Abstract: A nozzle assembly includes a body, a valve member, and a clamp member maintaining a flow director member against the body. The flow director member is sandwiched between the peripheral wall and the clamp member, and is provided with an outlet path including two distinct guidance channels extending from an upstream end and a common downstream end where is a spray hole. The outlet path creates impingement of the two flow streams flowing in the two channels before entering the spray hole.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly includes a body, a valve member, and a clamp member maintaining a flow director member against the body. The flow director member is sandwiched between the peripheral wall and the clamp member, and is provided with an outlet path including two distinct guidance channels extending from an upstream end and a common downstream end where is a spray hole. The outlet path creates impingement of the two flow streams flowing in the two channels before entering the spray hole.

Abstract: A fluid injector includes a fluid inlet; a valve seat located downstream of the fluid inlet and having a valve seat aperture extending therethrough; a valve member moveable between a closed position and an open position to control flow through the valve seat aperture; and director plate including a first aperture and a second aperture extending therethrough. A fluid flow channel is formed between the valve seat and the director plate and extends from an inlet end to an outlet end. The first aperture and the second aperture extend through the director plate from the fluid flow channel. The first aperture is located between the inlet end and the second aperture. The fluid flow channel decreases in cross-sectional area from the inlet end toward the first aperture and the fluid flow channel increases in cross-sectional area from the first aperture toward the second aperture.

Abstract: A fluid injector includes a fluid inlet; a valve seat located downstream of the fluid inlet and having a valve seat aperture extending therethrough; a valve member moveable between a closed position and an open position to control flow through the valve seat aperture; and director plate including a first aperture and a second aperture extending therethrough. A fluid flow channel is formed between the valve seat and the director plate and extends from an inlet end to an outlet end. The first aperture and the second aperture extend through the director plate from the fluid flow channel. The first aperture is located between the inlet end and the second aperture. The fluid flow channel decreases in cross-sectional area from the inlet end toward the first aperture and the fluid flow channel increases in cross-sectional area from the first aperture toward the second aperture.

Abstract: A fuel injector wherein a cylindrical surface supports an electrical heating structure covering 360° or almost 360° of the surface for heating fuel. The structure comprises a first dielectric layer adhered to the surface; a thick film resistance heating element; a second dielectric layer; spaced-apart first and second conductor pads, wherein the first conductor pad is disposed in contact with a dielectric layer and a first end of the heating element, and wherein the second conductor pad is disposed in contact with a dielectric layer and a second end of the heating element. Another dielectric layer may be disposed over the preceding layers and the first and second conductor pads and having first and second windows formed therein for access to the first and second conductor pads. The resistance heating element may selectively be trimmed by overprinting in a pattern one or more times to improve the uniformity of heating.

Abstract: A fuel injector wherein a cylindrical surface supports an electrical heating structure covering 360° or almost 360° of the surface for heating fuel. The structure comprises a first dielectric layer adhered to the surface; a thick film resistance heating element; a second dielectric layer; spaced-apart first and second conductor pads, wherein the first conductor pad is disposed in contact with a dielectric layer and a first end of the heating element, and wherein the second conductor pad is disposed in contact with a dielectric layer and a second end of the heating element. Another dielectric layer may be disposed over the preceding layers and the first and second conductor pads and having first and second windows formed therein for access to the first and second conductor pads. The resistance heating element may selectively be trimmed by overprinting in a pattern one or more times to improve the uniformity of heating.

Abstract: A fuel injector wherein a cylindrical surface supports an electrical heating structure covering 360° or almost 360° of the surface for heating fuel. The structure comprises a first dielectric layer adhered to the surface; a thick film resistance heating element; a second dielectric layer; spaced-apart first and second conductor pads, wherein the first conductor pad is disposed in contact with a dielectric layer and a first end of the heating element, and wherein the second conductor pad is disposed in contact with a dielectric layer and a second end of the heating element. Another dielectric layer may be disposed over the preceding layers and the first and second conductor pads and having first and second windows formed therein for access to the first and second conductor pads. The resistance heating element may selectively be trimmed by overprinting in a pattern one or more times to improve the uniformity of heating.

Abstract: A lower fuel injector filter includes a generally planar disk having an annular shape and including a plurality of filter holes. The disk is retained by a valve guide within a valve seat. The disk prevents internally generated contamination particles contained in fuel flowing through the filter holes from reaching a valve and seat interface positioned downstream of the valve guide. The disk may also be retained by a ball valve stop proximate the valve seat.

Abstract: A lower filter for a fuel injector includes a disk having an annular shape and including a plurality of filter holes. The disk is positioned upstream of a valve guide of an internal valve assembly without contacting the valve guide. The disk prevents internally generated contaminants contained in fuel flowing through the filter holes from reaching a valve guide area and a sealing area of the internal valve assembly. By installing the lower filter upstream of the valve guide and without contact to the valve guide, interference with the guidance and reciprocal movement of the valve is avoided. Application of the lower filter in fuel injectors may reduce the occurrence of injector failures by reducing the number of stuck open conditions in injectors and by reducing the number of hydro lock engine incidents without interference with the valve guide.

Abstract: An internal lower filter for a fuel injector includes a self-supporting guide guiding a reciprocably activated valve of an internal valve assembly of a fuel injector and a plurality of filter holes formed in said guide filtering fuel flowing through the fuel injector and preventing contaminants contained in the fuel from entering a sealing area of the internal valve assembly. Incorporating the guide filter in accordance with the invention in a fuel injector enables capturing particles or contaminants, generated within the fuel injector during assembly or during operation, before entering the sealing area of an internal valve assembly. Accordingly, failure modes of the injector, such as a stuck open condition that may lead to a hydraulic lock of the engine, can be reduced. By forming the filter holes in a typically used ball guide, no changes are required to the currently used assembly line equipment or the current assembly process.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injector comprises a body having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet and a base comprising a valve seat sealably connected to the body. A disk-shaped armature disposed at the fuel outlet for controlling the flow of fuel has an upper surface and a lower surface that comprises a sealing interface with the valve seat. A ring-shaped flexural element comprising a plurality of spaced flexural legs is in contact with the injector body and the upper surface of the armature and provides a spring bias between the body and armature upper surface. When the injector is closed, spring bias between the body and armature upper surface maintains the armature in a sealing position with the valve seat, and when the injector is open, increased spring bias between the body and armature upper surface impels the armature to return to a sealing position with the valve seat.

Abstract: A fuel injector includes a flexural element connected to a valve armature for restricting radial movement of the armature within a fuel passage. The flexural element is flat and exerts no force on the valve when it is closed but is flexed when the valve is opened and supplements the valve spring force during closing of the valve. The flexural element also is used to set the valve stroke length equal to the element's thickness. A flat tool presses a valve ball into the armature while the ball is seated on a valve seat until the flexural element engages a seat related surface. Engagement of the tool with the flexural element fixed to the armature assures that the flexural element is in an unloaded flat position when the valve is closed and establishes the valve stroke when the valve assembly and seat are installed in the injector body.

Abstract: A method is provided for assembling a pole piece into an internal fuel passage of a fuel injector. The assembly method includes the steps of: (a) providing an endoskeletal injector tube, where the injector tube provides the fuel passage for the fuel injector; (b) forming at least one depression into an outer surface of the injector tube; (c) inserting an injector valve into the injector tube; (d) inserting the pole piece into the injector tube, wherein the pole piece is adjustable thereafter; and (e) affixing the pole piece within the injector tube, where an outer surface of the pole piece is in contact with an inner surface of the injector tube corresponding to the depressions, thereby creating a spring fit between the pole piece and the tube.

Abstract: A fuel injector for an engine includes a continuous endoskeletal injector tube enclosing an imperforate continuous passage for fuel flow from an inlet end to an outlet end of the tube. A valve seat, injection valve, tubular magnetic pole, biasing spring and adjusting sleeve are mounted within the tube, optionally with other elements, all being exposed to fuel in the passage defined by the tube. A solenoid coil and a magnetic body together with mounting components and seals are mounted on the exterior of the tube where they are protected from exposure to the fuel, which is restricted to passage within the continuous tube. The body, pole and armature form a magnetic flux concentrating path operative to attract the armature to the pole and open the valve when the coil is energized. The solenoid coil may be preassembled with its connector in a body forming a separate coil assembly for subsequent installation on the injector tube.

Abstract: An injector fuel injection valve is guided at the lower end by a plastic valve guide mounted in a nozzle containing a valve seat engagable by the valve element. The valve guide includes inwardly protruding annularly spaced ribs having inner guide surfaces and defining spaced flow channels. The guide surfaces engage the circular or spherical exterior of the valve element to guide the element to properly aligned seating against the conical valve seat. The plastic or polymeric valve guide is preferably molded in place within the cup shaped metal nozzle but, if desired, the valve guide may be separately molded and subsequently inserted or snapped in place within the nozzle. A second plastic valve guide may be provided for guiding the upper end of an associated armature.

Abstract: A fuel injector for discharging fuel to an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The injector includes a nozzle body having a solenoid actuator, a pole piece with an axial extending fuel passage, a valve assembly including a reciprocably moveable armature operable against the bias of a spring member, a calibration tube extending through the pole piece fuel passage and operable to load the spring, an axially extending, drawn metal fuel tube having a first end defining an injector fuel inlet and a second end in communication with the axially extending fuel passage of the pole piece. The fuel tube includes features which extend radially inwardly in the wall of the fuel tube to define depressions in the outer surface of the wall which function, with a molded composite jacket to deter rotation of the tube.

Abstract: A purge control device for an evaporative control system comprises a single housing having two solenoid actuated valves controlling parallel orifices leading from an inlet chamber to an exit flow path. The two solenoid valves have different sized orifices to provide different flow capacities. Purge flow is controlled by an electronic control module which regulates the duty cycle of the solenoids. Each valve receives its own signal so that the flow through the orifices is individually controlled.

Abstract: A device for detecting a malfunction of the evaporative control system comprises a two-way flow device in the atmospheric air vent of the evaporative canister with a sensor to detect whether fluid is flowing through the canister during selected operating conditions.

Abstract: A vapor storage canister has an improved carbon bed loading pressure maintenance mechanism. A pressure plate is driven up indirectly, through a threaded shaft turned by a radially wound spiral spring, rather than by an axially compressed helical spring. This takes better advantage of the space available between the carbon bed and the lower end of the canister.