Abstract: A particulate trap assembly including a tourniquet shell for applying a predetermined radial pressure to a particulate trap which is mounted in an outer housing having wide manufacturing tolerances which do not effect the radial pressure applied to the trap by the tourniquet shell. A mounting strucuture is disclosed for replaceably monting the particulate trap in the outer housing in a manner providing substantially no obstruction to the full cross-sectional flow area of the gas flow path throughout the axial length of the particulate trap.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for the automatic removal of contaminants such as water from the fuel supply of an internal combustion engine of the type including an auxiliary fuel tank. The system is automatically controlled and responsive to sensed contaminant levels in a contaminant removal mechanism and employs an existing fuel transfer pump to direct fuel around the auxiliary fuel tank through the contaminant removal mechanism. The pump additionally operates to provide a continuous supply of fuel to the engine to keep it operating while simultaneously permitting the discharge of contaminants from the contaiminant removal mechanism when a predetermined maximum contaminant level has been reached. This system is especially effective in removing water from the fuel system of a diesel engine powered vehicle such as a tank wherein the engine and auxiliary fuel tank are components of a power pack that is removable from the tank.

Abstract: A pressure-responsive spring-biased cutoff valve for an open nozzle unit fuel injector in an internal combustion engine is provided allowing for the selective operation of a given number of cylinders during an engine low load or idling speed condition for improved white smoke control. The fuel injector of the present invention includes an injector body having a central bore with a reciprocating injector plunger positioned therein to form an injection chamber. The injection chamber is supplied with fuel from a supply passage through a metering orifice with the fuel cutoff valve located in the supply passage upstream of and adjacent to the metering orifice and in close proximity to the injection chamber for a substantial reduction in the entry of combustion gases and other unwanted substances into the fuel supply.

Abstract: A removal tool which includes an elongated member with two attachment devices of different size located at opposing ends thereof. A slidable hammer receives the elongated member through a longitudinal bore permitting it to slide the entire length of the elongated member which is formed of a flexible material. A component, i.e. a fuel injector, is removed by coupling a chosen attachment device to the component and then applying sharp upward strokes with the slide hammer against the remaining attachment device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to open nozzle unit fuel injectors for injecting a metered quantity of fuel into the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, as synchronously controlled by a drive train, wherein the unit fuel injector comprises an injector body with a reciprocably movable plunger assembly disposed therein. The present invention is more specifically directed to a high pressure open nozzle unit fuel injector including a mechanism for injecting fuel at SAC pressures of 30,000 psi or more. Moreover, the plunger assembly comprises a two-piece plunger with a variable timing chamber and a timing plunger inbetween the upper and lower plungers.

Abstract: A mechanically pressurized electronic fuel injector is for use in internal combustion engines and is actuated by the engine valve train. The fuel injector has an injection stroke for discharging fuel into the engine and a metering stroke for receiving a predetermined volume of fuel in the injector. During the injection stroke, a coupling member contacts a timing plunger and transmits a compressive force from the engine valve train. The coupling member and the timing plunger are not mechanically connected together and are capable of independent relative movement. During the metering stroke of the injector, the timing plunger is returned to its pre-injection position under the pressure generated by the fuel entering the timing and metering plunger chambers.

Abstract: An engine protection system and protocol is implemented within an electronic engine control module. Various engine fluid parameters, such as coolant level and temperature, oil pressure and temperature, and air intake manifold temperature, are monitored and compared to limit values to determine if a fluid fault condition exists as to one or more of the fluid parameters. The engine performance is derated as a function of the severity of the fluid parameter fault. Two levels of faults are sensed to activate one of two derating schedules. In one schedule, the engine power, or torque as a function of engine speed, is gradually reduced or derated as the fluid parameter moves farther out of normal operating range. With this derate schedule, the engine will still run and the driver can still operate the vehicle, albeit at lower power levels than a healthy engine.

Abstract: A mechanically pressurized electronic fuel injector for use in internal combustion engines is actuated by the engine valve train during the injection stroke. A control solenoid is mounted to the injector and has its axis inclined with respect to the axis of the injector. A control valve passage has its axis generally coaxial with the central axis of the control solenoid. Machining of the control valve passage is accomplished through the receiving boss for the control solenoid. High pressure sealing plugs, previously required to seal orifices in the exterior surface of the injector body which were needed to provide access to drill or machine the control valve passage, are completely eliminated. The drilling and machining of the control valve passage is accomplished without drilling through the exterior surface of the injector body.

Abstract: A multiple waste isolation system including a common drain connected to the discharge outlet of an inductively coupled plasma system for atomic spectroscopy. This common drain may be connected to a multiport valve for directing the flow of waste material to a selected one of a plurality of flow paths or the common drain may be connected directly to each flow path with each flow path including individual on/off type valves for selectively allowing flow through the various paths. The system also includes at least two drainage lines either directly connected to the common drain or connected thereto via the multiport valve for isolating a waste product from the other drainage line so as to maintain the separation of potentially incompatible waste products. The system further includes a purging tube which is also connected either directly to the common drain or thereto via the multiport valve for circulating a cleaning solvent through the common drain and the valve.

Abstract: A particulate filter trap regeneration system and control mechanism is disclosed including a downstream vent tube section across which a pressure signal is derived as an analog of the exhaust gas stream velocity flowing through the particulate trap. A novel particulate loading parameter formula is disclosed by which the maximum acceptable pressure drop across a loaded particulate trap may be calculated and related to exhaust gas flow through the trap in order to determine when particulate trap regeneration should commence. In one embodiment, a vent tube equipped with a venturi throat for increasing the accuracy of the pressure signal indicative of exhaust gas stream velocity is disclosed along with representative dimensional parameters.

Abstract: A unitary system for removing particulates from the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine includes a main flow passage and a by-pass flow passage for conducting the exhaust gas from an inlet portion to an outlet portion of a housing which contains the system. A valve for selectively directing the exhaust gas through one of the passages is provided, with a particulate trap mounted in the main flow passage for trapping particulates within the exhaust gas when the exhaust gas is directed therethrough. A regeneration system is positioned intermediate the valve and the particulate trap with an oxidation catalyst being positioned downstream of the particulate trap and in both the main flow passage and the by-pass flow passage. Further, a control system is provided for selectively activating and deactivating the regeneration system in response to predetermined operating conditions of the unitary system.

Abstract: A protective boot formed of a resilient elastomeric material is provided having a housing with an opening therein through which the reciprocating shaft of a solenoid or like device projects with the shaft being axially movable relative to the housing of the solenoid through a stroke of a predetermined length from an extended position to a retracted position. The protective boot includes a first ring portion sealingly fixed to the housing about the opening and, a second ring portion sealingly fixed to and reciprocatable with the shaft. The body portion of the boot forms a fluid chamber about the shaft between the first and second ring portions, with the body portion comprising at least one pair of truncated conical sections each being integrally formed at their narrow portion with a respective one of the ring portions and an intermediate portion integrally formed between the widened portions of the conical sections.

Abstract: A simple, hydraulically powered tool for removing and installing the camshaft bushings of an internal combustion engine including an elongated shaft adapted to extend through the camshaft bearing journals to a hydraulic unit which is adapted to be reversibly mounted at one end of the engine to apply either a pushing or pulling force to the shaft. The elongated shaft includes a plurality of axially spaced annular grooves which are adapted to receive a first slotted collar at one end for interconnecting the shaft to the piston of the hydraulic unit and a second slotted collar at the other end to interconnect the shaft to a slotted bushing support mandrel which is adapted to be slid onto the shaft for engagement with a bushing to be installed or removed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for altering the acoustic signature of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. Several techniques for altering the acoustic signature of an engine are shown, including time-varying, disabling or cutout of individual cylinders of an engine in a random fashion in order to reduce the periodic characteristics of the exhaust noise of the engine. Alternate embodiments include offsetting crank pins to transform an even firing engine into an uneven firing engine, inhibiting the fueling of individual cylinders, and inhibiting the ignition signals provided to individual cylinders. A combination of the above techniques may also be implemented in order to disperse the exhaust noise energy present over a wide frequency range, making acoustic detection of the exhaust signature difficult. Cylinder cutout schemes are implemented over a single or multiple engine cycle to disperse exhaust noise pulses over time and randomize measurable spectral noise composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to open nozzle unit fuel injectors for injecting a metered quantity of fuel into the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, as synchronously controlled by a drive train, wherein the unit fuel injector comprises a body with an axial bore and a plunger assembly movable therein between a retracted position and an advanced position. The plunger includes a major diameter section, slidably movable in the axial bore to open and close a fuel supply orifice and a minor diameter section which extends in a bore of a cup portion of the injector body. The cup portion has an internal surface including plural diameter portions connected by an annular step.

Abstract: An electronically controlled fuel supply system is provided for employing a plurality of fuel injectors which maximize SAC pressures under both low speed and high speed operating conditions and are capable of sustaining SAC pressures in excess of 30,000 psi. The fuel supply system of the present invention includes a gear pump which supplies pressure-modulated fuel to a fueling channel and to a timing channel and from there to a plurality of injectors. Fuel pressure regulator means and timing fluid pressure regulator means are provided in the fueling and timing channel, respectively. An electronic control unit receives information relating to engine operating conditions from a plurality of sensors and actuates the fuel pressure regulator means and the timing fluid pressure regulator means to adjust the pressure as required for the specific engine operating conditions.

Abstract: A unit fuel injector is disclosed to be used in a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine wherein each unit injector is operated independently from one another and in synchronization with the internal combustion engine. Specifically, the unit injector in accordance with the present invention includes a reciprocating plunger assembly within the unit injector that controls fuel metering as well as fuel injection, and a valve device positioned between a minor diameter plunger section and a cup of the unit injector so as to permit fuel flow in one direction for fuel injection and to restrict flow of gases in the opposite direction. The valve device effectively reduces carbon build-up on the injector surfaces and increases injector longevity while reducing maintenance. Moreover, fuel metering is accurately controlled without substantial carboning flow losses.

Abstract: A method and device for providing a time-varying minimum engine speed setting are disclosed. A first embodiment of the device includes programming within an electronic engine control module for variably supplying fuel to an engine via variable activation periods for the fuel injectors of a fuel injected engine. In another embodiment a rotating cam provides a positionally time-varying mechanism stop against which the throttle linkage is positioned when released by the operator. In another embodiment of the invention, a solenoid provides a minimum engine speed setting which varies between two different positions. The two different positions are produced by a solenoid, which is activated and deactivated at random to produce a pseudo-random variation in minimum engine speed. Pulse-width activation of the solenoid provides variable positioning of the solenoid actuator between the two end stop positions of the solenoid actuator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to open nozzle type unit fuel injectors, and more specifically to an improved lower plunger and cup design of an open nozzle unit injector to minimize trapped volume and reduce unburned hydrocarbons in vehicle emissions. The lower plunger includes at least a major and a minor diameter sections with the minor diameter section extending within a bore of said cup at least partially between the fully advanced and retracted positions of the plunger. Moreover, the labyrinth flow area between the cup bore and the minor diameter section of the plunger is designed to reduce the trapped volume of fuel that results in the advanced plunger position while reducing sensitivity to fuel metering in the retracted plunger position. In one embodiment, the cup bore and minor diameter section are stepped. In another, both the bore and the minor diameter section are tapered. In yet another embodiment, only the cup bore is modified.

Abstract: A liner assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a liner bore in an engine block which receives a cylinder liner having an end extension which is received in an annular cylinder head groove. The end extension of the cylinder liner includes a outer circumferential surface thereon which is formed to define a very small gap with the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder head groove; the inner circumferential surface of the upper end is radially spaced from the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder head groove to form an annular seal space for a radial seal that is captured between the upper end and the cylinder head to form an active combustion gas seal between the cylinder liner and the cylinder head.