Method and device for stopping a fuel-injection internal combustion engine in case of overspeed

A method of stopping a fuel-injection internal combustion engine in case of overspeed, the engine having at least one injection pump, said pump including a single pump housing having a plurality of cylinders, a constant-stroke reciprocating piston in each cylinder, a plurality of tappets for driving said pistons, a camshaft having a plurality of cams for driving said tappets, said camshaft being located in one part of the pump housing which is sealingly separated by said tappets from the rest of the pump housing, and an oil overflow line connected to the one part of the housing, wherein the method comprises:

• providing a source of pressurized gas, sensing the speed of the engine, and, in case of overspeed, feeding pressurized gas into the one part of the housing through the oil overflow line to lift said tappets out of contact with their driving cams.