Patents Represented by Attorney David P. Wood
  • Patent number: 7308888
    Abstract: A cam arrangement for use with a high pressure fuel pump arrangement for delivering fuel to an associated engine, the cam arrangement including at least two cams (28) that are mounted, in use, upon an engine camshaft and each of which is arranged to drive a respective pumping plunger (16) of the fuel pump arrangement, wherein each plunger is driven to perform a pumping stroke, against return biasing means (32), during which fuel within a pump chamber (22) associated with each plunger is pressurised, and whereby said return biasing means (32) effects a plunger return stroke, and wherein each cam (28) is oriented relative to the or each other cam and has a surface (50) shaped such that the associated plunger return stroke is interrupted to define at least one step of plunger movement that is substantially synchronous with the pumping stroke of another of the plungers (16) of the pump, thereby to reduce negative torque loading of the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony John Williams, Anthony Thomas Harcombe
  • Patent number: 7306755
    Abstract: A strap with rotatably mounted clip fabricated in a single molding operation. The strap includes a strap retention member and a plurality of teeth. The rotatable clip includes a clip member, a pedestal and a head. The pedestal is retained in a pedestal opening formed through the strap. In fabrication, a top mold insert is slid into a top of first and second mold halves and a bottom mold insert is slid into a bottom of the first and second mold halves. Plastic is then injected into the first and second mold halves to independently and separately form the strap and the clip in a single molding process, wherein the inserts provide a space between the pedestal opening and the pedestal to allow the clip to rotate relative to the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Morello
  • Patent number: 7303177
    Abstract: An actuator arrangement for use in a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine includes an inner core (30) comprising a plurality of laminates (30a) and a first outer pole (32) for receiving at least a part of the inner core (30), wherein the inner core (30) and the outer pole (32) together define a first volume (46) for receiving a first electromagnetic winding. An injector is provided in which the actuator arrangement controls a valve arrangement, either a spill valve or a nozzle control valve, or both, so as to control injection by the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Thomas Harcombe
  • Patent number: 7294014
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical plug connector comprising a first plug part, a second plug part which can be plugged together with the first plug part and an insertion part which is supported displaceably at the first plug part in the plug-in direction and cooperates with at least one spring element of the first plug part, with the insertion part being able to be pushed into the first plug part by the second plug part against the restoring force of the spring element on the plugging together of the plug parts, and with the spring element being substantially relaxed with separated plug parts and in the completely plugged together state of the plug connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Drescher, Andreas Urbaniak
  • Patent number: 7278891
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical connector element comprising a base part having a socket section to receive a plug-in contact and an insertion part inserted into the socket section for the contacting of a plug-in contact introduced into the socket section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eduard Cvasa, Karl Wirth
  • Patent number: 7278890
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a connector body having rows of longitudinal terminal cavities that are separated by internal partition walls of the connector body and that extend from an insertion end to a mating end for receiving electrical terminals attached to conductor wires. The connector body has primary terminal locks in the terminal cavities for retaining the electrical terminals in the terminal cavities. The connector body has a transverse slot that extends through a floor and intersects the rows of terminal cavities. A secondary lock fits into the transverse slot for retaining the electrical terminals in the terminal cavities. The secondary lock has lock nibs that engage internal partition walls of the connector body to hold the secondary lock in a preload position that permits insertion of the electrical terminals into the terminal cavities via openings at the insertion end of the connector body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale J. Smutny, Lisa J. McClearn
  • Patent number: 7280912
    Abstract: A method for controlling operation of an electronic control unit for use in an internal combustion engine, the electronic control unit being used to control different engine modes, the method including providing a function mode map having a plurality of data map points wherein the function mode map is divided into at least a first type region containing data map points representing mode map output values only of a first mode type and a second type region containing data map points representing mode map output values only of a second mode type; and providing at least one further data map having a plurality of further data map points, each of the further map points representing a further data map output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey John Thompson, Abdolreza Fallahi
  • Patent number: 7268473
    Abstract: The invention provides a piezoelectric actuator having a stack body comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements, each element having a positive and negative electrode pair which are electrically isolated from one another by the piezoelectric elements, the electrode pairs being arranged in groups of one or more electrode pairs, each group having a conducting arrangement in electrical connection therewith. The piezoelectric actuator further comprises a distribution electrode arrangement for connecting the conducting arrangement to a power supply, in use, wherein the distribution electrode arrangement includes a fuse arrangement. In the event of a short circuit between electrodes of a pair within one of the groups, the fuse arrangement breaks the electrical connection between the power supply and the conducting arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Berlemont
  • Patent number: 7267583
    Abstract: An electrical connection system comprises a female connector having a plurality of female terminals, and a male connector having a plurality of male blade terminals having projecting portions that plug into the plurality of female terminals respectively when the female connector and the male connector are mated. The male blade terminals are staggered having a first population with their tips at a first relative position and a second population with their at a second different relative position so that the first tips and the second tips do not touch and fully engage the mating female terminals and the plurality of male blade terminals at the same time thereby lowering the peak engagement force required for mating the female connector and the male connector. In an alternative arrangement, the female terminals, rather than the male blade terminals are staggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Smith
  • Patent number: 7269500
    Abstract: A process for determining the operating parameters of an injection device of a combustion engine includes the steps of: (a) selecting an injector to test; (b) calculating a mean velocity associated with a preceding injector arranged before the injector to test; c) applying to the injector to test an injection control signal including at least one test pulse having an adjustable parameter; (d) calculating a mean velocity associated with the injector to test; (e) calculating a difference between the mean velocity calculated in step d) and the mean velocity calculated in step b); (f) repeating steps b) to d) for at least another engine cycle, each time varying the parameter of the test pulse; (g) determining a value of the parameter of the test pulse for which the mean velocity difference exceeds a predetermined threshold; and storing the parameter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thierry Cochet, Guillaume Meissonnier
  • Patent number: 7266469
    Abstract: A method and an article of manufacture for determining a rate of change of orientation of a plurality of fibers disposed in a fluid are provided. The method includes determining a first tensor indicative of the rate of change of orientation of the plurality of fibers in the fluid in a predetermined region due to rigid body rotation of the plurality of fibers and the fluid. The method further includes determining a second tensor indicative of the rate of change or orientation of the plurality of fibers in the fluid in the predetermined region due to deformation of the plurality of fibers and the fluid in the predetermined region, utilizing a first scalar value that reduces the rate of change of orientation of the plurality of fibers due to deformation of the plurality of fibers and the fluid. The method further includes determining a third tensor indicative of a total rate of change of orientation of the plurality of fibers based on the first and second tensors, wherein the third tensor is an objective tensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Tucker, III, Jin Wang, John F. O'Gara
  • Patent number: 7263974
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for supplying pressurised fuel to a fuel injector (200) comprises an accumulator volume (606) for supplying fuel at rail pressure (P1) to the fuel injector (200) through a rail fuel supply passage (608) and a fuel pressurising arrangement (604) for supplying fuel at a selected pressure greater than rail pressure (P2) to the fuel injector (200) through a pressurised fuel supply passage (614). A fuel shut-off valve (618) is provided in the system which is operable between a closed position in which fuel is retained within the pressurising arrangement (604) and an open position in which pressurised fuel is supplied to the injector (200) from the pressurising arrangement (604) during an injection of fuel from the rail fuel supply passage (608). Operating the shut-off valve in this way provides a boost in the fuel pressure delivered during an injection event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Knight
  • Patent number: 7261604
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical terminal element for pushing through an opening, in particular a round opening, in an elastic material along a pushing through direction of the terminal element, comprising a contact part which has a connection section for the electrical and mechanical connection of the terminal element to an electrical lead, a dilating section and a contact section for the contacting of another terminal element arranged in series in the pushing through direction and comprising a reception part which at least partly surrounds the contact part in the region of the contact section and adjoins the dilating section. The invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of a terminal element in accordance with the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jens Brake, Eduard Cvasa, Bruce J. Serbin, John C Erste, John M. Chupak
  • Patent number: 7251876
    Abstract: A machine for terminating electric cable has a feeding segment that is decoupled from a terminating segment. The feeding segment has two feeders on which electric cable is wound. A length of cable is paid off one feeder and cut to length while another length of cable that has been paid off another feeder and cut to length is terminated at least at one end of the cable. A process for terminating electric cable provides a cable feed comprising a plurality of feeders and pays off a length of cable from one feeder of the cable feed while another length of cable that has been paid off another feeder of the cable feed is terminated at least at one end of the another length of cable. Alternatively lengths of cable are paid off two feeders and accumulated in a buffer segment associated with a feeding segment and a terminating segment. In an alternative process several lengths of cable are cut off and accumulated in a buffer while several other lengths of cable are being terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Cesar Rodriguez, Filiberto Heiras
  • Patent number: 7252074
    Abstract: An advance arrangement for controlling timing of fuel delivery by a fuel pump in an engine comprises an advance piston which is movable in either an advance or a retard direction to advance or retard, respectively, the timing of fuel pump delivery, wherein a surface associated with the advance piston is exposed to fuel pressure within a main advance control chamber. The advance piston has a supply port to allow fuel to flow into the main advance control chamber and a drain port to allow fuel to flow out of the main advance control chamber. A servo piston is movable relative to the advance piston to control opening and closing of the supply port and the drain port. The advance arrangement is characterised by a restricted flow means for restricting the flow of fuel out of the main advance control chamber through the drain port when the advance piston moves in the retard direction beyond a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Chapman, Rodney Dyason
  • Patent number: 7252564
    Abstract: An improved box-shaped female electrical connector featuring an optimized conductive (electrical and thermal) path, a spring contact insensitive to deformation, minimization of male blade insertion force, and maximization of contact force with the blade, all made possible by inclusion of the following structural aspects: an optimized conductive path, a spring contact carried by a dual spring contact member operative interfaced with an over stress abutment, a spring contact shield at the mouth of the electrical connector, and a basal contact, disposed opposite the spring contact, which is part of the direct conductive path of the electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Morello, William G Strang
  • Patent number: 7252559
    Abstract: An electrical female terminal is provided of two piece construction comprising an outer body and an inner body. The outer body has a forward shield portion and rearward conduction attaching portion. The inner body has a forward receptacle portion and a rearward conduction contacting portion enabling current to flow from a mating terminal to an attached electrical cable via the inner body. The receptacle portion includes resilient contact arms. The shield portion of the outer body surrounds the receptacle portion. The shield portion includes back-up spring members that enable the receptacle portion to maintain a normal force on a mating terminal even if the contact arms relax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Morello, Jon C. Hobbs
  • Patent number: 7252553
    Abstract: A ring out system including a ring out holder and an electrical connector to be tested therewith. The holder has a plurality of ring out pins which are received into openings at the floor of each terminal passage of the connector, wherein continuity is impossible unless the terminals are properly at their locked position. For final ring out, a plurality of stabilizer pins of the holder enter stabilizer pin openings of the connector to provide terminal position stability during testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Morello, Charles L Flask
  • Patent number: 7243862
    Abstract: A fuel injector nozzle and method for dispersing fuel during a normal combustion operation and a supplemental combustion operation, the fuel injector nozzle comprising: a plurality of first outlet openings configured to disperse fuel in a first arrangement; and a plurality of second outlet openings configured to collide with the fuel passing through the plurality of first openings to disperse fuel in a second arrangement, wherein either the first or second arrangement is selected by the position of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip J. G. Dingle
  • Patent number: 7241156
    Abstract: An electrical connector has a connector body that is equipped with a cam lever that is pivotally attached to the connector body for movement between a transit position and a lock position. The electrical connector has a retainer to prevent detachment of the cam lever from the connector body during transit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Margrave, Robert S. Lesigonich, Joseph M. Senk