Patents by Inventor Giandomenico Serra

Giandomenico Serra has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11242833
    Abstract: Various embodiments include an injector cup comprising: a cup body extending along a central longitudinal axis from a first axial end to a second axial end; a ring adjoining a border of the second axial end and radially extending beyond said border; wherein a base surface of the ring faces away from the first axial end and defines a reference plane extending orthogonally to the longitudinal axis; the ring comprises two wings, wherein each wing includes a free end section extending bent away from the reference plane at a side of the reference plane facing towards the cup body, wherein the two wings are spaced from each other; and a through opening in the ring disposed between the two wings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Gisella Di Domizio
  • Patent number: 11008989
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a fuel rail assembly for an internal combustion engine comprising: an elongate, common fuel rail having a reservoir for a fuel supply; a plurality of adapters spaced along and fixed to a wall of the fuel rail for hydraulically connecting a respective fuel injector to the reservoir in the common rail; and a respective fuel passage associated with each adapter of the plurality of adapters, each fuel passage directing fuel from the reservoir to the associated adapter. Each fuel passage comprises an inlet end open to the reservoir and an upstream end section adjacent to the inlet end having a length and a cross-sectional area forming a smoothing function to smooth pressure fluctuations in the fuel entering the respective passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Gisella Di Domizio, Ivo Lorenz
  • Patent number: 10641222
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a fuel injector assembly for an internal combustion engine comprising: an injector cup; a securing device to fasten the injector cup to the engine; wherein a first end of the injector cup remote from the fuel inlet port comprises an outwardly extending flange; a connector abutting the flange, wherein the injector cup and the fuel injector are secured together through the connector; and a fastening bracket supported on the flange, wherein the injector cup and the connector are secured through the fastening bracket by a fastening device. The fastening device comprises a U-shaped clip with a first arm disposed between a clamping face of the fastening device and the fastening bracket and a second arm generally parallel to the first arm disposed on the opposite side of the fastening bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Davide Matteini
  • Publication number: 20200032750
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a fuel rail assembly for an internal combustion engine comprising: an elongate, common fuel rail having a reservoir for a fuel supply; a plurality of adapters spaced along and fixed to a wall of the fuel rail for hydraulically connecting a respective fuel injector to the reservoir in the common rail; and a respective fuel passage associated with each adapter of the plurality of adapters, each fuel passage directing fuel from the reservoir to the associated adapter. Each fuel passage comprises an inlet end open to the reservoir and an upstream end section adjacent to the inlet end having a length and a cross-sectional area forming a smoothing function to smooth pressure fluctuations in the fuel entering the respective passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: CPT Group GmbH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Gisella Di Domizio, Ivo Lorenz
  • Publication number: 20200032754
    Abstract: An assembly (1) for a combustion engine is disclosed. It comprises a coupling element (5) with a penetrating opening (17), a retaining element (13), and a bolt (3). The bolt (3) extends through the penetrating opening (17) which is shaped by a circumferential surface (18) extending between a first axial end (7) and a second axial end (9) of the penetrating opening (17) through the coupling dement (5). A coupling between the retaining element (13) and the bolt (3) is established in a region subsequent to the first axial end (7) in direction from the second axial end (9) to the first axial end (7) and the retaining element (13) and the coupling element (5) interact mechanically to restrict an axial displacability of the retaining element (13) relative to the coupling element (5). The bolt (3) is locked with respect to axial displacement relative to the coupling element (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Giandomenico SERRA, Andrea PUCCINI, Stefano BARTOLINI
  • Patent number: 10539105
    Abstract: A fuel injector may include a fuel injector body having a central longitudinal axis, a plate element for coupling the fuel injector to a fuel injector cup, a snap ring and a spring element is specified. The snap ring is operable to block a movement of the fuel injector body relative to the plate element in a first direction of the central longitudinal axis. The spring element is operable to bias the plate element in a second direction of the central longitudinal axis opposing the first direction of the central longitudinal axis to prevent a movement of the plate element relative to the fuel injector body during coupling to the fuel injector cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Alessio Cerrai, Mose Gado
  • Publication number: 20200011280
    Abstract: Various embodiments include an injector cup comprising: a cup body extending along a central longitudinal axis from a first axial end to a second axial end; a ring adjoining a border of the second axial end and radially extending beyond said border; wherein a base surface of the ring faces away from the first axial end and defines a reference plane extending orthogonally to the longitudinal axis; the ring comprises two wings, wherein each wing includes a free end section extending bent away from the reference plane at a side of the reference plane facing towards the cup body, wherein the two wings are spaced from each other; and a through opening in the ring disposed between the two wings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: CPT Group GmbH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Gisella Di Domizio
  • Patent number: 10480469
    Abstract: A coupling device is provided for hydraulically and mechanically coupling a fuel injector to a fuel rail of a combustion engine, the coupling device including a fuel injector cup configured to be coupled to the fuel rail and to engage a fuel inlet portion of the fuel injector, the fuel injector cup including a first part including a recess and a second part configured to be received in the recess of the first part and configured to engage the fuel inlet portion of the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Gisella Di Domizio, Massimo Giovannetti, Andrea Puccini, Giandomenico Serra
  • Patent number: 10443553
    Abstract: The coupling device comprises a holding fixture being designed to be mechanically coupled to the fuel rail and comprising a through hole extending between a first surface and a second surface, the second surface opposing the first surface and being arranged and designed to face the cylinder head. Furthermore the coupling device comprises a fastening element being designed to be fixedly coupled to the cylinder head. The fastening element comprises a head portion and a shank portion. The head portion faces the first surface of the holding fixture and the shank portion is being partially arranged in the through hole and is designed to be in engagement with the cylinder head. In addition the coupling device comprises a retaining element being arranged inside the through hole, being coupled with the holding fixture, comprising in a given latch area a cross-section restriction and being in engagement with the shank portion at least in this latch area. The retaining element is formed as a one-piece unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMATIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Francesco Mennella, Andrea Puccini, Gisella Di Domizio, Daniel Marc
  • Patent number: 10436163
    Abstract: A fuel rail assembly for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. It includes a main gallery and a plurality of fuel delivery outlets. Each fuel delivery outlet has an injector cup and an injector cup mounting connection arranged between the main gallery and the injector cup. A fixing bracket is adapted to fasten the main gallery to the engine. The fixing bracket is spaced apart from the injector cup and secured to the main gallery. A fastening element is provided to secure the fixing bracket to the engine. A rigid connection member is coupled to the fixing bracket extends between the fixing bracket and one of the injector cup and the injector cup mounting connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: CPT GROUP GMBH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Gisella Di Domizio
  • Patent number: 10393080
    Abstract: A coupling device for coupling a fuel rail to a cylinder head of a combustion engine may include: a fuel injector cup coupled to the fuel rail and facing the cylinder head, a first fastening element facing the fuel injector cup and fixedly coupled to the cylinder head, at least one first spring element arranged between the first fastening element and the fuel injector cup and/or between the fuel injector cup and the cylinder head, a support element arranged between the fuel rail and the cylinder head and fixedly coupled to the fuel rail, a second fastening element engaged with the support element and fixedly coupled to the cylinder head, and at least one second spring element arranged between the second fastening element and the support element and/or between the support element and the cylinder head. The first spring element(s) may comprise metal, and the second spring element(s) may comprise plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Gisella Di Domizio, Edoardo Giorgetti, Daniel Marc
  • Publication number: 20190153986
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a fuel injector assembly for an internal combustion engine comprising: an injector cup; a securing device to fasten the injector cup to the engine; wherein a first end of the injector cup remote from the fuel inlet port comprises an outwardly extending flange; a connector abutting the flange, wherein the injector cup and the fuel injector are secured together through the connector; and a fastening bracket supported on the flange, wherein the injector cup and the connector are secured through the fastening bracket by a fastening device. The fastening device comprises a U-shaped clip with a first arm disposed between a clamping face of the fastening device and the fastening bracket and a second arm generally parallel to the first arm disposed on the opposite side of the fastening bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Davide Matteini
  • Publication number: 20190111527
    Abstract: Various embodiments may include a fuel rail assembly comprising: a fuel rail; a second component; and a brazed joint securing the fuel rail and the second component together. The brazed joint may include a brazing filler material distributed between a first joining area formed by a surface portion of the fuel rail and second joining area formed by a surface portion of the second component. At least one of the joining areas comprises an elongated slot adapted to contain the brazing filler material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Gisella Di Domizio, Massimo Giovannetti, Georg Weigl
  • Publication number: 20190078544
    Abstract: Various teachings of the present disclosure may be embodied in a fuel rail assembly for a combustion engine comprising: an elongated tubular fuel rail; a fuel delivery pipe unit hydraulically coupled to the fuel rail; an injector cup for receiving a fuel injector, a pipe coupled to the cup and to the rail, and at least one fixation unit for fixing the pipe unit to the engine. The fixation unit comprises a connecting element fixed to a predetermined pipe unit portion by a first filler material joint. The connecting element, absent the first filler material joint, is axially and rotatably movable relative to the pipe and the injector cup. The fixation unit includes a bracket element with a through hole for a bolt to the engine. The bracket element is fixed to a predetermined connecting element portion by a second filler material joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gisella Di Domizio, Marco Pasquali, Giandomenico Serra
  • Patent number: 10197031
    Abstract: A fuel rail assembly for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. It comprises a plurality of fuel delivery lines branching off from a fuel rail, each fuel delivery line hydraulically coupling one fuel injector to an outlet port of the fuel rail. Each fuel delivery line has a one-piece pipe which extends from an outlet port of the fuel rail to the respective fuel injector. The pipe has a cylindrical connection section adjoining the respective outlet port and a cylindrical injector cup section in which a fuel inlet portion of the respective fuel injector is received. The connection section and the injector cup section have different hydraulic diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Gisella Di Domizio, Marco Pasquali
  • Patent number: 10167830
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fuel rail assembly for an internal combustion engine. In some embodiments, a fuel rail assembly for an internal combustion engine may include an elongated tubular fuel rail and a plurality of fuel delivery lines branching off from the fuel rail for hydraulically coupling the fuel rail to fuel injectors operable to inject fuel into the combustion engine. Also, an injector cup for receiving a fuel inlet portion of a respective one of the fuel injectors, a pipe arranged between the fuel rail and the injector cup for hydraulically coupling the injector cup to the fuel rail, and a fixation bracket configured for positionally fixing the fuel delivery line with respect to the engine. The injector cup, the pipe, and the fixation bracket are individual parts. A rigid connection is established between the fixation bracket and a portion of the pipe, said portion spaced apart from each of the fuel rail and from the injector cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Gisella Di Domizio, Andrea Puccini
  • Patent number: 10047711
    Abstract: A fuel injection assembly for a combustion engine includes an injector body, an injector cupradially enclosing an axial end of the injector body, and a spring clip coupling the injector cup with the injector body. The spring clip includes a ground plate with a main extension plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fuel injection assembly, a recess extending inwards from a lateral end of the ground plate to a bottom part having a circle-segment contour extending through an angle between 270° to 180°, and at least one spring element fixed to the ground plate. The spring element of the spring clip has a contact region with the injector cup, and the ground plate has a contact region with the injector body, whereby the spring element exerts a spring force on the injector cup. The ground plate of the spring clip extends into a cutout of the injector cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Daniel Marc
  • Patent number: 10018168
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fuel injector with a housing, a valve body, and an adjustment element. The body may have a central area, an end area, and a transition area, with a first outer diameter in the central area, and a second outer diameter in the end area smaller than the first diameter. The adjustment element may be in the transition area to align the fuel injector relative to the recess. In the transition area, an outer diameter of the valve body decreases in stepped fashion from the first diameter to the second diameter in a radially extending step. The adjustment element comprises a ring element through which the transition area extends with a radially extending upper surface which radially overlaps, contacts, and is coplanar to the step and a spherically shaped external surface in a cylinder head contact area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Mauro Grandi, Francesco Lenzi, Giandomenico Serra
  • Publication number: 20180135582
    Abstract: A fuel injector cup assembly has an injector cup, at least one bolt and an elastic element which mechanically couples the injector cup to a cylinder head. The bolt (7) is arrangeable through a penetrating first opening of the injector cup and in an opening of the cylinder head to fasten the injector cup to the cylinder head. The elastic element is configured to be mechanically coupled to the injector cup at a given position to act against a tilt of the injector cup relative to the cylinder head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Andrea PUCCINI, Giandomenico SERRA
  • Patent number: 9938948
    Abstract: A fluid injection assembly for a combustion engine includes an injector body having a notch, an injector cup, which radially encloses an axial end of the injector body and has a projecting part, and a spring clip arranged between the injector body and the injector cup. The spring clip includes a ground plate, at least one spring element, and at least one holding element engaging behind the projecting part of the injector cup. The ground plate is arranged in the notch of the injector body. The injector body and the injector cup are coupled together by the spring clip by mechanical interaction via the projecting part and the notch, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Giandomenico Serra, Daniel Marc, Andrea Puccini