1. A fuel system for an internal combustion engine receiving a fuel supply for operating said engine with a series of timed, quantitatively selected fuel charges, said fuel system comprising:
a fuel injection system for pressurizing fuel for delivery to the engine,
a supply and a return line extending between said fuel injection system and the fuel supply,
at least one pump interposed in said supply line for receiving fuel from the fuel supply and delivering said flow to said fuel injection system, and
a flow regulating valve interposed in the return line, said flow regulating valve comprising a housing having an inlet and outlet in a chamber interconnecting said inlet and outlet, and a valve element displaceable in said chamber between a first position wherein flow is blocked, a second position wherein flow is substantially unrestricted, and a third position where flow is restricted, said valve element being displaceable between said positions in response to the inlet pressure at said valve and said second position being between said first and third position.
2. A fuel system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet pressure for the first position is lower than about 10 pounds per square inch (psi).
3. A fuel system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet pressure for said second position is between about 10 and about 20 pounds per square inch (psi).
4. A fuel system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inlet pressure for said third position is greater than about 20 pounds per square inch (psi).
5. A fuel system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve is yieldably urged to said first position against pressure at the inlet to said housing.
6. A fuel system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a spring for yieldably urging said valve element toward said first position.
7. A fuel system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow area through said valve is a first level for the second position of said valve assembly and the flow area through said valve for the third position is smaller than the flow area in said second position.
8. A fuel system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the flow area in said second position is approximately eight times greater than the flow area for said third position.
9. A fuel system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing has a cylindrical chamber and has a valve seat, said valve element being displaceable against said valve seat blocking flow therethrough in said first position.
10. A fuel system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said valve element is biased towards said first position.
11. A fuel system as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a spring for biasing said valve element towards said first position.
12. A fuel system as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an O-ring on said valve element for abutting said valve seat in said first position.
13. A fuel system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said valve element has passages exposed to communicate the inlet of said housing to said outlet when said valve is away from said first position.
14. A fuel system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said valve element has a plurality of passages all of which permit flow to said outlet in said second position and permit flow to said outlet only through one of said passages when said valve element is in said third position.
15. A fuel system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising an annular outlet element positioned in said chamber between said valve element and the housing outlet, said outlet element having an end wall positioned to abut said valve element when said valve element is in said third position, said outlet element having a central recess open to said housing outlet and an axial central passage through said end face, said outlet element having a plurality of radial passages from the central recess to the outer circumference of said valve element, the passages in said valve element being positioned so that flow to the outlet of said housing is only through one of said passages and through said axial central passage of said outlet element.
16. A flow regulating valve for a fluid, said valve comprising:
a housing having an inlet and outlet and a chamber interconnecting said inlet and outlets;
a valve element displaceable in said chamber between a first position wherein flow is blocked, a second position wherein flow is substantially unrestricted; and a third position wherein flow is restricted, said valve element being displaceable between said first, second and third positions as a function of given pressure ranges and said second position being between said first position and said third position.
17. A flow regulating valve as claimed in claim 16, wherein the pressure for said first position is below about 10 pounds per square inch (psi), the pressure for said second position is between approximately 10 pounds per square inch and 20 pounds per square inch (psi) and the pressure for said third range is above approximately 20 pounds per square inch (psi).
18. A flow regulating valve as claimed in claim 16, wherein the flow area through said flow regulating valve has a first value for said second position and a second value for said third position, said third position being smaller than said second position.
19. A flow regulating valve as claimed in claim 18, wherein the flow area for said second position is approximately eight times greater than the flow area for said third position.
20. An engine system comprising:
an internal combustion engine,
a fuel supply,
a fuel injection system for receiving fuel from said fuel supply and delivering a series of timed, quantitatively selected fuel charges to said engine under pressure,
a supply and a return line extending between said fuel injection system and the fuel supply,
at least one pump interposed in said supply line for receiving fuel from the fuel supply and delivering said flow to said fuel injection system, and
a flow regulating valve interposed in the return line, said flow regulating valve comprising a housing having an inlet and outlet in a chamber interconnecting said inlet and outlet, and a valve element displaceable in said chamber between a first position wherein flow is blocked, a second position wherein flow is substantially unrestricted, and a third position where flow is restricted, said valve element being displaceable between said positions in response to the inlet pressure at said valve and said second position being between said first and third positions.
21. An engine system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said valve is interposed in said return line.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A surface treatment apparatus comprising:
a body comprising a nozzle;
a cartridge configured to be removeably attachable to the body, the replaceable cartridge configured to receive a treatment fluid;
a pump associated with the body, the pump configured to move the treatment fluid through the nozzle onto a target surface; and
a contact component associated with the body, the contact component configured to contact the target surface.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump is motorized.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pump is pivotally attached to the body.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one button coupled to the body configured to enable the pump.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contact component is replaceable.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contact component is shaped based on a shape of the target surface.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one vibration motor configured to cause a portion of the apparatus to vibrate.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising at least one button coupled to the body configured to start the vibration motor.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is pivotally attached to the body and configured to deliver a plurality of spray types.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises a spray nozzle.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises a stream and spray nozzle.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises a foaming nozzle.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface treatment apparatus is configured to dispense liquid during actuation of the pump and to retain liquid when the pump is not actuated.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a body protection component.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises at least one securing component for securing the replaceable cartridge to the body.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface treatment apparatus is ergonomically shaped for handheld use.
17. A method of treating an object or surface, the method comprising:
providing a handheld surface treatment apparatus comprising:
a body comprising a nozzle;
a cartridge configured to be removeably attachable to the body, the replaceable cartridge configured to receive treatment fluid;
a pump associated with the body, the pump configured to move the treatment fluid through the nozzle onto a target surface; and
a contact component associated with the body, the contact component configured to contact the target surface,
actuating the pump to dispense the treatment fluid; and
moving the contact component into contact with the target surface.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising moving the handheld surface treatment apparatus relative to the target surface while the apparatus is in contact with the target surface.
19. A replaceable cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body configured to mate with a surface treatment apparatus;
a liquid container defined by the cartridge body; and
an opening defined in the liquid container, the opening configured to be in fluid communication with a nozzle of the surface treatment apparatus.
20. The replaceable cartridge of claim 19 further comprising at least one securing component for replaceably securing the replaceable cartridge to the surface treatment apparatus.