Abstract: A mounting assembly for a fuel system component with an attachment bracket includes an upper isolation member; an upper isolation member retainer which captures the upper isolation member axially between the upper isolation member and the attachment bracket; a lower isolation member; a lower isolation member retainer which captures the lower isolation member axially between the lower isolation member the attachment bracket; and a retention member extending from the lower isolation member and having a retention member first end and a retention member second end such that the retention member first end is fixed to the lower isolation member retainer and such that the upper isolation member retainer is captured axially between the attachment bracket and the retention member second end.

Abstract: An improved disk-valve fuel injector comprising a self-centering, floating valve seat insert disposed in a valve body. The valve seat insert includes a circular first valve seat and the body includes a circular second valve seat concentric with the first valve seat. A spring urges the valve insert into compliance with a disk-shaped valve head. The valve insert is able to adjust position in all three dimensions, allowing the disk head to mate precisely with both seats, thereby minimizing leakage when the valve is closed, improving metering precision, and extending the working lifetime of the valve head and valve seats.

Abstract: An improved disk-valve fuel injector comprising a self-centering, floating valve seat insert disposed in a valve body. The valve seat insert includes a circular first valve seat and the body includes a circular second valve seat concentric with the first valve seat. A spring urges the valve insert into compliance with a disk-shaped valve head. The valve insert is able to adjust position in all three dimensions, allowing the disk head to mate precisely with both seats, thereby minimizing leakage when the valve is closed, improving metering precision, and extending the working lifetime of the valve head and valve seats.

Abstract: A solenoid operated gaseous fuel injector includes a pole positioned axially movable within a fuel tube, a retaining ring axially retaining a first end of the pole, a spring element positioned in contact with a second end of said pole, and an armature transmitting a force onto said pole at impact. The gaseous fuel injector operates to effectively attenuate and dissipate armature impact force onto the pole. Accordingly, impact energy attenuation is attained while cold temperature stiction of the moving parts is avoided.

Abstract: A fuel injector for dispensing gaseous fuel into an internal combustion engine, including a valve body having an axial bore; a valve seat sub-assembly slidably disposed in the axial bore; a valve needle sub-assembly disposed within the axial bore and selectively matable with the valve seat sub-assembly; an electrical actuator connected to the valve needle sub-assembly for moving the valve needle sub-assembly in alternating axial directions to cause the valve needle to make intermittent contact with and separate from the valve seat sub-assembly to control flow of fuel from the outlet end; and an energy attenuator sub-assembly having a polymeric resilient layer fixedly disposed in the axial bore and in contact with the valve seat sub-assembly to bias the valve seat sub-assembly against the valve needle sub-assembly to dampen closing impact of the valve needle sub-assembly against the valve seat sub-assembly.

Abstract: Means for attenuating the seating force of a cam-actuated poppet valve such as an exhaust gas recirculation valve in an internal combustion engine including a shock-absorber disposed between the valve stem and valve head. In a currently preferred embodiment, the shock-absorber is a wave washer disposed around the valve stem and captured between the valve stem and the valve head, between which axial motion is allowed. After the valve head engages the valve seat to close the valve, any further travel of the actuator cam and valve stem is absorbed by compression of the wave washer, thus attenuating additional force on elements of the valve actuation train. In opening the valve, the reverse occurs, in that initial motion of the actuator cam and valve stem serves to relieve compression of the wave washer, followed by removal of the valve head from the valve seat.

Abstract: A pintle-type valve having a valve body enclosing a chamber. A first port including a valve seat is formed in a first wall of the body. A bore formed in a second wall of the body receives a pintle bushing. The outer diameter of the bushing is less than the diameter of the bore such that the bushing has radial freedom of motion. A valve stem is disposed in a bore in the bushing. The bushing is radially centered by resilient elements within the body bore, preferably annular metal springs. The bushing includes a flange extending along an outer surface of the valve body for forming a seal at the outer bushing end. At the opposite end of the bushing, a retainer comprising a wave washer exerts compressive force to seal the flange against the body while permitting the bushing to float radially in response to radial forces.

Abstract: A solenoid armature having a central bore therethrough for receiving an end of a shaft passing through the armature. The shaft is shouldered to engage the armature at the entrance side of the bore. Preferably, a formed stop is provided on the shaft to transfer load between th6 shaft and the armature. At the exit side, the shaft is surrounded by a axially-compressible resilient element, preferably a wave washer retained by a retaining washer and a retaining clip attached to the shaft. A retaining groove is provided in the shaft such that the wave washer must be compressed during assembly to install the clip on the shaft. The apparatus is especially useful in an exhaust gas recirculation valve for an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: Means for attenuating the seating force of a cam-actuated poppet valve such as an exhaust gas recirculation valve in an internal combustion engine including a shock-absorber disposed between the valve stem and valve head. In a currently preferred embodiment, the shock-absorber is a wave washer disposed around the valve stem and captured between the valve stem and the valve head, between which axial motion is allowed. After the valve head engages the valve seat to close the valve, any further travel of the actuator cam and valve stem is absorbed by compression of the wave washer, thus attenuating additional force on elements of the valve actuation train. In opening the valve, the reverse occurs, in that initial motion of the actuator cam and valve stem serves to relieve compression of the wave washer, followed by removal of the valve head from the valve seat.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly including a bushing and pintle shaft sub-assembly having a pintle shaft supported by a sleeve bushing, the contact area between the shaft and bushing being reduced such that coking deposits that form on the remaining contact area can be broken by the force of the valve actuator, thereby preventing sticking of the valve from coking accumulations. Either the shaft surface or the bushing surface is relieved in a pattern of incuse areas and residual bearing areas. A currently preferred pattern is a helix.

Abstract: An improved electric solenoid for providing linear mechanical actuation. The outer polepiece of the solenoid is provided with an axial, self-lubricated, non-magnetic bearing for closely supporting and centering an actuating shaft extending coaxially from the solenoid armature. Preferably, the radial tolerance between the diameters of the bearing inner bore and the shaft is as small as in practically possible without inducing drag of the shaft in the bearing, permitting reduction of the air gap between the armature and the polepieces to a minimal thickness. Preferably, the armature is axially tapered to avoid contact of the armature with the polepieces as a result of residual tolerances between the bearing and shaft. A significant increase in actuating force is realized in comparison with a prior art solenoid, and the improved solenoid may be used in any desired orientation.

Abstract: A pintle bushing assembly for a poppet valve assembly including a tolerance ring which is disposable between the pintle bushing and a bore in the body of the valve to both seal and center the bushing in the bore. The tolerance ring includes a plurality of radially-extending dimples which are deformable during assembly such that the valve pintle can be aligned coaxially with the valve seat under all conditions. An axial flange on the tolerance ring is sealed against axial surfaces of the valve body adjacent the bore and a flange on the bushing to prevent leakage past the bushing.

Abstract: A rotary arm-actuated pintle valve assembly having a pintle valve seat, a pintle shaft, and a valve head forming a pintle valve for regulating flow of gas through a valve body. The shaft extends through a port in a wall of the body. A rotary-arm actuator mounted to the body includes an oscillating motor and shaft. An arm mounted on the motor shaft engages the outer end of the pintle shaft and causes the pintle shaft to reciprocate to open and close the valve. The port permits the pintle to move back and forth radially during actuation of the valve. A floating bearing assembly at the port receives the pintle and slides back and forth as directed by the pintle, all the while maintaining a pneumatic seal around the pintle. A centering element is provided within the valve body to guide the pintle in mating the head with the seat.

Abstract: A solenoid-actuated pintle valve assembly having a pintle shaft extending from a metering base sub-assembly into a solenoid actuator sub-assembly, the pintle shaft being equipped with a radially-extending fixed shield outside the metering base sub-assembly. The shield moves axially with the pintle during valve actuation and is located on the shaft so that when the pintle is in the valve-closed position, the shield cooperates with the pintle bushing to form an effective impedance to gas leakage from the metering base sub-assembly along the pintle shaft. When the valve is in the fully open position at the opposite extreme of pintle travel, the shield cooperates with an armature shield in the actuator to prevent entrance of gases into the solenoid. The invention is especially useful for exhaust gas recirculation valves on internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A proportionally-controllable solenoid including primary and secondary pole pieces that surround an armature axially movable along an axial channel within the pole pieces. The pole pieces are separated axially by an air gap and are conically tapered toward the gap. The leading and trailing faces of the armature are substantially orthogonal to its direction of travel to minimize radial parasitic forces on these faces. Further, the armature is also lengthened such that the trailing face is always outside the axial channel in the secondary pole piece at all points of axial travel to minimize the pull-back effect of axial flux vectors on the trailing face.

Abstract: A pintle-type valve including a valve body enclosing a chamber having a first port surrounded by an annular valve seat in a first wall of the chamber and a second port in a second and opposite wall of the chamber for receiving a pintle bushing. A valve pintle shaft having an attached valve head is disposed in the bushing. The second port is larger in diameter than the diameter of the valve head, so that the valve head may be admitted to the chamber through the port. The bushing is radially floating in the port and has a flange extending along an outer surface of the valve body for forming a seal therewith. The pintle extends into a conventional solenoid-type actuator bolted to the valve body. A radially-floating gas seal surrounds the pintle between the retainer and the actuator. A compressed coil spring holds the bushing in place against operating pressure within the valve chamber. The bushing and gas seal are centered by the valve stem, reducing frictional drag and reducing valve leakage.

Abstract: An expanded-range pintle valve comprising a plurality of stages. Each stage comprises a valve seat and head capable of regulating flow through the valve over its own dynamic range. The valve head of a higher-flow stage includes the valve seat for the next-lower flow stage. The heads and seats for the multiple stages are nested concentrically, the progressively lower-flow stages having progressively smaller diameters. All valve heads except the lowest-flow head have axial and radial bores permitting flow therethrough so that flow may be regulated first by actuating the lowest-flow stage, then by actuating successively higher flow stages. A single pintle shaft connected to a solenoid actuator is adapted to engage each of the valve heads sequentially as the actuator progresses, beginning with the lowest-flow head, thereby extending incrementally the dynamic range of the valve as each stage is successively engaged.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly including a bushing and pintle shaft sub-assembly having a pintle shaft supported by a sleeve bushing, the contact area between the shaft and bushing being reduced such that coking deposits that form on the remaining contact area can be broken by the force of the valve actuator, thereby preventing sticking of the valve from coking accumulations. Either the shaft surface or the bushing surface is relieved in a pattern of incuse areas and residual bearing areas. A currently preferred pattern is a helix.

Abstract: A solenoid-actuated pintle valve assembly having a pintle shaft extending from a metering base sub-assembly into a solenoid actuator sub-assembly, the pintle shaft being equipped with a radially-extending fixed shield outside the metering base sub-assembly. The shield moves axially with the pintle during valve actuation and is located on the shaft so that when the pintle is in the valve-closed position, the shield cooperates with the pintle bushing to form an effective impedance to gas leakage from the metering base sub-assembly along the pintle shaft. When the valve is in the fully open position at the opposite extreme of pintle travel, the shield cooperates with an armature shield in the actuator to prevent entrance of gases into the solenoid. The invention is especially useful for exhaust gas recirculation valves on internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A solenoid actuator for an exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly including a resiliently-deformable element, for example, an undulated washer, disposed between the closed end of an armature guide tube and an axial face of the primary pole piece. The resilience of the element is selected to prevent sliding of the guide tube within the pole piece due to frictional drag on the tube by an armature; to absorb and store kinetic energy transferred by the armature impacting the closed end of the guide tube; and to reduce hysteresis by returning stored energy to assist the armature in accelerating in the reverse direction. The element may take any of several forms.