skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Drive circuit for an electrostrictive actuator in a fuel injection valve

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6092836

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
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: Filed date 18 Jun 1986
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English