US3728989A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control system for the injection of fuel into internal combustion engines
Assignee: Societe des Procedes Modernes dInjection SOPROMI
•
Filing: 1971-04-21
•
Granted: 1973-04-24
•
Expires: 1991-04-21
Abstract
Abstract In order to obtain constancy of throughput for the different injectors of an internal combustion engine, the valve is inserted between a supply of fuel and the mechanical injectors is a three way valve connected respectively with the output of the supply, with the injectors possibly through a sequential distributor and with a return to the supply. An electromagnet controlled by electric signals attracts a piston normally connecting the supply output with the return to the supply so as to connect during the desired period the supply output with the injector systems. The three ways of furthermore transiently interconnected at the beginning and at the end of each energization, so as to prevent excess pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 L Monpetit
- 👤 J Schneider
- 👤 J Jourde
- 👤 J Ufnaleski
- 👤 P Advenier
- 👤 G Sallot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:27
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M69/00; F02M69/14; F02M69/145; F02M51/00; F02M51/005; F02M51/02; F02B; F02B2275/00; F02B2275/14; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
379 words
In a fuel injection system for internal combustion engines of the type that includes a container of fuel, means for supplying fuel under pressure from the container, a fuel injector associated with each combustion space of the engine, means for producing intermittent electric signals synchronized with engine rotation and of a duration depending on the operative conditions of the engine, and a three-way metering valve having an inlet connected to the means for supplying fuel under pressure, a first outlet connected to the fuel injectors, a second outlet connected to a low pressure return line to the fuel container, and means for actuating the valve intermittently in response to the electric signals to supply variable quantities of fuel to the injectors as a function of the duration of each signal, the improvement wherein the metering valve comprises: a valve body having an internal chamber; a first annular valve seat in the chamber; a second annular valve seat in the chamber, spaced from and facing the first seat; a first passageway opening into the chamber adjacent the outer circumference of the first seat and communicating with the valve inlet; a second passageway opening into the chamber adjacent the inner circumference of the first seat and communicating with the first outlet of the valve; a third passageway opening into the chamber adjacent the outer circumference of the second seat and communicating with the second outlet of the valve; and a valve member mounted in fluid-tight relation to the chamber wall between the openings of the first and third passageways for movement by the actuating means from a first position to a second position in response to the elecTric signals, the valve member having first and second oppositely-facing circular contact surfaces for sealing engagement respectively with the first valve seat when in the first position and with the second valve seat when in the second position, and the valve member further having a passageway joining the inner sides of the first and second circular contact surfaces, whereby the valve member when in the first position permits communication only between the second and third passageway, when in the second position permits communication only between the first and second passageways, and when intermediate the first and second positions permits communication between all three passageways.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
379 words
In a fuel injection system for internal combustion engines of the type that includes a container of fuel, means for supplying fuel under pressure from the container, a fuel injector associated with each combustion space of the engine, means for producing intermittent electric signals synchronized with engine rotation and of a duration depending on the operative conditions of the engine, and a three-way metering valve having an inlet connected to the means for supplying fuel under pressure, a first outlet connected to the fuel injectors, a second outlet connected to a low pressure return line to the fuel container, and means for actuating the valve intermittently in response to the electric signals to supply variable quantities of fuel to the injectors as a function of the duration of each signal, the improvement wherein the metering valve comprises: a valve body having an internal chamber; a first annular valve seat in the chamber; a second annular valve seat in the chamber, spaced from and facing the first seat; a first passageway opening into the chamber adjacent the outer circumference of the first seat and communicating with the valve inlet; a second passageway opening into the chamber adjacent the inner circumference of the first seat and communicating with the first outlet of the valve; a third passageway opening into the chamber adjacent the outer circumference of the second seat and communicating with the second outlet of the valve; and a valve member mounted in fluid-tight relation to the chamber wall between the openings of the first and third passageways for movement by the actuating means from a first position to a second position in response to the elecTric signals, the valve member having first and second oppositely-facing circular contact surfaces for sealing engagement respectively with the first valve seat when in the first position and with the second valve seat when in the second position, and the valve member further having a passageway joining the inner sides of the first and second circular contact surfaces, whereby the valve member when in the first position permits communication only between the second and third passageway, when in the second position permits communication only between the first and second passageways, and when intermediate the first and second positions permits communication between all three passageways.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The fuel injection system of claim 1 wherein the valve actuating means comprises: an electromagnetic actuator connected to the valve member for moving the member from the first to the second position at the commencement of each of the electric signals and a biasing means for returning the valve member to the first position at the termination of each of the electric signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The fuel injection system of claim 2 wherein the valve chamber comprises a cylinder, the first and second valve seats comprise frusto-conical surfaces at opposite ends of the chamber, and the valve member comprises a tubular piston mounted for fluid-tight sliding engagement with the wall of the cylindrical chamber between the openings of the first and third passageways.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The fuel injection system of claim 3 wherein the first frusto-conical valve seat is concave; the first circular contact surface of the valve member comprises an outward-facing edge formed by the intersection of the exterior surface of the tubular valve member with the end surface of the valve that faces the first seat; and the first and second contact surfaces have approximately equal diameters, whereby the hydrostatic forces on the valve member are substantially balanced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
120 words
The fuel injection system of claim 4 wherein the second frusto-conical valve seat is convex; the second circular contact surface of the valve member comprises an inward facing edge formed by the intersection of the interior surface of the tubular member with the end surface of the valve member that faces the second valve seat; and the electromagnetic actuator comprises an electromagnet having a toroidal, radially-slotted ferromagnetic core of U-shaped cross section fixedly mounted within the valve body coaxially with the valve member, an energizing winding inside the core, and a ferromagnetic annular armature attached to the outside of the valve member for movement axially toward the core in response to energization of the magnet winding by the electric signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
The fuel injection system of claim 5 wherein the biasing means comprises: a first annular shoulder extending inward from the inner surface of the tubular valve member and facing the second valve seat; a threaded stud mounted coaxially with respect to the second valve seat and having a head with a second annular shoulder facing the first annular shoulder; and a compression spring positioned within the tubular valve member and having one end bearing against the first shoulder and an opposite end bearing against the second shoulder to urge the valve member toward the first position, the threaded stud permitting adjustment of the axial spacing between the first and second shoulders and thereby the force exerted by the biasing means tending to urge the valve member toward the first position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
268 words
In a fuel injection system for internal combustion engines of the type that includes a container of fuel, means for supplying fuel under pressure from the container, a fuel injector associated with each combustion space of the engine, means for producing intermittent electric signals synchronized with engine rotation and of a duration depending on the operative conditions of the engine, and a three-way metering valve having an inlet connected to the means for supplying fuel under pressurE, a first outlet connected to the fuel injectors, a second outlet connected to a low pressure return line to the fuel container, and means for actuating the valve intermittently in response to the electric signals to supply variable quantities of fuel to the injectors as a function of the duration of each signal, the improvement wherein the metering valve comprises: a valve body having an internal chamber; a first passageway opening into the chamber and communicating with the valve inlet; a second passageway opening into the chamber and communicating with the first outlet of the valve; a third passageway opening into the chamber and communicating with the second outlet of the valve; and a valve member mounted in the chamber for movement by the actuating means in response to the electric signals from a first position in which it prevents communication between the openings of the first and second passageways to a second position in which it prevents communication between the opening to the third passageway and the openings to the first and second passageways, the valve member when intermediate the first and second positions permitting communication between all three openings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
268 words
In a fuel injection system for internal combustion engines of the type that includes a container of fuel, means for supplying fuel under pressure from the container, a fuel injector associated with each combustion space of the engine, means for producing intermittent electric signals synchronized with engine rotation and of a duration depending on the operative conditions of the engine, and a three-way metering valve having an inlet connected to the means for supplying fuel under pressurE, a first outlet connected to the fuel injectors, a second outlet connected to a low pressure return line to the fuel container, and means for actuating the valve intermittently in response to the electric signals to supply variable quantities of fuel to the injectors as a function of the duration of each signal, the improvement wherein the metering valve comprises: a valve body having an internal chamber; a first passageway opening into the chamber and communicating with the valve inlet; a second passageway opening into the chamber and communicating with the first outlet of the valve; a third passageway opening into the chamber and communicating with the second outlet of the valve; and a valve member mounted in the chamber for movement by the actuating means in response to the electric signals from a first position in which it prevents communication between the openings of the first and second passageways to a second position in which it prevents communication between the opening to the third passageway and the openings to the first and second passageways, the valve member when intermediate the first and second positions permitting communication between all three openings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
290 words
The fuel injection system of claim 7 further comprising: a plurality of recesses in a face of the valve body adjacent the first outlet of the valve, the number of recesses corresponding to the number of injectors in the system; a cover plate attached in fluidtight relation to the face of the valve body, the cover plate having a portion spaced from the face of the valve body to provide an auxiliary chamber enclosing the first outlet and the plurality of recesses, the cover plate having further: a plurality of auxiliary passageways, each leading from an opening opposite a corresponding recess to a corresponding fuel line connected with one of the injectors and a plurality of auxiliary seating surfaces, each surface surrounding the opening corresponding to one of the auxiliary passageways; a plurality of stationary auxiliary electromagnets, one electromagnet being mounted in each recess; a plurality of magnetic auxiliary armatures, one armature being positioned between each electromagnet and the corresponding seating surface, each auxiliary armature having a contact surface for sealing engagement with the corresponding seating surface when the armature is in a first position; biasing means in each recess for urging each auxiliary armature toward the first position for preventing flow between the first outlet of the valve and the corresponding injector; and a distributor of auxiliary electric signals synchronized with the metering valve electric signals for energizing each auxiliary electromagnet in sequence to actuate the corresponding auxiliary armature to move to a second position against the force of the biasing means, in which position the contact surface is disengaged from the auxiliary seating surface for permitting flow from the means for supplying fuel under pressure to each injector in turn for the duration of the valve energizing signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fuel injection system of claim 8 wherein each auxiliary armature comprises: a flat ferromagnetic disc having an annular contact surface on one side.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
The fuel injection system of claim 7 further comprising: a fuel accumulating recess in a surface of the valve body, the recess communicating permanently with the first passageway; a flexible diaphragm enclosing the fuel accumulating recess; a cover plate overlying the diaphragm and fastened to the valve body for urging the edges of the diaphragm into sealing engagement with the surface of the valve body surrounding the fuel accumulating recess; and biasing means positioned between the cover plate and the diaphragm for urging the diaphragm away from the cover plate inward toward the fuel accumulating recess.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-23 | 1976-10-23 | 1977-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-23 | 1980-10-23 | 1981-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-23 | 1984-10-23 | 1985-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |