Patents by Inventor Karl Hofmann

Karl Hofmann 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: 4346846
    Abstract: The invention proposes a fuel injection nozzle wherein the mounting, for example in the form of a cap nut or sleeve nut, used for clamping the fuel pressure line to the nozzle holder, is replaced by a cap screw, the outer thread of which engages a corresponding threaded area in the engine bore which is arranged to receive the nozzle. This has the result that, together with the mounting of the fuel line, the injection nozzle is simultaneously firmly clamped to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1982
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ewald Eblen, Karl Hofmann
  • Patent number: 4340181
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle for internal combustion engines, in which the valve needle together with the valve seat of the nozzle body forms an electric switch which by its opening and closing indicates the injection onset and the injection duration. A spring-elastic conductive element is disposed inside the closing spring and connects the attachment piece with the valve needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1982
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Stumpp, Ewald Eblen, Karl Hofmann, Nestor R. Amaya, Josef Schlagenhauf, Odon Kopse
  • Patent number: 4296887
    Abstract: A heat protecting sleeve or bushing surrounds the terminal end of the fuel injection plug and is formed with an inturned, inwardly directed lip which resiliently bears against the end face surface of the fuel injection plug, in a slightly funnel-shaped arrangement to permit tightening of the plug within the respective matching bore opening of the cylinder head while compensating for tolerances in manufacture, and yet provide for resilient sealing engagement of the inwardly directed funnel-shaped flange forming the sealing lip against the end face surface of the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Hofmann
  • Patent number: 4285471
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injection nozzle in which a control piston acts on the valve needle, which control piston can also be acted upon by another fluid with an arbitrarily changeable pressure. In this manner it is relatively simple to meet the ever increasing requirements to apply an influence of engine characteristic values to the fuel injection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ewald Eblen, Karl Hofmann, Odon Kopse
  • Patent number: 4258883
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle for preliminary and primary fuel injection, wherein the preliminary injection of fuel is effected by temporarily relieving the feed or delivery pressure. Control is accomplished by means of a control slide valve preferably arranged around the valve needle, at least a portion of the preliminary injection quantity being displaced by way of this control slide valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1981
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Hofmann, Helmut Norberg
  • Patent number: 4213568
    Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in valve needles for fuel injection nozzles wherein the terminus of the needle that projects into the injection port of the valve body is tapered downwardly. As a consequence, a change in the flow cross section is attained even during idling or lower partial-load of the valve needle. This invention thus achieves an improvement in shifting smoothness, lower fuel consumption, the quality of the exhaust gas, as well as the entire efficiency of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1980
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Hofmann
  • Patent number: 4168804
    Abstract: The invention relates to fuel injection nozzles having a bored nozzle body terminating in a blind bore positioned in proximity to a plural series of fuel injection ports one series of which are in communication with a valve seat and arranged to be opened and closed by a slidable valve. The valve needle also includes an axial bore that provides for fuel pressure communication with the blind bore in the nozzle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1979
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Hofmann
  • Patent number: 4162043
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle in which the needle valve has been improved so that all similarly constructed nozzles will exhibit exactly the same flow cross section with a fully opened valve, and so that, with a constant injection pressure, the fuel quantity injected will not vary between the various nozzles serving the engine. The needle valve is provided with a cyclindrical section, which together with an edge region of the nozzle body defines the narrowest flow cross section obtainable with a spray-forming portion of the needle valve at a fully opened position of the needle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1979
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ewald Eblen, Karl Hofmann
  • Patent number: 4151958
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle including in assembly the following essential components: a nozzle body; a needle valve and a control member. Two stages of injection are produced both of which are controlled by the needle valve. The control member serves during the second stage of injection and cooperates with the needle valve to effect this stage of injection. For this purpose the control member fits, in a radially sealed manner, within a blind bore formed in the needle valve and defines a channel through which fuel flows under the control of the needle valve. The channel in turn is connected with injection opens for the injection of fuel during the second stage of injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1979
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Hofmann
  • Patent number: 4133321
    Abstract: A clamping device in the form of a bracket for use in clamping a fuel injection nozzle to the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. The clamping device has a generally flat top portion and a pair of legs extending therefrom which together define a U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The top portion includes a slot for receiving a portion of the injection nozzle while the free ends of the legs bear against flat portions of the injection nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1979
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Hofmann, Walter Mladek
  • Patent number: 4096999
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve assembly for supplying a preliminary injection of fuel of a constant amount regardless of engine speed before the main injection of fuel begins comprising a spring biased, fuel supply pressure responsive, preliminary injection piston for the preliminary injection, a fuel supply pressure responsive loading piston for controlling the main injection fuel flow and a needle valve, both of the latter being biased oppositely by a common spring. Separate supply ducts for the preliminary and main fuel injections and the arrangement of the valve surfaces on the loading piston and needle valve enable the loading piston to be held closed and the needle valve to be opened by the pressure imposed on the preliminary injection piston and remain open long enough for the preliminary injection piston to travel its full stroke before closing and before the needle valve is opened for the main injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1978
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Konrad Eckert, Karl Hofmann, Kurt Seifert
  • Patent number: 4092001
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle for internal combustion engines which includes a blind bore disposed transversely to the axis of the nozzle, in which bore is provided an adjustment mechanism for exteriorly varying the pre-loaded tension of a closing spring acting on the needle valve of the fuel injection nozzle. Plural embodiments disclose that variance in the spring loading is achieved by rotating the adjustment mechanism through different positions to urge the spring downwardly against a cap retaining the spring. The adjustment mechanism is sealed against fuel leakage from the bore and retained therein by the force of the spring plate on a surface cooperative therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1978
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Hofmann
  • Patent number: 3942366
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle for internal combustion engines is normally closed by an axially movable needle valve. The needle valve is operatively arranged to actuate, at least mediately, an electrical switch after lifting from its valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1976
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Hofmann
  • Patent number: 3934903
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle arrangement for an internal combustion engine includes a nozzle holder, a hose which serves as a fuel supply conduit and a tubular socket. The tubular socket is preferably fixedly connected to the nozzle holder. A connection means is provided between the nozzle holder and the hose. The connection means includes an affixable hose nipple. A sealing means, preferably an O-ring, is positioned between a surface of the hose nipple and an opposing surface, which is preferably a surface of the tubular socket. At least one hose coupling member is associated with the affixable hose nipple. Two coupling members are preferably associated with the hose nipple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: Robert Bosch G.m.b.H.
    Inventors: Karl Hofmann, Walter Mladek