Caterpillar Inc.

Chris Lee Stewart

Scott F Shafer

Alan Ray Stockner

Daniel Richard Ibrahim

Ye Tian

Keith Edward Lawrence

Lifeng Wang

Steven Y Tian

Scott A Chockley

Junru Azam

Greg W Hefler

Jay Tomaseki

Dan Rushton

Mixing of lubrication fluid and pumped fluid within a pump can undermine lubricity of the lubrication fluid and/or contaminate the pumped fluid (e.g. fuel) with lubrication fluid. In order to reduce mixing of fluids within a high pressure pump of the present disclosure, a lubrication fluid is supplied to the high pressure pump. A low pressure pump supplies a second fluid to the high pressure pump. The pressure of the second fluid is increased within at least one piston bore of the high pressure pump. Mixing of the lubrication fluid and the second fluid is reduced by fluidly connecting a weep annulus which is opened to the at least one piston bore to a low pressure pump inlet of the low pressure pump.

High pressure pump and method of reducing fluid mixing within same

A fuel injector includes a homogenous charge nozzle outlet set and a conventional nozzle outlet set that are controlled respectively by first and second three way needle control valves. Each fuel injector includes first and second concentric needle valve members. One of the needle valve members moves to an open position for a homogenous charge injection event, while the other needle valve member moves to an open position for a conventional injection event. The fuel injector has the ability to operate in a homogenous charge mode with a homogenous charge spray pattern, a conventional mode with a conventional spray pattern or a mixed mode.

Mixed mode fuel injector and injection system

A fuel injector includes a homogenous charge nozzle outlet set and a conventional nozzle outlet set controlled respectively, by first and second needle valve members. One of the needle valve members moves to an open position while the other needle valve member remains stationary for a homogeneous charge injection event. The former needle valve member stays stationary while the other needle valve member moves to an open position for a conventional injection event. One of the needle valve members is at least partially positioned in the other needle valve member. Thus, the injector can perform homogeneous charge injection events, conventional injection events, or even a mixed mode having both types of injection events in a single engine cycle.

Mixed mode fuel injector with individually moveable needle valve members

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Normal, IL, United States of America

Chris Lee Stewart