Abstract: A vehicle navigation system 10 utilizing a wireless communications medium 74 for transmitting present position 77 and destination position 75 data to a central processing means 14 for generating a route. The central processing means generates a series of turn-by-turn routing vectors 82-87 comprising the route. The wireless communications medium transmits the turn-by-turn routing vectors to the vehicle for display either audibly or visually or both to the vehicle operator 34. A vehicle identification means can be used for updating the routing vectors upon subsequent transmissions.

Abstract: The electronics are self-contained within the fuel rail assembly and include a microprocessor-based arrangement for enabling the fuel rail assembly to be dynamically calibrated over its full operating range at the factory and to be subsequently operated by serial data transmitted to it from the engine management computer.

Abstract: An adapter for mounting an air-assisted fuel injector on an engine is a one-piece molded plastic part that includes an integral assist-air supply tube through which assist air enters the adapter and integral attaching catches.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic housing that encloses the electromagnetic coil to form part of the stator is fabricated from uniform thickness sheet metal to have a cylindrical neck that fits onto the ferromagnetic fuel inlet tube of a top feed fuel injector, a shoulder extending outwardly from the neck and a cylindrical body extending from the shoulder to circumferentially bound the electromagnetic coil. A single through-hole is provided in the housing to provide for passage of both electrical terminals from the electromagnetic coil.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a discrete fuel filter having a tubular filter cartridge in its own socket in a filter housing. The socket is mounted in fluid communication with the inlet of a fuel rail for an internal combustion engine. In another embodiment, a fuel pressure regulator is operatively connected to be in fluid communication with the output of the filter and the input of the fuel rail. In each application the unfiltered fuel flows through the filter media from the input of the filter housing to the outlet of the filter housing.

Abstract: Fuel pressure in a deadheaded fuel rail is regulated by an eddy current clutch that forms part of the mechanism that mechanically couples the engine crankshaft with a fuel pump which delivers pressurized fuel to the rail. An electric control that receives several inputs, including engine speed and fuel rail pressure, controls the degree of coupling that is provided by the clutch so that the pressure is regulated even though the engine speed and fuel demand change during normal engine operation.

Abstract: A non-ferromagnetic member is disposed between, and joined to, a ferromagnetic fuel inlet tube and a ferromagnetic valve body structure. The valve body structure is fitted to the non-ferromagnetic member by telescoping the upper axial end of the valve body structure over the O.D. of the lower end of the non-ferromagnetic member and by guiding the armature on a cylindrical guide surface in a bore of the valve body structure at a location that is axially below the axial location where the upper end of the valve body structure and the lower end of the non-ferromagnetic member telescopically engage. For given part tolerances and given tolerances in tooling that is used to assemble the parts, closer tolerance in parallelism of the impacting armature end surface to the impacted fuel inlet tube end surface is obtained.

Abstract: The armature has a tubular wall bounding a main axial through-hole. The upper axial end has a larger outside diameter than does the lower axial end. A portion of the tubular wall lying between these upper and lower ends has a frustoconical exterior surface. A single through-hole extends through the tubular wall at this frustoconical surface to non-perpendicularly intersect the main axial through-hole. The upper end of a needle valve is inserted into the lower axial end of the main through-hole, and the two parts are joined there by welding and/or crimping. The inserted end of the needle valve does not obstruct the single through-hole extending through the tubular wall so that fuel entering the armature via the open upper end of the main through-hole will change direction to pass out of the armature through the single through-hole in the tubular wall.

Abstract: A thin disk orifice member having fuel metering orifices located on flat planar surfaces extending from the disk surface, The flat planar surfaces from sides of an enclosed structure having three or more sides, The structure may be in one position extending from the disk surface in the direction of the outlet of the injector or may be inverted. The orifices direct the fuel flow in various streams or sprays to individual cylinders of the engine.

Abstract: Multiple stacked orifice disk members cooperatively form a chamber space through which fuel is constrained to pass as it flows from the valve seat to the nozzle. Orifices in one member that communicate the chamber space to the fuel flow are larger and perform primarily a turbulent flow creating function while orifices in another member that communicate the chamber space to the fuel flow are smaller and perform primarily a metering and targeting function. Thus, turbulence and metering functions are segregated from each other. In certain embodiments at least one more orifice disk member is sandwiched between the first two to divide the chamber space in one or more smaller chamber portions while still providing fluid communication between such portions, such added disk member(s) contributing either one or both functions of turbulence or better metering and targeting. In certain embodiments, all orifices are equal so that each contributes to turbulence, metering, and targeting.

Abstract: Several embodiments for establishing electrical connection of individual fuel injectors on the interior of a fuel rail assembly to an electrical connector at the exterior of the fuel rail assembly include the use of flexible circuits and electronic circuit board assemblies.

Abstract: When the overall diameter of a solenoid-operated fuel injector is reduced, sections of a pair of electric terminals that are circumferentially spaced apart about, and embedded in an end wall of a bobbin of, an electromagnetic coil assembly of the fuel injector are disposed such that their rectangular transverse cross sections are disposed at an angled relation to each other to provide greater clearance to any electrically conductive parts of the fuel injector in the immediate vicinity. Other sections of the terminals that form blades of standard-sized rectangular transverse cross section for connection to terminals of a mating connector leading to an electric control circuit for operating the fuel injector are in non-angled relationship so that the mating connector and its component parts can remain of standardized dimensions.

Abstract: The fuel inlet tube of a top-feed fuel injector has a larger O.D. proximate its inlet end than it does at its opposite end where a tubular non-ferromagnetic part is laser-welded to it. The through-hole in the coil's bobbin has a smaller diameter portion and a larger diameter portion, the larger diameter portion being disposed closer to the fuel inlet tube's inlet than is the smaller diameter portion. The larger diameter portion of the bobbin's through-hole and the smaller outside diameter portion of the fuel inlet tube are mutually axially overlapping to an extent that, during the fabrication process, the coil assembly can be disposed axially on the fuel inlet tube to a position allowing the laser-welding to be performed, and thereafter the coil assembly disposed to cover the laser-welded joint.

Abstract: The atomizer is a cap-shaped shroud that contains a stack of flat stamped metal inserts. When assembled onto the nozzle of a fuel injector, the atomizer causes the inserts to be axially sandwiched between the shroud's end wall and the exterior end of the nozzle. In the zone of sandwiching, the inserts have circumferential discontinuities that in cooperation with the nozzle end and the shroud's end wall define air assist openings for the assist air to flow radially inwardly toward the injected fuel that has just been injected from the nozzle. An air assist opening in one insert is thereby both circumferentially and axially offset from an air assist opening in another insert.

Abstract: An in-tank fuel pressure regulator having a through-passage member on the moveable wall for controlling the flow of fuel from the inlet to the outlet chambers of the regulator. The through-passage member has a central through-hole in which is positioned a valve seat that mates with a valve closure member that is in the inlet chamber. The valve closure member is a truncated sphere that is swivel mounted to maintain seal tight alignment with the valve seat.

Abstract: A flow-through type fuel pressure regulator having, for its valve element, a sphere laser-welded to the housing end wall of the fuel inlet chamber, and for its valve seat, a coined circular surface circumscribing a through-passage in an annular member at the center of a movable wall (diaphragm) that divides the fuel inlet chamber from the fuel outlet chamber and that is resiliently biased toward the fuel inlet chamber by a spring that is disposed in the fuel outlet chamber. The annular member includes a series of circumferentially spaced bars that form a cage for the sphere, allowing the sphere to guide the motion of the central region of the movable wall relative to the sphere substantially along the axis of the housing.

Abstract: The module contains a tubular filter cartridge within an enclosure and a fuel pressure regulator mounted on an end wall of the enclosure. The fuel pressure regulator is entirely self-contained allowing it to be a mass-produced part that can be used in various module configurations having differently shaped enclosures and differently shaped filter cartridges. In the illustrated embodiment, the pressure regulator separably mounts on the exterior of the end wall of the enclosure. A retention ring that has certain features is used to mount the pressure regulator with a tight fit on the enclosure end wall. The enclosure also has features for a tight fit in the socket of a fuel pump module into which the pressure regulator/filter module is inserted when used.

Abstract: Dissipation of vapor bubbles in a top-feed, solenoid-operated fuel injector is enhanced by providing the otherwise circular I.D. of the adjusting tube with at least one axially extending radial slot. Different slot patterns are disclosed.

Abstract: A solenoid-operated top-feed fuel injector has a housing which contains a solenoid coil that is selectively energized by electric current to open and close the fuel injector. An inlet connector tube extends into the housing to convey pressurized liquid fuel into an internal fuel passage. Fuel is injected from the nozzle at the bottom. An armature assembly that has a needle valve joined to an armature is disposed within the fuel passage between the inlet connector tube and the outlet, and is spring-biased by a helical spring to seat the tip of the needle valve on a valve seat proximate the nozzle. Slot structure is formed in the armature during its fabrication by a metal injection molding or sintering process. The needle is inserted into the smaller diameter portion and the two are crimped together. Crimping tool access is through the slot structure, which also provides a path for fuel to flow past the armature. In one embodiment fuel can pass axially through the I.D.

Abstract: A filter is disposed internally of the fuel injector between the inlet and the internal valve so that particulate material having an internal origin may also be prevented from reaching the injector's valve. The filter is an electroformed screen that is supported within the fuel injector's nozzle end and is sandwiched against an internal shoulder of the fuel injector.