Fuel injection control system

Claim 2

A hydraulic fuel valve control system including a driven hydraulic pump connected in a closed hydraulic circuit to a hydraulically operable valve assembly extending into a combustion chamber to Intermittently admit a fuel to the combustion chamber, said valve assembly including a housing with a valve disposed therein in communication with a source of fuel and said combustion chamber, means for biasing said valve in closed position, an axially movable plunger positioned to open said valve when moved downwardly, said plunger disposed within a sleeve which includes spillport relief vents, hydraulic fluid supply and return lines connecting said pump with a fluid chamber above said plunger and with said relief vents, respectively, an axially translatable cap extending above and secured to said sleeve for axial movement therewith, and an external adjustment sleeve peripherally engaging said cap and threadably connected to said housing, whereby, when said plunger is moved downwardly by hydraulic pressure from said pump, said valve will open and remain open until said spillports are uncovered by said plunger to release pressure thereupon, and whereby incremental rotation of said adjustment sleeve will adjust the axial position of said sleeve and its spillports to vary the duration of said valve is held open by said plunger.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cap includes a lower flange and said adjustment sleeve includes an upper hold-down collar engaging said lower flange, with at least one compression spring operably connected to said housing and to said cap biasing said cap from said housing.

Claim 4

In an internal combustion engine, a fuel injection control system comprising a source of hydraulic fluid including a plunger pump actuated by a cam operably connected to such engine and effective to supply fluid pressure pulses in timed relation to engine speed; a valve assembly operably connected to said plunger pump by a fluid supply and a fluid return line, said valve assembly extending into a combustion cylinder of the engine, said valve assembly comprising a housing having a chamber in communication with a source of fuel, a valve in said chamber extending into the cylinder, an axially extending reciprocable valve plunger within said housing extending upward out of said housing and positioned to axially reciprocate with said valve, means for biasing said valve and valve plunger upward toward a closed position, a barrel circumjacent a portion of said plunger defining a cylinder about said plunger, said barrel including a relief vent in communication with said plunger and said cylinder, means for establishing fluid communication between said fluid supply line and said plunger and cylinder, means for returning hydraulic fluid from said relief vent to said fluid return line, and relief vent adjustment means comprising a slidable connection between barrel barrle and the upper end of said housing, an adjustment sleeve threadably connected to the upper end of said housing and axially movable toward or away from said housing in response to rotation about said housing and means for operably connecting said barrel to said sleeve for axial movement therewith.

Claim 5

In an internal combustion engine, a fuel injection control system comprising a source of hydraulic fluid including a plunger pump actuated by a cam operably connected to such engine and effective to supply fluid pressure pulses in timed relation to engine speed; a valve assembly operably connected to said plunger pump by a fluid supply and a fluid return line, said valve assembly extending into a combustion cylinder of the engine, said valve assembly comprising a housing having a chamber in communication with a source of fuel, a valve in said chamber extending into the cylinder, an axially extending reciprocable valve plunger within said housing extending upward out of said housing and positioned to axially reciprocate with said valve, means for biasing said valve and valve plunger upward toward a closed position, a barrel circumjacent a portion of said plunger defining a cylinder about said plunger, said barrel including a relief vent in communication with said plunger and said cylinder, means for establishing fluid communication between said fluid supply line and said plunger and cylinder, means for returning hydraulic fluid from said relief vent to said fluid return line, and relief vent adjustment means comprising a slidable connection between barrel barrle and the upper end of said housing, an adjustment sleeve threadably connected to the upper end of said housing and axially movable toward or away from said housing in response to rotation about said housing and means for operably connecting said barrel to said sleeve for axial movement therewith.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said barrel connecting means comprises a cap connected to said barrel, said cap having an outwardly extending lower circular flange, said adjustment sleeve having an inwardly extending collar engaging said flange from above, a compression spring mounted between said housing and said cap biasing said housing and said cap apart, and means for preventing rotation of said cap with respect to said housing.

Claim 7

A valve assembly, comprising: a housing including a valve seat and a fuel chamber for connection to a fuel source; a valve head adjacent said valve seat adapted to reciprocate between open and closed positions, said valve head being connected to a valve stem extending upward in said housing; a compression spring connected to said valve stem biasing said valve stem and valve head toward an upward, closed position; a valve plunger abutting said valve stem and extending further axially upward; a cylinder circumjacent the upper end of said valve plungeR including a plurality of relief spillports, said cylinder being axially translatable with respect to said housing, said valve plunger being axially reciprocal within said cylinder; means for connecting a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid in communication with the upper end of said valve plunger; means for connecting said relief spillports to a fluid return line; and an adjustment sleeve threadably connected to the upper end of said housing and axially movable toward or away from said housing in response to rotation about said housing, and means for operably connecting said cylinder to said sleeve for axial movement therewith, whereby, the axial position of said relief spillports may be externally adjusted by rotation of said adjustment sleeve.

Claim 8

A valve assembly, comprising: a housing including a valve seat and a fuel chamber for connection to a fuel source; a valve head adjacent said valve seat adapted to reciprocate between open and closed positions, said valve head being connected to a valve stem extending upward in said housing; a compression spring connected to said valve stem biasing said valve stem and valve head toward an upward, closed position; a valve plunger abutting said valve stem and extending further axially upward; a cylinder circumjacent the upper end of said valve plungeR including a plurality of relief spillports, said cylinder being axially translatable with respect to said housing, said valve plunger being axially reciprocal within said cylinder; means for connecting a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid in communication with the upper end of said valve plunger; means for connecting said relief spillports to a fluid return line; and an adjustment sleeve threadably connected to the upper end of said housing and axially movable toward or away from said housing in response to rotation about said housing, and means for operably connecting said cylinder to said sleeve for axial movement therewith, whereby, the axial position of said relief spillports may be externally adjusted by rotation of said adjustment sleeve.

Claim 9

A valve assembly, comprising: a housing including a valve seat and a fuel chamber for connection to a fuel source; a valve head adjacent said valve seat adapted to reciprocate between open and closed positions, said valve head being connected to a valve stem extending axially upward in said housing; a compression spring connected to said valve stem biasing said valve stem and valve head toward an upward, closed position; a valve plunger abutting said valve stem and extending further axially upward; a cylinder circumjacent the upper end of said valve plunger including a plurality of relief spillports, said cylinder being axially movable with respect to said housing and defining a length of axial travel from a lower maximum valve stroke position to an upper minimum valve stroke position, said valve plunger being axially reciprocable within said cylinder; means for connecting a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid in communication with the upper end of said valve plunger; means for connecting said relief spillports to a fluid return line; and means for externally adjusting the position of said cylinder and spillports within said length of axial travel.

Claim 10

A valve assembly, comprising: a housing including a valve seat and a fuel chamber for connection to a fuel source; a valve head adjacent said valve seat adapted to reciprocate between open and closed positions, said valve head being connected to a valve stem extending axially upward in said housing; a compression spring connected to said valve stem biasing said valve stem and valve head toward an upward, closed position; a valve plunger abutting said valve stem and extending further axially upward; a cylinder circumjacent the upper end of said valve plunger including a plurality of relief spillports, said cylinder being axially movable with respect to said housing and defining a length of axial travel from a lower maximum valve stroke position to an upper minimum valve stroke position, said valve plunger being axially reciprocable within said cylinder; means for connecting a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid in communication with the upper end of said valve plunger; means for connecting said relief spillports to a fluid return line; and means for externally adjusting the position of said cylinder and spillports within said length of axial travel.

Claim 11

A valve assembly according to claim 6 wherein said relief spillports are rectangular.

Claim 12

In an internal combustion engine, a fuel injection control system comprising a source of hydraulic fluid including a plunger pump actuated by a cam operably connected to such engine and effective to supply fluid pressure pulses in timed relation to engine speed; a valve assembly operably connected to said plunger pump by a fluid supply and a fluid return line, said valve assembly extending into a combustion cylinder of the engine, said valve assembly comprising a housing having a chamber in communication with a source of fuel, a valve in said chamber extending into the cylinder, an axially extending reciprocable valve plunger within said housing extending upward out of said housing and positioned to axially reciprocate with said valve, means for biasing said valve and valve plunger upward toward a closed position, a barrel circumjacent a portion of said plunger defining a cylinder about said plunger, said barrel including a relief vent in communication with said plunger and said cylinder, said barrel and relief vent being axially movable with respect to said housing and defining a length of axial travel from the lower maximum valve stroke position to an upper minimum valve stroke position, means for establishing fluid communication between said fluid supply line and said plunger and cylinder, means for returning hydraulic fluid from said relief vent to said fluid return line, and external means for adjusting the axial position of said barrel and relief vent, whereby the stroke of said plunger is externally adjustable.

Claim 13

In an internal combustion engine, a fuel injection control system comprising a source of hydraulic fluid including a plunger pump actuated by a cam operably connected to such engine and effective to supply fluid pressure pulses in timed relation to engine speed; a valve assembly operably connected to said plunger pump by a fluid supply and a fluid return line, said valve assembly extending into a combustion cylinder of the engine, said valve assembly comprising a housing having a chamber in communication with a source of fuel, a valve in said chamber extending into the cylinder, an axially extending reciprocable valve plunger within said housing extending upward out of said housing and positioned to axially reciprocate with said valve, means for biasing said valve and valve plunger upward toward a closed position, a barrel circumjacent a portion of said plunger defining a cylinder about said plunger, said barrel including a relief vent in communication with said plunger and said cylinder, said barrel and relief vent being axially movable with respect to said housing and defining a length of axial travel from the lower maximum valve stroke position to an upper minimum valve stroke position, means for establishing fluid communication between said fluid supply line and said plunger and cylinder, means for returning hydraulic fluid from said relief vent to said fluid return line, and external means for adjusting the axial position of said barrel and relief vent, whereby the stroke of said plunger is externally adjustable.

Claim 14

A hydraulic fuel valve control system including a driven hydraulic pump connected in a closed hydraulic circuit to a hydraulically operable valve assembly extending into a combustion chamber to intermittently admit a fuel to the combustion chamber, said valve assembly including a housing with a valve disposed therein in communication with a source of fuel and said combustion chamber, means for biasing saiD valve in closed position, an axially movable plunger positioned to open said valve when moved downwardly, said plunger disposed within a sleeve which includes axially aligned rectangular spillport relief vents, hydraulic fluid supply and return lines connecting said pump with a fluid chamber above said plunger and with said relief vents, respectively, and means for axially adjusting the position of said sleeve and its spillports with respect to said housing whereby, when said plunger is moved dowardly by hydraulic pressure from said pump, said valve will open and remain open until said spillports are uncovered by said plunger to release pressure thereupon, and whereby adjustment of the axial position of said spillports will vary the duration that said valve is held open by said plunger.

Claim 15

A hydraulic fuel valve control system including a driven hydraulic pump connected in a closed hydraulic circuit to a hydraulically operable valve assembly extending into a combustion chamber to intermittently admit a fuel to the combustion chamber, said valve assembly including a housing with a valve disposed therein in communication with a source of fuel and said combustion chamber, means for biasing saiD valve in closed position, an axially movable plunger positioned to open said valve when moved downwardly, said plunger disposed within a sleeve which includes axially aligned rectangular spillport relief vents, hydraulic fluid supply and return lines connecting said pump with a fluid chamber above said plunger and with said relief vents, respectively, and means for axially adjusting the position of said sleeve and its spillports with respect to said housing whereby, when said plunger is moved dowardly by hydraulic pressure from said pump, said valve will open and remain open until said spillports are uncovered by said plunger to release pressure thereupon, and whereby adjustment of the axial position of said spillports will vary the duration that said valve is held open by said plunger.

Claim 16

A hydraulic fuel valve control system for multiple cylinder internal combustion engines comprising, at least one driven hydraulic pump operably connected to a hydraulic supply line to provide an intermittent series of pressure pulses in timed relation to engine speed, a hydraulically operated valve assembly associated with each of said cylinders with each of said valves connected to a hydraulic supply line such that such pressure pulses are applied thereto with desired timing to open said valve; each of said valves comprising a valve head and seat interconnected between a source of fuel and the combustion chamber of that cylinder, means for biasing said valve head in closed position, a valve plunger extending axially upwardly away from said valve and having its upper end terminating in a hydraulic pressure chamber connected to said supply line, a sleeve including spillports disposed circumjacent said plunger with said spillports positioned adjacent said pressure chamber whereby movement of said upper end of said plunger below said spillports is effective to vent said chamber, said sleeve being axially movable with respect to said valve plunger and defining a length of axial travel from a lower maximum valve stroke position to an upper minimum valve stroke position, and external means for varying the axial position of said sleeve within said length of axial travel whereby the duration and stroke of the valve opening and the volume of fuel in each cylinder can be adjusted externally of the respective valve assembly.

Claim 17

A hydraulic fuel valve control system for multiple cylinder internal combustion engines comprising, at least one driven hydraulic pump operably connected to a hydraulic supply line to provide an intermittent series of pressure pulses in timed relation to engine speed, a hydraulically operated valve assembly associated with each of said cylinders with each of said valves connected to a hydraulic supply line such that such pressure pulses are applied thereto with desired timing to open said valve; each of said valves comprising a valve head and seat interconnected between a source of fuel and the combustion chamber of that cylinder, means for biasing said valve head in closed position, a valve plunger extending axially upwardly away from said valve and having its upper end terminating in a hydraulic pressure chamber connected to said supply line, a sleeve including spillports disposed circumjacent said plunger with said spillports positioned adjacent said pressure chamber whereby movement of said upper end of said plunger below said spillports is effective to vent said chamber, said sleeve being axially movable with respect to said valve plunger and defining a length of axial travel from a lower maximum valve stroke position to an upper minimum valve stroke position, and external means for varying the axial position of said sleeve within said length of axial travel whereby the duration and stroke of the valve opening and the volume of fuel in each cylinder can be adjusted externally of the respective valve assembly.