US 8,287,256 B2Granted

Valve assembly

AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.

InventorsScott F. Shafer, Christopher R. Jones

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Although modern diesel fuel formulations are intended to reduce emissions of diesel engines, at least some of those modern fuels tend to have relatively low lubricity levels. The control valve assemblies described herein help to minimize any increased wear that would otherwise result from the use of such low lubricity fuels by providing a valve element, a valve guide, and an insert. The valve element is received within the valve guide and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The insert forms a first sealed interface and a second sealed interface with the valve element and the valve guide. When the valve element is in the closed position, both of the first sealed interface and the second sealed interface are engaged. When the valve element is in the open position, only one of the first sealed interface and the second sealed interface is engaged.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A valve assembly received within an aperture of a high-pressure pump, wherein the aperture defines a pump aperture sealing surface, and wherein the high-pressure pump includes a fuel inlet passage and a fuel outlet passage, the valve assembly comprising:

an actuator actuatable in response to an input signal;
a valve element moveable between an open position and a closed position, the valve element including a body and a head, the head including a valve element sealing surface;
a valve guide including a first end and a second end, a valve guide aperture having a first region proximate the first end and a second region proximate the second end, and a flow passage between the second region of the valve guide aperture and an external surface of the valve guide proximate the second end, the first region of the valve guide aperture closely receiving the body of the valve element to minimize fluid leakage from the first region, the second end including a recess defined by a radial surface and an axial surface, and the flow passage being configured to allow fluid to flow through the valve guide;
an insert disposed within the recess at the second end of the valve guide and including a valve face, a guide face and an inner surface defining an opening through the insert;
and
a connector including an aperture extending longitudinally through the connector and receiving the valve guide and valve element therein, and an external surface engaged by a portion of a surface defining the aperture of the high pressure pump to align the valve guide and valve element within the aperture of the high pressure pump such that the valve face engages the pump aperture sealing surface to form a first sealed interface, the guide face engages the radial surface of the valve guide to form a second sealed interface, and wherein the flow passage, the second region of the valve guide aperture and the opening of the insert defined by the inner surface define a flow chamber placing the fuel inlet passage in fluid communication with the fuel outlet passage;
wherein the actuation of the actuator causes the valve element to move from the open position in which the valve element sealing surface is disengaged from the valve face to allow fluid flow from the fuel inlet passage through the flow chamber to the fuel outlet passage to the closed position in which the valve element sealing surface engages the valve face to prevent fluid flow through the flow chamber to the fuel outlet passage.

4 more elements

A pump comprising:

a moveable driven member powered by an external power source;
a housing receiving the driven member;
a head coupled to the housing, the head including an aperture and a fuel inlet passage;
a plunger assembly coupled to the driven member and including a plunger configured to reciprocate within the aperture in response to the movement of the driven member, the plunger and the aperture of the head at least partially defining a pumping chamber;
and
a control valve assembly received in the aperture of the head, wherein the aperture of the head defines a pump aperture sealing surface, the control valve assembly comprising:
an actuator actuatable in response to an input signal;
a valve element moveable between an open position and a closed position, the valve element including a body and a head, the head including a valve element sealing surface;
a valve guide including a first end and a second end, a guide aperture having a first region proximate the first end and a second region proximate the second end, and a flow passage between the second region of the valve guide aperture and an external surface of the valve guide proximate the second end, the first region of the valve guide aperture closely receiving the body of the valve element to minimize fluid leakage from the first region, the second end including a recess defined by a radial surface and an axial surface, and the flow passage being configured to allow fluid to flow through the valve guide;
an insert disposed within the recess at the second end of the valve guide and including a valve face, a guide face and an inner surface defining an opening through the recess;
and
a connector including an aperture extending longitudinally through the connector and receiving the valve guide and valve element therein, and an external surface engaged by a portion of a surface defining the aperture of the head to align the valve guide and valve element with the aperture of the head such that the valve face engages the pump aperture sealing surface to form a first sealed interface, the guide face engages the radial surface of the valve guide to form a second sealed interface, and wherein the flow passage, the second region of the valve guide aperture and the opening of the insert defined by the inner surface define a flow chamber placing the fuel inlet passage in fluid communication with the pumping chamber;
wherein the actuation of the actuator causes the valve element to move from an open position in which the valve element sealing surface is disengaged from the valve face and the pumping chamber is fluidly connected with the fuel inlet to a closed position in which the valve element sealing surface engages the valve face and the pumping chamber is fluidly disconnected with the fuel inlet passage;
and
wherein the actuator is selectively actuatable to control the fluid communication between the fuel inlet passage and the pumping chamber.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/981,876Filed 1 Nov 2007
Published: US 2009/0114292 A17 May 2009
Granted: 16 Oct 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification26 codes

F04B 53/102
Valves; Arrangement of valves: disc valves
F02M 59/466
Valves: electrically operated valves, e.g. using electromagnetic or piezoelectric operating means
F02M 63/0031
Valves: characterized by the type of valves, e.g. special valve member details, valve seat details, valve housing details
F02M 63/0071
Details not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus of the groups F02M63/0014 - F02M63/0059: characterised by guiding or…