EP1041272A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel injector
Assignee: Delphi Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 2000-03-31
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2020-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A fuel injector comprising a valve needle (10) slidable within a first bore (11), a surface associated with the valve needle (10) being exposed to the fuel pressure within a first control chamber (20) and movement of the valve needle (10) away from the valve needle seating being limited by a moveable stop member (19). The stop member (19) has a surface exposed to fuel pressure within a second control chamber (23). The fuel injector also includes a control valve arrangement (29, 35) for controlling the fuel pressure within the first and second control chambers (20, 23) to control movement of the valve needle (10) and the stop member (19). The invention also relates to a fuel injector in which the control valve arrangement is arranged to permit the rate of valve needle movement away from the valve needle seating to be varied, in use.
Inventors
- 👤 Malcolm David Dick Lambert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:08
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M63/00; F02M63/0012; F02M63/0059; F02M63/0061; F02M45/00; F02M45/02; F02M45/04; F02M45/08; F02M45/083; F02M45/086; F02M45/12; F02M47/00; F02M47/02; F02M47/027; F02M61/00; F02M61/04; F02M61/08; F02M61/16; F02M61/161; F02M63/0064; F02M2200/00; F02M2200/21; F02M63/0014; F02M63/0015; F02M63/0026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A fuel injector comprising a valve needle (10) slidable within a first bore
and engageable with a valve needle seating, a surface associated with the valve
needle (10) being exposed to the fuel pressure within a first control chamber
(20), movement of the valve needle (10) away from the valve needle seating
being limited by a moveable stop member (19), the stop member (19) having a
surface exposed to fuel pressure within a second control chamber (23), and a
control valve arrangement for controlling the fuel pressure within the first and
second control chambers (20, 23) to control movement of the valve needle and
the stop member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the control valve
arrangement includes a valve member (29) having first and second seating
surfaces (32, 37; 108, 110).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 2, wherein at least one of the
seating surfaces (37, 108) is defined by a seating member (38) located within a
further chamber (41).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the further chamber
(41) is defined, at least in part, by a further bore (28) within which the valve
member (29) is slidable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 4, wherein at least one of the
seating surfaces (32, 110) is defined by a region of the further bore (28).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The fuel injector as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the control
valve arrangement is arranged such that, in use, fuel pressure within the first
and second control chambers (20, 23) is controlled by varying the rate of
movement of the valve member (29) away from the first seating surface (108).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the control valve
arrangement is arranged such that, in use, movement of the valve member (29)
at a relatively high rate causes movement of the valve needle (10) away from
the valve needle seating into a first fuel injecting position to permit fuel
delivery through a first outlet opening (8).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the control valve
arrangement is arranged such that movement of the valve member (29) at a
relatively low rate causes movement of the valve needle (10) away from the
valve needle seating into a second fuel injecting position to permit fuel delivery
through the first outlet opening (8) and a second outlet opening (9).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the control valve
arrangement is arranged such that movement of the valve member (29) back
and forth between the first and second seating surfaces causes movement of the
valve needle (10) into the second fuel injecting position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the control
valve arrangement is arranged such that movement of the valve member (29)
into an intermediate position away from both the first and second seating
surfaces (108, 110) permits movement of the valve needle (10) into the second
fuel injecting position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The fuel injector as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the
control valve arrangement is arranged to permit the rate of valve needle
movement away from the valve needle seating to be varied, in use.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fuel injector as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the valve
needle (10) is of the inwardly opening type.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the valve needle takes
the form of an outer valve needle (10) which is engageable with a first seating
to control fuel delivery through a first outlet opening (8), the fuel injector
including an inner valve needle (14) which is slidable within an additional bore
provided in the outer valve needle and is engageable with a further seating to
control fuel delivery through a second outlet opening (9).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the inner valve needle
(14) and the outer valve needle (10) are arranged such that movement of the
outer valve needle (10) beyond a predetermined amount transmits movement to
the inner valve needle (14) to move the inner valve needle away from the
further seating.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fuel injector as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the valve
needle (10) is of the outwardly opening type.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the valve needle (10)
is provided with first and second axially spaced outlet passages (86, 88) and
whereby, in use, movement of the valve needle (10) outwardly within the first
bore by a first amount causes fuel to be delivered through only the first outlet
passage (86) and movement of the valve needle (10) outwardly within the first
bore by a further amount causes fuel to be delivered through both the first and
second outlet passages (84, 86).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 16, further comprising a second
movable stop member (138), a surface of which is exposed to fuel pressure
within the first control chamber (20).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the second stop
member (138) is engageable with a seating (142) to limit movement of the stop
member (19).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 18, wherein the stop member (19)
is provided with a restricted passage (148) which serves to limit the rate of flow
of fuel into the second control chamber (23).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The fuel injector as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 19, wherein
movement of the valve member (29) is controlled, in use, by means of an
electromagnetic actuator arrangement.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The fuel injector as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 19, wherein
movement of the valve member (29) is controlled, in use, by means of a
piezoelectric actuator arrangement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the valve arrangement
includes first and second valve members (29, 35), the second valve member
(35) being slidable upon a part of the first valve member (29) and engageable
with a second seating surface (37) to control communication between the
second control chamber (23) and the low pressure reservoir.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the first valve member
(29) carries a sleeve member (42) which is engageable with a surface of the
second valve member (35) upon movement of the first valve member (29)
beyond a predetermined amount, so as to transmit a force to the second valve
member (35) to cause movement thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 22 or Claim 23, wherein the
second seating surface (37) is defined by a seating member (38) arranged
within a chamber defined, at least in part, by the further bore (28).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The fuel injector as claimed in any of Claims 22 to 24, wherein the valve
arrangement includes a common actuator arranged to control the fuel pressures
within the first and second control chambers (20, 23).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
The fuel injector as claimed in any of Claims 22 to 24, wherein the valve
arrangement includes first and second separate actuators (43 a , 43 b ) arranged to
control fuel pressure within the first and second control chambers (20,23)
respectively.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
60 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 26, wherein the valve arrangement
includes a first valve member (29 a ), movement of which is controlled, in use,
by means of the first actuator (43 a ), and a second valve member (29 b ),
movement of which is controlled, in use, by means of the second actuator
(43 b ).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fuel injector as claimed in any of Claims 25 to 27, wherein the or
each actuator (43; 43 a , 43 b ) is an electromagnetic actuator.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fuel injector as claimed in any of Claims 25 to 27, wherein the or
each actuator is a piezoelectric actuator.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 29, further comprising a damping
piston arrangement associated with the or each actuator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
48 words
The fuel injector as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 30, wherein the bore
(11) defines, in part, a delivery chamber (13) for fuel, the injector further
comprising a restriction (16) to restrict the rate at which fuel is supplied to the
delivery chamber (13), in use.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuel injector as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 31, further comprising
a piston member (46) having a surface exposed to fuel pressure within the first
control chamber (20).
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 32, wherein the piston member
(46) has a diameter greater than the diameter of the valve needle (10).
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
47 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 33, further comprising an
intermediate chamber (48) defined, at least in part, by the piston member (46)
and the valve needle (10), the volume of the chamber (48) varying, in use,
depending upon the position of the valve needle (10).
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 34, further comprising means (49)
for venting the intermediate chamber (48) to low pressure.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
96 words
A fuel injector comprising a valve needle (10) slidable within a first bore
(11) and engageable with a valve needle seating to control fuel delivery through
an outlet opening, a surface associated with the valve needle (10) being
exposed to the fuel pressure within a control chamber (20), and a control valve
arrangement for controlling the fuel pressure within the control chamber (20) to
control movement of the valve needle (10), the control valve arrangement being
arranged to permit the rate of valve needle movement away from the valve
needle seating to be varied, in use.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
36 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 36, wherein the control chamber
(20) has, associated therewith, first and second passage means (31, 31 a , 132)
for permitting fuel to escape from the control chamber (20).
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
81 words
The fuel injector as claimed in Claim 37 wherein the control valve
arrangement is arranged to operate in either a first mode of operation, in which
the rate of valve needle movement away from the valve needle seating is
governed by the dimensions of the first passage means (31, 31a), or a second
mode of operation, in which the rate of valve needle movement away from the
valve needle seating is governed by the dimensions of the second passage
means (132).
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fuel injector as claimed in any of Claims 36 to 38 wherein the valve
needle (10) is of the inwardly opening type.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fuel injector as claimed in any of Claims 36 to 38 wherein the valve
needle (10) is of the outwardly opening type.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
67 words
A fuel injector arrangement comprising a plurality of fuel injectors (50)
as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, a first rail (51) for delivering pressurised
fuel to the injectors (50), a second rail (52) communicating with the second
control chamber of each of the injectors (50) and a valve arrangement (53) for
controlling communication between the second rail (52) and a low pressure fuel
reservoir.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fuel injector arrangement as claimed in Claim 41, further
comprising a restricted flow passage (54) between the first and second rails
(51, 52).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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