US 12,331,708 B2
Injection control valve in fuel injector configured for pressure relief
Jeffrey E. Ledford, Chenoa, IL (US); Mitchell Juchems, Eureka, IL (US); and Andrew O. Marrack, Peoria Heights, IL (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/489,037.
Prior Publication US 2025/0129760 A1, Apr. 24, 2025
Int. Cl. F02M 63/00 (2006.01); F02M 51/06 (2006.01); F02M 55/00 (2006.01); F02M 61/20 (2006.01)
CPC F02M 63/005 (2013.01) [F02M 51/0625 (2013.01); F02M 55/008 (2013.01); F02M 61/20 (2013.01); F02M 63/0054 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel injector comprising:
an injector housing including a nozzle;
a nozzle check movable to open and close the nozzle and including a closing hydraulic surface;
an electrically actuated control valve assembly including a control valve, and an armature;
a high pressure passage, a low pressure drain, a control passage, a check control chamber fluidly connected to the control passage, and a valve seat are each formed in the injector housing, and a relief passage is formed by at least one of the injector housing or the control valve; and
the control valve is movable among a rest position in contact with the control valve seat and blocking the control passage from the low pressure drain to maintain a high pressure in the control chamber, a lifted injection position where the control passage is fluidly connected to the low pressure drain and the control valve blocks the high pressure passage, and a lifted relief position where the control valve does not block the high pressure passage, the high pressure passage is fluidly connected to the relief passage, and the control passage is blocked from the low pressure drain.