Patent ID: 11939932
Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 16:
17. A combustion engine, comprising:
an injection system, comprised of a piezo-electric injector that includes a needle and a piezo-electric actuator that controls a valve of the injector,
the injection system also comprised of a fuel supply rail, an electric generator that sends electric current pulses to the piezo-electric actuator of the injector, and a voltage sensor that measures voltage values at the terminals of the piezo-electric actuator; and
a computer that controls the injection system, the computer configured to
send, via the electric generator, an electric current pulse to the piezo-electric actuator, such that the piezo-electric actuator contacts the valve without opening the valve, the electric generator sending the electric current pulse during a time of an injection cycle of the injector when the needle is returning from an open position to a closed position;
measure, via the voltage sensor, a plurality of voltage values of the piezo-electric actuator; and
determine the static flow rate of the piezo-electric injector based on the plurality of voltage values measured of the piezo-electric actuator.