Abstract: Heat exchangers depend for efficiency upon maximizing fluid flow, such as air, through their fins about tubes extending through the fins. The air flow, particularly at the ends of a heat exchanger, can sometimes be of a significantly reduced amount owing to flow restrictions caused by the construction of, or arrangement of elements in, a heat exchanger. A core (12) of a heat exchanger (10) of the present invention utilizes a relatively varied angular arrangement for tubes (16) in the core (12) which improves air flow, particularly at the ends (28,40) of the core (12). Air flow is thus improved over a portion of the heat exchanger (10) to increase heat transfer, as well as purging of debris, for the folded or zipzag core arrangement described.

Abstract: Previously disclosed distributor fuel injection pumps for internal combustion engines offer the advantages of reduced size, weight, and cost of a fuel injection system. However, these pumps have not been able to provide relatively high fuel injection pressures which could improve fuel combustion for better fuel economy and lower noxious emissions. In contrast, the subject distributor fuel injection pump generates relatively high fuel injection pressures in a relatively compact arrangement. A semi-spherical nutator member freely rotatably mounted on an oblique journal of a drive shaft imparts high speed harmonic motion to at least one reciprocating pump plunger for pressurizing the fuel. A relatively large semi-spherical bearing interface between the nutator member and a pump housing accommodates very high pumping reaction loads.

Abstract: Planetary gear mechanisms are useful in distributor fuel injection pumps to couple a distributor rotor with a drive shaft in order to rotate the distributor rotor at a preselected output angular speed which is proportional to and less than a preselected input angular speed of the drive shaft.Previously disclosed planetary gear coupling arrangements are typically rather bulky and merely provide an angular speed reduction function. In contrast, the subject thrust and planetary gear coupling provides a relatively more compact arrangement for angular speed reduction and also includes a stationary dual-thrust plate which controls axial end play of both the drive shaft and the distributor rotor. The coupling further includes a relatively inexpensive and easy to assemble planet gear and carrier assembly which during operation rotatively drives the distributor rotor at the same output angular speed and which can also bear against the dual-thrust plate to act as a running thrust member.

Abstract: A modular unit fluid pump-injector for pumping and injecting fuel into an engine combustion chamber is disclosed and includes a first retainer (68) for sealably and removably retaining the pump cylinder (32) against the housing (18) and a second retainer (148) for sealably and removably retaining an encapsulated injector assembly (28) against the first retainer (68).Unlike conventional unit fluid pump-injectors which have a single elongated sleeve-type nut enclosing and clamping a stacked plurality of both pump and injector components, the modular design is less prone to excessive fuel leakage and the plunger binding during assembly. The modular design also facilities easy assembly or removal of the encapsulated injector assembly (28) to or from the first retainer (68) without altering the position or arrangement of the pump elements (32,34) relative to the first retainer (68).

Abstract: An improved glow plug (10) which is adapted to be continuously electrically heated to a preselected elevated temperature in order to ignite relatively lower-cetane-number alternative fuels. The glow plug (10) includes a ceramic surface ignition element (20) disposed substantially externally of the glow plug body (18) and means (24) for permitting thermal expansion and contraction of the ignition element (20) while maintaining continuous electrically-conductable and gas-impermeable contact between the ignition element (20) and the glow plug body (18).

Abstract: A bulkhead-fluid-line connector (10) is disclosed for supporting and directly sealably connecting two fluid lines (20,22) which conduct a pressurized fluid, such as fuel, through a housing wall (16) of an internal combustion engine (18).Unlike conventional bulkhead-fluid line adapters or unions which have a plurality of fluid supply path joints, the connector (10) requires only one fluid supply path joint by directly and sealably connecting the end portions (52,54) of the respective fluid lines (20,22) with a releasable coupler (56).

Abstract: Nozzle assemblies are used to spray a liquid, for example oil, for cooling a reciprocating piston in an engine. Heretofore, the spray pattern has been undesirably divergent and this has proven to be a problem when spraying a long distance. The present nozzle assembly (10) maintains a substantially columnar spray pattern by having an inlet portion (40) defining an opening (46), and an outlet portion (42) defining a first passage (62) for communicating a first liquid flow from the opening (46) outwardly thereof at a first velocity, and a plurality of passages (66) for communicating a second liquid flow from the opening (46) outwardly thereof at a second velocity less than the first velocity. The passages preferably have a relatively significant L/D ratio.

Abstract: Prior art roller followers have generally been relatively expensive to produce and provisions have had to be made to deliver pressurized lubricant to bushings which have been used as bearings for the roller. Such roller followers have also been made with partially open apertures for bearings, thus eliminating the need for pressurized lubrication, but in such roller followers there is a tendency for the rollers to fall out of the open apertures. These probelms are solved herein by forming the body (16) and bearing surfaces (26,28) of a roller follower (10) in two parts, an inner structure (20) which supports the bearing surfaces (26,28) and an outer structure (18) which surrounds the inner structure (20) and fastens the entire assembly (10) together. Preferably, the inner structure (20) comprises a pair of half tubular shells (22,24) which fit together and include flanges (40,41) for keeping the roller (12) in contact with the bearing surfaces (26,28).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for efficiently reducing the amounts of nitrogen oxides contained in a combusted gas stream from an engine combustion chamber (14). Ammonia is reliably and instantaneously metered to the combusted gas stream conduit (24) in a preselected proportion to the fuel mass flow rate and only in response to the sensed temperature of the combusted gas stream in the reactor (26) being within a preselected range.

Abstract: The outermost tubes (50) of a heat exchanger core (20) have not be as adequately cooled as have the interior tubes (50) by the flow of air between the fins (40) and the tubes (50). Herein, a cover (80 or 85) is connected over the edges (45) of the fins (40) defining a respective one of first and second end surfaces (70,75) and is spaced from the inlet surface (60) of the core (20). Consequently, the outermost tube (50), which is nearest the cover (80 or 85), is cooled substantially to the same degree as the other tubes (50). In one embodiment of the present invention, about a 5% increase in the thermal efficiency of the core (20) is attained.

Abstract: A test stand (10) having a principal use for testing a fuel pump and associated governor (24), has a drive shaft (16), an inertial weight (30) operatively associated therewith, and apparatus (56) for selectively engaging and disengaging the inertial weight (30) with the drive shaft (16). This test stand (10) solves the technical problems associated with present test stands, which problems include the inability to maintain a constant drive shaft speed for fuel pump calibration, and also the inability to thereafter rapidly increase or decrease said drive shaft speed for purposes of determining the governor response. The apparatus (56) can accommodate misalignment between the drive shaft (16) and the fuel pump (24). The test stand can also include a spline arrangement (108) which also accommodates misalignment between the drive shaft (16) and a cam shaft (99) of the fuel pump (24).

Abstract: A tappet (10) for an internal combustion engine having a main body (12) and an annular rim (17) extending therefrom with a ceramic wear resisting insert (20) flush therewith and maintained therein by means of an interference fit. This tappet (10) need have a wear face (14) not as great in diameter as the distance of potential contact between a cam (16) and a wear face of infinitely extended surface. The tappet (10) yielded has a very long life and a low incidence of failure.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (24) includes a plurality of heat exchanging sheets (1) arranged in a stack (12), with each sheet having a central corrugated portion (14), flattened edge portions (16,18), and a transition zone (28) intermediate the corrugated portion and the edge portions of each of the plurality of the generally longitudinally extending convolutions (26) in the corrugated portions. Advantageously, the transition zones (28) are located at different longitudinal positions transversely across the individual sheets in order to stagger certain bulges (30) thereat, which bulges are formed during crushing of the edge portions and which would otherwise cause fluid flow blockage of the cross sectional passage regions between the sheets.

Abstract: Rotary expansible chamber devices include slant-axis rotary apparatus such as engines, compressors, pumps, and the like. Eccentric rotating members of such apparatus generate thrust and bending loads of high magnitude during operation thereof. The rotor shaft of the apparatus is subjected to severe bending and thrust loads which tend to fatigue various connections in the apparatus. The present invention provides a connection for counteracting the bending loads, including a bolt (21) extending through a rotor shaft (15), a nut (28) threadably mounted (27) on an end of the rotor shaft, and portions (30,31) of the rotor shaft (15) and bolt (21) which are disposed closely adjacent to the nut (28) and are further disposed in press-fit relationship relative to each other. Thus, bending loads imposed on the rotor shaft are transmitted directly to the bolt but not to the screw threads during operation of the apparatus.