Patents by Inventor Michael J. Hornby

Michael J. Hornby has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20040046066
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is at least within the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion. The coil group subassembly includes a solenoid coil that is operable to displace the armature assembly with respect to the seat; and a second attachment portion that is fixedly connected to the first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland, Michael J. Hornby, James Robert Parish, Dennis Bulgatz, Ross Wood, Bryan Hall
  • Patent number: 6695232
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is disposed at least within the tube assembly; an O-ring that circumscribes the first end of the tube assembly and that can be maintained by a retaining portion of the filter; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland, Michael J. Hornby
  • Patent number: 6687997
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a modular fuel injector permits the fabrication of the electrical group subassembly outside a clean room while a fuel group subassembly is fabricated inside a clean room. The method provides for manufacturing a sealed fuel injector unit via a predetermined number of different types of operations. Each type comprises a range of percentages of the predetermined number of operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert MacFarland, Michael J. Hornby
  • Patent number: 6685112
    Abstract: A fuel injector having a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, and a fuel passageway extending along an axis between the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet. The fuel injector includes a body having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a neck portion disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. An adjusting tube is disposed within the neck portion of the body. A spring is disposed within the neck portion of the body, the spring having an upstream end proximate to the adjusting tube and a downstream end opposite the upstream end. An armature having a lower portion is disposed within the neck portion of the body and displaceable along the axis relative to the body. The downstream end of the spring is disposed proximate to the armature, the spring applying a biasing force to the armature. A valve seal is substantially rigidly connected to the lower portion of the armature. The fuel injector includes a valve group subassembly that is connected to a coil group subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Hornby, Michael P. Dallmeyer
  • Patent number: 6676043
    Abstract: Several methods of setting the armature lift of a modular fuel injector are disclosed. The methods include the use of a crush ring or a lift sleeve that is inserted into the valve body during assembly of the modular fuel injector. The methods further include the technique of adjusting the relative axial position of the valve body relative to a non-magnetic shell body. The methods additionally include the adjustment of the pole piece relative to the non-magnetic shell prior to both parts being affixed together. The method also includes axial adjustment of the lift sleeve after the insertion of the lift sleeve into the valve body. The modular fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Michael J. Hornby
  • Patent number: 6676044
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is at least within the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion. The coil group subassembly includes a solenoid coil that is operable to displace the armature assembly with respect to the seat; and a second attachment portion that is fixedly connected to the first attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland, Michael J. Hornby, James Robert Parish, Dennis Bulgatz, Ross Wood, Bryan Hall
  • Patent number: 6655608
    Abstract: A solenoid actuated fuel injector includes a valve body, a valve seat at one end of the valve body and having a seating surface facing the interior of the valve body and including a fuel outlet opening, a fuel tube for conducting pressurized fuel into the valve body against the seating surface, a spherical valve ball moveable between a seated position against the seating surface to close the outlet opening against fuel flow, and an open position spaced from the seating surface to allow fuel flow through the outlet opening, a spring in the valve body and biasing the valve ball toward the seated position, an armature axially moveable in the valve body and including a valve ball capturing member at an end proximate the seating surface, the valve ball capturing member being engageable with the ball outer surface adjacent the seating surface, and a solenoid coil operable to draw the armature away from the seating surface, thereby moving the valve ball to the open position and allowing fuel to pass through the fuel
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Hornby
  • Publication number: 20030132411
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located at the first end of the tube assembly and that has an integral retaining portion; an O-ring that circumscribes the first end of the tube assembly and that is maintained by the retaining portion of the filter; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland, Michael J. Hornby
  • Patent number: 6550690
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located at least within the tube assembly and may include an integral retaining portion; an O-ring that circumscribes the first end of the tube assembly and that is maintained by the retaining portion of the filter; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland, Michael J. Hornby
  • Patent number: 6547154
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located within the tube assembly and integral with the adjusting tube; and a first attachment portion. The coil group subassembly includes a solenoid coil that is operable to displace the armature assembly with respect to the seat; and a second attachment portion that is fixedly connected to the first attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Michael J. Hornby
  • Patent number: 6523760
    Abstract: A fuel injector having a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, and a fuel passageway extending along an axis between the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet. The fuel injector includes a body having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a neck portion disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. An adjusting tube is disposed within the neck portion of the body. A fuel filter is mounted inside the adjusting tube prior to the insertion of the adjusting tube into the fuel injector inlet tube. A spring is disposed within the neck portion of the body, the spring having an upstream end proximate to the adjusting tube and a downstream end opposite the upstream end. An armature having a lower portion is disposed within the neck portion of the body and displaceable along the axis relative to the body. The downstream end of the spring is disposed proximate to the armature, the spring applying a biasing force to the armature. A valve seal is substantially rigidly connected to the lower portion of the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Michael J. Hornby, Robert McFarland
  • Patent number: 6520422
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located at least within the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion. The coil group subassembly includes a solenoid coil that is operable to displace the armature assembly with respect to the seat; and a second attachment portion that is fixedly connected to the first attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Michael J. Hornby, Robert McFarland, James Robert Parish, Dennis Bulgatz
  • Publication number: 20030019958
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is at least within the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion. The coil group subassembly includes a solenoid coil that is operable to displace the armature assembly with respect to the seat; and a second attachment portion that is fixedly connected to the first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: SIEMENS AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland, Michael J. Hornby, James Robert Parish, Dennis Bulgatz, Ross Wood, Bryan Hall
  • Patent number: 6511003
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located at least within the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion. The coil group subassembly includes a solenoid coil that is operable to displace the armature assembly with respect to the seat; and a second attachment portion that is fixedly connected to the first attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Michael J. Hornby, Robert McFarland
  • Patent number: 6502770
    Abstract: A modular fuel injector is disclosed for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is disposed at least within the tube assembly and that has an integral retaining portion; an O-ring that circumscribes the first end of the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Michael J. Hornby, Robert McFarland
  • Patent number: 6499668
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located at least within the tube assembly and that has an integral retaining portion; an O-ring that circumscribes the first end of the tube assembly and that is maintained by the retaining portion of the filter; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Michael J. Hornby, Bryan Hall, Ross Wood
  • Patent number: 6481646
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a valve group with a valve body. The valve group also includes an inlet tube having an inlet tube channel and at least one formed slot, the inlet tube is connected to the valve body. The valve group further includes an armature/ball assembly reciprocally disposed in the valve body. In addition, the inlet tube is spaced a predetermined distance from the armature/ball assembly. The fuel injector further includes a power group including a coil assembly that cinctures the inlet tube, a housing that encases the coil assembly, and an overmold that encapsulates the housing and coil assembly. The overmold includes at least one overmold slot that is formed in the overmold. The power group also includes a retainer that retains the power group to the valve group. A method of manufacturing the injector assembly and a method of operating the injector assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Hornby
  • Publication number: 20020138983
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a modular fuel injector permits the fabrication of the electrical group subassembly outside a clean room while a fuel group subassembly is fabricated inside a clean room. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located at least within the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert MacFarland, Michael J. Hornby
  • Publication number: 20020138985
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a modular fuel injector permits the fabrication of the electrical group subassembly outside a clean room while a fuel group subassembly is fabricated inside a clean room. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located at least within the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Michael J. Hornby
  • Publication number: 20020138984
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a modular fuel injector permits the fabrication of the electrical group subassembly outside a clean room while a fuel group subassembly is fabricated inside a clean room. The method provides for manufacturing a sealed fuel injector unit via a predetermined number of different types of operations. Each type comprises a range of percentages of the predetermined number of operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland, Michael J. Hornby