Patents by Inventor Peter Francis Bradford

Peter Francis Bradford 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).

  • Patent number: 7163003
    Abstract: A fuel system for an internal combustion engine comprises a fuel injection apparatus (16) including at least one fuel injector (18), the fuel injection apparatus (16) being arranged to inject fuel at high pressure into an associated combustion space, and a primary supply line (11) through which fuel is supplied from a low pressure reservoir (10) to the fuel injection apparatus (16). The system also includes a return flow line (20) for a return flow of fuel from the fuel injection apparatus (16) to the low pressure reservoir (10), and a filter arrangement (32) including a primary filter (14) arranged within the primary supply line (11) for filtering contaminants in the fuel flow through the primary supply line (11) and a secondary filter (30) arranged within the return flow line (20) for filtering contaminants from the flow through the return flow line (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Francis Bradford
  • Patent number: 6461506
    Abstract: A filter for a fuel injection device, comprising a plurality of filter elements arranged within a housing such that, in use, fluid is directed through clearances of predetermined size between respective mutually adjacent ones of the elements for preventing the passage of oversized contaminant particles carried in the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Francis Bradford
  • Patent number: 6338796
    Abstract: A filter for use in a fuel injection device, the filter having a bore extending along at least a part of its length and comprising a plurality of channels formed in its outer surface, the channels defining, with a housing part for the filter, passages for fuel flowing from an inlet end of the filter to an outlet end of the filter. Each of the channels is in fluid communication with an adjacent one of the channels by means of a clearance passage. The filter also comprises a plurality of radially extending recesses formed at the inlet and outlet ends of the filter, each of the radially extending recesses being in fluid communication with a channel and defining, at least in part, a plurality of inlet and outlet passages for fuel flowing into and out of the channels respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Francis Bradford
  • Patent number: 6328889
    Abstract: A filter arrangement is described in which fuel flows through a filter member in a radially outward direction. A sleeve surrounds the filter element and defines, with the filter member, an air collection chamber. One or more small openings are provided in the sleeve whereby air is permitted to escape from the air collection chamber at a controlled rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventor: Peter Francis Bradford
  • Patent number: 6119657
    Abstract: A connector is disclosed which is intended for use with an injector. The connector comprises a projection defining an inlet passage sealed, in use, within a bore provided in the injector. The inlet passage communicates with at least one outlet passage. The connector further comprises at least one tooth received within a recess provided in the injector to secure the connector to the injector. The recess is conveniently defined by a body and nut forming part of the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventors: John William Stevens, Keith Graham Walker, Martin John Ralph, Alan Conway Green, Andrew Joseph John Drummond, David Frederick Greenfield, Adrian Mark Greaney, Peter Francis Bradford
  • Patent number: 5958225
    Abstract: A filter system is disclosed which comprises a housing having a first inlet and a first outlet. A filter element is located between the first inlet and the first outlet. A temperature sensitive valve controls communication between a first inlet side of the filter element communicating with the first inlet and a return line from a fuel pump so that when the fuel temperature is low, hot fuel returning from the pump is supplied to the first inlet side of the filter element. When the fuel temperature increases, the returned fuel is returned to the fuel reservoir rather than to the first side of the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventor: Peter Francis Bradford
  • Patent number: 5951862
    Abstract: A filter comprises a filter cartridge located within a housing. Fuel flows through a filter medium of the cartridge, in use, from an outer chamber to an inner chamber. From the inner chamber, the fuel flows over and around a sedimentation baffle located within a sedimentation chamber. Fuel exits the sedimentation chamber through an outlet passage, an air collection chamber being arranged to collect air from the flow of fuel. Air exits the air collection chamber via openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Lucas Industries plc
    Inventor: Peter Francis Bradford
  • Patent number: 5928513
    Abstract: A filter comprises a housing, a support member located within the housing and an adapter member securing the support member to the housing. The support member is provided with a coupling component in the form of a screw-threaded opening for cooperation with a screw-threaded projection of a filter head to secure the filter housing to the filter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventor: Peter Francis Bradford
  • Patent number: 5925245
    Abstract: A filter arrangement comprises a filter head and a filter body. The filter body and filter head are provided with components arranged to cooperate with one another to permit the filter body to be secured to the filter head by sliding the filter body in a lateral direction thereof relative to the filter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventors: Peter Francis Bradford, David John Cunningham Law
  • Patent number: 5914035
    Abstract: The fluid treatment apparatus may comprise a sedimenter or agglomerator for insertion in a fuel line between a fuel tank and a fuel injection pump in order to remove dirt particles and water from diesel fuel passing along the fuel line. A water reservoir (4) is positioned at the bottom of the apparatus in order to collect the water removed from the fuel. In order to avoid applying a compressive clamping force to the side wall (17) of the water reservoir (4), the arrangement is such as to clamp only the top part of the side wall (17) ?as shown in FIG. 1! or else to apply no clamping force at all to the water reservoir (4) ?see FIG. 16!. This enables the water reservoir (4) to be made of cheap plastics material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Lucas Industries PLC
    Inventor: Peter Francis Bradford
  • Patent number: 5900149
    Abstract: A sedimenter comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet. The housing defines a collection chamber located beneath and in communication with a sedimentation chamber. Flow path defining means, for example in the form of a baffle, located within the sedimentation chamber forces fuel flowing between the inlet and the outlet to follow a relatively long, tortuous flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Peter Francis Bradford
  • Patent number: 5843313
    Abstract: A fuel filter element includes an outer casing within which is located an annular filter medium which surrounds an inner tube. The filter medium is supported by upper and lower annular support plates. The upper support plate is provided with apertures to allow fuel flow and the lower support plate has a series of apertures which are located adjacent the outer peripheral edge of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Peter Francis Bradford
  • Patent number: 5685278
    Abstract: A filter system forming part of the fuel system of a compression ignition engine includes a housing which carries a filter element. The housing has a first inlet which opens into a chamber defined between the housing and chamber the first inlet being connected to a fuel tank, and a first outlet for fuel which has passed through the element and which is connected to a fuel injection pump. The housing has a second inlet which is connected to the chamber and receives heated fuel from the fuel pump and a second outlet which is connected to the chamber through a port. The second outlet is connected to the fuel tank. A third outlet is connected to the second inlet and is connected to a flame type starting aid of the engine. Valve means responsive to the temperature of the fuel in the chamber controls fuel flow through said port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries, plc
    Inventors: Peter Francis Bradford, Peter John Bartlett
  • Patent number: 5665230
    Abstract: A fuel filter element includes an annular filter medium which is supported on a lower support plate. Fuel flows downwardly through the medium and then through apertures at the outer periphery of the support plate. The support plate is provided with depending annular baffles, the outer one being adjacent the apertures but inwardly thereof. The baffles and support plate form an air collection chamber from which air escapes at a controlled rate through an orifice into a central outlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Peter Francis Bradford