Patents by Inventor Robert T. J. Skinner

Robert T. J. Skinner 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: 4537359
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle of the inwardly opening type includes first and second coiled compression springs operable to load the valve member to the closed position. The first spring is initially opposed by the second spring and finally assisted by the second spring during the movement of the valve member there being an intermediate range of valve member movement during which the first spring alone resists the movement of the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Lucas Industries, p.l.c.
    Inventor: Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4535939
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine includes a valve member biased by a spring to a closed position and movable to an open position by fuel under pressure supplied to an inlet of the nozzle. The opening of the valve member is initially assisted by fuel under pressure supplied to an inlet of the nozzle. The opening of the valve member is initially assisted by fuel under pressure acting upon a piston. A stop limits the movement of the piston so that the remaining movement of the valve member is due only to the fuel pressure acting on the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4513916
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine is of the outwardly opening type and includes a valve member which is biased by a first spring to the closed position, a second spring is provided and is arranged so that it initially opposes the first spring and finally assists the first spring there being a range of movement of the valve member against the action of the first spring only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Assignee: Lucas Industries
    Inventor: Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4509691
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine includes a valve member slidable within a bore in a nozzle body. The valve member has a drilling in which is slidable a sleeve member. The sleeve member is in end to end sealing engagement with a tubular member through which fuel can flow from a fuel inlet to an outlet when the valve member is lifted from a seating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4499884
    Abstract: A fuel injection pump includes a rotary distributor having a bore housing a pair of pumping plungers which are actuated by a cam. The distributor member also carries a valve member which is actuated by a cam. The valve member has a groove which can spill fuel to a drain when the valve member is moved to an operative position. In addition the valve member restricts the backflow of fuel from an outlet when fuel is spilled from the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1985
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4474157
    Abstract: A fuel injection pumping apparatus of the rotary distributor type has pumping plungers located in a bore in the distributor member. A cup shaped member surrounds the distributor member and has slots in which are located cam followers. The cup shaped member is connected to a drive shaft as also is the distributor member. Slidable within the cup shaped member is an annular member which has a tapered internal surface which can register with complementary surfaces on the followers or on the plungers to limit the outward movement of the plungers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: Robert T. J. Skinner, Dorian F. Mowbray
  • Patent number: 4467965
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle for supplying fuel to a compression ignition engine includes a valve member slidable within a bore, a seating in the bore and the valve member being shaped to co-operate with the seating. An extension is carried by the valve member and is slidable in a guide bore extending from the seating to the exterior of the nozzle. The extension has an outlet chamber into which opens a first passage through which fuel can flow as soon as the valve member is lifted from the seating and a second passage through which fuel can flow with increasing quantity as the valve member lifts from the seating. The first passage causes swirling of fuel in the chamber and produces a bushy fuel spray and the fuel flowing through the second passage progressively cancels the swirling to produce a penetrative jet of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4448165
    Abstract: A fuel injection pumping apparatus for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine comprises an injection pump to which fuel is supplied by a low pressure pump. A part of the injection pump defines a surface against which a control pressure can act to vary the amount of fuel supplied by the injection pump, the part being spring loaded by a spring in a direction to oppose the force exerted by the control pressure and to increase the amount of fuel supplied. The control pressure is derived from the low pressure pump by means of a control system and if the output pressure of the low pressure pump should fall due to for example fuel starvation, the part will move in the direction to increase the amount of fuel supplied by the apparatus, this being permitted even though the output pressure is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4438747
    Abstract: A fuel injection pumping apparatus of the rotary distributor type has a distributor member which is also axially movable to determine the allowed outward movement of the pumping plungers and hence the amount of fuel supplied to the associated engine. The extent of outward movement is determined by inclined stop surfaces which co-operate with complementary surfaces on shoes associated with the plungers. In order to minimize axial movement of the distributor member when the shoes engage the stop surfaces a chamber to which liquid is supplied to vary the axial setting of the distributor member, is locked off from fluid supply and drain passages, by a servo valve 41 when the correct position of the distributor member is obtained. A hydraulic lock is thus created in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: Robert T. J. Skinner, Brian W. Tumber
  • Patent number: 4421084
    Abstract: A fuel injection pumping apparatus includes a governor which controls the size of an orifice through which fuel is supplied to an injection pump to determine the amount of fuel supplied by the pump to an associated engine. The governor includes a piston which at one end is subjected to fuel pressure and which bears at its other end against a spring connected in series with a spring. The spring is weaker than the spring so that at idling speed it is the spring which balances the force acting on the piston. Manually operable means is provided to effect movement of an abutment disposed between the springs, the spring acting to determine the maximum speed of the associated engine. When the engine has been started from cold, it is desirable to provide additional fuel to enable the engine to idle properly and for this purpose a device represented by the arrow, moves the end of the spring remote from the spring and this provides a temporary increase in the amount of fuel supplied at idling speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: Brian E. Broadwith, Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4413780
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle includes a body defining a bore to which fuel can be supplied. The bore defines a guide portion of reduced diameter at its outer end and the guide portion supports a valve member for axial movement. The valve member has an outlet orifice formed therein. The orifice in the closed position of the valve member is closed by the guide portion and is uncovered to the bore to allow fuel flow as the valve member is moved by fuel under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: Robert T. J. Skinner, John W. Clegg
  • Patent number: 4393844
    Abstract: A liquid fuel injection pumping apparatus for supplying fuel to an engine includes an injection pump to which fuel is supplied through a feed passage in a distributor member from a low pressure pump. Fuel is delivered by the injection pump through a separate delivery passage which can register with an outlet. In order to enable air to be purged from the passages and injection pump, the delivery passage during the time fuel is being supplied to the injection pump is arranged to register with a further port which communicates in the example with a fuel supply tank. A restrictor is provided to control fuel flow through the further port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4383806
    Abstract: A rotary drive fuel pump includes a rotary distributor member including a head, in which is located a reciprocable plunger. A ring surrounds the head and has a circumferential recess in which is located a roller. A follower is engaged with the plunger and is engageable with the roller to effect inward movement of the plunger. The roller rolls in the recess after maximum inward movement has taken place to allow rapid outward movement of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4380223
    Abstract: A liquid fuel injection pumping apparatus includes a plunger movable inwardly in a bore to deliver fuel, by the action of a roller and a cam. An adjustable stop ring is provided to limit the extent of outward movement by the plunger and hence the maximum amount of fuel which can be supplied to the associated engine. The ring is positioned by a piston upon which liquid under pressure can act. The liquid under pressure is supplied by a low pressure pump and is admitted to one end of a cylinder containing the piston through a restrictor. The pressure downstream of the restrictor is controlled by a valve which includes a valve member spring biased into contact with a seating against the action of the pressure downstream of the restrictor. The air pressure in the engine inlet manifold is applied to a diaphragm and the force developed assists the action of the spring biasing the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1983
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: John R. Jefferson, Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4365939
    Abstract: A fuel injection pumping apparatus includes a piston located within a cylinder. The piston is connected to an annular cam ring of a rotary distributor type fuel pump to adjust the timing of delivery of fuel. A passage conveys fluid under pressure to act on the piston to move the piston against the actions of a spring. The passage includes a check valve to prevent movement of the piston and cam ring when a pump plunger is moved inwardly by a cam lobe on the cam ring and a further check valve which prevents movement of the piston and cam ring when the plunger is allowed to move outwardly by the cam lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4355609
    Abstract: A liquid fuel pumping apparatus comprises a fuel pump having an axially movable quantity control member connected to one end of a first lever which is pivoted about a fixed axis. An engine speed responsive device acts on the lever and a second lever is provided and pivoted about the said axis. A governor spring acts upon the second lever in the opposite direction to the force exerted on the first lever by the speed responsive device. Means is provided which acts to cause separation of the levers with a force which decreases as the levers move towards each other and a stop is provided to limit the movement of the second lever under the action of the governor spring. The aforesaid means is operative when the engine is at rest to cause separation of the levers to move the control member to a position at which the pump will supply an excess of fuel for starting purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1982
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4303096
    Abstract: A combined delivery and damping valve unit for a fuel system of a compression ignition engine comprises a body having a bore including a wider portion and a narrower portion. A spring abutment for the spring biasing the delivery valve member serves as a seating for a damping valve member. The abutment is retained against the step defined between the wider and narrower portions of the bore by locking members having a wedge section and biased by a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1981
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4282844
    Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus for a compression ignition engine includes a fluid pressure operable piston for determining the timing of delivery of fuel. Fuel control means is provided which includes a lever operable to increase the idling speed of the engine when cold. The apparatus also includes a mechanism operable by said lever to achieve from the hot idling position retarding the timing of delivery for starting and advancing of the timing of delivery for cold idling. The mechanism includes a pair of members the one member being movable by said lever and the faces of the members having tang and slot connections in their presented faces and the other member and the end of the piston having further tang and slot connections. The slot of one of said tang and slot connections being of varying depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4280454
    Abstract: An engine installation includes an engine casing, an engine ancillary having a mounting flange and a plate. The flange has arcuate apertures spaced about the axis of a drive shaft to receive securing bolts to secure the flange and plate to the casing. The plate has complementary apertures of circular section and means is provided to secure the plate to the flange once the ancillary has been correctly positioned on the casing, whereby the plate and ancillary can be removed from and reassembled to the engine casing without disturbing the angular setting of the ancillary on the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Robert T. J. Skinner
  • Patent number: 4270886
    Abstract: A pumping apparatus has a body part including an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. A passage is formed in the sleeve with the portion of the passage in the outer sleeve being threaded to receive a pipe fitting. Grooves are machined in the outer sleeve about the passage to reduce the stressing of the outer sleeve when the fitting is tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1981
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Robert T. J. Skinner