYSTEM - A mixer is disclosed for use in a fluid injection system. The mixer may have an impingement floor oriented generally perpendicular to an intended fluid injection direction and generally parallel with a flow direction. The mixer may also have a first side wall connected along a lengthwise edge of the impingement floor and generally parallel with the flow direction, and a second side wall connected along an opposing lengthwise edge of the impingement floor and generally parallel with the flow direction. The mixer may further have at least one shelf extending between the first and second side walls and generally parallel with the flow direction. The at least one shelf may have a plurality of vanes protruding toward and away from the impingement floor that promotes mixing of an injected fluid. | 10-09-2014 |