Abstract: A fuel injector to inject fuel into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine when installed therein, the engine having a high-pressure fuel supply which delivers fuel to the injector and a low-pressure fuel return which removes fuel from the injector. The injector has an injector body which defines an interior cavity, a movable needle valve which cooperates with the interior body to define a variable-volume control chamber and another value for selectively permitting fluid communication between the control chamber and (1) the high-pressure fuel supply; and (2) the low pressure fuel return. Such fluid communication permits controlled variation of the volume of the control chamber which, in turn, varies the position of the needle valve to selectively permit or prevent fluid communication between the high-pressure fuel supply and the engine cylinder. The valve for selectively permitting fluid communication is preferably force balanced by relatively low forces acting thereon.

Abstract: An improved fuel filter cartridge can be used with a header of a conventional fuel filter assembly. The cartridge has a water coalescing sock filter enclosed within a housing and a generally conically shaped water separating baffle with a spiralling rim and an outer barrier at the lower periphery of the baffle. As water droplets coalesce and fall off the bottom end of the sock filter, they are intercepted by the water baffle and coalesce on the radially inward side of the downwardly spiralling rim and the radially inward side of the outer barrier. As the water droplets spiral outwardly toward the outer barrier, they agglomerate. The water, thus separated and routed away from the fuel stream, exits the water baffle at an outlet of the outer barrier and falls to the bottom of the filter cartridge under the influence of gravity.

Abstract: A fuel filter assembly of modular form is adapted to incorporate a lift pump or an automatic primer. The lift pump is mounted to the filter base by means of a lock ring. Fuel supplied to the filter base inlet is supplied to a rotary vane-type or gerotor pump which may be electrically activated from the vehicle console or a location remote from the fuel filter assembly. The lift pump regulates the fuel pressure to provide a sufficient fuel flow through the supply system and the filter for ultimate delivery to the fuel injection pump or engine. The pump/filter flow sequence is bi-directional and may be selected by the angular position of an adapter.

Abstract: A fuel injector employs at least one sensing device for sensing changes in the thermodynamic properties of the fuel within the injector to thereby monitor injector performance during usage. In some embodiments, advantageously placed temperature sensors are employed to detect the release of thermal energy which occurs when the potential energy of a fuel at high-pressure is suddenly converted into kinetic energy by lowering the pressure of the fuel. Other embodiments of the instant invention employ advantageously placed pressure sensors to detect sudden changes in fuel pressure which occur during the course of the injection cycle. Whereas the sensing devices of the instant invention can be placed at a variety of locations, they are preferably placed to detect changes in the thermodynamic properties of the fuel flowing within an injector where such changes are appreciably large during injector usage.

Abstract: A novel fuel pump arrangement comprises cam driven low and high pressure reciprocating plunger pump units. The fuel pump has rotary drive means, a high pressure pump with a pump body which defines a pumping chamber with an annular arrangement of a plurality of pairs of bores extending radially outwardly from a cam axis. A pumping plunger is mounted in each pumping plunger bore for reciprocation. The fuel pump also comprises a single transfer pump for transferring fuel under pressure to the pumping chamber. This transfer pump includes a single transfer plunger mounted within a transfer plunger bore for reciprocation to provide alternating intake and transfer phases of operation of the transfer pump.

Abstract: A fuel circuit for a fuel system including a fuel tank, a fuel injection system, and a fuel filter assembly. Excess fuel flow is recirculated from the fuel injection pump to the base of the fuel filter. The base includes an internal recirculated fuel passageway which is in fluid communication with the fuel injection pump and the fuel tank, an internal fuel inlet plenum that is in fluid communication with the fuel tank, and an internal fuel outlet passageway which is in fluid communication with the fuel injection system. An opening provides fluid communication between the recirculated fuel passageway and the fuel inlet plenum. A thermal flow control valve is positioned in the recirculated fuel passageway to open the opening when the recirculated fuel temperature is below a predetermined temperature and to close the opening when the recirculated fuel temperature is above the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A fuel filter assembly employs a hand primer and a disposable filter cartridge mounted to a filter base. The filter cartridge and filter base define a fuel flow path through the filter assembly. The filter base includes a sump for receiving fuel that has traversed the filter element. The hand primer includes a deformable member composed of an elastomeric material that cooperates with a base plate to define a cavity. The base plate is disposed intermediate the deformable member and the base sump to separate the cavity from the fuel flow path. The base plate has a plurality of orifices to selectively provide fluid communication between the cavity and the sump. A discharge passage in fluid communication with cavity provides means for discharging air from the fuel filter assembly.

Abstract: An injector for a common rail fuel injection system employs a solenoid operated valve configuration which functions to control the amount of filling by regulating the start of filling and the end of filling between the injection events. In some embodiments, a three-way solenoid valve is employed. The start of injection is controlled by a control piston. An intensifier piston is employed to increase the injection pressure. A pilot piston assembly may also be employed to regulate the shape of the injection.

Abstract: A locating and keying system for a filter system assembly employs protrusions having a selected location and shape, such as a spherical sector cap, a pie wedge, a square or a bead, which longitudinally protrude from the end receiving surface of the base. Corresponding dimples in the opposing surface of the cartridge are dimensioned for receiving the protrusion for locking the cartridge at a fixed angular position of the base.

Abstract: A fuel circuit for a fuel system including a fuel reservoir, a fuel injection system, a fuel lift pump, and a fuel filter assembly. The fuel circuit includes a fuel passageway for recirculating the excess fuel flow from the outlet of the fuel injection pump to the inlet of the fuel injection pump. The excess fuel flow, which is pressurized by the fuel injection pump, is preferentially utilized as the fuel source over fuel in the fuel reservoir, which is at a lower pressure. The fuel circuit may include a single fuel-to-air heat exchanger or a fuel-to-coolant heat exchanger and a coolant-to-air heat exchanger to remove heat from the excess fuel flow, depending on the amount of heat generated by the fuel injection system and the fuel lift pump and the expected ambient temperature conditions. Circulation pumps in the fuel passageway and the coolant line may be used to facilitate removal of heat in the two heat exchanger system.

Abstract: A plurality of plungers situated radially in a pump body, are sequentially actuated inwardly by a rotatably driven, eccentrically mounted actuating ring. A central valve housing is coaxially received within the body and includes a fuel inlet chamber and a fuel discharge chamber, which are closely axially aligned. The pump body closely engages the valve housing such that radially extending bores in the body and a portion of the valve housing between the inlet and discharge chambers, together define the pumping chambers. All pumping chambers are connected via short passages in the valve housing, to the common inlet chamber and the common outlet chamber. This configuration, by which all fuel passages and associated valves subject to the pumping pressure are within the central valve housing, not only minimizes the dead volume, but keeps all fuel flows confined within a radius that is smaller than the actuator ring sliding radius, i.e.

Abstract: A fuel filter cartridge is formed from a pair of shell sections which are joined along a roll seam to form a retaining shoulder. The sections have generally cylindrical walls which are symmetric about a central axis. One of the sections has a diameter greater than the other section. Angularly spaced arcuate protrusions or keys protrude radially from the cylindrical wall of the cartridge.

Abstract: A novel fuel pump arrangement comprises cam driven low and high pressure reciprocating plunger pump units. The fuel pump has rotary drive means, a high pressure pump with a pump body which defines a pumping chamber with an annular arrangement of a plurality of pairs of bores extending radially outwardly from a cam axis. A pumping plunger is mounted in each pumping plunger bore for reciprocation. The fuel pump also comprises a single transfer pump for transferring fuel under pressure to the pumping plunger bores of the pumping chamber. This transfer pump includes a single transfer plunger mounted within a transfer plunger bore for reciprocation to provide alternating intake and transfer phases of operation of the transfer pump.

Abstract: A fuel injection pump having a pump rotor with a pump body and distributor rotor in coaxial alignment, the pump body having a pumping chamber with one or more diametral pumping plunger bores with opposed pumping plungers; a cam ring surrounding the pump body for reciprocating the pumping plungers for supplying intake charges of fuel to the pumping chamber and delivering high pressure charges of fuel for fuel injection; a spill valve having a coaxial valve bore in the pump body intersecting the diametral pumping plunger bore(s), a spill valve member having a pair of diametrically opposed spill ports with transverse leading edges, a self-centering actuator shoe mounted within a diametral slot in the spill valve member for engagement by radial actuating rods for translating inward radial movement of the actuating rods into axial movement of the spill valve member to its open position for spill termination of each fuel injection event in fixed synchronism with the pumping plungers; and a transverse connector bore

Abstract: A filter module for filtering a flow of fluid employs a base member which either mounts a blanking plug or a diverter valve module. The plug is replaced by a diverter valve module for use with those engines that require an auxiliary source of low pressure fuel. A solenoid valve is housed in the module. A pressure regulator valve positioned in the valve module maintains a backpressure in the filter assembly to insure that there is sufficient head to drive the flow of fuel to the engine.

Abstract: A fuel filter assembly employs a disposable filter cartridge disposed in a housing comprising a container and a cap. The cap comprises a cap member composed of elastomeric material, an externally projecting fuel outlet, and a centrally disposed axially extending conduit. A lower portion of the axial conduit is slidably received by an axial opening in a plate mounted on the top of the filter cartridge. The opening and conduit are dimensioned such that a gap between the opening and the conduit allows fluid flow through the plate. A spring biases the upper part of the cap member away from the filter cartridge. A fuel inlet in the container provides a path for the flow of fuel into the filter assembly. Spherical balls captured in the fuel inlet and fuel outlet act as check valves, preventing the flow out through the fuel inlet and in through the fuel outlet. The filter assembly is primed by pushing the cap member downwards, compressing the spring.

Abstract: A rotary distributor fuel injection pump with a drive shaft coupled to a pump rotor by a radially offset and axially extending drive pin with a cylindrical head received within a radial slot in the rotor; a coaxial throughbore in the rotor providing a valve bore; a valve member in the valve bore axially shiftable to an open position by a compression spring; an electromagnet with an armature plate fixed to one end of the valve member and a stator operable, when energized, to axially shift the valve member to its closed position; a stop plate on the outer end of the rotor having an outer end face engageable by the armature plate, the end face having a plurality of lands and grooves to hydraulically dampen the axial movement of the valve member to its open position when the stator is deenergized; the armature plate having a hub received within an opening in the stop plate to couple the armature plate and valve member to the rotor; an annular thrust washer and needle bearing between the rotor and a distributor he

Abstract: A fuel filter assembly employs a base which mounts a disposable filter cartridge. A pair of axial conduits in the base provide fluid communication between the base and the cartridge. An axial conduit and at least one baffle positioned on the axial conduit outer surface within the cartridge provide a flow path through the cartridge. An orifice located in the cartridge axial conduit provides a bleed vent which controls the size and flow rate of air bubbles in filtered fuel exiting the fuel filter.

Abstract: A fuel injection pump having an inlet metering valve for supplying a metered quantity of fuel from a transfer pump to a pumping chamber and an auxiliary control system for limiting the maximum quantity of fuel supplied to the pumping chamber via the inlet metering valve. An auxiliary valve piston is axially shiftable by the transfer pump outlet pressure to provide a variable restriction between the transfer pump and metering valve for establishing a maximum fuel quantity limit within a predetermined speed range of the pump. A low-speed fuel passage is provided in parallel with the variable restriction for establishing a maximum fuel quantity limit within a lower speed range. The back pressure chambers of the auxiliary valve piston, a transfer pressure regulator piston and a pump timing piston are connected to a pump housing cavity to equalize the back pressures in those chambers at the same constant pressure maintained by a housing pressure regulator.

Abstract: A fuel filter assembly employs a base which mounts a disposable filter cartridge. A pair of axial conduits in the base provide fluid communication between the base and the cartridge. An axial sealing member mounted in the cartridge receives the axial conduits. An axial conduit and preferably at least one baffle positioned on the axial conduit outer surface within the cartridge provide a flow path through the cartridge. An orifice located in the cartridge axial conduit provides a bleed vent which controls the size and flow rate of air bubbles in filtered fuel exiting the fuel filter. A flange-shaped end of the cartridge axial conduit engages a ridge on the outside surface of the sealing member to prevent the fuel flow from bypassing the baffle.