Patent ID: 8474436

Claim:
A fuel pump ( 4 ) for a direct-injection system provided with a common rail ( 3 ), said fuel pump ( 4 ) comprising: a pumping chamber ( 14 ) defined in a main body ( 12 ); a piston ( 15 ) that is mounted in a sliding manner inside said pumping chamber ( 14 ) to cyclically vary volume of said pumping chamber ( 14 ); a suction channel ( 17 ) connected to said pumping chamber ( 14 ) and regulated by a suction valve ( 18 ); a delivery channel ( 19 ) connected to said pumping chamber ( 14 ) and regulated by a delivery valve ( 20 ); and a flow-rate-adjustment device ( 6 ) that is mechanically coupled to said suction valve ( 18 ) to keep, when necessary, said suction valve ( 18 ) substantially open during pumping of said piston ( 15 ) and includes a control rod ( 21 ) that is coupled to said suction valve ( 18 ) and an electromagnetic actuator ( 22 ) that acts on said control rod ( 21 ) and has a one-way hydraulic brake ( 28 ) that is integral to and substantially slows movement of said control rod ( 21 ).