Patents by Inventor Robert McFarland

Robert McFarland 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: 6511003
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located at least within the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion. The coil group subassembly includes a solenoid coil that is operable to displace the armature assembly with respect to the seat; and a second attachment portion that is fixedly connected to the first attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Michael J. Hornby, Robert McFarland
  • Patent number: 6508417
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is disposed at least within the tube assembly; an O-ring that circumscribes the second end of the tube assembly and that is maintained by a flared end of a snap-fit type retainer; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland
  • Patent number: 6502770
    Abstract: A modular fuel injector is disclosed for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is disposed at least within the tube assembly and that has an integral retaining portion; an O-ring that circumscribes the first end of the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Michael J. Hornby, Robert McFarland
  • Patent number: 6499677
    Abstract: A fuel injector having a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, and a fuel passageway extending along an axis between the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet. The fuel injector includes a body having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a neck portion disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. An adjusting tube is disposed within the neck portion of the body. A spring is disposed within the neck portion of the body, the spring having an upstream end proximate to the adjusting tube and a downstream end opposite the upstream end. A filter assembly is disposed within the tube assembly to provide a reaction member for the spring. An armature having a lower portion is disposed within the neck portion of the body and displaceable along the axis relative to the body. The downstream end of the spring is disposed proximate to the armature, the spring applying a biasing force to the armature. A valve seal is substantially rigidly connected to the lower portion of the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland, James Robert Parish, Dennis Bulgatz
  • Publication number: 20020179747
    Abstract: A fuel injector has a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, and a fuel passageway extending along an axis between the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet. The fuel injector comprises a body, an armature, a spring, and a spring stop. The body has an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a passage disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. The armature is disposed within the passage and is displaceable along the axis relative to the body. The spring is disposed within the passage and applies a biasing force to the armature. The spring has a first end disposed proximate the armature and a second end opposite from the first end. The spring stop is disposed within the passage and has a first and second portion. The first portion includes at least one projection engaging the passage. The at least one projection extends obliquely with respect to the axis and in a direction general toward the inlet portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Dennis Bulgatz, Robert McFarland
  • Publication number: 20020138984
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a modular fuel injector permits the fabrication of the electrical group subassembly outside a clean room while a fuel group subassembly is fabricated inside a clean room. The method provides for manufacturing a sealed fuel injector unit via a predetermined number of different types of operations. Each type comprises a range of percentages of the predetermined number of operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland, Michael J. Hornby
  • Publication number: 20020104904
    Abstract: A fuel injector for controlling fuel flow to an internal combustion engine and a method of setting dynamic calibration for the fuel injector. The fuel injector comprises a body, a seat, an armature assembly, a resilient member, and a member. The body extends along a longitudinal axis. The seat is secured to the body and defines an opening through which fuel flows. The armature assembly moves along the longitudinal axis with respect to the body between first and second positions. The first position is spaced from the seat such that fuel flow through the opening is permitted, and the second position contiguously engages the seat such that fuel flow is prevented. The resilient member biases the armature assembly toward the second position. And the member extends parallel to the longitudinal axis between a first portion and a second portion. The first portion supports the resilient member and engages the body, and the second portion has a filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventor: Robert McFarland
  • Publication number: 20020088879
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located at the first end of the tube assembly and that has an integral retaining portion; an O-ring that circumscribes the first end of the tube assembly and that is maintained by the retaining portion of the filter; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland
  • Publication number: 20020084355
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located at least within the tube assembly and may include an integral retaining portion; an O-ring that circumscribes the first end of the tube assembly and that is maintained by the retaining portion of the filter; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland, Michael J. Hornby
  • Publication number: 20020084361
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located at least within the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion. The coil group subassembly includes a solenoid coil that is operable to displace the armature assembly with respect to the seat; and a second attachment portion that is fixedly connected to the first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Michael J. Hornby, Robert McFarland
  • Publication number: 20020084360
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located at least within the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion. The coil group subassembly includes a solenoid coil that is operable to displace the armature assembly with respect to the seat; and a second attachment portion that is fixedly connected to the first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Michael J. Hornby, Robert McFarland, James Robert Parish, Dennis Bulgatz
  • Publication number: 20020084366
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is disposed within the tube; and a first attachment portion. The coil group subassembly includes a solenoid coil that is operable to displace the armature assembly with respect to the seat; and a second attachment portion that is fixedly connected to the first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland, Bryan Hall, Ross Wood
  • Publication number: 20020084362
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located at the first end of the tube assembly and that has an integral retaining portion; an O-ring that circumscribes the first end of the tube assembly and that is maintained by the retaining portion of the filter; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland, James Robert Parish, Dennis Bulgatz
  • Publication number: 20020084365
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is disposed at least within the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion. The coil group subassembly includes a solenoid coil that is operable to displace the armature assembly with respect to the seat; and a second attachment portion that is fixedly connected to the first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland
  • Publication number: 20020084340
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located within the tube assembly and integral with the adjusting tube; an O-ring that circumscribes the first end of the tube assembly and that is maintained by a retaining portion; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland
  • Publication number: 20020084357
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is disposed at least within the tube assembly; an O-ring that circumscribes the first end of the tube assembly and that is maintained by the retaining portion of the filter; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland, James Robert Parish, Dennis Bulgatz
  • Publication number: 20020084359
    Abstract: A fuel injector having a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, and a fuel passageway extending along an axis between the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet. The fuel injector includes a body having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a neck portion disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. An adjusting tube is disposed within the neck portion of the body. A fuel filter is mounted inside the adjusting tube prior to the insertion of the adjusting tube into the fuel injector inlet tube. A spring is disposed within the neck portion of the body, the spring having an upstream end proximate to the adjusting tube and a downstream end opposite the upstream end. An armature having a lower portion is disposed within the neck portion of the body and displace able along the axis relative to the body. The downstream end of the spring is disposed proximate to the armature, the spring applying a biasing force to the armature. A valve seal is substantially rigidly connected to the lower portion of the armature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Michael J. Hornby, Robert McFarland
  • Publication number: 20020084341
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is at least within the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion. The coil group subassembly includes a solenoid coil that is operable to displace the armature assembly with respect to the seat; and a second attachment portion that is fixedly connected to the first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland
  • Publication number: 20020084345
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is disposed at least within the tube assembly; an O-ring that circumscribes the second end of the tube assembly and that is maintained by a flared end of a snap-fit type retainer; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland
  • Publication number: 20020084342
    Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located at the first end of the tube assembly and that has an integral retaining portion; an O-ring that circumscribes the first end of the tube assembly and that is maintained by the retaining portion of the filter; and a first attachment portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Michael P. Dallmeyer, Robert McFarland, Bryan Hall, Ross Wood