At least some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to pump assemblies. In some embodiments, the pump is a high-pressure pump for an engine. The pump includes: an inlet valve configured to receive fuel; an armature coupled to the inlet valve and configured to actuate the inlet valve; and a pump barrel comprising a barrel guide, the barrel guide comprising a protrusion and configured to guide a motion of the armature.

A gas metering valve. The gas metering valve includes a housing, in which a gas chamber is formed, which can be filled with gaseous fuel via an inlet opening and from which gaseous fuel can be discharged in a metered manner via an outlet opening. A valve element is longitudinally moveably arranged in the gas chamber, and has a valve seal surface which cooperates with a valve seat for opening and closing the outlet opening. A magnet armature is connected to the valve element. A bellows is connected in a gas-tight manner to the valve element at one end and to the housing at the other end. The gas-tight connection with the housing is formed along a sealing line. The diameter of the sealing line is greater than the diameter of the valve seat.

A valve seat has an inner passage and outer passages. A suction valve member has first passages and a first projection portion that guides, to the first passages, the fuel that flows from a pressure chamber at the time of valve opening. Therefore, an action force by the dynamic pressure applied to the suction valve member in the valve closing direction is reduced. An action force by the pressure of fuel that flows into pressure equalization grooves counterbalances the action force by the dynamic pressure of the suction valve member. Therefore, self-closing by the dynamic pressure can be inhibited, and the maximum output of an electromagnetic driving unit can be reduced. Fuel flow through a passage radially outside the suction valve member and the firs passages. A fluid passage area is securable even when a lift amount of the suction valve member is small.

The present invention provides systems, methods and apparatus to overcome limitations of liquid fuel engine combustion. Liquid fuel is mixed with superheated water which vaporizes, mixes with air and ignites within the injector nozzle. The injector nozzles then accelerate the mixture into the engine combustion chamber where unburned fuel vapor mixes and burns. Combustion begins the instant of injection and increases uniformly. Combustion pressure builds progressively. Combustion of fuel vapor is more ideal, and better controlled. As part of the system and apparatus, the present disclosure also includes a low-cost high-speed solenoid valve which produces shorter injection pulses. It also includes a high-speed, high-air-volume solenoid fuel valve. In addition, the present invention and its disclosure create tools to develop and optimize this new method of fuel vapor injection.

A fuel injector comprises a supply means for high pressure fuel, an injection nozzle including a valve needle engageable with a valve needle seating to control fuel delivery from the injector, a first filling flow path providing flow from the supply means into a control chamber, and a control valve for controlling fuel pressure within the control chamber. The control valve comprises a control valve member slidable within a guide bore of a valve housing. The injector further comprises a drain flow path including a drain restriction and permitting flow from the control chamber to a second valve chamber when the control valve member is in a second state, and a second filling flow path permitting flow from a first valve chamber into the control chamber when the control valve member is in a first state, wherein the second filling flow path bypasses the drain restriction.

A method includes applying a specified starting voltage to a valve actuator in a first specified operating mode for closing the valve, the valve having a spring with a spring force against which an actuator force of the actuator acts. In the first operating mode, a first period of time is ascertained which represents that a maximum current value has been reached. Furthermore, a second period of time is ascertained which represents that a minimum current value has been reached. In a specified second operating mode, the specified starting voltage is applied to the actuator until the end of the first period of time is reached, and a control voltage is then applied to the actuator until the end of the second period of time is reached, wherein the average value of the control voltage is lower than the average value of the starting voltage.

A valve seat has an inner passage and outer passages. A suction valve member has first passages and a first projection portion that guides, to the first passages, the fuel that flows from a pressure chamber at the time of valve opening. Therefore, an action force by the dynamic pressure applied to the suction valve member in the valve closing direction is reduced. An action force by the pressure of fuel that flows into pressure equalization grooves counterbalances the action force by the dynamic pressure of the suction valve member. Therefore, self-closing by the dynamic pressure can be inhibited, and the maximum output of an electromagnetic driving unit can be reduced. Fuel flow through a passage radially outside the suction valve member and the firs passages. A fluid passage area is securable even when a lift amount of the suction valve member is small.

At least some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to pump assemblies. In some embodiments, the pump is a high-pressure pump for an engine. The pump includes: an inlet valve configured to receive fuel; an armature coupled to the inlet valve and configured to actuate the inlet valve; and a pump barrel comprising a barrel guide, the barrel guide comprising a protrusion and configured to guide a motion of the armature.

A valve device includes a housing, a flow duct and a valve body. The valve body is arranged in the flow duct and bears with a sealing section against a housing-side sealing seat when the valve device is closed. The valve body is guided along a movement axis by a housing-side guide surface and bears with a stop surface against a housing-side movement limiting surface when the valve device is open to the maximum. The guide surface is provided by a guide element, and the sealing seat and the movement limiting surface are provided separately by the guide element.

A fuel injector for is provided that includes a valve assembly in a passage of an injector body. The valve assembly includes a plunger and a valve seat that is sealingly engageable by the plunger. The plunger is longitudinally positioned in the injector body so that an inlet into the injector body upstream of the valve seat is partially open while the plunger is sealingly engaged to the valve seat. The plunger is longitudinally displaced in the passage to open a flow path through the valve seat while progressively increasing the opening size of the flow path and the inlet.