A method according to the invention for checking the plausibility of the function of a pressure sensor in an injection system of an internal combustion engine includes acquiring a calibrated actuation profile, by which peak current values for opening at least one electrically actuatable injection valve are assigned to existing internal pressures. An existing internal pressure is measured in the form of an actual sensor pressure value by the pressure sensor. The method includes obtaining the electrical peak current value corresponding to the measured sensor pressure value from a calibrated actuation profile, such that the corresponding electrical peak current value acquired in this way is applied to the injection valve. Subsequently, an opening state of the injection valve is monitored in reaction to the applied electrical peak current value, and a functional state of the pressure sensor is assigned as a function of the opening state of the injection valve.

The hydraulic injection system (100) with cam comprises an injection valve (50) housed in a tubular injection nozzle (54), a gap being formed between a valve stem (51) of said valve (50) and the inner surface of the tubular injection nozzle (54) to allow an injectable fluid (58) coming from pressurizing means (10) to flow, while a receiver piston (62) fixed with respect to said valve (50) receives on the one hand the pressure of the injectable fluid (58) to hold said valve (50) closed, and on the other hand, the pressure of a hydraulic fluid (60) to open said valve (50), an injection cam (67) being capable to move said receiver piston (62) via an emitter piston (69) and said hydraulic fluid (60).

A method for operating a fuel injection system for a vehicle is provided. In particular, the fuel injection system includes an injection nozzle having a nozzle body, a nozzle orifice and a nozzle needle movable in the nozzle body. The method including: measuring an actual injection timing of the injection nozzle during injection based on an electrical signal generated by the nozzle needle through an electric contact with the nozzle body so that the electrical signal identifies an open state and a closed state of the injection nozzle; calculating a deviation of the actual injection timing from a scheduled injection timing of the fuel injection system; and controlling the injection nozzle by adjusting injection parameters of the injection nozzle based on the evaluated deviation.

A system for pump assist to maximize fuel consumption in a natural gas powertrain includes a fuel delivery system including a natural gas storage tank supplying a first natural gas flow, a pressure sensor disposed to provide data regarding a natural gas pressure within the storage tank, and a natural gas pump operable to selectively boost the first natural gas flow to create a second natural gas flow with increased pressure. The system further includes an engine operable to utilize one of the natural gas flows to provide an output torque and including a fuel injector and a computerized fuel system controller programmed to monitor the data regarding the natural gas pressure within the storage tank, compare the data regarding the natural gas pressure within the storage tank to a threshold cut-off pressure for the fuel injector, and command activation of the natural gas pump based upon the comparing.

A system for an engine to determine in situ under specified conditions the auto-ignition quality of the fuel used in a compression ignition engine is provided. The system may include an ion current sensor. The ion current sensor may access an engine cylinder for obtaining ion current data. A control unit may be in communication with the ion current sensor for receiving the ion current data. The control unit being configured to determine the auto-ignition quality of the fuel based on features of the ion current data.

Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a set of feature data, the feature data sensed from a fuel injector during a fuel injection event; processing, by a processor, the set of feature data with a decision tree model to generate a prediction of a fault status; and selectively generating, by the processor, a notification signal based on the prediction.

A system for controlling a compression ignition engine includes: a speed obtaining section which obtains an engine speed; and an injection amount setting section which sets, in a start period after the start of cranking, a fuel injection amount to be injected by injectors in next and subsequent cycles. If an engine speed achieved by combustion in an (n1)-th cycle is higher than or equal to a determination threshold value and lower than a lower limit of the resonance range, the injection amount setting section sets the fuel injection amount for the n-th cycle to a jump-over injection amount, and sets the fuel injection amount for the (n+1)-th cycle to a resonance induction reducing amount, which is smaller than the jump-over injection amount.

A fluid injector for connecting a connection port of a container or tank includes a housing and a transmission mechanism disposed in the housing. The housing has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet surrounded by an annular wall. A control valve is provided in the housing for opening and closing the fluid inlet. One end of the transmission mechanism is connected to the control valve, and another end of the transmission mechanism is connected to a movable post passing through the annular wall. When the control valve opens or closes the fluid inlet, the transmission mechanism is driven by the control valve, and the movable post extends out of the annular wall to be engaged with the connection port or retracts into the annular wall, thereby determining the connection state of the fluid injector and the connection port and ensuring that the movable post is exactly controlled.

A fluid injector for connecting a connection port of a container or tank includes a housing and a transmission mechanism disposed in the housing. The housing has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet surrounded by an annular wall. A control valve is provided in the housing for opening and closing the fluid inlet. One end of the transmission mechanism is connected to the control valve, and another end of the transmission mechanism is connected to a movable post passing through the annular wall. When the control valve opens or closes the fluid inlet, the transmission mechanism is driven by the control valve, and the movable post extends out of the annular wall to be engaged with the connection port or retracts into the annular wall, thereby determining the connection state of the fluid injector and the connection port and ensuring that the movable post is exactly controlled.

A fuel system is disclosed. The fuel system may include at least one fuel injector, the at least one fuel injector having an injector body and one or more piezoelectric sensors located in the injector body. The fuel system may include a controller configured to: obtain, from the one or more piezoelectric sensors, one or more pressure measurements associated with a fuel injection process; determine a timing of the fuel injection process based on the one or more pressure measurements; determine an adjustment to the timing based on a comparison of the timing to a reference timing; and adjust the timing of the fuel injection process based on the determined adjustment.