Claims
- 1. A control module for controlling fuel delivery in a fuel injector comprising:
a control module housing defining a cavity containing a fluid; an armature disposed to move within the cavity; a control valve operated by movement of the armature, the control valve affecting the flow of fuel by changing the area of a fuel port through which fuel passes; a drive for moving the armature, the drive operative to move the armature towards a first wall of the cavity when the drive is activated and to move the armature towards a second wall of the cavity when the drive is deactivated; a first fluid passage formed as the armature moves towards the first wall, the first fluid passage remaining open to pass fluid; and a second fluid passage formed as the armature moves towards the second wall, the second fluid passage remaining open to pass fluid; wherein armature vibration is dampened as fluid moves through the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage.
- 2. A control module as in claim 1 wherein at least one of the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage is formed by a dampener sleeve extending from the armature.
- 3. A control module as in claim 2 further comprising a stop which has a length in a direction of armature movement greater than a length of the dampener sleeve in the direction of armature movement.
- 4. A control module as in claim 2 wherein dampener sleeve comprises at least one notch.
- 5. A control module as in claim 1 wherein armature vibration dampening is provided by at least one of a first channel in the first wall forming the first fluid passage and a second channel in the second wall forming the second fluid passage.
- 6. A control module as in claim 1 wherein at least one of the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage is formed between a compression side and a dampener shim.
- 7. A control module as in claim 6 wherein the compression side is circular and the dampener shim defines a circular opening having an opening radius smaller than the compression side radius.
- 8. A control module as in claim 7 further comprising a stop extending from the compression side a distance greater than the thickness of the dampener shim.
- 9. A control module as in claim 1 wherein the armature defines a shoulder at least partially around the armature, at least one of the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage formed between a dampener sleeve and the shoulder.
- 10. A control module as in claim 1 wherein the housing further defines a second cavity within which is at least partially disposed a second armature, the second armature forming at least one second armature fluid passage, wherein fluid exiting the second armature cavity through the at least one second armature fluid passage provides dampening of the second armature.
- 11. A method of controlling a flow of fuel in a fuel injector comprising:
moving an armature in a cavity containing fluid; changing an opening area of a fuel port through the movement of the armature, thereby affecting the flow of fuel; and forming at least one fluid passage, the at least one fluid passage comprising at least one of a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage, the first fluid passage for passing fluid between the armature and a first wall defining the cavity as the armature moves towards the first wall, and the second fluid passage for passing fluid between the armature and a second wall defining the cavity as the armature moves towards the second wall.
- 12. A method of controlling a flow of fuel in a fuel injector as in claim 11 wherein forming the at least one fluid passage comprises moving a dampener sleeve extending from the armature in a direction of armature motion.
- 13. A method of controlling a flow of fuel in a fuel injector as in claim 11 wherein forming the at least one fluid passage comprises capping a portion of a channel.
- 14. A method of controlling a flow of fuel in a fuel injector as in claim 11 wherein forming the at least one fluid passage comprises narrowing a gap between the armature and a dampener shim.
- 15. A method of controlling a flow of fuel in a fuel injector as in claim 11 wherein forming a fluid passage comprises narrowing a gap between a shoulder on the armature and a dampener sleeve fixed within the cavity.
- 16. A method of controlling a flow of fuel in a fuel injector as in claim 15 further comprising contacting a valve stop to prevent the gap from closing.
- 17. A fuel injector comprising:
an injector body defining a fuel outlet; a fuel delivery path for delivering pressurized fuel to the fuel outlet; and a control module connected to the fuel delivery path, the control module including at least one solenoid for controlling fuel delivery, each solenoid having an armature driven by the solenoid to approach a wall defining a cavity when the solenoid is energized, the armature and the wall forming a passage as the armature approaches the wall, the passage passing fluid to dampen vibrations caused by the armature approaching the wall.
- 18. A method of injecting fuel into an engine comprising:
compressing the fuel; supplying the compressed fuel to an opening in an injector through a controlled path; activating a solenoid in the injector to control the flow of fuel along the path, the solenoid having an armature traveling through a fluid containing cavity, the solenoid causing the armature to approach a wall defining the cavity; forming a passage as the armature approaches the wall; passing fluid from between the armature and the wall through the passage; and dampening vibrations by passing the fluid.
- 19. A method of injecting fuel into an engine comprising:
compressing the fuel; supplying the compressed fuel to an opening in an injector through a controlled path; changing the state of a solenoid in the injector to control the flow of fuel along the path, the solenoid having an armature traveling through a fluid containing cavity, the solenoid state change causing the armature to approach a wall defining the cavity; forming a passage as the armature approaches the wall; passing fluid from between the armature and the wall through the passage; and dampening vibrations by passing the fluid.
- 20. A method of injecting fuel into an engine comprising:
compressing the fuel; supplying the compressed fuel to an opening in an injector through a controlled path; energizing a solenoid in the injector to control the flow of fuel along the path, the solenoid having an armature traveling through a fluid containing cavity, the energized solenoid moving the armature to approach a first wall defining the cavity; forming a first passage as the armature approaches the first wall, the first passage passing fluid from between the armature and the first wall; de-energizing the solenoid in the injector moving the armature to approach a second wall defining the cavity; and forming a second passage as the armature approaches the second wall, the second passage passing fluid from between the armature and the second wall.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/196,894, filed Jul. 16, 2002.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10196894 |
Jul 2002 |
US |
Child |
10431803 |
May 2003 |
US |