US 10,302,056 B2Granted

Systems and methods for fuel injector control

AssigneeGe Global Sourcing LLC

InventorsVictor Manuel Salazar, Adam E. Klingbeil, Pradheepram Ottikkutti

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Abstract

A fuel injector assembly in one embodiment includes a nozzle, at least one needle, and at least one actuator. The nozzle includes at least one cavity in fluid communication with nozzle openings. The at least one needle is movably disposed within the at least one cavity, and prevents flow through the nozzle openings in a closed position. The at least one actuator is configured to move the at least one needle within the cavity. The at least one actuator is configured to move the at least one needle to at least a first fuel delivery configuration and a second fuel delivery configuration. A first amount of fuel is delivered through the nozzle openings with the at least one needle in the first fuel delivery configuration, and a second amount of fuel is delivered through the nozzle openings with the at least one needle in the second fuel delivery configuration.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A fuel injector assembly comprising:

a nozzle comprising a plurality of cavities in fluid communication with corresponding nozzle openings;
a plurality of needles, each needle movably disposed within a corresponding cavity of the plurality of cavities, the plurality of needles preventing flow through the nozzle openings in a closed position;
and
a plurality of actuators, each actuator configured to move a corresponding needle within the corresponding cavity, each actuator configured to move the corresponding needle to at least a first fuel delivery configuration and a second fuel delivery configuration, wherein a first amount of fuel is delivered through the nozzle openings with the plurality of needles in the first fuel delivery configuration, and a second amount of fuel is delivered through the nozzle openings with the plurality of needles in the second fuel delivery configuration wherein the first fuel delivery configuration includes a first group of the plurality of needles being opened, and the second fuel delivery configuration includes a second group of the plurality of needles being opened.

1 more element

A method comprising:

moving, with a plurality of actuators, a corresponding plurality of needles within a corresponding plurality of cavities of a plurality of corresponding nozzles of a nozzle from a closed position to a first fuel delivery configuration, to deliver a first amount of fuel in the first fuel delivery configuration through openings of the nozzle to a cylinder, wherein fluid is prevented from flowing through the openings of a nozzle in the closed position, wherein moving the corresponding plurality of needles to the first fuel delivery configuration includes opening a first group of the plurality of needles;
and
moving, with the plurality of actuators, the plurality of needles from the first fuel delivery configuration to a second fuel delivery configuration to deliver a second amount of fuel through the openings, wherein moving the plurality of needles to the second fuel delivery configuration includes opening a second group of the plurality of needles along with the first group.

An engine system comprising:

a cylinder;
a fuel injector assembly configured to deliver fuel to the cylinder, the fuel injector assembly comprising
a nozzle comprising a plurality of cavities in fluid communication with corresponding nozzle openings,
a plurality of needles, each needle movably disposed within a corresponding cavity of the plurality of cavities, the plurality of needles preventing flow through the nozzle openings in a closed position, and
a plurality of actuators, each actuator configured to move a corresponding needle within the corresponding cavity, each actuator configured to move the corresponding needle to at least a first fuel delivery configuration and a second fuel delivery configuration, wherein a first amount of fuel is delivered through the nozzle openings with the plurality of needles in the first fuel delivery configuration, and a second amount of fuel is delivered through the nozzle openings with the plurality of needles in the second fuel delivery configuration, wherein the first fuel delivery configuration includes a first group of the plurality of needles being opened, and the second fuel delivery configuration includes a second group of the plurality of needles being opened;
and
at least one processor operably coupled to the actuators, and configured to control the actuators to move the needles among the closed position, the first fuel delivery configuration, and the second fuel delivery configuration.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/197,038Filed 29 Jun 2016
Published: US 2018/0003139 A14 Jan 2018
Granted: 28 May 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

F02M 61/10
Having valves , e.g. having a plurality of valves in series: other injectors with elongated valve bodies, i.e. of needle-valve type
F02D 41/1439
Using means for determining characteristics of the combustion gases; Sensors therefor: characterised by the position of the sensor
F02D 41/20
Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents: output circuits, e.g. for controlling currents in command coils
F02D 41/2096
Output circuits, e.g. for controlling currents in command coils: for controlling piezoelectric injectors