JP4552991B2 - Fuel injection control system and fuel injection valve - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides a fuel injection control system comprising a pressure accumulating chamber that stores fuel in a high pressure state, a fuel pump that pumps fuel into the pressure accumulating chamber, and a fuel injection valve that injects fuel stored in the pressure accumulating chamber in a high pressure state. And a fuel injection valve.

  As this type of fuel injection control system, as seen in, for example, Patent Document 1 below, a common rail type diesel engine having a common pressure accumulation chamber (common rail) for each cylinder to supply fuel to a fuel injection valve of a diesel engine. Engine fuel injection control systems are well known. In such a control system, the fuel pressure (injection pressure) when being injected through the fuel injection valve can be controlled as desired by controlling the fuel pressure in the common rail as desired.

  By the way, when fuel is injected by the fuel injection valve, so-called boot injection is performed in which the injection rate (injection amount per unit time) is increased during the injection period to change the injection rate into a boot shape. It is known that there are many benefits. That is, according to the boot injection, it is possible to increase the temperature in the combustion chamber with a small amount of heat generation by reducing the injection rate at the initial stage of injection, and then increase the injection rate to increase the output torque. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the combustion temperature as a whole in the combustion stroke to suppress the generation of harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx), reduce the combustion noise, and increase the output torque.

On the other hand, conventionally, multistage injection control in which fuel injection is performed a plurality of times within one combustion cycle is performed, and at this time, a plurality of microinjections are performed before the main injection having the maximum injection amount is performed. , Spraying that simulates boot injection.
JP-A-11-82104

  However, in the above-described multistage injection, even if the command injection period for the fuel injection valve is the same, the actual injection amount changes according to the interval between injections, so that it is required to perform interval correction of the command injection period. It will be. Further, since it is necessary to adapt each of the multiple injections, an increase in the man-hours for fuel injection cannot be ignored. Furthermore, it is not easy to compensate for variations in the injection characteristics of the fuel injection valve at each fuel injection.

  Further, the fuel pressure in the common rail when performing the multi-stage injection is normally set with priority given to the exhaust characteristics and combustion noise, and thus is not necessarily an appropriate fuel pressure from the viewpoint of obtaining a high output. In addition, since the fuel pump that pumps fuel to the common rail is usually engine driven, the output torque of the diesel engine is consumed by the pumping of fuel to the common rail, and consequently the torque that is actually output to the outside decreases. There is also the problem of doing.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to store a pressure accumulating chamber for storing fuel in a high pressure state, a fuel pump for pumping fuel into the pressure accumulating chamber, and a pressure storing chamber in a high pressure state. An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel injection control system that includes a fuel injection valve that injects stored fuel and that can perform fuel injection control more appropriately. Moreover, the objective of this invention is providing the fuel injection valve which can change a fuel-injection aspect appropriately.

  Hereinafter, means for solving the above-described problems and the operation and effects thereof will be described.

In the first aspect of the invention, the fuel injection valve increases the injection rate by changing the flow path of the fuel inside the fuel injection valve when the pressure of the fuel supplied from the pressure accumulating chamber exceeds a threshold value. And an elevating means for raising the pressure of the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber above the threshold by pumping the fuel from the fuel pump to the pressure accumulating chamber within a period of injecting fuel from the fuel injection valve; Pressure reducing means for lowering the pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber to the threshold value or less prior to the next injection after fuel injection through the injection valve, and the pressure reducing means is connected between the fuel pump and the pressure accumulating chamber. In addition, the fuel pump is provided with a backflow passage for backflowing the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber to the fuel pump in the suction step of the fuel pump.

In the said invention, the pressure (injection pressure) of the fuel at the time of injecting from a fuel injection valve can be controlled as desired by controlling the pressure of the fuel in a pressure accumulation chamber. Here, particularly when the fuel is injected from the fuel injection valve, by providing a rising means for increasing the fuel pressure above the threshold, the fuel is increased when the fuel pressure exceeds the threshold. The injection rate of the injection valve can be increased. For this reason, at the time of fuel injection, since the fuel injection rate can be changed from a small state to a large state, boot injection or the like can be performed.
In particular, in the above-described invention, even if the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber is not sufficiently reduced by fuel injection, the pressure of the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber can be reduced by the decompression means until the next fuel injection. For this reason, in the period during which fuel is injected, it is possible to reliably perform control to increase the fuel pressure above the threshold, and to control the pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber at the start of fuel injection as desired.
Further, in the above invention, in the suction process, the high-pressure fuel flows back to the fuel pump via the backflow passage. Thereby, a pressure reduction means can be comprised appropriately. Furthermore, since this backflowing fuel assists the operation of the fuel pump, a part of the energy consumed by the fuel pump during the pumping of the fuel can be recovered.

  Note that the fuel injection valve has a configuration in which the geometric arrangement of the internal working portion and the inner wall differs before and after the fuel pressure exceeds the threshold value. That's fine.

  In the fuel injection valve that opens the injection port by displacing the nozzle needle by operating the actuator and supplies the fuel supplied from the fuel supply passage to the internal combustion engine, the pressure of the supplied fuel exceeds the threshold value And an enlarging means for enlarging the lift amount of the nozzle needle.

  The pressure of the fuel supplied from the pressure accumulating chamber is provided with a plurality of nozzle needles and a plurality of injection ports allocated to each of the plurality of nozzle needles, and the number of the injection ports to be opened Is increased by exceeding the threshold.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the fuel injection valve is capable of increasing the lift amount of the nozzle needle when the pressure of the fuel supplied from the pressure accumulating chamber exceeds a threshold value. Within the injection period, after the fuel is injected through the fuel injection valve, the raising means for raising the pressure of the fuel in the pressure accumulation chamber above the threshold by pumping the fuel from the fuel pump to the pressure accumulation chamber , Pressure reducing means for reducing the pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber below the threshold prior to the next injection, and the pressure reducing means is connected between the fuel pump and the pressure accumulating chamber, and in the suction step of the fuel pump. A backflow passage for allowing the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber to flow back to the fuel pump is provided.

In the said invention, the pressure (injection pressure) of the fuel at the time of injecting from a fuel injection valve can be controlled as desired by controlling the pressure of the fuel in a pressure accumulation chamber. Here, the lift amount of the nozzle needle can be increased during the fuel injection period by providing the raising means for raising the fuel pressure above the threshold, particularly during the period of injecting the fuel from the fuel injection valve. . For this reason, the injection rate of the fuel injection valve can be increased when the fuel pressure is below the threshold value and exceeds the threshold value. For this reason, at the time of fuel injection, since the fuel injection rate can be changed from a small state to a large state, boot injection or the like can be performed.
In particular, in the above-described invention, even if the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber is not sufficiently reduced by fuel injection, the pressure of the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber can be reduced by the decompression means until the next fuel injection. For this reason, in the period during which fuel is injected, it is possible to reliably perform control to increase the fuel pressure above the threshold, and to control the pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber at the start of fuel injection as desired.
Further, in the above invention, in the suction process, the high-pressure fuel flows back to the fuel pump via the backflow passage. Thereby, a pressure reduction means can be comprised appropriately. Furthermore, since this backflowing fuel assists the operation of the fuel pump, a part of the energy consumed by the fuel pump during the pumping of the fuel can be recovered.

  In addition, the said fuel injection valve is good also as the following, for example.

  In the fuel injection valve that opens the injection port by displacing the nozzle needle by operating the actuator and supplies the fuel supplied from the fuel supply passage to the internal combustion engine, the pressure of the supplied fuel exceeds the threshold value And an enlarging means for enlarging the lift amount of the nozzle needle.

  In the fuel injection valve, a first elastic member for holding the nozzle needle in a closed state, and when the lift amount of the nozzle needle is to be displaced to a specified lift amount or more, this is prevented. And a second elastic member that exerts an elastic force, and the expanding means includes the second elastic member.

  The fuel injection valve is filled with the fuel and has a needle housing part in which the pressure is exerted in the valve opening direction of the nozzle needle; and the fuel is filled in and the pressure is in the valve closing direction of the nozzle needle. And a valve body that communicates and blocks between the back pressure chamber and the fuel tank that supplies fuel to the pressure accumulation chamber and is opened and closed by the actuator.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the pressure reducing means further includes means for returning the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber to a fuel tank into which fuel is drawn by the fuel pump. And

  In the said invention, in addition to the pressure_reduction | reduced_pressure in a pressure accumulation chamber via a backflow channel | path, the pressure in a pressure accumulation chamber can be more appropriately controlled by providing the means to perform pressure reduction further.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the fuel pump includes a plunger and a pressure chamber whose volume expands and contracts as the plunger reciprocates. The pressure chamber and the backflow passage are communicated and blocked as the plunger reciprocates.

  In the above invention, the pressure chamber and the backflow passage are communicated and blocked together with the reciprocating motion of the plunger. For this reason, since it is possible to set the pressure chamber and the backflow passage to communicate with each other in the suction process of the fuel pump, the fuel can be appropriately backflowed in the suction process.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, the fuel pump is configured to respond to a pressure difference between a discharge port that discharges the fuel in the pressure chamber to the pressure accumulation chamber and a pressure difference between upstream and downstream of the discharge port. And a check valve that mechanically opens and closes.

  In the above invention, the fuel is pumped through the backflow passage until the pressure chamber and the backflow passage are blocked by the plunger in the discharge process of the fuel pump. Thereafter, when the pressure chamber and the backflow passage are blocked by the plunger, the pressure in the pressure chamber rises. And it becomes the pressure which opens the said non-return valve, A fuel is discharged toward a pressure accumulation chamber from a pressure chamber via a discharge outlet. For this reason, the pressure of the fuel discharged when the check valve is opened can be set to a desired pressure.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the fuel pump includes a plurality of the pressure chambers, and the volume of each pressure chamber changes as the plunger reciprocates. It is a thing to do.

  In the above-described invention, the suction process for one of the pressure chambers corresponds to the compression process for another pressure chamber. For this reason, the process of compressing the fuel by reducing the volume in another pressure chamber can be assisted by the high-pressure fuel flowing backward from the pressure accumulating chamber in the suction process of any pressure chamber. For this reason, a part of energy invested in the pumping process of any pressure chamber can be recovered appropriately.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 4 to 6 , wherein the pressure chamber and the backflow passage are communicated with each other by being displaced by a predetermined amount from the plunger position at the start of the suction process. It is characterized by that.

  In the above invention, the fuel does not flow back into the pressure chamber through the backflow passage until the plunger is displaced by a predetermined amount in the suction process. For this reason, fuel can be inhaled without being affected by backflow during this period.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the invention, the fuel pump is configured so that the fuel from the fuel tank is sucked into the pressure chamber through the metering valve, and the adjustment from the inside of the pressure chamber to the suction port. It is characterized by including a check valve for preventing the back flow of fuel to the quantity valve side.

  In the above-described invention, since the check valve is provided, it is possible to prevent the fuel that flows back into the pressure chamber via the backflow passage from flowing back to the metering valve. For this reason, the fuel that has flowed back into the pressure chamber can be used in the next pumping process, and as a result, the amount of fuel newly sucked into the pressure chamber via the suction port can be reduced.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the raising means includes a variable control means for variably controlling a timing at which the pressure of the fuel exceeds the threshold value. Features.

  The optimum timing for the fuel injection timing can vary depending on the operating state of the internal combustion engine. The optimum timing for increasing the injection rate can also change according to the operating state of the internal combustion engine. In this regard, in the above invention, since the variable means is provided, the timing at which the fuel pressure exceeds the threshold can be set as the optimum timing regardless of the operating state of the internal combustion engine.

The variable control means includes means for operating a mechanism for changing the relative rotational angle between the drive shaft of the fuel pump and the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine in addition to the one described in claim 10 described later. There is.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention, in the ninth aspect of the invention, the pressure accumulation chamber is provided with means for returning the fuel in the pressure accumulation chamber to a fuel tank into which fuel is drawn by the fuel pump, and the variable control. The means is characterized in that the timing exceeding the threshold is made variable by operating the returning means.

  For example, when the fuel pump is driven by the rotational force of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, the timing of fuel pumping is limited due to the geometrical connection between the drive shaft of the fuel pump and the output shaft of the internal combustion engine. There is a fear. In this regard, in the above-described invention, since the variable means is realized by operating the pressure reducing means, the variable means can be easily realized without providing means for changing the pumping timing itself by the fuel pump.

The invention of claim 1 1, wherein, in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 1 0, characterized in that it further comprises timing adjustment means for varying the pumping timing of the fuel of the fuel pump.

  In the above invention, since the timing varying means is provided, the raising means for raising the fuel pressure above the threshold value can be suitably configured within the fuel injection period regardless of the fuel injection timing. In particular, when the fuel injection timing is variably set according to the operating state of the internal combustion engine as in the fuel injection control system of the internal combustion engine, it is effective to provide the timing variable means.

The invention of claim 1 wherein, in the invention of any one of claims 1 to 1 1, wherein the fuel injection valve and is provided with a plurality, wherein the accumulator chamber, each some of said plurality of fuel injection valves It is characterized by comprising a plurality of pressure accumulating chambers allotted to.

In the above-described invention, the volume in each pressure chamber is reduced by providing a plurality of pressure accumulating chambers allocated to each of several fuel injection valves without sharing the pressure accumulating chamber among all of the plurality of fuel injection valves. Can do. For this reason, the pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber can be increased with respect to the pumping amount, and as a result, the pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber can be controlled over a wide area without increasing the size of the fuel pump.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the fuel injection valve increases the injection rate by changing the flow path of the fuel inside the fuel injection valve when the pressure of the fuel supplied from the pressure accumulating chamber exceeds a threshold value. And within a period of injecting fuel from the fuel injection valve, the fuel pump includes a raising means for raising the pressure of the fuel in the accumulator chamber above the threshold by pumping fuel from the fuel pump to the accumulator chamber, The raising means includes variable control means for variably controlling the timing at which the pressure of the fuel exceeds the threshold value, and returns the fuel in the pressure accumulation chamber to the fuel tank into which fuel is drawn by the fuel pump. Means is provided, and the variable control means makes the timing exceeding the threshold variable by operating the returning means.
In the said invention, the pressure (injection pressure) of the fuel at the time of injecting from a fuel injection valve can be controlled as desired by controlling the pressure of the fuel in a pressure accumulation chamber. Here, particularly when the fuel is injected from the fuel injection valve, by providing a rising means for increasing the fuel pressure above the threshold, the fuel is increased when the fuel pressure exceeds the threshold. The injection rate of the injection valve can be increased. For this reason, at the time of fuel injection, since the fuel injection rate can be changed from a small state to a large state, boot injection or the like can be performed.
Further, the optimum timing for the fuel injection timing can vary depending on the operating state of the internal combustion engine. The optimum timing for increasing the injection rate can also change according to the operating state of the internal combustion engine. In this regard, in the above invention, since the variable means is provided, the timing at which the fuel pressure exceeds the threshold can be set as the optimum timing regardless of the operating state of the internal combustion engine.
Also, for example, when the fuel pump is driven by the rotational force of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, the fuel pumping timing is limited due to the geometrical connection between the drive shaft of the fuel pump and the output shaft of the internal combustion engine. There is a risk of being. In this regard, in the above-described invention, since the variable means is realized by operating the pressure reducing means, the variable means can be easily realized without providing means for changing the pumping timing itself by the fuel pump.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the fuel injection valve increases the injection rate by changing the flow path of the fuel inside the fuel injection valve when the pressure of the fuel supplied from the pressure accumulating chamber exceeds a threshold value. And within a period of injecting fuel from the fuel injection valve, the fuel pump includes a raising means for raising the pressure of the fuel in the accumulator chamber above the threshold by pumping fuel from the fuel pump to the accumulator chamber, The ascending means includes a timing variable means for varying the fuel pumping timing of the fuel pump.
In the said invention, the pressure (injection pressure) of the fuel at the time of injecting from a fuel injection valve can be controlled as desired by controlling the pressure of the fuel in a pressure accumulation chamber. Here, particularly when the fuel is injected from the fuel injection valve, by providing a rising means for increasing the fuel pressure above the threshold, the fuel is increased when the fuel pressure exceeds the threshold. The injection rate of the injection valve can be increased. For this reason, at the time of fuel injection, since the fuel injection rate can be changed from a small state to a large state, boot injection or the like can be performed.
In the above invention, since the timing varying means is provided, the raising means for raising the fuel pressure above the threshold value can be suitably configured within the fuel injection period regardless of the fuel injection timing. . In particular, when the fuel injection timing is variably set according to the operating state of the internal combustion engine as in the fuel injection control system of the internal combustion engine, it is effective to provide the timing variable means.
The fuel injection valve according to the thirteenth and fourteenth aspects of the present invention has a configuration in which the geometric arrangement of the internal working portion and the inner wall differs before and after the fuel pressure exceeds the threshold value. For example, the following may be used.
In the fuel injection valve that opens the injection port by displacing the nozzle needle by operating the actuator and supplies the fuel supplied from the fuel supply passage to the internal combustion engine, the pressure of the supplied fuel exceeds the threshold value And an enlarging means for enlarging the lift amount of the nozzle needle.
The pressure of the fuel supplied from the pressure accumulating chamber is provided with a plurality of nozzle needles and a plurality of injection ports allocated to each of the plurality of nozzle needles, and the number of the injection ports to be opened Is increased by exceeding the threshold.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the fuel injection valve is capable of increasing the lift amount of the nozzle needle when the pressure of the fuel supplied from the pressure accumulating chamber exceeds a threshold value. Within the injection period, the fuel pump includes a raising means for raising the pressure of the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber above the threshold by pumping fuel from the fuel pump to the pressure accumulating chamber. comprising a variable control means for variably controlling the timing of exceeding the threshold value, the accumulation chamber, the fuel by the fuel pump is said means for returning the accumulation chamber of the fuel provided to the fuel tank to be sucked, the variable control means The timing of exceeding the threshold value is made variable by operating the returning means.
In the said invention, the pressure (injection pressure) of the fuel at the time of injecting from a fuel injection valve can be controlled as desired by controlling the pressure of the fuel in a pressure accumulation chamber. Here, the lift amount of the nozzle needle can be increased during the fuel injection period by providing the raising means for raising the fuel pressure above the threshold, particularly during the period of injecting the fuel from the fuel injection valve. . For this reason, the injection rate of the fuel injection valve can be increased when the fuel pressure is below the threshold value and exceeds the threshold value. For this reason, at the time of fuel injection, since the fuel injection rate can be changed from a small state to a large state, boot injection or the like can be performed.
Further, the optimum timing for the fuel injection timing can vary depending on the operating state of the internal combustion engine. The optimum timing for increasing the injection rate can also change according to the operating state of the internal combustion engine. In this regard, in the above invention, since the variable means is provided, the timing at which the fuel pressure exceeds the threshold can be set as the optimum timing regardless of the operating state of the internal combustion engine.
Also, for example, when the fuel pump is driven by the rotational force of the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, the fuel pumping timing is limited due to the geometrical connection between the drive shaft of the fuel pump and the output shaft of the internal combustion engine. There is a risk of being. In this regard, in the above-described invention, since the variable means is realized by operating the pressure reducing means, the variable means can be easily realized without providing means for changing the pumping timing itself by the fuel pump.
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the fuel injection valve is capable of expanding the lift amount of the nozzle needle when the pressure of the fuel supplied from the pressure accumulating chamber exceeds a threshold value, and the fuel is injected from the fuel injection valve. In the injection period, the fuel pump includes a raising means for raising the pressure of the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber above the threshold by pumping fuel from the fuel pump to the pressure accumulating chamber. It is characterized by comprising a timing varying means for varying the pumping timing.
In the said invention, the pressure (injection pressure) of the fuel at the time of injecting from a fuel injection valve can be controlled as desired by controlling the pressure of the fuel in a pressure accumulation chamber. Here, the lift amount of the nozzle needle can be increased during the fuel injection period by providing the raising means for raising the fuel pressure above the threshold, particularly during the period of injecting the fuel from the fuel injection valve. . For this reason, the injection rate of the fuel injection valve can be increased when the fuel pressure is below the threshold value and exceeds the threshold value. For this reason, at the time of fuel injection, since the fuel injection rate can be changed from a small state to a large state, boot injection or the like can be performed.
In the above invention, since the timing varying means is provided, the raising means for raising the fuel pressure above the threshold value can be suitably configured within the fuel injection period regardless of the fuel injection timing. . In particular, when the fuel injection timing is variably set according to the operating state of the internal combustion engine as in the fuel injection control system of the internal combustion engine, it is effective to provide the timing variable means.
The fuel injection valve according to claims 15 and 16 may be, for example, as follows.
In the fuel injection valve that opens the injection port by displacing the nozzle needle by operating the actuator and supplies the fuel supplied from the fuel supply passage to the internal combustion engine, the pressure of the supplied fuel exceeds the threshold value And an enlarging means for enlarging the lift amount of the nozzle needle.
In the fuel injection valve, a first elastic member for holding the nozzle needle in a closed state, and when the lift amount of the nozzle needle is to be displaced to a specified lift amount or more, this is prevented. And a second elastic member that exerts an elastic force, and the expanding means includes the second elastic member.
The fuel injection valve is filled with the fuel and has a needle housing part in which the pressure is exerted in the valve opening direction of the nozzle needle; and the fuel is filled in and the pressure is in the valve closing direction of the nozzle needle. And a valve body that communicates and blocks between the back pressure chamber and the fuel tank that supplies fuel to the pressure accumulation chamber and is opened and closed by the actuator.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which a fuel injection control system and a fuel injection valve according to the present invention are applied to a fuel injection control system of a diesel engine and a fuel injection valve in the system will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the engine system according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the fuel in the fuel tank is pumped up by the engine-driven fuel pump 10 and pressurized (suppressed) to the pressure accumulating pipe 20. The pressure accumulating pipe 20 stores the high-pressure fuel fed by pressure, and supplies this high-pressure fuel to the fuel injection valve 30 of each cylinder (here, four cylinders are illustrated). The fuel injection valve 30 has a tip projecting from the combustion chamber 52 of the diesel engine 50 and is capable of injecting and supplying fuel into the combustion chamber 52.

  The fuel pump 10 basically discharges the fuel pumped up from the fuel tank by a high-pressure pump 60 by a feed pump (not shown), and the amount of fuel sent to the high-pressure pump 60 is adjusted. It is adjusted by the quantity valve 70.

  The high-pressure pump 60 is a plunger pump that pressurizes the fuel metered by the metering valve 70 and discharges the fuel to the outside. The high-pressure pump 60 includes a pair of plungers 62a and 62b that are driven to reciprocate by a drive shaft 61, and pressure chambers 63a and 63b whose volumes are changed by the reciprocating motion of the plungers 62a and 62b. The high-pressure pump 60 includes suction ports 64a and 64b for sucking fuel into the pressure chambers 63a and 63b. The suction ports 64a and 64b are provided with check valves 65a and 65b for preventing the reverse flow of fuel from the pressure chambers 63a and 63b to the upstream side. Furthermore, the fuel pump 10 includes discharge ports 66a and 66b that discharge fuel from the pressure chambers 63a and 63b to the pressure accumulation pipe 20. The discharge ports 66a and 66b are reversely opened mechanically when the pressure in the pressure chambers 63a and 63b is higher than the pressure on the downstream side of the discharge ports 66a and 66b (the pressure accumulation pipe 20 side) by a predetermined pressure or more. Stop valves 67a and 67b are provided. The fuel pump 10 also includes inflow ports 69a and 69b that allow communication between the pressure chambers 63a and 63b and the backflow passages 68a and 68b by displacement of the plungers 62a and 62b.

  The pair of pressure chambers 63a and 63b is set so as to enlarge and reduce the alternative volume as the drive shaft 61 rotates. That is, when the volume of the pressure chamber 63a increases, the volume of the pressure chamber 63b decreases. On the other hand, when the volume of the pressure chamber 63a is reduced, the volume of the pressure chamber 63b is increased.

  Here, the pressure accumulating pipe 20 includes two pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b separated from each other, and these pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b are connected to the pressure chambers 63a and 63b (discharge ports 66a) via the pressure feeding passages 22a and 22b. , 66b). Thereby, the pressure chamber 63a pumps the fuel to the pressure accumulating chamber 21a via the pressure feeding passage 22a, and the pressure chamber 63b pumps the fuel to the pressure accumulating chamber 21b via the pressure feeding passage 22b. Incidentally, the reverse flow passages 68a and 68b communicate with the pressure feeding passages 22a and 22b. The pressure accumulation pipe 20 is provided with pressure reducing valves 23a and 23b for reducing the pressure in the pressure accumulation chambers 21a and 21b. As the pressure reducing valves 23a and 23b, for example, a binary operation of valve closing and valve opening may be performed by electronic control.

  The metering valve 70 adjusts the amount of fuel drawn from the feed pump to the high pressure pump 60. In the metering valve 70, the relative displacement position of the spool 72 with respect to the body 71 is adjusted by the electromagnetic force of the electromagnetic solenoid 73 acting on the spool 72. Thereby, the flow passage area between the upstream and downstream of the metering valve 70 is made variable, and the amount of fuel supplied to the pressure chambers 63a and 63b of the high-pressure pump 60 is adjusted.

  The drive shaft 61 is connected to the output shaft (crankshaft 54) of the diesel engine 50 via the pressure feed timing varying mechanism 80. For this reason, rotational force is applied to the drive shaft 61 by the power from the crankshaft 54.

  The pressure feed timing varying mechanism 80 is a mechanism for varying the relative rotation angle between the drive shaft 61 and the crankshaft 54 in order to make the pressure feed timing variable. The pumping timing variable mechanism 80 includes a first rotating body 81 mechanically connected to the crankshaft 54 and a second rotating body 82 mechanically connected to the drive shaft 61. In the present embodiment, the second rotating body 82 includes a plurality of protrusions 82 a, and the second rotating body 82 is accommodated in the first rotating body 81. Then, the retard angle for retarding the relative rotation angle (rotational phase difference) of the drive shaft 61 with respect to the crankshaft 54 by the projection 82a of the second rotating body 82 and the inner wall of the first rotating body 81. A chamber 83 and an advance chamber 84 for advancing the rotational phase difference are partitioned.

  The pumping timing variable mechanism 80 is hydraulically driven by oil flowing in and out between the retard chamber 83 and the advance chamber 84. The oil inflow / outflow is adjusted by an oil control valve (OCV90).

  The OCV 90 supplies the oil in the oil pan 102 to the retard chamber 83 or the advance chamber 84 via the supply path 91 and the retard path 92 or the advance path 93 by the hydraulic pump 100. Further, the OCV 90 causes oil to flow out from the retard chamber 83 or the advance chamber 84 to the oil pan 102 via the retard path 92 or the advance path 93 and the discharge path 94. The flow path area between the retard path 92 or the advance path 93 and the supply path 91 or the discharge path 94 is adjusted by a spool 95. That is, the spool 95 is pushed to the left side in the drawing by the spring 96, and a force toward the right side in the drawing is applied by the electromagnetic solenoid 97. Therefore, it is possible to manipulate the displacement amount of the spool 95 by giving an operation signal to the electromagnetic solenoid 97 and adjusting the duty of the operation signal.

  The electronic control device (ECU 110) is a control device that controls the output of the diesel engine 50. That is, detection of various sensors for detecting the operation state of the diesel engine 50 such as the fuel pressure sensors 112a and 112b for detecting the pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b, and various sensors for detecting a user request such as an operation amount of an accelerator pedal. Capture results. Based on these detection results, various actuators for controlling the output of the diesel engine 50, such as the pressure reducing valves 23a and 23b, the fuel injection valve 30, the metering valve 70, and the OCV 90, are operated.

  FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional configuration of the fuel injection valve 30.

  The fuel injection valve 30 is provided with a cylindrical needle storage portion 31 at the tip thereof. The needle storage portion 31 stores a nozzle needle 32 that is displaceable in the axial direction. The nozzle needle 32 is seated on an annular needle seat portion 33 formed at the tip of the fuel injection valve 30, thereby blocking the needle storage portion 31 from the outside (the combustion chamber 52 of the diesel engine 50), while the needle By separating from the seat part 33, the needle storage part 31 is communicated with the outside. Further, high pressure fuel is supplied to the needle storage portion 31 from the pressure accumulation pipe 20 via the high pressure fuel passage 34.

  The back side of the nozzle needle 32 (the side opposite to the side facing the needle seat portion 33) faces the back pressure chamber 35. High pressure fuel in the pressure accumulation pipe 20 is supplied to the back pressure chamber 35 via a high pressure fuel passage 34 and an inlet orifice 36. Further, the back surface side (the upper surface side in the drawing) of the tip of the nozzle needle 32 is pushed toward the tip of the fuel injection valve 30 by the needle spring 37. Furthermore, a protruding portion 32a that protrudes in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction is provided at an intermediate portion of the nozzle needle 32, and the lift amount of the nozzle needle 32 becomes a predetermined amount so as to come into contact with the regulating member 38. It has become. The regulating member 38 is subjected to a force on the side to close the nozzle needle 32 by the compressed regulating spring 39.

  On the other hand, the back pressure chamber 35 can communicate with the low pressure fuel passage 41 via the outlet orifice 40, and the low pressure fuel passage 41 is connected to the fuel tank. The back pressure chamber 35 and the low pressure fuel passage 41 are communicated and blocked by a valve 42. That is, when the outlet orifice 40 is blocked by the valve 42, the back pressure chamber 35 and the low pressure fuel passage 41 are blocked, while when the outlet orifice 40 is opened, the back pressure chamber 35 and the low pressure fuel passage 41 are disconnected. Is communicated.

  The valve 42 is pushed toward the distal end side of the fuel injection valve 30 by a valve spring 43. Further, the valve 42 can be displaced rearward of the fuel injection valve 30 by being attracted by the electromagnetic force of the electromagnetic solenoid 44.

  In such a configuration, when the electromagnetic solenoid 44 is not energized and no attractive force is generated by the electromagnetic solenoid 44, the valve 42 closes the outlet orifice 40 with the force of the valve spring 43. On the other hand, the nozzle needle 32 is pushed toward the distal end side of the fuel injection valve 30 by the needle spring 37 and is in a state of being seated on the needle seat portion 33 (the fuel injection valve 30 is closed).

  Here, when the electromagnetic solenoid 44 is energized, the valve 42 is displaced to the rear side of the fuel injection valve 30 by the suction force of the electromagnetic solenoid 44 and the outlet orifice 40 is opened. As a result, the high-pressure fuel in the back pressure chamber 35 flows out to the low-pressure fuel passage 41 through the outlet orifice 40. For this reason, the pressure applied to the nozzle needle 32 by the high-pressure fuel in the back pressure chamber 35 is smaller than the pressure applied to the nozzle needle 32 by the high-pressure fuel in the needle housing portion 31. When the force due to this pressure difference becomes larger than the force by which the needle spring 37 pushes the nozzle needle 32 toward the tip of the fuel injection valve 30, the nozzle needle 32 is separated from the needle seat portion 33 (the fuel injection valve 30). Open state).

  As described above, the lift amount of the nozzle needle 32 of the fuel injection valve 30 is limited by the restriction member 38. In other words, the lift amount is limited to the lift amount when the nozzle needle 32 comes into contact with the restricting member 38 unless the restricting member 38 can be displaced by overcoming the elastic force of the restricting spring 39. In order to further increase the lift amount, it is necessary to give the nozzle needle 32 a force that overcomes the regulating spring 39 by increasing the pressure of the fuel supplied from the high-pressure fuel passage 34 to the needle housing portion 31. It is. This can be achieved by increasing the fuel pressure (fuel pressure) in the pressure accumulating pipe 20. In the present embodiment, particularly when the fuel injection valve 30 is opened by electronic control, the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating pipe 20 is increased beyond a threshold value for applying a force to overcome the regulating spring 39. Thereby, the lift amount can be increased stepwise during the fuel injection period. Thus, so-called boot injection is performed in which the injection rate is changed into a boot shape by increasing the injection rate during the injection period. Hereinafter, the setting of the present embodiment for appropriately performing boot injection will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the inside of the pressure accumulating pipe 20 is separated into pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b each having two fuel injection valves 30 allocated thereto. Thereby, compared with the case where the inside of the pressure accumulating pipe 20 is a single pressure accumulating chamber common to all the fuel injection valves 30, the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b is increased by a single pumping of fuel by the fuel pump 10. The amount increases. Thereby, in the fuel injection period of each fuel injection valve 30, the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b can be sufficiently increased, and as a result, it can be increased beyond the threshold value for increasing the lift amount.

  In the present embodiment, the fuel injection cycle by the fuel injection valve 30 and the fuel pumping cycle by the fuel pump 10 are in a one-to-one relationship so that the fuel is pumped in synchronism with the fuel injection of each fuel injection valve 30. A synchronized system is used. However, the fuel injection start timing and the fuel injection period vary according to the operating state of the diesel engine 50 such as the rotational speed of the crankshaft 54 and the required injection amount. For this reason, in this embodiment, the pumping timing of the fuel by the fuel pump 10 is controlled by operating the pumping timing variable mechanism 80, and as a result, the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b rises above the threshold during the fuel injection period. To do.

  Furthermore, after fuel injection, it is required to reduce the pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b to a value that cannot overcome the elastic force of the regulating spring 39 and lift the nozzle needle 32. For this reason, in this embodiment, in the suction process of the fuel pump 10, the fuel in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b is caused to flow back to the pressure chambers 63a and 63b via the backflow passages 68a and 68b. Hereinafter, this will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, the pair of plungers 62a and 62b, the pressure chambers 63a and 63b, and the like are referred to as a plunger 62 and a pressure chamber 63, respectively.

<First half of the suction process of the fuel pump 10: FIG. 3>
As shown in the figure, as the inside of the pressure chamber 63 expands due to the displacement of the plunger 62, the check valve 65 opens and fuel is sucked into the pressure chamber 63 via the metering valve 70. This intake fuel amount is adjusted by the flow path area between the upstream and downstream sides of the metering valve 70.

<The latter stage of the suction process of the fuel pump 10: FIG. 4>
As shown in the drawing, when the inlet 69 opens with the displacement of the plunger 62, the high-pressure fuel in the pressure accumulating pipe 20 flows back into the pressure chamber 63 through the backflow passage 68. Thereby, since the pressure in the pressure chamber 63 increases, the check valve 65 is closed, and the intake of fuel from the metering valve 70 side is stopped. Here, since the other pressure chamber 63 (not shown) corresponds to the pressure feeding process, energy is required to displace the plunger 62 so as to compress the fuel. Although this energy is basically taken out from the crankshaft 54, in the present embodiment, a part of the energy can be covered by the high-pressure fuel flowing backward from the pressure accumulating pipe 20.

<The first half of the pumping process of the fuel pump 10: FIG. 5>
As shown in the drawing, when the pressure chamber 63 shrinks with the displacement of the plunger 62, the fuel in the pressure chamber 63 flows out to the pressure accumulating pipe 20 through the inlet 69. At this stage, since the check valve 67 is closed, fuel is not pumped through the discharge port 66.

<Late of the pumping process of the fuel pump 10: FIG. 6>
As shown in the drawing, when the inlet 69 is closed with the displacement of the plunger 62, the pressure in the pressure chamber 63 rises, and the check valve 67 is opened to open the discharge port 66. As a result, the pressurized fuel in the pressure chamber 63 is pumped to the pressure accumulating pipe 20 through the discharge port 66.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the fuel injection control mode in this embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 7A shows the transition of the operation signal (energization signal) for the fuel injection valve 30, FIG. 7B shows the transition of the injection rate, and FIG. 7C shows the injection pressure ( The transition of the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber 21 is shown, FIG. 7 (d) shows the transition of the open / close state of the inlet 69, and FIG. 7 (e) shows the transition of the displacement of the plunger 62.

  In the example shown in the figure, minute injection is performed step by step before and after boot injection as main injection with the maximum injection amount. In the period during which main injection is performed, the injection pressure (fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber 21) is increased beyond a threshold (a chain line in the figure) that can increase the lift amount of the nozzle needle 32. ing. As a result, the lift amount is increased and the injection rate is increased, so that boot injection can be performed. In the example shown in FIG. 7, in order to perform minute injection after boot injection, the pressure reducing valve 23 is used to reduce the injection pressure at this time. However, when the injection is not performed after the boot injection, the inlet 69 opens with the displacement of the plunger 62 without using the pressure reducing valve 23, and the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber 21 is recovered in the pressure chamber 63. Therefore, the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber 21 can be reduced during fuel injection in other cylinders.

  FIG. 8 shows a case where boot injection is not performed. 8A to 8E correspond to the previous FIGS. 7A to 7E. Here, the amount of fuel sucked into the pressure chamber 63 via the suction port 64 by operating the metering valve 70 is set to be substantially zero. As a result, the amount of fuel pumped into the pressure accumulating chamber 21 in the pumping process of the fuel pump 10 decreases, so the amount of fuel supplied into the pressure accumulating chamber 21 increases. Thereby, the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber 21 does not exceed the threshold value for increasing the lift amount of the nozzle needle 32, and injection at a low injection rate can be performed.

  FIG. 9 shows a fuel injection control mode for all cylinders during boot injection. Specifically, FIGS. 9 (a) to 9 (d) show the transition of the injection rate of the fuel injection valve 30 of each cylinder, and FIGS. 9 (e) and 9 (f) show the inside of the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b. 9 (g) and FIG. 9 (h) show changes in the plungers 62a and 62b.

  As shown in the figure, the accumulator chambers 21a and 21b are used during the main injection period by using a synchronous system in which the injection cycle (cycle at which compression top dead center) and the pumping cycle correspond one-to-one. The pressure can be increased. For this reason, boot injection can be performed by raising the injection pressure stepwise during main injection.

  According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) During the period in which fuel is injected from the fuel injection valve 30, the fuel pressure is raised above the threshold for increasing the lift amount of the nozzle needle 32. Thereby, the lift amount of the nozzle needle 32 can be expanded during the fuel injection period. For this reason, the injection rate of the fuel injection valve 30 can be increased when the fuel pressure is below the threshold and exceeds the threshold. For this reason, at the time of fuel injection, since the fuel injection rate can be changed from a small state to a large state, boot injection can be performed.

  (2) A reverse flow passage 68a connected between the pressure chambers 63a and 63b of the fuel pump 10 and the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b and allowing the fuel in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b to flow back to the fuel pump 10 in the intake process of the fuel pump 10. 68b. Thereby, after raising the fuel pressure of the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b, the pressure can be reduced. For this reason, the pressure in the pressure accumulation chambers 21a and 21b can be controlled more appropriately. In addition, at this time, in order to assist the operation of the fuel pump 10 by the backflowing fuel, a part of the energy consumed by the fuel pump 10 when the fuel is pumped can be recovered.

  (3) The pressure chamber 63 and the backflow passage 68 are communicated and blocked as the plunger 62 reciprocates. As a result, the pressure chamber 63 and the backflow passage 68 can be set to communicate with each other in the suction process of the fuel pump 10, so that the fuel can be appropriately backflowed in the suction process.

  (4) The fuel pump 10 includes a discharge port 66 for discharging the fuel in the pressure chamber 63 to the pressure accumulation chamber 21 and a check valve 67 that mechanically opens and closes according to a pressure difference between the upstream and downstream of the discharge port 66. Prepared. As a result, the fuel is pumped through the backflow passage 68 until the plunger 62 closes the space between the pressure chamber 63 and the backflow passage 68 in the discharge process of the fuel pump 10. Thereafter, when the pressure chamber 63 and the backflow passage 68 are blocked by the plunger 62, the pressure in the pressure chamber 63 increases. The fuel is discharged from the pressure chamber 63 toward the pressure accumulating chamber 21 through the check valve 67 by the pressure that opens the check valve 67. For this reason, the pressure of the fuel discharged when the check valve 67 is opened can be set to a desired pressure.

  (5) The fuel pump 10 includes a plurality of pressure chambers 63 and is configured to expand and contract in place of the volumes of the pressure chambers 63a and 63b as the plunger 62 reciprocates. This assists the process of compressing the fuel by reducing the volume of either one of the pressure chambers 63a, 63b with the high-pressure fuel flowing back from the pressure accumulating chamber 21 in the suction process of either one of the pressure chambers 63a, 63b. Can do. For this reason, a part of energy used when pumping the fuel into the pressure accumulating chamber 21 can be suitably recovered.

  (6) The pressure chamber 63 and the backflow passage 68 are set to communicate with each other by being displaced by a predetermined amount from the position of the plunger 62 at the start of the suction process. Thereby, fuel does not flow back into the pressure chamber 63 via the backflow passage 68 during the period until the plunger 62 is displaced by a predetermined amount in the suction process. Therefore, during this period, fuel can be sucked into the pressure chamber 63 without being affected by the backflow.

  (7) A check valve 65a for preventing the reverse flow of fuel from the inside of the pressure chamber 63 to the metering valve 70 side is provided at the suction port 64a for sucking fuel from the fuel tank into the pressure chamber 63 through the metering valve 70. Prepared. Thereby, it is possible to avoid the fuel that flows back into the pressure chamber 63 via the backflow passage 68 from flowing further back to the metering valve 70 side. Therefore, the fuel that has flowed back into the pressure chamber 63 can be used in the next pumping process, and as a result, the amount of fuel newly sucked into the pressure chamber 63 via the suction port 64 can be reduced.

  (8) The pumping timing variable mechanism 80 for changing the fuel pumping timing of the fuel pump 10 is further provided. Thereby, even if the injection timing changes in accordance with the operating state of the diesel engine 50, the fuel pressure can be increased above the threshold value for increasing the lift amount within the fuel injection period.

  (9) The pressure accumulating pipe 20 is configured to include a plurality of pressure accumulating chambers 21 a and 21 b allocated to some of the plurality of fuel injection valves 30. Thereby, the pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b can be increased for the pumping amount. For this reason, the pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b can be controlled in a wide region without increasing the size of the fuel pump 10.

  (10) Pressure reducing valves 23a and 23b are provided to return the fuel in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b to the fuel tank. Thereby, even if the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b does not sufficiently decrease due to fuel injection, the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b can be decreased until the next fuel injection. For this reason, in the period during which fuel is injected, it is possible to reliably perform control to increase the fuel pressure by exceeding the threshold value, and to control the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b at the start of fuel injection as desired.

  (11) The fuel injection valve 30 is configured to increase the lift amount of the nozzle needle 32 when the supplied fuel pressure exceeds the threshold value. Thereby, at the time of fuel injection, the fuel injection rate can be changed from a small state to a large state by changing the supplied fuel pressure, so that boot injection or the like can be performed.

  (12) The first elastic member (needle spring 37) for holding the nozzle needle 32 in a closed state and the lift amount of the nozzle needle 32 are prevented from being displaced when exceeding a specified lift amount. The fuel injection valve 30 is configured to include a second elastic member (regulating spring 39) that exerts an elastic force. Thereby, the fuel pressure for overcoming the elastic force of the regulating spring 39 can be set as the threshold value.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings with a focus on differences from the first embodiment.

  In this embodiment, instead of providing the pressure reducing valves 23a and 23b, the fuel in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b is returned to the fuel tank via the metering valve 70 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the body 71 of the metering valve 70 is provided with a discharge port 74 and a pressure reducing port 75. On the other hand, the spool 72 is provided with a communication hole 76 that allows communication between the pressure reducing port 75 and the discharge port 74 as the spool 72 is displaced. The decompression port 75 communicates with a decompression passage 77 that communicates with the backflow passage 68 and the pumping passage 22.

  Thereby, the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b can be reduced by displacing the spool 72 so as to communicate between the decompression port 75 and the communication hole 76.

  In particular, in this embodiment, the decompression passage 77, the decompression port 75, the communication hole 76, and the discharge port 74 are set to have a sufficiently large flow path area so that an increase in fuel temperature can be suppressed. Here, when the fuel in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b is released to a low pressure, elastic energy in a high pressure state obtains kinetic energy and is converted into heat energy. Specifically, the higher the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a, 21b, the higher the fuel outflow rate when released to the low pressure system, and a greater amount of heat energy when this flow rate is made substantially zero in the low pressure system. Occurs.

  In particular, the pressure reducing valves 23a and 23b shown in FIG. 1 receive a large force in the closed state to keep the high pressure fuel in the pressure accumulating pipe 20 in a sealed state. For this reason, in order to endure this force, the area of the valve body tends to be limited. For this reason, the flow passage area when the pressure reducing valves 23a and 23b are opened is likely to be small. For this reason, when the pressure reducing valves 23a and 23b are opened to reduce the pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b, the flow passage area is small when the high pressure fuel flows out to the low pressure system (fuel tank). Due to the throttling effect of the fuel, the flow velocity of the fuel increases, and a large amount of heat energy is generated when the flow velocity is reduced to zero in the low pressure system.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the flow passage area can be expanded relatively easily by using the metering valve 70. As a result, the throttling effect when the fuel flows out to the low-pressure system (fuel tank) is mitigated, so that the temperature rise of the fuel can be suitably suppressed.

  FIG. 11 shows a fuel injection control mode in this embodiment. 11A to 11E correspond to the previous FIGS. 7A to 7E. As shown in the drawing, by releasing the pressure reducing port 75 of the metering valve 70, the pressure accumulation chambers 21a and 21b can be appropriately decompressed after the boot injection.

  According to the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects (1) to (12) of the first embodiment.

  (13) The pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b and the fuel tank can be communicated and blocked via the metering valve 70. Thereby, the inside of the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b can be suitably depressurized.

(Third embodiment)
Hereinafter, the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings with a focus on differences from the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, as a fuel injection valve that changes the flow path of the internal fuel when the pressure of the fuel supplied from the pressure accumulating chamber 21 exceeds a threshold value, an injection port that is opened according to the pressure of the supplied fuel is used. Use a variable number. FIG. 12 shows the structure of the fuel injection valve 200 according to this embodiment.

  A cylindrical needle storage portion 202 is provided at the tip of the body of the fuel injection valve 200. The needle storage unit 202 stores two nozzle needles (an outer needle 204 and an inner needle 206) that can be displaced in the axial direction. Here, the outer needle 204 opens and closes the first injection port 208 formed at the tip portion of the fuel injection valve 200, and the inner needle 206 is the first needle formed at the tip portion of the fuel injection valve 200. The two injection ports 210 are opened and closed. The needle storage unit 202 is supplied with high-pressure fuel from the pressure accumulating chamber 21.

  A force is applied to the outer needle 204 in the valve closing direction from the back side by the outer spring 212, and a force is applied to the inner needle 206 in the valve closing direction from the back side by the inner spring 214. Further, the back side of the outer needle 204 and the inner needle 206 faces the back pressure chamber 216. Fuel from the pressure accumulation chamber 21 is supplied to the back pressure chamber 216.

  The back pressure chamber 216 can communicate with the fuel tank via the valve 218. The back side of the valve 218 is seated on the annular valve seat part 220 so that the fuel tank side and the back pressure chamber 216 are shut off and displaced toward the front end side of the body. 216 is communicated.

  The valve seat 220 side of the valve 218 is connected to the small diameter piston 224 via a pressure pin 222. The rear side of the small diameter piston 224 faces the tip of the large diameter piston 226 having a larger diameter than the small diameter piston 224. A displacement transmission chamber 228 is defined by the small diameter piston 224, the large diameter piston 226, and the inner peripheral surface of the body. The displacement transmission chamber 228 is filled with an appropriate fluid such as fuel.

  On the other hand, the large-diameter piston 226 is connected to the piezo element 230 on the rear side. Incidentally, the back surface side of the piezoelectric element 230 facing the large-diameter piston 226 is fixed to the body.

  In such a configuration, when no current is supplied to the piezo element 230 and the piezo element 230 is in a contracted state, force is exerted by the high-pressure fuel from the pressure accumulating chamber 21, so that the valve 218 and the small-diameter piston 224 are positioned behind the body. Will be. At this time, the back pressure chamber 216 and the fuel tank are shut off by the valve 218. For this reason, the outer needle 204 and the inner needle 206 are moved toward the front end of the body by the pressure of the fuel in the back pressure chamber 216 (the pressure of the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber 21) and the elastic force of the outer spring 212 and the inner needle 206. Pushed to close the valve.

  On the other hand, when current is supplied to the piezo element 230 and the piezo element 230 is in the extended state, the valve 218 moves to the tip side of the body. Thereby, the back pressure chamber 216 communicates with the fuel tank side. As a result, the pressure of the fuel in the back pressure chamber 216 decreases, and the force in which the high pressure fuel in the needle housing portion 202 pushes the outer needle 204 toward the rear of the body causes the fuel in the back pressure chamber 216 and the outer spring 212 to move outward. When the force is greater than a predetermined value than the force pushing the needle 204 forward of the body, the outer needle 204 is opened. That is, since the outer needle 204 opens the first injection port 208, the needle storage portion 202 is communicated with the combustion chamber 52 of the diesel engine 50 through the first injection port 208.

  However, in this state, the inner needle 206 maintains the valve closed state. This is because the fuel pressure required to open the inner needle 206 is set higher than the fuel pressure required to open the outer needle 204. And the inner needle 206 will be in a valve opening state because the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulation chamber 21 rises in the latter half of the pumping stroke shown in FIG. That is, since the inner needle 206 opens the second injection port 210, the needle storage portion 202 is communicated with the combustion chamber 52 of the diesel engine 50 through the second injection port 210. This is because the fuel pressure supplied into the needle housing portion 202 increases due to the increase in the fuel pressure, and the force of this fuel pressure causes the elastic force of the inner spring 214 and the fuel pressure in the back pressure chamber 216 when the valve 218 is opened. This can be realized by setting to overcome the resultant force with the force of.

  By using the fuel injection valve 200, the injection rate can be increased by opening the inner needle 206 during the fuel injection period. In addition, in the present embodiment, it is possible to stabilize the increase control of the injection rate as compared with the case where the fuel injection valve 30 is used. That is, in the case of the fuel injection valve 30, the displacement of the nozzle needle 32 is regulated by the protrusion 32 a coming into contact with the regulating member 38, but the inertial force of the nozzle needle 32 overcomes the elastic force of the regulating spring 39. In some cases, the nozzle needle 32 may be temporarily displaced beyond the position to be fixed by the restricting member 38 prior to the increase of the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber 21. On the other hand, in the fuel injection valve 200 according to the present embodiment, by providing two independent nozzle needles, it is avoided that one displacement induces the other displacement. For this reason, the increase timing of the injection rate due to the opening of the inner needle 206 can be controlled with high accuracy by the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber 21.

(Fourth embodiment)
Hereinafter, the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings with a focus on differences from the first embodiment.

  FIG. 13 shows the overall configuration of the engine system according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the drive shaft 61 of the high-pressure pump 60 is mechanically coupled directly to the crankshaft 54 without providing the pressure feed timing varying mechanism 80. For this reason, the rotational angle of the drive shaft 61 of the high-pressure pump 60 is uniquely determined according to the rotational angle of the crankshaft 54, and there is no means for adjusting the relative rotational phase difference.

  Even in such a simple configuration, in order to increase the injection rate at the optimum timing regardless of changes in the fuel injection timing, the following settings are made in the present embodiment. That is, first, the mechanical force of the drive shaft 61 and the crankshaft 54 is set so that the injection rate can actually be increased at the timing at which the injection rate should be increased when the boot injection timing is set to the most advanced timing. The connection mode is adjusted. In other words, adjustment is made so that the actual injection rate can be increased at the most advanced timing as the injection rate increase timing. When the actual injection start timing is retarded with respect to the reference fuel injection, the pressure reducing valves 23a and 23b are operated to avoid premature increase of the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b. To do.

  FIG. 14 shows a mode of fuel injection control according to the present embodiment. 14A to 14E correspond to FIGS. 7A to 7E.

  The two-dot chain line in FIG. 14 (c) shows the behavior of the fuel pressure when the pressure reducing valves 23a and 23b are not opened. In this case, when the fuel injection start timing is on the retarded side, the timing at which the fuel pressure exceeds the threshold value becomes excessively fast, and the injection rate increases at an excessively early timing. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the pressure reducing valves 23a and 23b are opened in synchronization with the start of fuel pumping to suppress an increase in the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b. According to such processing, the timing at which the fuel pressure rises above the threshold can be adjusted to a desired timing, and as a result, the increase timing of the injection rate can be controlled as desired.

  FIG. 15 shows a processing procedure of fuel pressure control according to the present embodiment. This process is repeatedly executed by the ECU 110 at a predetermined cycle, for example.

  In this series of processing, first, in step S10, a command value (command injection start timing) of the injection start timing for the fuel injection valve 30 calculated by a known method is acquired. In the subsequent step S12, the metering amount by the metering valve 70 is corrected based on the command injection start timing. That is, in the present embodiment, the drive shaft 61 and the crankshaft 54 are mechanically connected under a setting that is optimal when the command injection start timing is most advanced. When the command injection start timing is retarded, the pressure accumulation chamber 21a is opened from the high pressure pump 60 by opening the pressure reducing valves 23a, 23b to suppress the early increase in the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulation chambers 21a, 21b. , 21b is returned to the fuel tank. For this reason, when the command injection start timing is retarded from the most advanced position, it is necessary to increase the pumping amount by the amount of fuel returned to the fuel tank by opening the pressure reducing valves 23a and 23b. For this reason, the metering amount by the metering valve 70 is corrected based on the command injection start timing.

  In subsequent step S14, the operation mode of the pressure reducing valve is determined based on the command injection start timing. That is, an appropriate operation amount of the pressure reducing valves 23a and 23b is determined in order to return the fuel to the fuel tank so as to suppress an early rise in the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b. In subsequent step S16, the pressure reducing valves 23a and 23b are operated based on the determination in step S14. In addition, when the process of step S16 is completed, this series of processes is once complete | finished.

  According to this embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects (1) to (7) and (9) to (12) of the first embodiment. .

  (14) By operating the pressure reducing valves 23a and 23b, the timing at which the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b exceeds the threshold value for increasing the lift amount is made variable. Thereby, the said timing can be made variable easily, without providing the means to change the pumping timing itself by the fuel pump 10. FIG.

(Other embodiments)
Each of the above embodiments may be modified as follows.

  The fuel injection valve capable of expanding the lift amount of the nozzle needle when the pressure of the supplied fuel exceeds the threshold value is not limited to those exemplified in the above embodiments. For example, a second restricting member that restricts displacement of the restricting member 38 may be provided, and the second restricting member may be configured to be provided with an elastic force by a compression spring. In this case, the amount of lift of the nozzle needle can be increased until the regulating member 38 comes into contact with the second regulating member because the pressure of the supplied fuel becomes equal to or higher than the above threshold, and the pressure of the supplied fuel is reduced. The lift amount of the nozzle needle can be further increased by further increasing and displacing the second restricting member.

  The electronically controlled actuator provided in the fuel injection valve that can expand the lift amount of the nozzle needle when the pressure of the supplied fuel exceeds the threshold value is not limited to an electromagnetic solenoid, and may be a piezoelectric actuator, for example.

  -In the said 1st, 2nd, 4th embodiment, you may use the fuel injection valve illustrated in previous 3rd Embodiment.

  A fuel pressure supplied from the pressure accumulating chamber is a threshold value with respect to the number of nozzles that are provided with a plurality of nozzle needles and a plurality of nozzles assigned to each of the nozzle needles and are in an open state. The fuel injection valve to be increased by exceeding is not limited to that exemplified in the third embodiment. For example, a middle needle that accommodates the inner needle 206 and is accommodated in the outer needle 204 is provided, and in addition to the first injection port 208 and the second injection port 210, an injection port that is opened and closed by the middle needle is provided. It may be. At this time, the lower limit value of the pressure for opening the middle needle is set to be higher than the pressure for opening the outer needle and lower than the pressure for opening the inner needle. Thus, the injection rate can be adjusted in three stages.

  Further, the electronically controlled actuator provided in the fuel injection valve 200 is not limited to a piezoelectric actuator, and may be, for example, an electromagnetic solenoid.

  The variable means for varying the timing at which the fuel pressure exceeds the threshold for changing the geometric internal structure of the fuel injection valve is not limited to those exemplified in the above embodiments. For example, the pressure-feeding passages 22a and 22b that connect the pair of pressure chambers 63a and 63b and the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b of the high-pressure pump 60 are connected to each other through the connection passage, and the flow path area of the connection passage is adjusted. The variable means may be configured by providing a control type valve body and electrically operating the valve body. Also when the fuel injection timing is on the retard side, the valve body of the connection passage opens to the pressure chamber on the side of the downward stroke from the pressure chamber on the side of the upward stroke of the plungers 62a and 62b. By letting the fuel flow out, the increase in the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber can be delayed. In addition, in this case, a part of the energy consumed by the plunger in the up stroke is recovered by assisting the operation of the plunger in the down stroke.

  Further, for example, in the manner shown in the second embodiment, the fuel pumped from the pressure chamber on the side of the ascending stroke of the plungers 62a and 62b is supplied to the decompression passage 77, the decompression port 75, the communication hole 76, and The increase in the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber may be delayed by allowing the fuel tank to flow out through the discharge port 74.

  Further, for example, prior to fuel injection, all the fuel injection valves 30 connected to the pressure accumulating chambers to which fuel is to be pumped open so-called empty valve 42 that opens the valve 42 for a very short time that the nozzle needle 32 does not open. Strike driving may be performed. Also by this, a part of the fuel pumped into the pressure accumulating chamber to be pumped can be returned to the fuel tank through the outlet orifice 40 and the low pressure fuel passage 41, so that the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulating chambers 21a and 21b As a result, the timing can be delayed.

  The timing variable means for varying the fuel pressure delivery timing of the fuel pump 10 is not limited to the pressure feed timing varying mechanism 80 and the OCV 90. For example, an electromagnetic valve may be provided at the discharge port 66 and the inflow port 69, and the timing variable means may be configured by adjusting the valve opening timing.

  The number of cylinders of the diesel engine 50, the number of pressure chambers 63 of the fuel pump 10, and the number of metering valves 70 may be arbitrary. Further, the number of pressure accumulating chambers in the pressure accumulating pipe 20 may be arbitrary.

  The internal combustion engine is not limited to a diesel engine, and may be, for example, a cylinder injection gasoline engine. However, by using a compression ignition type internal combustion engine, the advantages of boot injection can be particularly enjoyed.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the engine system concerning 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-sectional structure of the fuel injection valve concerning the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the state of the suction process 1st stage of the fuel pump concerning the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the state of the inhalation | suction process of the fuel pump concerning the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the state of the pumping process first half of the fuel pump concerning the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the state of the pumping process late stage of the fuel pump concerning the embodiment. The time chart which shows the boot injection concerning the embodiment. The time chart which shows another fuel-injection control aspect concerning the embodiment. The time chart which shows the boot injection concerning the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the aspect of the pressure reduction process in the pressure accumulation chamber concerning 2nd Embodiment. The time chart which shows the boot injection concerning the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-sectional structure of the fuel injection valve concerning 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the whole structure of the engine system concerning 4th Embodiment. The time chart which shows the boot injection concerning the embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process sequence of control of the fuel pressure in the pressure accumulation chamber concerning the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fuel pump, 20 ... Accumulation piping, 21a, 21b ... Accumulation chamber, 30 ... Fuel injection valve, 32 ... Nozzle needle, 37 ... Needle spring (one embodiment of 1st elastic member), 39 ... Restriction spring ( One embodiment of second elastic member), 50 ... diesel engine, 60 ... high pressure pump, 62a, 62b ... plunger, 63a, 63b ... pressure chamber, 68a, 68b ... reverse flow passage, 80 ... pressure feed timing variable mechanism (timing variable) One embodiment of the means).

Claims (16)

A pressure accumulating chamber for storing fuel in a high pressure state; a fuel pump for pumping fuel into the pressure accumulating chamber; and a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel stored in a high pressure state in the pressure accumulating chamber, wherein the fuel injection valve is electrically In a fuel injection control system for performing fuel injection control of an internal combustion engine by operating to
The fuel injection valve is for increasing the injection rate by changing the flow path of the fuel inside the fuel injection valve when the pressure of the fuel supplied from the pressure accumulating chamber exceeds a threshold value,
An elevating means for increasing the pressure of the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber above the threshold by pumping fuel from the fuel pump to the pressure accumulating chamber within a period of injecting fuel from the fuel injection valve;
Pressure reducing means for reducing the pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber to the threshold value or less prior to the next injection after fuel injection through the fuel injection valve;
The pressure reducing means is connected between the fuel pump and the pressure accumulating chamber, and includes a backflow passage for allowing the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber to flow back to the fuel pump in the suction step of the fuel pump. system. A pressure accumulating chamber for storing fuel in a high pressure state; a fuel pump for pumping fuel into the pressure accumulating chamber; and a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel stored in a high pressure state in the pressure accumulating chamber, wherein the fuel injection valve is electrically In a fuel injection control system for performing fuel injection control of an internal combustion engine by operating to
The fuel injection valve is capable of expanding the lift amount of the nozzle needle when the pressure of the fuel supplied from the pressure accumulation chamber exceeds a threshold value,
An elevating means for increasing the pressure of the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber above the threshold by pumping fuel from the fuel pump to the pressure accumulating chamber within a period of injecting fuel from the fuel injection valve;
Pressure reducing means for reducing the pressure in the pressure accumulating chamber to the threshold value or less prior to the next injection after fuel injection through the fuel injection valve;
The pressure reducing means is connected between the fuel pump and the pressure accumulating chamber, and includes a backflow passage for allowing the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber to flow back to the fuel pump in the suction step of the fuel pump. system.   3. The fuel injection control system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure reducing means further includes means for returning the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber to a fuel tank into which fuel is sucked by the fuel pump. The fuel pump includes a plunger and a pressure chamber whose volume expands and contracts as the plunger reciprocates,
The fuel injection control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pressure chamber and the backflow passage are communicated and blocked as the plunger reciprocates.   The fuel pump includes a discharge port that discharges fuel in the pressure chamber to the pressure accumulation chamber, and a check valve that mechanically opens and closes according to a pressure difference between upstream and downstream of the discharge port. The fuel injection control system according to claim 4.   6. The fuel injection according to claim 4, wherein the fuel pump includes a plurality of pressure chambers and expands and contracts in place of the volume of each pressure chamber as the plunger reciprocates. Control system.   The fuel injection control system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the pressure chamber and the backflow passage are communicated with each other by being displaced by a predetermined amount from a plunger position at the start of the suction process.   The fuel pump is provided with a check valve for preventing a reverse flow of fuel from the pressure chamber to the metering valve side at a suction port for sucking fuel from a fuel tank into the pressure chamber via a metering valve. The fuel injection control system according to claim 7. The fuel injection control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ascending unit includes a variable control unit that variably controls a timing at which the pressure of the fuel exceeds the threshold value. The pressure accumulating chamber is provided with means for returning the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber to a fuel tank into which fuel is sucked by the fuel pump.
10. The fuel injection control system according to claim 9, wherein the variable control means makes the timing exceeding the threshold variable by operating the returning means.   The fuel injection control system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising timing varying means for varying the fuel pumping timing of the fuel pump. A plurality of the fuel injection valves are provided;
The fuel injection control system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the pressure accumulating chamber includes a plurality of pressure accumulating chambers allocated to some of the plurality of fuel injection valves. A pressure accumulating chamber for storing fuel in a high pressure state; a fuel pump for pumping fuel into the pressure accumulating chamber; and a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel stored in a high pressure state in the pressure accumulating chamber, wherein the fuel injection valve is electrically In a fuel injection control system for performing fuel injection control of an internal combustion engine by operating to
The fuel injection valve is for increasing the injection rate by changing the flow path of the fuel inside the fuel injection valve when the pressure of the fuel supplied from the pressure accumulating chamber exceeds a threshold value,
An elevating means for raising the pressure of the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber above the threshold by pumping fuel from the fuel pump to the pressure accumulating chamber within a period of injecting fuel from the fuel injection valve;
The raising means includes variable control means for variably controlling the timing at which the fuel pressure exceeds the threshold value,
The pressure accumulating chamber is provided with means for returning the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber to a fuel tank into which fuel is sucked by the fuel pump.
The variable control means makes the timing exceeding the threshold variable by operating the returning means. A pressure accumulating chamber for storing fuel in a high pressure state; a fuel pump for pumping fuel into the pressure accumulating chamber; and a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel stored in a high pressure state in the pressure accumulating chamber, wherein the fuel injection valve is electrically In a fuel injection control system for performing fuel injection control of an internal combustion engine by operating to
The fuel injection valve is for increasing the injection rate by changing the flow path of the fuel inside the fuel injection valve when the pressure of the fuel supplied from the pressure accumulating chamber exceeds a threshold value,
An elevating means for raising the pressure of the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber above the threshold by pumping fuel from the fuel pump to the pressure accumulating chamber within a period of injecting fuel from the fuel injection valve;
The fuel injection control system according to claim 1, wherein the ascending unit includes a timing variable unit that varies a fuel pumping timing of the fuel pump. A pressure accumulating chamber for storing fuel in a high pressure state; a fuel pump for pumping fuel into the pressure accumulating chamber; and a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel stored in a high pressure state in the pressure accumulating chamber, wherein the fuel injection valve is electrically In a fuel injection control system for performing fuel injection control of an internal combustion engine by operating to
The fuel injection valve is capable of expanding the lift amount of the nozzle needle when the pressure of the fuel supplied from the pressure accumulation chamber exceeds a threshold value,
An elevating means for raising the pressure of the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber above the threshold by pumping fuel from the fuel pump to the pressure accumulating chamber within a period of injecting fuel from the fuel injection valve;
The raising means includes variable control means for variably controlling the timing at which the fuel pressure exceeds the threshold value,
The pressure accumulating chamber is provided with means for returning the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber to a fuel tank into which fuel is sucked by the fuel pump.
The variable control means makes the timing exceeding the threshold variable by operating the returning means. A pressure accumulating chamber for storing fuel in a high pressure state; a fuel pump for pumping fuel into the pressure accumulating chamber; and a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel stored in a high pressure state in the pressure accumulating chamber, wherein the fuel injection valve is electrically In a fuel injection control system for performing fuel injection control of an internal combustion engine by operating to
The fuel injection valve is capable of expanding the lift amount of the nozzle needle when the pressure of the fuel supplied from the pressure accumulation chamber exceeds a threshold value,
An elevating means for raising the pressure of the fuel in the pressure accumulating chamber above the threshold by pumping fuel from the fuel pump to the pressure accumulating chamber within a period of injecting fuel from the fuel injection valve;
The fuel injection control system according to claim 1, wherein the ascending unit includes a timing variable unit that varies a fuel pumping timing of the fuel pump.

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