Abstract: A piezoelectric sensor adapted for incorporation into a high pressure fuel line employs a pair of piezoelectric transducer elements which are mounted in diametrically opposed bores of a main body. The body forms an axially extending fluid conduit. The main body also has a deformable wall section adjacent the transducer elements. A conductor ring extends the circumference of the main body. The transducer elements electrically connect with the ring so that a pressure pulse traversing the conduit deforms the wall section and produces a mechanical stress on the transducer elements to generate a voltage signal at the conductor ring.

Abstract: A tappet for an internal combustion engine includes a tappet body having a camface at one end thereof, which camface is positioned for contact with a rotating camshaft. The camface is formed essentially of zirconium oxide.

Abstract: A self-contained lash adjuster includes a generally cup-shaped follower having an end face and a lash adjuster cartridge assembly positioned within the follower. The cartridge assembly includes a body positioned against the follower end face and a reciprocally movable plunger within the body. There is a high pressure chamber between the plunger and the body, a plunger passage opening into the high pressure chamber and a check valve which controls fluid flow through the plunger passage. The plunger has an open end spaced from the high pressure chamber and there is a valve stem pad closing the plunger open end. An annular expandable seal member defines a reservoir about the cartridge assembly and is fastened at one end to the body and at the other end to the plunger. The seal member extends in part between the plunger and the valve stem pad. The plunger has openings therein in communication with the reservoir.

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 reglating 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.

Abstract: A cold drawn free-machining steel bar having a composition consisting essentially of, in weight percent, C up to 0.15; Mn 0.7 to 1.3; P 0.03 to 0.09; S 0.30 to 0.50; Bi 0.05 to 0.25; the sum of Ni, Cr, Mo and Cu up to 0.15 and the balance iron. The ratio % Mn / %S is from 1.7 to 3.0 and the %Mn-1.62.times.%S is from 0.05 to 0.40. The ratio %Bi /(%Ni+%Cu) is at least 2.0. The yield strength of the steel bar is further determined by the draft in cold drawing the bar from the hot rolled state and the cross section of the bar prior to draft.

Abstract: A hot and cold water mixing valve includes a sleeve formed and adapted to fit within a valve fixture such as a kitchen faucet, lavatory faucet or shower/tub control. There is a rotatable and reciprocal stem within the sleeve. The handle for the mixing valve includes a cap attached to the stem and a lever connected to the sleeve. There is an opening in the cap, with the lever extending through the cap opening and into engagement with the sleeve. A removable locating key is positioned within the cap and interlocked with both the lever and the cap.

Abstract: An accumulator injector for injecting discrete pressurized charges of fuel has a modular-type configuration. An auxiliary accumulator pressure chamber in the form of a cap is threadably mounted to a main body member. A solenoid valve means for selectively releasing pressure from a control chamber to thereby trigger the injection of pressurized fuel is also removably mounted to the main body member.

Abstract: A fluid valve includes a sleeve having inlet and outlet ports. There is a stem movable within the sleeve between open and closed positions and having an inlet port and an outlet port. The stem inlet port is in communication with the sleeve inlet port and the stem outlet port is movable into registration or communication with the sleeve outlet port to define a path of flow through the valve. A seal is carried by the sleeve and cooperates with the movable stem to close the path of flow. There are means for reducing noise normally attendant to opening the valve which includes a passage in the sleeve directly adjacent the sleeve outlet port. The passage is in communication with the stem outlet port as the stem outlet port initially moves to open the path of flow to divert water and reduce pressure at the communicating outlet ports.

Abstract: A self-contained lash adjuster includes a generally cylindrical cup-shaped follower with a closed end and a lash adjuster cartridge assembly mounted by a spacer within the follower. The cartridge assembly includes a reciprocally movable body and a plunger within the body. There is a high pressure chamber defined between the plunger and the body and there is a plunger passage opening into the high pressure chamber. A check valve controls flow through the plunger passage. A diaphragm-type seal is attached at its outer periphery to an interior wall of the follower and at its inner periphery to the movable body. The seal cooperates with the interior wall of the follower and the body to define a fluid reservoir. The spacer mounting the cartridge assembly is positioned within the reservoir and has openings therein connecting the reservoir with the plunger passage.

Abstract: A rotary fuel injection pump (10) having a rotating spill control valve (37) mounted transversely in the rotor (16), adjacent the charge pump (39). The valve is centered on the longitudinal axis of the rotor and connected to the center of the pumping chamber by a short pump passage (43). Pressurized fuel from the pumping chamber is forced through the pump passage and a transverse bore (170) in the center of the spill valve, into an outlet passage (46) for delivery to the outlet nozzle. The forces on the valve are balanced during this injection event. Inlet fuel enters the valve bore and passes through the spill valve through another transverse bore (171), which is fluidly connected to the pump passage. A simplified spill pressure regulating valve (139, 141) and a dual piston cam ring timing adjustment arrangement (326, 328) are also disclosed.

Abstract: A supply pump for continuously supplying pressurized fuel to an accumulator-type injector system employs an electrically controlled metering valve for regulating the supply of fuel to the pump chamber. The output pressure of the pressurized fuel from the pump is regulated by means of a relief valve assembly. The inlet metering valve also controls the operation of the relief valve assembly. The relief valve assembly comprises a hydraulically controlled piston which selectively controls the position of a valve member for releasing pressurized fuel from the outlet portion of the pump so that the pressurized fuel in the injection system may be regulated by controlling the fuel supply to the pump chamber and by also releasing pressurized fuel from the pressurized injection system.

Abstract: A water valve adjustable stem assembly includes a valve housing with an inlet and outlet therein and a valve positioned within the housing. The valve has an inlet and outlet communicating with the housing inlet and outlet and there is a movable valve member to open and close the valve. A valve housing extension is adjustably connected to the valve housing and connects to an escutcheon. A stem extension is attached to the movable valve member and extends within the housing and housing extension and adjustably supports a stem connected thereto. An operating handle is connected to the stem and spaced closely adjacent to the escutcheon. The valve housing is mounted to an underlying support and the adjustment between the valve housing extension and valve housing and the adjustment between the stem extension and stem provides for variably positioning the handle and escutcheon relative to the valve housing mounting.

Abstract: A rotary fuel injection pump with a rotor having pumping plungers reciprocated for supplying high pressure charges of fuel for fuel injection and a spill control mechanism having one or two rotary spill valves mounted on the rotor and rotated in unison with the rotor and in synchronism with the reciprocable movement of the pumping plungers for spill control of the high pressure charges of fuel. The spill timing is adjustable by the spill control mechanism at the beginning and/or end of the fuel injection event.

Abstract: A self-contained lash adjuster has a generally cup-shaped follower and a spacer mounting a lash adjuster cartridge assembly within the follower. The cartridge assembly includes a movable body and a plunger, with a high pressure chamber being defined between the plunger and body. A check valve controls fluid flow through a plunger passage into the high pressure chamber. There is a diaphragm seal which is attached at its outer periphery to an interior wall of the follower and attached at its inner periphery to the movable body. The seal in part defines a fluid reservoir. There is a passage connecting the reservoir with the cartridge assembly. Movement of the body toward the plunger moves fluid from the high pressure chamber to the fluid reservoir, causing a stretching of the diaphragm seal.

Abstract: A modular fuel conditioner having a base and a disposable filter/water separator cartridge releasably secured to the base and defining a filter chamber in fluid communication with fuel inlet and outlet passageways in the base. A three stage filter assembly within the cartridge includes filtering and coalescing media and separates an upper portion of the chamber from a lower portion which defines a water collection sump. A heater in the base warms fuel before it enters the cartridge. Sensing devices in the base are provided for operating signals to indicate the presence of a predetermined quantity of water in the sump and the occurrence of a plugged filter condition. A priming pump on the base is manually operated to restore the fuel conditioner to operational condition after cartridge replacement.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of retaining, shipping and assembling tappet cartridge assemblies, as well as a plastic sleeve for retaining the tappet cartridge assembly during shipping and assembly. In the method, a plastic sleeve retains an otherwise removable plunger in a tappet cartridge assembly body. The thus-retained cartridge assembly may be shipped and during subsequent assembly is positioned in alignment with a tappet follower. The tappet cartridge assembly is pushed through the retainer plastic sleeve into the tappet follower with such movement releasing the cartridge assembly from the plastic sleeve, permitting removal of the plastic sleeve.

Abstract: An accumulator injector employs a shuttle piston assembly to produce a pilot injection prior to the primary fuel injection of the injector and to control the injection rate. The shuttle piston communicates with the control chamber and the accumulator chamber of the injector to provide a controllable pressure bleed means for controlling the valve needle lift of the injector.

Abstract: A metering pump employs a pump which is actuated by the fuel level gauge float assembly of the fuel tank to add metered quantities of an additive to the fuel tank. The quantity of metered additive is proportional to the quantity of fuel added to the tank. A container for the additive supply communicates with the fuel tank via a valve is actuated in response to the introduction of fuel into the fuel tank.