Motor vehicle fuel injection system with a high flow control valve

A direct injection fuel delivery system for a motor vehicle comprising:

• a pump having an inlet connected to a fuel supply and an outlet at which the liquid fuel is supplied at a pressure of at least 50 bar;
• a common fuel rail coupled to the outlet of the pump;
• at least one fuel injector nozzle connected to the common fuel rail;
• and
• a flow control valve connected between the inlet and the outlet of the pump to selectively provide a fluid path there between, the flow control valve comprising:
• (a) a valve stem having a bore with a valve seat at one end and having an inlet port that opens into the bore, wherein the inlet of the pump communicates with the one end of the bore and the outlet of the pump communicates with the inlet port,
• (b) a valve element within the bore and selectively engaging the valve seat to control flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet of the pump, wherein the valve element has an exterior groove in communication with the inlet port, the exterior groove having first surface proximate to the valve seat and a second surface remote from the valve seat, wherein the first surface is larger than the second surface so that pressure in the groove tends to move the valve element away from the valve seat, and
• (c) a solenoid actuator operatively coupled to the valve element so that activation of the solenoid actuator moves the valve element toward the valve seat.