Westport Power Inc.

Ian Lockley

Anker Gram

Mihai Ursan

Kevin Kwame Oversby

Richard Wing

Gabriel Gavril

Shahin Hessami

A fuel injection valve introduces a fuel into an engine and controlling fuel flow to reduce variability between injection events. The fuel injection valve employs an arrangement for a valve nozzle that cooperates with a valve needle to provide a range of needle movement within which the fuel mass flow rate is substantially constant. This can be achieved by providing a restriction with a constant flow area for a predetermined range of needle movement. The method comprises commanding a valve needle to a position within the predetermined range of needle movement to reduce variability in the fuel mass flow rate, particularly when the engine is idling or operating under low load conditions. Valve needle lift is variable during an injection event and from one injection event to another injection event.

Fuel injection valve

A method is provided for compressing a gas in a single cycle and in a single cylinder to a pressure of at least 17.2 Mpa with a compression ratio of at least about five to one. The method further comprises dissipating heat from the cylinder during the compression stroke whereby the gas is discharged with a temperature significantly less than isentropic. The apparatus comprises a hollow cylinder and a reciprocable free-floating piston disposed therein. The piston divides the cylinder into: (a) a compression chamber within which a gas can be introduced, compressed, and discharged; and, (b) a drive chamber, into which a hydraulic fluid can be introduced and removed for actuating the piston. The apparatus further comprises a piston stroke length to piston diameter ratio of at least seven to one. For operating the apparatus with a compression ratio of at least five to one, an outlet pressure of at least 17.2 Mpa, and a gas discharge temperature significantly less than isentropic, the apparatus can further comprise a variable displacement hydraulic pump for controlling piston velocity, an electronic controller for maintaining an average piston velocity that is less than 0.5 feet per second, and a heat dissipator for dissipating heat from the cylinder.

Method and apparatus for compressing a gas to a high pressure

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Ian Lockley