Caterpillar Inc.

Lucas Industries Limited

Lucas Industries Public Limited Company

Glen F Forck

Dana Ray Coldren

L Glenn Waterfield

Ronald Dean Shinogle

Richard H Holtman

Clifford E Cotton, Iii

David E Martin

Marvin P Schneider

Prabhakar Ramalingam

Umesh Shah

Stephen Robert Lewis

Steven Francis Meister

James J Streicher

Larry Glenn Waterfield

Kirk S Shively

Howard N Cannon

Matthew Bredesen

Michael R Huffman

Raj T Nagarajan

Jeffrey J Carter, Jr

Trent A Riggs

An electronically-controlled fuel injector includes a pressurized fluid chamber that communicates high pressure fluid to first and second pressure control chambers. A direct-operated check moves between closed and open positions in response to a difference in fluid pressure in the first and second pressure control chambers. A thermally pre-stressed bender actuator is used to operate a control valve that controls the fluid pressure in the first pressure control chamber to effectively control opening and closing of the check during portions of an injection sequence.

Electronically-controlled fuel injector

A solenoid includes first and second armatures disposed on either side of a solenoid core. The core includes first and second sets of legs disposed on opposite sides of a central member. A drive circuit provides a first current level to cause flux to flow in a first path through the core and thereby move the first armature without substantially moving the second armature. The drive circuit can provide a second current level greater than the first current level to saturate the first path and thereby redirect flux into a second core path to move the second armature.

Biarmature solenoid

An electronically-controlled fuel injector includes a pressurized fluid chamber that communicates high pressure fluid to first and second pressure control chambers. A direct-operated check moves between closed and open positions in response to a difference in fluid pressure in the first and second pressure control chambers. A first thermally pre-stressed bender actuator is used to operate a control valve that controls fluid communication between the fluid chamber and a fluid source. A second thermally pre-stressed bender actuator is used to operate a control valve that controls the fluid pressure in the first pressure control chamber to effectively control opening and closing of the check during portions of an injection sequence.

A valve system having a valve operated by a piezoelectric device to control the flow of fluid through the valve system. Movement of the valve is controlled by a pre-stressed bender actuator that changes its shape by deforming in opposite axial directions in response to a control signal applied by an actuator control system. The valve system may comprise a common rail fuel injector, electrohydraulic actuator system, electronically-controlled fuel injector, gasoline port injector, fluid metering valve, relief valve, reducing valve, direct valve or direct-injection gasoline injector.

Piezoelectric valve system

An engine is provided comprising an engine housing defining at housing and has a different portion associated with each engine cylinder. Each different portion of the engine auxiliary system has a first electrical actuator coupled to a first valve and a second electrical actuator coupled to a second valve which are wired in series. For example, a fuel injection system is provided with a first electrical actuator operably coupled to a fuel pressurizer and a second electrical actuator operably coupled to a direct control needle valve. The electrical actuators are wired in series on an electrical circuit. A method of controlling a portion of the engine auxiliary system is also provided which consists of actuating a first electrical actuator with a relatively low current and actuating a second electrical actuator with a relatively high current.

Auxiliary systems for an engine having two electrical actuators on a single circuit

Inclusion of a direct control needle valve in fuel injectors can allow for independent control of injection pressure and timing. Engineers have learned that it is desirable to position the control valve assembly in close proximity to the needle valve member to improve response time. However, by placing the control valve assembly in a central portion of the fuel injector, at least one fluid passage must often be routed through the electrical actuator included in the valve assembly. The present invention seeks to address this problem by providing a direct control valve assembly for a fuel injector that directs fluid around the electrical actuator without increasing the size of the fuel injector. Thus, the present invention includes an electrical actuator having an actuator centerline that is oriented at an angle, which is preferably perpendicular, with respect to a centerline of the fuel injector.

Compact valve assembly and fuel injector using same

A piezoelectric actuator of multiple piezoelectric layers in an integrally bonded laminate structure. Alternating layers of electrically active ceramic material and conductive or non-conductive substrate material are stacked with layers of conductive or non-conductive thermally activated adhesive therebetween. The stacked layers are heated to flow the adhesive and subsequently cooled to effect an integral bonding of the layers and a doming of the stacked device. Conductive substrate materials and adhesive materials may be used, with every other substrate layer being reverse poled to create alternating positive and negative electrode substrate layers capable of applying an electric field to active ceramic layers therebetween. Alternatively, electrically active layers are provide with thin metal electrode layers on opposing surfaces which are capable of applying an electric field to active ceramic layers therebetween.

Piezoelectric actuator device

A clamping device for providing temperature compensation of a piezoelectric device, such as a thermally pre-stressed bending actuator. The clamping device is configured to apply a variable clamping force to the piezoelectric device that varies in response to temperature changes proximate the piezoelectric device. The variable clamping force applied to the piezoelectric device alters its operating characteristics to provide temperature compensation of the device.

Apparatus and method for providing temperature compensation of a piezoelectric device

A single pole solenoid assembly includes a coil attached to a stator that is in a fixed position relative to a body component. An armature with a centerline is positioned adjacent to the stator. A magnetic flux ring has a central axis and an interior surface that at least partially surrounds the armature. The stator, armature and magnetic flux ring are positioned and arranged such that magnetic flux line generated by the coil pass through the stator and the magnetic flux ring through the armature. The central axis and the centerline are concentrically coupled via an interaction between the magnetic flux ring and the armature via the body component. The single pole solenoid is preferably attached to valving components and incorporated as part of an electronically controlled fuel injector.

Single pole solenoid assembly and fuel injector using same

A fuel injector includes first and second valves and a solenoid including a solenoid coil and an armature assembly wherein the first and second valves are coupled to the armature assembly. A solenoid drive circuit is coupled to the solenoid coil and delivers a first current waveform portion to the solenoid coil at a first time to cause the armature assembly to operate the first valve without operating the second valve. A second current waveform portion different than the first current waveform portion is applied to the solenoid coil at a second time later than the first time to operate the second valve.

Fuel injector utilizing a multiple current level solenoid

A fuel injector includes a solenoid having two armatures which are complementarily shaped to define a stepped armature gap.

Growing community of inventors

Peoria, IL, United States of America

Glen F Forck