Patents Assigned to Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
  • Patent number: 5103792
    Abstract: An electrical control unit having a microprocessor and a network of counters for governing the electrical operation of a fuel control valve of a fuel injection pump. Four subtraction counters are preset by the processor; one is used as a time counter indexed by time pulses and three are used as pump angle counters indexed by pump clock pulses generated for each predetermined increment of pump rotation. Two of the pump angle counters are employed to precisely open and close the valve for regulating the fuel injection timing and quantity--the total quantity in a normal mode of operation and a pilot quantity in a pilot injection mode. In the pilot mode, the third pump angle counter regulates the main injection quantity and the time counter regulates the time delay between the pilot and main injections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: Robert R. Winkler, William W. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5084170
    Abstract: A fuel filter assembly employs a base which mounts a disposable filter element cartridge. The cartridge includes a dual stage filter system wherein fuel flows axially to a primary filter element for removing particulate matter and coalescing water droplets and axially to a secondary filter stage which functions as a water barrier. The filtered fuel flows axially and exits through an outlet passage in the base. Water may be collected in a sump. The cartridge is retained on the base by a collar which engages against a roll seam structure of the cartridge. In one embodiment the base has a cannister configuration for receiving the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: Leon P. Janik, M. Craig Maxwell
  • Patent number: 5035797
    Abstract: A fuel filter assembly incorporates a key system to ensure compatibility of a replacement filter cartridge for a given base. Keys are formed on the base. Corresponding slots are formed in the endcap of the cartridge to define a compatible cartridge and base. The keys interlock in the slots to mount the cartridge at a fixed angle position of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventor: Leon P. Janik
  • Patent number: 5020500
    Abstract: A hole type fuel injector with a nozzle body and needle valve having cooperating inner and outer metering rings providing a metering passage (a) to provide an initial reduced rate of fuel injection during an initial increment of valve lift, (b) to maintain fuel pressure at the valve seat to reduce fuel dribble and cavitation erosion during a corresponding last increment of valve closure and (c) to prevent secondary fuel injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventor: William W. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5017285
    Abstract: A fuel filter assembly employs a base which mounts a disposable filter element cartridge. The cartridge includes a dual stage filter system wherein fuel flows axially to a primary filter element for removing particulate matter and coalescing water droplets and axially to a secondary filter stage which functions as a water barrier. The filtered fuel flows axially and exits through an outlet passage in the base. Water may be collected in a sump. The cartridge is retained on the base by a collar which engages against a roll seam structure of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: Leon P. Janik, M. Craig Maxwell
  • Patent number: 4987887
    Abstract: One spring and two spring embodiments of a fuel injector having a nozzle body and needle valve with cooperating inner and outer metering rings providing a metering passage which (a) meters fuel at a reduced rate during an initial increment of valve lift, (b) assists in maintaining fuel pressure at the valve seat to reduce fuel dribble and cavitation erosion during a corresponding last increment of valve closure and (c) dampens secondary pressure waves to prevent secondary fuel injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventor: William W. Kelly
  • Patent number: 4976852
    Abstract: A fuel filter assembly employs a base which mounts a disposable filter element cartridge and includes a sump for collecting water removed from the filtering unit. The cartridge includes a dual stage filter system wherein fuel flows axially to an upper filter element for removing particulate matter and coalescing water droplets and axially to a secondary filter stage which functions as a water barrier. The filtered fule flows axially downwardly and through an outlet passage from the base. The water collected in the sump is removed through a drain cock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: Leon P. Janik, M. Craig Maxwell
  • Patent number: 4971528
    Abstract: An oil pump has a split frame with the pump mechanism situated in a chamber in one of the frames or between the split frames. An inlet conduit extends from an inlet port to the low pressure side of the pump and an outlet conduit extends from the high pressure side of the pump to an outlet port. An excess pressure relief path is provided to permit fluid flow from the outlet conduit to the inlet conduit when the outlet conduit pressure exceeds the inlet conduit pressure by a predetermined difference. This is accomplished by providing a bypass channel formed in one frame and fluidly intersecting the outlet conduit, and a valve cavity formed in the other frame and fluidly intersecting the bypass channel and the inlet conduit. Valve means are situated in the valve cavity for isolating the bypass channel from the inlet conduit during normal pressure differences between the inlet and outlet conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: David H. Hodgkins, Leon P. Janik
  • Patent number: 4956081
    Abstract: A fuel conditioner unit for an internal combustion engine, having a priming pump in which the pump diaphragm member also functions as the pump manual actuating surface. The diaphragm is mounted to the basin portion of the priming pump, so that it has a convex projecting surface adapted to be pushed by the user. A spring associated with the basin, biases the diaphragm outwardly so that it can recover after each downward push by the user. The priming pump basin, suction and discharge legs are preferably integrally formed at the upper portion of the unit frame or base. The frame is made of molded plastic such that an opening or archway is formed between the suction and discharge legs. The plastic frame is sandwiched between the filter housing and a steel bracket, with spring clips passing from the bracket through the archway and into retaining engagement with the housing. The anchor points on the bracket and the housing do not stress the plastic frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: David H. Hodgkins, M. Craig Maxwell
  • Patent number: 4938036
    Abstract: A combination air conditioning accumulator and fuel cooler unit comprises an enclosed housing having fuel inlet and outlets, and refrigerant inlets and outlets. Liquid refrigerant entering the unit is evaporated by means of heat exchange with hotter fuel in the unit. Preferably, the housing is in the form of an elongated cylinder and the fuel flow path is coaxial with the housing longitudinal axis. The heat exchanger includes a substantially cylindrical wall within which the fuel flows, and an outer, finned portion in contact with the flow of refrigerant. A desiccant is provided between the refrigerant flow path and the housing, to serve both insulating and moisture-removing functions. A stand pipe is provided to prevent unevaporated freon from exiting and returning in liquid form to the air conditioning compressor. The housing includes end plug members in which the fuel and refrigerant inlets and outlets are formed, the housing being attached to the plug members by crimp connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: David H. Hodgkins, John J. Foley
  • Patent number: 4938193
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle 10 having a nozzle body 12 to which is attached a banjo-type inlet stud 16, by means of heat shrinking. After the shrink fit attachment, a blind passage 20, 22 in the delivery tube portion 134 of the inlet is drilled through to penetrate the nozzle body and form a leak-tight fuel delivery path. A locating plate 106 is supported by a bore 96 in the cylinder head 80 adjacent the nozzle and orients the nozzle into a preselected orientation. In one nozzle embodiment 70, the tip 76 is sealed against the cylinder head socket 84 by a frustoconical copper annular seal member 82 that is preferentially loaded toward the inner seal diameter. The nozzle cap 14 forms a spring chamber in which a spring subassembly 42 including upper and lower spring seats 48, 46, a spring 44, and stem 186 and pedestal 84 piloting the spring, cooperate to permit independent setting of the valve lift off stop limit F and the spring preload B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: Robert Raufeisen, David A. Chace, Leon P. Janik
  • Patent number: 4901679
    Abstract: A crankcase oil spray nozzle for cooling the crown of a piston of an internal combustion engine is assembled from relatively few stamped principal housing components which are assembled in a sandwich-like, low-profile configuration. The components cooperate to form a nozzle passageway which extends from an integrally formed well to the nozzle orifice. An indentation is coined in one component to form the nozzle passageway and the nozzle orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: David H. Hodgkins, Leon P. Jahik
  • Patent number: 4897907
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a nozzle tip of an elongated valve closing orifice type comprises rolling a tubular workpiece so as to form a circumferential indentation in said workpiece. The interior surface of the indented wall is precisely ground to form an integral collar which functions as guide surface for the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Kopiec, Franklin S. Smith
  • Patent number: 4898668
    Abstract: A fuel conditioner of the type having a housing defining an inner chamber for receiving a filter element, inlet and outlet ports in the housing for establishing a flow of fuel to and from the chamber, and a heater for raising the temperature of the fuel between the inlet and outlet ports. The improvement comprises a baffle plate situated within the housing between the inlet and outlet ports, for directing substantially all the flow of fuel as a thin layer against a selected interior portion of the housing. The heater is situated on the housing exterior adjacent the interior portion of the housing containing the baffle. The fuel passing through the thin passageway therein reaches its highest velocity in the conditioning unit. Particularly if the flow boundary area defined by the housing and the baffle plate is large compared with the volume of the passageway, very high heat transfer from the heating element to the fuel in the passageway is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: David H. Hodgkins, Alex Shinkevich
  • Patent number: 4894900
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle 10 having a nozzle body 12 to which is attached a banjo-type inlet stud 16, by means of heat shrinking. After the shrink fit attachment, a blind passage 20, 22 in the delivery tube portion 134 of the inlet is drilled through to penetrate the nozzle body and form a leak-tight fuel delivery path. A locating plate 106 is supported by a bore 96 in the cylinder head 80 adjacent the nozzle and orients the nozzle into a preselected orientation. In one nozzle embodiment 70, the tip 76 is sealed against the cylinder head socket 84 by a frustoconical copper annular seal member 82 that is preferentially loaded toward the inner seal diameter. The nozzle cap 14 forms a spring chamber in which a spring subassembly 42 including upper and lower spring seats 48, 46, a spring 44, and stem 186 and pedestal 84 piloting the spring, cooperate to permit independent setting of the valve lift off stop limit F and the spring preload B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: Robert Rausfeisen, David A. Chace, Leon P. Janik
  • Patent number: 4884549
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine fuel injection system having a reciprocating charge pump and a bidirectional flow, solenoid valve for precisely regulating the fuel injection timing by precisely regulating the intake charge quantity of fuel supplied to the charge pump during each intake stroke and for precisely regulating the fuel injection quantity by precisely regulating the spill termination of the high pressure delivery of fuel during each pumping stroke. An electrical controller having a data processor timely energizes and deenergizes the solenoid valve and adjusts the charge pump stroke timing, if adjustable, for adjusting the fuel injection timing and quantity. A start-of-pumping sensor or charge pump stroke timing sensor is used to provide a closed loop feedback, or in the alternative where the charge pump stroke is not adjustable, a calibrated input is used in lieu of a charge pump stroke timing sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventor: William W. Kelly
  • Patent number: 4876990
    Abstract: A tubular nozzle tip is connected to a holder member that is made entirely of sheet metal, the combination being secured together into a nozzle assembly by the bending and tightening of flanges associated with a housing or cover plate portion of the holder member. Preferably, the nozzle tip has a D shaped cross section at the end to be mounted in the holder member and the holder member includes a cover plate having a channel of similar cross section adapted to receive the nozzle tip and form a passageway for delivering oil to the nozzle tip discharge orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: David H. Hodgkins, Leon P. Janik
  • Patent number: 4862838
    Abstract: A crankcase oil spray nozzle for cooling the crown of a piston of an internal combustion engine is assembled from relatively few stamped principal housing components which are assembled in a sandwich-like, low-profile configuration. The components cooperate to form a nozzle passageway which extends from an integrally formed well to the nozzle orifice. The well houses a check valve assembly. The nozzle components cooperate to define an internal edge filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: David H. Hodgkins, Leon P. Janik
  • Patent number: 4860713
    Abstract: A fuel conditioner unit generally comprising a vertically oriented frame on either side of which are connected first and second filter housings, defining first and second filter chambers, for containing water separating and particle removing filter elements, respectively. An inlet is provided for introducing fuel from outside the unit to the first chamber, where water is separated and directed downwardly. The dewatered fuel is then transferred to the upper portion of the second chamber, where it moves downwardly over the particulate filter and is drawn out of the unit from an outlet port. A drain port is provided for discharging the water that is separated from the fuel in the first chamber. A vent can be provided in the upper portion of the second chamber for removing air that rises from the fuel as the fuel travels downwardly through the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventor: David H. Hodgkins