Patents by Inventor Kenneth H. Klopfer

Kenneth H. Klopfer 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: 7089789
    Abstract: A fuel injection system (18) is calibrated as an assembled system. The fuel injection system (18) includes a unit pump (10) a cam follower (24), a joined fuel injection line (14) and injection nozzle (16). The fuel injection system (18) is mounted to a test stand an is subsequently calibrated to a specified fuel delivery and timing. The relative positions of the unit pump (10) and fuel injection nozzle (16) are fixed during calibration. The assembled fuel injection system is packaged and delivered so that the calibrated system can be installed in the relative positions fixed during calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Stanadyne Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Klopfer, Michael O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7000851
    Abstract: Fuel injector having a sleeve-shaped connector (22), injection nozzle (12) and injection line (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Stanadyne Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. O'Brien, Robert W. Martin, Jr., Kenneth H. Klopfer
  • Publication number: 20040251322
    Abstract: Fuel injector having a sleeve-shaped connector (22), injection nozzle (12) and injection line (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Michael J O'Brien, Robert W Martin, Kenneth H Klopfer
  • Publication number: 20040136850
    Abstract: A unit pump (10) is provided with a bleed port (12) spaced from the main injection port (14). The bleed port (12) improves the rate shape of injection through an associated fuel injector by slowing the initial rate of injection. The bleed port (12) permits shifting of the engine speed at which speed advance occurs. The bleed port (12) also flattens the fuel backup curve. Altering the cross section flow area (18) of the bleed port, axial spacing between the bleed port and inlet port (20) permit the designer to vary (or even eliminate) the impact of the bleed port (12) on the unit pump (10) performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Kenneth H Klopfer, Mark Duquette
  • Patent number: 6116217
    Abstract: A hydro-mechanical device and methods therefor, for receiving fuel from a variable displacement fuel pump of a fuel-supply system and delivering the fuel to a common rail of the fuel-supply system, regulates the fuel-pressure in the fuel-supply system, at least in part, based on the output of the fuel pump such that optimal engine performance can be maintained under varying operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Klopfer
  • Patent number: 6062498
    Abstract: A fuel injector having a needle valve and an injector body employs at least one movable needle-guide which having a plurality of movable members disposed between the needle valve assembly and the injector body. The movable members can be insulating members which are substantially entirely composed of insulating material such as ceramics. In applications which do not require electrical isolation, the movable members could be formed of conductive material. The movable members are preferably spherical elements which are partially cradled within an annular trough formed in the needle valve such that the movable members ensure that the needle valve is held in spaced relation to the injector body. While the movable members are preferably formed as solid ceramic spheres, other insulating materials and/or shapes could be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Klopfer
  • Patent number: 5988142
    Abstract: A fuel injector employs at least one sensing device for sensing material deformations occurring in the injector components during usage to thereby monitor injector performance. The sensing device is preferably at least one of the many piezoelectric sensors available and is advantageously affixed within a cylinder of an injector to detect deformations of the injector cylinder within the needle valve/power piston column of an injector to detect deformations of the column which occurs when the high-pressure fuel in the control chamber is suddenly converted pressure and vice versa. Whereas the sensing devices of the invention can be placed at a variety of locations, they are advantageously arranged to detect material deformations within the injector cylinder or valve/piston column where such deformations are appreciably large during injector usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Klopfer
  • Patent number: 5540564
    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
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Klopfer
  • Patent number: 5265576
    Abstract: A fuel injection system having a fuel injection pump with an electrical control valve for controlling the fuel injection timing and quantity, an electrical control unit (ECU) for storing certain data, including certain master calibration data, for regulating the operation of the control valve, a pump mounted, electrical module having a male connector for connecting the pump mounted module to the ECU, and a printed circuit board mounted on the male connector pins, the printed circuit board having a calibration resistor for establishing an electrical calibration value at one of the pins for adjusting the master calibration table for adjusting the fuel injection quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: Donald C. McMahon, Robert R. Winkler, Kenneth H. Klopfer
  • Patent number: 5228844
    Abstract: A fuel injection pump having a rotor with a distributor rotor at its outer end and an annular arrangement of radial pumping plunger bores providing a pumping chamber at its inner end. The pump rotor has a coaxial throughbore providing a valve bore intersecting the annular arrangement of plunger bores. A poppet valve, axially shiftable in the valve bore, has a sealing head engageable with a valve seat at the inner end of the rotor throughbore. An armature of a valve electromagnet is fixed to the outer end of the poppet valve for attraction by a coaxial stator when the electromagnet is energized. The poppet valve and armature are coupled to the pump rotor for rotation therewith. A coaxial accumulator bore is provided in a drive shaft adjacent the inner end of the rotor throughbore for supplying fuel to and receiving spilled fuel from the pumping chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Klopfer, Ilija Djordjevic, Malcolm C. Higgins, Daniel E. Salzgeber
  • Patent number: 5215060
    Abstract: A rotary distributor fuel injection pump having a fuel system for circulating fuel continuously from a fuel supply pump via an end chamber at one end of the distributor rotor and an annular fuel chamber surrounding the distributor rotor to a return line and a pressure regulator in the return line for regulating the upstream pressure and continuously returning excess fuel to the supply pump. An electrical control valve is selectively opened during the pumping strokes to spill fuel into the end chamber and terminate the fuel injection event. An auxiliary passage in the rotor resets the pressure in the distributor outlets to approximately the same initial pressure. In an air purging mode of operation, the control valve is held closed until after the distributor port moves out of registry with each distributor outlet to prevent back flow to the end chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Klopfer, William W. Kelly
  • Patent number: D495341
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Stanadyne Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. O'Brien, Kenneth H. Klopfer