Here's a breakdown of key contributors:
Early Concepts and Development:
* 1910s-1920s: Rudolf Diesel himself, the inventor of the diesel engine, experimented with fuel injection systems that pre-pressurized fuel before injecting it into the cylinder.
* 1920s-1930s: Companies like Bosch and Cummins developed early forms of common rail systems but with limited success due to technological limitations.
Modern Common Rail Development:
* 1970s: Robert Bosch GmbH began research into electronic control systems for diesel engines, leading to the development of the first electronically controlled common rail system in the 1980s.
* 1997: Fiat and Iveco launched the first production car with a common rail diesel engine, the Alfa Romeo 156 1.9 JTD. This marked a breakthrough in the widespread adoption of common rail technology.
Key Pioneers:
* Robert Bosch GmbH: Developed the first electronically controlled common rail system and played a major role in its commercialization.
* Fiat/Iveco: Led the way in bringing the first common rail diesel engine to production cars, paving the way for its widespread adoption.
It's important to note that the development of the common rail diesel engine was a collaborative effort involving many engineers, researchers, and companies. These are just some of the key individuals and organizations who contributed to this groundbreaking technology.
