Abstract: A fuel injector retention arrangement includes a fuel rail socket interior space defined within a fuel rail socket body along a fuel rail socket axis; a fuel injector retention groove defined on a fuel injector upper housing of a fuel injector; a first retention bore defined in the fuel rail socket body along a first retention bore axis that is substantially perpendicular to the fuel rail socket axis; a second retention bore defined in the fuel rail socket body along a second retention bore axis that is substantially perpendicular to the fuel rail socket axis; a first retention pin disposed within the first retention bore and the fuel injector retention groove; a second retention pin disposed within the second retention bore and the fuel injector retention groove; and a retention pin retaining member which retains the first and second retention pins in the first and second retention bores respectively.

Abstract: A fuel injector retention arrangement includes a fuel rail socket interior space defined within a fuel rail socket body along a fuel rail socket axis; a fuel injector retention groove defined on a fuel injector upper housing of a fuel injector; a first retention bore defined in the fuel rail socket body along a first retention bore axis that is substantially perpendicular to the fuel rail socket axis; a second retention bore defined in the fuel rail socket body along a second retention bore axis that is substantially perpendicular to the fuel rail socket axis; a first retention pin disposed within the first retention bore and the fuel injector retention groove; a second retention pin disposed within the second retention bore and the fuel injector retention groove; and a retention pin retaining member which retains the first and second retention pins in the first and second retention bores respectively.

Abstract: A variable shim and valve seat assembly for applications in a solenoid actuated fuel injector includes a variable shim having a face, a valve seat having a top surface that interfaces with the face, and mating features integrated in the face of the variable shim and the top surface of the valve seat. The mating features provide axial displacement of the valve seat through rotation of the valve seat relative to the variable shim. The mating features may be ramped surfaces. The amount of seat displacement is dependent on the designed ramp angle, the number of ramps, and the degree of rotation. Once the desired valve stroke is set, the seat is welded to the injector body to achieve a leak free interface. Tight stroke setting tolerances can be achieved by applying an axial load to the seat during stroke setting and welding.

Abstract: A variable shim and valve seat assembly for applications in a solenoid actuated fuel injector includes a variable shim having a face, a valve seat having a top surface that interfaces with the face, and mating features integrated in the face of the variable shim and the top surface of the valve seat. The mating features provide axial displacement of the valve seat through rotation of the valve seat relative to the variable shim. The mating features may be ramped surfaces. The amount of seat displacement is dependent on the designed ramp angle, the number of ramps, and the degree of rotation. Once the desired valve stroke is set, the seat is welded to the injector body to achieve a leak free interface. Tight stroke setting tolerances can be achieved by applying an axial load to the seat during stroke setting and welding.

Abstract: A vibration isolating mounting for an electric fuel pump on a plastic retainer of a reservoir in a motor vehicle fuel tank includes a tubular wall on the plastic retainer and a plurality of elastic tubes squeezed between the tubular wall and the fuel pump to support the fuel pump on the tubular wall in radial static equilibrium. In a first preferred embodiment, the elastic tubes are formed integrally with an elastic sleeve fitted over the fuel pump. In a second preferred embodiment, each of the elastic tubes has a pair of diametrically opposite integral radial webs closely received in vertical slots in the tubular wall and in a tubular inner retainer around the fuel pump.

Abstract: A float lever assembly for a fuel sender in a fuel tank of a motor vehicle includes a urethane float having a flat passage therein, a metal wire float lever attached to a pivot arm of a transducer of the fuel sender, and a bayonet connector formed integrally on the end of the float lever. The bayonet connector includes an inner leg, a relatively shorter outer leg, and a knee therebetween. The bayonet connector has a span dimension which exceeds a width dimension of the passage in the float so that when the bayonet connector is plugged into the passage, a tip on the outer leg of the connector bears against a side wall of the passage and defines a barb which prevents dislodgement of the bayonet connector from the passage.

Abstract: Fuel sender at a remote or terminal end of a suction circuit of a fuel system of a motor vehicle. The fuel sender includes an unsealed reservoir in a fuel tank of the vehicle replenished by return fuel from a return fuel circuit of the fuel system and a junction chamber in the reservoir communicating with the terminal end of the suction circuit and with each of a primary flow channel and a secondary flow channel. The primary flow channel terminates at a primary screen in the fuel tank outside the reservoir. The secondary flow channel terminates at a secondary screen inside the reservoir. The secondary flow channel is restricted relative to the primary flow channel so that vacuum in the suction circuit induces flow in the primary flow channel in preference to flow in the secondary channel. Under low fuel conditions, the primary flow channel is blocked and vacuum in the suction circuit induces flow in the secondary flow channel from the reservoir.

Abstract: A high pressure fuel hose for disposition between a fluid connector on a fuel pump canister in a fuel reservoir and a fluid connector through the reservoir wall. The fuel hose, located intermediate the fuel delivery system and a check valve at the fuel pump, has a flexible tubular body characterized by a plurality of annular sinusoidal convolutions well suited for accepting volumetric and pressure increases in the fuel trapped between the check valve and the fuel delivery system caused by temperature loading of the fuel following engine shut-down. A region of reduced wall thickness is formed in the tubular body to act as a pressure fuse having a predetermined burst pressure allowing system leakage due to overpressurization to be location controlled.

Abstract: A modular fuel sender in a fuel tank of a motor vehicle includes a reservoir, a fuel pump in the reservoir, a low pressure conduit conducting hot return fuel back to the reservoir, a secondary pump in the reservoir for pumping new fuel from the tank into the reservoir, and a control which effects a recirculation mode of secondary pump operation when the new fuel level in the fuel tank is above a predetermined low level and a scavenge mode of secondary pump operation when the new fuel level in the reservoir is below the predetermined low level. In the recirculation mode, the secondary pump recirculates reservoir fuel to avoid overflowing hot fuel into the fuel tank. In the scavenge mode, the secondary pump continuously maintains a partial vacuum in a screen in the fuel tank regardless of the fuel level in the reservoir to maximize new fuel scavenged from the fuel tank before fuel starvation occurs.

Abstract: An automotive fuel system including a reservoir having upper and lower chambers on opposite sides of a partition in the reservoir, a high pressure fuel pump having an inlet connected to the lower chamber, a low pressure fuel overage return pipe returning overage fuel directly to the lower chamber, and a low pressure pump transferring fuel from the tank directly to the upper chamber. A drain in the partition conducts gravity induced fuel flow from the upper chamber to the lower chamber at a rate equal to the difference between the rate at which the high pressure pump withdraws fuel from the lower chamber and the rate at which overage is returned to the lower chamber through the overage return pipe.

Abstract: A modular fuel delivery system including a reservoir in fuel tank, an electric high pressure pump in the reservoir fed only from inside the reservoir, and a jet pump fed only from the fuel tank and discharging into the reservoir to keep the latter filled and energized from the high pressure pump. A check valve is disposed between the jet pump inlet and the fuel tank to prevent backflow into the fuel tank. A partition on the bottom of the reservoir separates the jet pump discharge from the high pressure pump inlet and defines a standpipe around and above the jet pump discharge so that the jet pump stays submerged in fuel when the high pressure pump empties the reservoir. The pumping efficiency of the jet pump when submerged is better than when dry so that the delay in restarting the engine after the both the fuel tank and the resvoir are pumped empty is minimized.

Abstract: A high pressure fuel hose for disposition between a tubular stem on a fluid connector on a canister in a fuel tank and tubular stem on a fluid connector on a cover for the fuel tank spaced from the canister. Each of the tubular stems has a fir-tree barb thereon and the high pressure hose includes a convoluted flexible body and a pair of relatively stiff cylindrical ends each of which has a pair of annular inside beads and three annular outside beads between the convoluted body and the inside beads. When the cylindrical ends are press fitted over the fir-tree barbs with force applied at the outside beads, the inside bead seat behind annular shoulders on the barbs for enhanced retention.

Abstract: A canister with an electric fuel pump therein is connected to a cover for an access port through which the canister is installed on a fuel tank of an automobile by three hollow struts. Each strut has a first end press fitted into a socket on the cover and is telescopically received in a bore in the canister. Coil springs around each strut urge relative separation between the strut and the cover and a flare at a second end of each strut defines a stop to limit relative separation. A passage in the cover from a return fuel connection on an exposed side of the cover to one of the sockets conducts low pressure return fuel to the one of the hollow struts press fitted therein. The return fuel flows back to the canister through the one hollow strut.