Fuel injection systems

Claim 1

A fuel-injection apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, comprising a fuel pump, a cylinder, stops in the cylinder, a shuttle piston mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder between the stops and defining two variable-volume working spaces, adjusting means for adjustably setting the spacing between the stops, a face valve having a fixed flat face and a rotary valve member adapted to be driven at a speed proportional to engine speed and having a rotary flat face engaging said fixed flat face, the two faces including ports for performing a commutating function comprising the successive alternate connection of one working space to the fuel pump delivery and the other working space to the engine fuel supply connection and of the one working space to the engine fuel supply connection and the other working space to the fuel pump delivery to urge the piston alternately to engage each stop, and a distributor function in which the engine fuel supply connection is connected to the injectors for the cylinders of the engine in a regularly recurring sequence, whereby each injector receives a discrete quantity of fuel when connected to the fuel supply connection depending on the setting of the adjusting means, said pump delivering liquid fuel at the discharge pressure of said pump against said rotary valve member to urge the said flat surfaces into sealing contact with one another, said adjusting means comprising a pair of expansible chambers, a rod disposed between said chambers perpendicular to the direction of movement of said piston, said chambers having movable walls that act on said rod to urge said rod axially, said rod having cam means thereon for adjusting the position of one of said stops relative to said piston, means interconnecting one of said expansible chambers to the engine intake manifold and the other of said expansible chambers to the engine exhaust manifold, said movable walls acting on said rod in such a direction and said cam means being so disposed that an increase in engine intake manifold pressure moves said one stop toward said piston and an increase in engine exhaust manifold pressure moves said one stop away from said piston.