DIRECTLY ACTUATED INJECTION VALVE

摘要

A directly actuated injection valve comprises a hollow valve housing (102), a valve needle (119) disposed within the hollow interior, a needle spring (116), an actuator assembly, and a hydraulic link assembly. The actuator assembly generates an opening force that acts against the needle spring (116) to open the valve. The hydraulic link assembly is interposed between the valve needle (114) and the needle spring (116) and the actuator assembly. The hydraulic link assembly transmits respective closing and opening forces to the valve needle (114). The hydraulic link preferably comprises a piston (114b) disposed within a cylinder (160) that is filled with a hydraulic fluid. The opening and closing forces are transmitted through a thickness of the hydraulic fluid that is trapped between the planar surfaces of the piston (114b) and the head (162) and base of the hydraulic cylinder. In the preferred embodiment, the thickness of the hydraulic fluid trapped between the piston (114b) and cylinder head (162) or base is automatically adjustable in response to changes in the dimensional relationship between components of the injection valve to maintain a desired valve needle lift when the actuator assembly is activated. When the actuator assembly comprises a magnetostrictive or piezoelectric member (130), the movements of the valve needle (114) can be controlled by the application of a shaped control pulse or waveform to improve the speed of the opening and closing motion of the valve needle (114), and to reduce the impact of the valve needle on the valve seat upon closing.