Drive circuit for an electrostrictive actuator in a fuel injection valve

Patent · Tue Aug 25 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6092836

Mitsuyasu, M; Takahashi, T

A drive circuit is described for electrostrictive actuators provided to fuel injection valves in an internal combustion engine comprising: a capacitor connected to a direct current voltage source; a switching element connected to the capacitor and used for controlling the time of charging of piezoelectric elements; a first inductor connected to the switching element and used at the time of charging of the piezoelectric elements; a plurality of piezoelectric elements used as the electrostrictive actuator; a plurality of other switching elements each connected to each of the piezoelectric elements and used for controlling the time of discharging of the piezoelectric elements; a plurality of diodes each connected to each of the piezoelectric elements and used for clamping; and a second inductor connected to each of the piezoelectric elements through each of the switching elements and used at the time of discharging of the piezoelectric elements; wherein at the time of charging all of the piezoelectric elements are simultaneously charged by turning ON the switching element for controlling the time of charging, and at the time of discharging, predetermined piezoelectric elements are sequentially discharged in correspondence with a fuel injection timing.

• Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aichi
• Patent Number(s): US 4688536
• OSTI ID: 6092836
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330100* -- Internal Combustion Engines
ACTUATORS
CAPACITORS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
CURRENTS
DIRECT CURRENT
ELECTRIC CHARGES
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICITY
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ENGINES
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMS
FUEL SYSTEMS
HEAT ENGINES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
PIEZOELECTRICITY
SWITCHING CIRCUITS
TIMING CIRCUITS
VALVES