Abstract: This disclosure relates to a discrete fuel filter having a tubular filter cartridge in its own socket in a filter housing. The socket is mounted in fluid communication with the inlet of a fuel rail for an internal combustion engine. In another embodiment, a fuel pressure regulator is operatively connected to be in fluid communication with the output of the filter and the input of the fuel rail. In each application the unfiltered fuel flows through the filter media from the input of the filter housing to the outlet of the filter housing.

Abstract: A fuel rail assembly is disclosed with internal electrical connectors for the solenoids of each fuel injector, the fuel injectors having pin contacts inserted into a connector seated in a recess formed in an internal wall of the fuel rail. A common external connector allows the electrical leads from the internal connectors to be connected to an electronic controller. An air assist version features a simplified construction enabled by the internal connectors, and has an air jacket surrounding each fuel injector, with compressed air received from an air supply passage defined within the fuel rail. The internal connectors are located offset from the fuel injector axes to allow an even sealing pressure to be exerted by manifold mounting bolts.

Abstract: A fuel rail crossover hose connection is disclosed for spaced apart fuel rail segments for V engines, the connection including a separate hose barb fitting installed in each end fuel rail segment in lieu of a conventionally configured end cap, and the crossover hose fit to the projecting ends of the fittings.

Abstract: A flow through pressure regulator as may be used in a fuel delivery system for a motor vehicle has a contained, but floating ball valve. The ball valve open and closes a central passageway through the diaphragm of the regulator. The diaphragm divides the interior of the regulator into 2 chambers, both of which has fuel. A retainer means supports the ball and allows both axial and radial movement and coupled with a small bias spring seating in a bore, the ball functions to automatically seat itself. The small bias spring does not interfere with the ball valve seating itself.

Abstract: Fuel pressure in a deadheaded fuel rail is regulated by an eddy current clutch that forms part of the mechanism that mechanically couples the engine crankshaft with a fuel pump which delivers pressurized fuel to the rail. An electric control that receives several inputs, including engine speed and fuel rail pressure, controls the degree of coupling that is provided by the clutch so that the pressure is regulated even though the engine speed and fuel demand change during normal engine operation.

Abstract: An integral pressure damper is designed for use with an internal combustion engine having a fuel return line and a fuel rail in a fuel system that requires a damper. The integral pressure damper comprises a fitting securable to the fuel return line, and a damper assembly securable to the fitting. The fitting is securable to the return line. The present invention allows the flexibility of attaching the return line to the fuel rail using braze or any other suitable attachment process, before the damper is attached to the return line. The damper is subsequently secured to the fitting, such as by crimping a housing of the damper to the outside of the fitting, or by crimping the fitting to the outside of the housing.

Abstract: A simplified lost motion valve control system and method for engines combines a cam, having a seating ramp located between lift and return profiles of the cam lobe, with a simplified hydraulic actuator having follower and actuator pistons and a fluid discharge passage that is internally cut off by the actuator piston when the valve is close to its seated position. After opening of the valve by the cam through the actuator to a desired valve opening, the valve is closed by opening a solenoid valve to discharge fluid from the actuator until the valve closes to near its seated position. The valve is then seated by the actuator following the cam seating ramp. The actuator is refilled upon return of the follower piston along the cam return profile to the base circle. Exemplary embodiments of hydraulic actuators are disclosed as is a system including control of dual actuators, driven by out of phase cams, through a single solenoid valve alternately isolated by the discharge port closure of the actuator pistons.

Abstract: A clip is used to retain a bottom feed fuel injector in an injector seat cavity of a fuel rail, the clip having a pair of legs engaging the fuel rail and a bridging portion cutout to receive one side of the fuel injector to retain the fuel injector in the seat cavity. Various release devices allow convenient disengagement of the legs with fuel rail protrusions used to secure the legs in a first embodiment of the clip. The clip wraps around the fuel rail in a second embodiment.

Abstract: An on-board diagnostic system for an evaporative emission control system of an internal combustion engine powered vehicle employs a positive displacement reciprocating pump to create in evaporative emission space a pressure that differs significantly from ambient atmospheric pressure. The pump is powered by using engine intake manifold vacuum to force an intake stroke during which both an internal spring is increasingly compressed and a charge of ambient atmospheric air is created in an air pumping chamber space. Vacuum is then removed, and the spring relaxes to force a compression stroke wherein a portion of the air charge is forced into the evaporative emission space. The pump operation is under the control of a computer that contains an algorithm for operating the pump in particular modes of operation to arrive at a decision concerning integrity of the evaporative emission space against leakage.

Abstract: Lost motion variable valve timing systems using hydraulic actuators controlled by a single control valve, preferably an electronically controlled solenoid valve, for actuating two or more valves on similar or identical timing and lift curves include prevention means that stop discharge pulses from one actuator being transmitted to and adversely affecting another actuator connected to the same control valve. Such prevention means may include one way check valves in the discharge lines connected with the control valve, non-aligned multiple inlet ports in the control valve and positioned to avoid transfer of pulses from one inlet port to another, or other return pulse preventing means.

Abstract: In the case of assembly after the insertion of the rotor (4-7) with the commutator (4) into the motor housing (8), in order to be able to install the brush holder (1), with its brushes (1.1; 1.2) which are subject to radial spring pressure, simply and in a manner which can be carried out by an automated machine it is proposed that: the brush holder (1) is pushed onto one end part (2.1) of an installation mandrel (2) which is in the form of a sleeve and whose other end (2.3) is placed on the commutator (4), together with an integrated restraining part (3) which holds the brushes (1.1; 1.2) in a raised installation position; and that the restraining part (3) is fixed outside the motor housing (8) by means of a conical expansion of one end part (2.1). The brush holder (1) is then moved into its final position with the brushes (1.1; 1.2) which now slide on the installation mandrel (2 ). The brushes (1.1; 1.2) are pressed radially onto the commutator (4) during the withdrawal of the installation mandrel (2).

Abstract: The armature has a tubular wall bounding a main axial through-hole. The upper axial end has a larger outside diameter than does the lower axial end. A portion of the tubular wall lying between these upper and lower ends has a frustoconical exterior surface. A single through-hole extends through the tubular wall at this frustoconical surface to non-perpendicularly intersect the main axial through-hole. The upper end of a needle valve is inserted into the lower axial end of the main through-hole, and the two parts are joined there by welding and/or crimping. The inserted end of the needle valve does not obstruct the single through-hole extending through the tubular wall so that fuel entering the armature via the open upper end of the main through-hole will change direction to pass out of the armature through the single through-hole in the tubular wall.

Abstract: A non-ferromagnetic member is disposed between, and joined to, a ferromagnetic fuel inlet tube and a ferromagnetic valve body structure. The valve body structure is fitted to the non-ferromagnetic member by telescoping the upper axial end of the valve body structure over the O.D. of the lower end of the non-ferromagnetic member and by guiding the armature on a cylindrical guide surface in a bore of the valve body structure at a location that is axially below the axial location where the upper end of the valve body structure and the lower end of the non-ferromagnetic member telescopically engage. For given part tolerances and given tolerances in tooling that is used to assemble the parts, closer tolerance in parallelism of the impacting armature end surface to the impacted fuel inlet tube end surface is obtained.

Abstract: A non-metallic cylindrical shell is fitted to the exterior of a metallic valve body portion of a solenoid-operated fuel injector to cover otherwise exposed metal that exists between a lower O-ring seal proximate the nozzle and a non-metallic overmold that covers the solenoid and an adjoining portion of the valve body. The shell and the cover come together at a joint where they mutually axially overlap in such a manner that assures both coverage of the exposed metal and retention of the shell on the valve body for the full tolerance stack-up range of the various parts when assembled.

Abstract: A thin disk orifice member having fuel metering orifices located on flat planar surfaces extending from the disk surface, The flat planar surfaces from sides of an enclosed structure having three or more sides, The structure may be in one position extending from the disk surface in the direction of the outlet of the injector or may be inverted. The orifices direct the fuel flow in various streams or sprays to individual cylinders of the engine.

Abstract: A lost motion hydraulic actuator for use between a cam and a valve of an internal combustion engine is provided with internal communication ports that are controlled by a piston to provide sequential closing of the ports during closing of the engine valve to reduce hydraulic shock and hammering noise as fluid is gradually directed exclusively through a damping orifice during valve seating.

Abstract: Multiple stacked orifice disk members cooperatively form a chamber space through which fuel is constrained to pass as it flows from the valve seat to the nozzle. Orifices in one member that communicate the chamber space to the fuel flow are larger and perform primarily a turbulent flow creating function while orifices in another member that communicate the chamber space to the fuel flow are smaller and perform primarily a metering and targeting function. Thus, turbulence and metering functions are segregated from each other. In certain embodiments at least one more orifice disk member is sandwiched between the first two to divide the chamber space in one or more smaller chamber portions while still providing fluid communication between such portions, such added disk member(s) contributing either one or both functions of turbulence or better metering and targeting. In certain embodiments, all orifices are equal so that each contributes to turbulence, metering, and targeting.

Abstract: Several embodiments for establishing electrical connection of individual fuel injectors on the interior of a fuel rail assembly to an electrical connector at the exterior of the fuel rail assembly include the use of flexible circuits and electronic circuit board assemblies.

Abstract: When the overall diameter of a solenoid-operated fuel injector is reduced, sections of a pair of electric terminals that are circumferentially spaced apart about, and embedded in an end wall of a bobbin of, an electromagnetic coil assembly of the fuel injector are disposed such that their rectangular transverse cross sections are disposed at an angled relation to each other to provide greater clearance to any electrically conductive parts of the fuel injector in the immediate vicinity. Other sections of the terminals that form blades of standard-sized rectangular transverse cross section for connection to terminals of a mating connector leading to an electric control circuit for operating the fuel injector are in non-angled relationship so that the mating connector and its component parts can remain of standardized dimensions.

Abstract: A non-metallic overmold covers the solenoid and an adjoining portion of a valve body shell, leaving another portion of the valve body shell exposed. This exposed portion contains a circumferential groove in its outside surface that is held by a portion of a mold that molds the cover. This prevents the inside surface of the valve body shell from having to be contacted.