Common rail fuel injection system with accumulator injectors

A fuel injection system, comprising:

• a fuel supply for supplying fuel at pressure;
• at least one pair of accumulator injector mechanisms;
• a pair of fuel lines, each connected to a respective one of the accumulator injector mechanisms;
• and
• an accumulator controller connected to the fuel supply and to the pair of fuel lines;
• the accumulator controller having a first state for maintaining fuel pressure in the pair of fuel lines at a first pressure and a second state for maintaining fuel pressure in the pair of fuel lines at a second pressure lower than the first pressure.

A fuel injection system, comprising:

• a common rail for providing fuel at a fuel pressure;
• an accumulation volume connected to the common rail;
• a solenoid-controlled valve disposed to control the accumulation volume;
• the solenoid-controlled valve having a first state for causing fuel to accumulate in the accumulation volume at the fuel pressure and a second state for spilling the fuel from the accumulation volume;
• at least one accumulator injector;
• and
• a fuel line coupling the at least one accumulator injector to the accumulation volume.

A fuel injection system, comprising:

• a common rail for providing fuel at a fuel pressure;
• at least one accumulator injector;
• a fuel line connected to the accumulator injector;
• and
• an accumulator controller connected to the common rail and the fuel line;
• the accumulator controller having a first state for maintaining fuel pressure in the fuel line at a first pressure and a second state for maintaining fuel pressure in the fuel line at a second pressure lower than the first pressure.

An internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a plurality of cylinders;
• an engine control unit;
• a fuel supply;
• and
• for each cylinder:
• at least one accumulator injector communicating with the cylinder;
• a fuel line connected to the accumulator injector;
• and
• an accumulator controller connected to the fuel supply, to the fuel line, and to the engine control unit;
• the accumulator controller responsive to the engine control unit for assuming a first state to maintain fuel pressure in the fuel line at a first pressure and for assuming a second state to maintain fuel pressure in the
• fuel line at a second pressure lower than the first pressure.

An internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a plurality of cylinders;
• an engine control unit;
• a common rail for providing fuel at a fuel pressure;
• and
• for each cylinder:
• an accumulation volume coupled to the common rail;
• a solenoid-controlled valve connected to the engine control unit and disposed to control the accumulation volume;
• the solenoid-controlled valve responsive to a signal produced by the engine control unit for assuming a first state for causing fuel to accumulate in the accumulation volume at the fuel pressure or a second state for spilling the fuel from the accumulation volume;
• at least one accumulator injector;
• and
• a fuel line connecting the at least one accumulator injector to the accumulation volume.

An internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a plurality of cylinders;
• an engine control unit;
• a common rail for providing fuel at a fuel pressure;
• for each cylinder:
• at least one accumulator injector;
• a fuel line connected to the accumulator injector;
• and
• an accumulator controller connected to the engine control unit, the common rail and the fuel line;
• the accumulator controller responsive to a signal produced by the engine control unit for assuming a first state to maintain fuel pressure in the fuel line at a first pressure or a second state to maintain fuel pressure in the fuel line at a second pressure lower than the first pressure.