Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injector and novel method for assembly and calibration having a solenoid assembly with a pole piece, a valve assembly including an armature, and a working air gap separating the valve assembly from the pole piece when the injector is in a de-energized state. A shim having a thickness equivalent to the length of the working air gap is placed between the pole piece and the valve member during construction of the injector. Following assembly, a solvent is introduced into the injector to dissolve the shim, which is constructed of a material readily dissolvable in the desired solvent, to define the working air gap and, therefore, the static flow through the injector.

Abstract: A gaseous fuel injection system has a fuel metering body having a tubular injector chamber with an expansion chamber at one closed end thereof; the expansion chamber having openings for the passage of fuel from the chamber to the exterior of the fuel metering body. Additionally, a spool type silencer is positioned between the expansion chamber and a fuel injector located at the end of the silencer opposite that of the expansion chamber. The silencer has a hollow cylindrical core with an inlet to receive fuel from the injector and a multiplicity of outlets for the passage of the fuel to an outer annular region. The outer annular region has an upper wall for support of the injector within the tubular injector chamber and a lower wall having openings for passage of the fuel from the annular region to the expansion chamber.

Abstract: An exhaust gas burner reactor which comprises a burner apparatus having a combustor tube which extends axially in a spaced relationship to an exhaust gas conduit. The combustor tube has a first, base end having fuel and air inlets and a mixing chamber therein, and a second combustor end having a combustor chamber and outlets for ejecting burning fuel and air into the exhaust gas conduit. The combustor assembly is oriented so as to locate the burner outlets upstream of the first end so that heated exhaust gas/burner output mixture passes through an exhaust reactor defined between the combustor tube and the exhaust gas conduit. The reactor aids in the combustion of unreacted fuel components in the exhaust gas.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a means for limiting the pressure within the induction system of an internal combustion engine having a flexible elastomeric sealing wall disposed between components of the intake. When internal pressures reach a predetermined limit, the wall is subject to elastic deformation to thereby vent the pressure increase within the induction system to the exterior thereof. Rates of pressure rise and peak pressures are thereby lowered. Return of normal system pressure levels operate to reseat the sealing wall enabling continuation of engine operation.

Abstract: A throttle cam for a throttle valve comprises a throttle cam for a throttle valve with the throttle cam comprising a cam body having a shaft opening with an opening axis. The throttle cam further comprises a trough-shaped cable track adjoining the cam body. The cable track comprises a track bottom having one end adjacent to cable connection openings, and a pair of track walls separated by the track bottom. The track walls extend away from an opening axis and lie in a radial plane so that, when the cam body is in a closed position, the throttle cable is received in the track bottom, and when the cam body is sufficiently rotated away from the closed position, a portion of the throttle cable is displaced away from the track bottom in the radial plane. The cable track further comprises a cam clip adjoining one of the track walls to obstruct displacement of the throttle cable beyond the track walls when the cam body is rotated away from the closed position.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a structural oil pan for use with an internal combustion engine having a crankcase with short side walls of the type that generally do not extend below the center line of the crankcase. The oil pan has internal ribs which slidingly receive lower portions of the main bearing caps. The main bearing caps are fixed, relative to the oil pan with bolts passing through openings in the pan to threadingly engage corresponding openings in the bearing caps. Such an oil pan design allow the crankcase side walls, the crankshaft main bearing caps and the oil pan side walls to be structurally joined to resist vibration and noise generation. Weight savings are recognized by the oil pan of the present invention as the need for an engine block having extended side walls and increased weight is supplanted by a light weight, structurally rigid oil pan.

Abstract: A parts washer for cleaning individual parts is disclosed having a compartmentalized washing enclosure housing individual washing and drying chamber which are separated by slideable partitions which open to admit parts, close to isolate parts during a particular washing operation, and open to release parts to a subsequent chamber. The partitions are operated in a predetermined sequence by pivoting arms which are acted on by positive motion cams mounted on a motor driven camshaft. The wash chambers have nozzles connected to a cleaning medium supply for directing cleaner such as hot water or steam onto the part to be cleaned in a predetermined pattern for optimized cleaning and, similarly, the drying chambers utilize nozzles connected to a source of dried, compressed air to dry the heated parts. A feed track moves the parts to be cleaned from the parts source, such as a manufacturing machine, to and through the parts washer.

Abstract: A metal foil substrate catalytic converter for use in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, having corrugated metal foil sheets secured together in a stack so that a plurality of axially extending fluid flow paths are defined therebetween. Disposed at predetermined intervals throughout the stack are foil retainer sheets having integral foil tabs extending outwardly from the side edges and folded about the outer side surface of the substrate to form a segmented foil skin thereabout. The segmented foil skin may be welded continuously along its length to secure the foil sheets in a unitary catalyst substrate and to provide a weld surface for attachment of the catalyst substrate directly to the converter canister wall.

Abstract: A fuel injector for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine in which a single fuel injector meters fuel to a plurality of injection nozzles which discharge fuel adjacent to the engine inlet ports having a distributor with an outlet passage and a valve seat surrounding the passage, a single valve engaging the valve seat to control fuel delivery through the passage and a valve actuator adapted to pivotally displace the valve from the seat to contact a valve stop to allow fuel delivery through the passages. The stop surface comprises the lower surface of the valve body which houses the actuator and the center pole of the actuator. The center pole of the actuator extends beyond the lower surface of the body to provide a non-plannar valve stop surface which makes point contact therewith and avoids surface-to-surface contact between the members which may result in incidental adhesion therebetween.

Abstract: A catalytic converter for use in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine having a rigid outer canister with a catalyst support disposed therein for movement between a first position adjacent in inlet end of the canister and a second position located in spaced relationship with said inlet end. In its first position, the substrate seals the inlet thereby forcing the entire exhaust flow through the fluid flow passages within the catalyst support which are in axial alignment with the converter inlet. The effect of forcing the totality of flow reduced volume of the substrate to the entire thermal energy of the exhaust stream thereby assisting in a reduction in the catalyst light-off time. Following catalyst light-off, the catalyst support is moved to its second, spaced position in which the entire frontal area of the converter is exposed to the exhaust flow thereby lowering backpressure of the converter and preventing converter overtemperature problems.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine system having reduced high speed emissions comprising an exhaust driven supercharger having turbine pressure dependent control means for regulating turbine pressure and turbine speed to a substantially constant value to produce a decreasing compressor pressure profile with increasing engine speed and to reduce mass air flow through the engine during high speed operation, thereby reducing engine emissions and improving durability.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a v-configured, internal combustion engine having a close-coupled, catalytic converter having a converter assembly located adjacent the engine comprising a pre-chamber upstream of the catalyst support which has inlet assemblies oriented, and a cross-section configured to induce a centrifugal swirling action in the exhaust gas as it passes therethrough. The swirling action of the exhaust gas inhibits reversion of particles, trapped upstream of the converter, into the engine.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly for controlling the recirculation of exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine having a base with an exhaust gas chamber formed therein, a valve assembly having a valve member mounted within the exhaust gas chamber for metering the flow of exhaust gas therethrough, and a valve stem extending out of the chamber through an opening therein, a one piece bearing having upper, intermediate, and lower bearing members for precise positioning of the valve member within the exhaust gas chamber, and a valve stem support assembly for mounting the valve stem relative to an actuator. The intermediate and upper bearing portions operate to deflect exhaust gas, escaping from the exhaust gas chamber and traveling along the valve stem of the valve member, from impinging on the actuator.

Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle for use in an internal combustion engine has a spray tip with a spring biased poppet valve journaled for reciprocable movement therein. The poppet valve has a fuel supply passage extending through the stem thereof for flow communication with fuel spray orifices that are located so as to discharge fuel in a predetermined spray pattern upon outward opening movement of the poppet valve. The nozzle has an integral locating and secondary stop assembly comprising complimentary grooves formed in the nozzle body and the valve stem of the poppet valve which, when aligned, form a cylindrical positioning bore which is adapted to receive a locating ball. The ball acts through interference at the nozzle-stem interface to prevent rotation of the poppet valve relative to the nozzle body and additionally acts to limit outward movement of the valve from the nozzle body by an interference with the upper shoulder of the positioning slot.

Abstract: A fuel injection system with precisioned cylinder to cylinder fuel control with computer controls for a normally closed solenoid fuel inlet control valve to a fuel distributor pump which features rapid response fuel cut off to terminate and precisely control and vary fuel pulse width to the separate cylinders of an internal combustion engine as computed to optimize engine operation for improved cylinder torque balance, idle speed control, cylinder cut out, and fuel control for improved particulate regeneration. In this system the solenoid valve is opened before the rotor inlet fuel ports hydraulically communicate to reduce solenoid pull in response and repeatably requirements while assuring fuel fill between the solenoid valve and rotor fill ports.

Abstract: In a fuel injection system for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, a plurality of injection nozzles discharge fuel adjacent the engine inlet ports, and a single injector meters the fuel to all of the injection nozzles. The injector may include an annular valve surface, a plurality of discharge passages opening through the valve surface to direct fuel to the nozzles, and a single valve member associated with the valve surface to control fuel delivery to the discharge passages. The injector may include a rectifier valve that admits air to the discharge passages when the valve member precludes fuel delivery to the discharge passages. The fuel discharge lines that connect the injector discharge passages to the nozzles may be surrounded by air lines.

Abstract: An integrated idle bypass air and exhaust gas recirculation control system having a single valve assembly to control both idle air and exhaust gas being supplied to the engine. The valve assembly has a solenoid actuated two-way valve for switching from air to exhaust gas as a source, and a metering valve for controlling the quantity of gas, either idle air or exhaust gas, allowed to enter the engine intake.

Abstract: A particulate trap system for use in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine has an exhaust conduit with a main branch, a bypass branch, and an exhaust pressure regulating valve disposed within the main branch for selectively diverting exhaust gas through one of the branches. A particulate filter is disposed within the main branch and a burner assembly, having an outlet disposed upstream of the filter, is operable to raise the temperature of the filter to a level sufficient to incinerate particulates thereon. The exhaust pressure regulating valve is configured to act as a metering orifice when in a restrictive position so as to supply a metered amount of exhaust air to the burner while channeling a substantial portion of the exhaust flow through the bypass branch during the regeneration cycle of the system.

Abstract: A low restriction exhaust treatment apparatus having a hollow outer shell into which a means for treating exhaust gas emitted from an internal combustion engine is disposed, end portions disposed at each end of the outer shell to sealingly close the inner portion of the shell, and end tubes inserted into apertures formed in the sealing end portions for facilitating exhaust flow into and out of the apparatus. The end tubes each have a plurality of axially extending, radially inwardly angled serrations formed about one end thereof to form a lead-in portion of a reduced diameter for ease of insertion of the tubes into the apertures of the end portions without creation of undesirable exhaust system back pressure.

Abstract: A substrate for a catalytic converter is formed of steel sheets embossed with corrugations in a chevron pattern such that the metal buckles at vertices of adjoining corrugations to form projections extending out of the plane of the sheet. The sheets are stacked with the projections registered to form weld points and capacitive discharge welding secures the sheets together. The substrate is formed in two halves which are clamped together and then secured by end rings.