The Bendix Corporation

Siemens-bendix Automotive Electronics Limited

Siemens Automotive Corporation

George T Bata

J Michael Joseph

Richard D Weaver

John H Grieb

Michael Slavin

Van P Spiker

George C Ludwig

David P Wieczorek

Ralph W Carp

Patrick D Harper

Eric J Schmitt-Matzen

Raymen F Emery

A solenoid-operated top-feed fuel injector has a housing which contains a solenoid coil that is selectively energized by electric current to open and close the fuel injector. An inlet connector tube extends into the housing to convey pressurized liquid fuel into an internal fuel passage. Fuel is injected from the nozzle at the bottom. An armature assembly that has a needle valve joined to an armature is disposed within the fuel passage between the inlet connector tube and the outlet, and is spring-biased by a helical spring to seat the tip of the needle valve on a valve seat proximate the nozzle. Slot structure is formed in the armature during its fabrication by a metal injection molding or sintering process. The needle is inserted into the smaller diameter portion and the two are crimped together. Crimping tool access is through the slot structure, which also provides a path for fuel to flow past the armature. In one embodiment fuel can pass axially through the I.D. of the bias spring directly to the slot structure without having to pass radially through the helical free space between convolutions of the helix.

Fuel injector armature assembly

The flow restrictor is a unitary one-piece element that can be fabricated from either metal or plastic by casting or molding. In use, it is press fitted into a bore in a solenoid valve body to provide a certain restrictive effect. It has a circular cylindrical central core that has a series of flanges that are axially spaced by gaps. Each flange has a circular outer edge that is interrupted by at least one axially extending through-notch. These notches are arranged to provide a tortuous path for the fluid flow, and sized to create a desired restriction. The restrictor provides two parallel flow paths, one, the tortuous path just described, and two, a through-hole through the core of the restrictor.

Flow restrictor for solenoid valve

An electromagnetic fuel injector is calibrated for dynamic flow by creating a blind hole in a stationary pole piece passing through the solenoid coil. The blind hole can be created by drilling, or by partially filling a pre-existing hole.

Calibration of fuel injectors via permeability adjustment

A dual stream thin edge orifice disk is defined as a disk having a pair of orifices positioned to direct the flow of fluid from the interior portion of a valve into two different streams. The dual streams may be parallel or typically diverge at an angle for directing the stream to two adjacent engine valves in the situation wherein the valve is an electromagnetic fuel injector for an internal combustion engine. To have the dual stream flow in a direction that is not parallel, the area of the disk surrounding the dual orifices is embossed and the orifices are positioned along the sides of the embossment between the base and the apex thereof. The manufacturing of the accurately sized orifices in the disk is accomplished by means of a progressive die. One of the stations of the die provides a coining operation on the orifice. Such coining operation is adjustable by means of a micrometer adjustment. Another of the stations provides a forming operation wherein an embossment is formed in such a manner that the orifices are positioned on the sides of the embossment between the base and the apex. In another embodiment of a valve, a pair of dual orifice disks are position adjacent each other with the orifices of the first disk overlapping the orifices of the second disk.

Multi-stream thin edge orifice disks for valves

A dual stream thin edge orifice disk is defined as a disk having a pair of orifices positioned to direct the flow of fluid from the interior portion of a valve into two different streams. The dual streams may be parallel or typically diverge at an angle for directing the stream to two adjacent engine valves in the situation wherein the valve is an electromagnetic fuel injector for an internal combustion engine. To have the dual streams flow in a direction that is not parallel, the area of the disk surrounding the dual orifices is embossed and the orifices are positioned along the sides of the embossment between the base and the apex thereof. The manufacturing of the accurately sized orifices in the disk is accomplished by means of a progressive die. One of the stations of the die provides a coining operation on the orifice. Such coining operation is adjustable by means of a micrometer adjustment. Another of the stations provides a forming operation wherein an embossment is formed in such a manner that the orifices are positioned on the sides of the embossment between the base and the apex. In another embodiment of a valve, a pair of dual orifice disks are position adjacent each other with the orifices of the first disk overlapping the orifices of the second disk.

A dual stream thin edge orifice disk is defined as a disk having a pair of orifices positioned to direct the flow of fluid from the interior portion of a valve into two different streams. The dual streams may be parallel or typically diverge at an angle for directing the stream to two adjacent engine valves in the situation wherein the valve is in electromagnetic fuel injector for an internal combustion engine. To have the dual streams flow in a direction that is not parallel, the area of the disk surrounding the dual orifices is embossed and the orifices are positioned along the sides of the embossment between the base and the apex thereof. The manufacturing of the accurately sized orifices in the disk is accomplished by means of a progressive die. One of the stations of the die provides a coining operation on the orifice. Such coining operation is adjustable by means of a micrometer adjustment. Another of the stations provides a forming operation wherein an embossment is formed in such a manner that the orifices are positioned on the sides of the embossment between the base and the apex. In another embodiment of a valve, a pair of dual orifice disks are positioned adjacent each other with the orifices of the first disk overlapping the orifices of the second disk.

Method of making multi-stream thin edge orifice disks for valves

A pressure transducer is disclosed which produces a variable fluid pressure level in correspondence with the level of a varying electrical signal. The particular application of the pressure transducer disclosed is for a vacuum modulator for producing a variable level vacuum pressure for operating an actuator utilized to position a blend air door in an automatic temperature control system for automotive passenger compartments. The pressure variation is accomplished by controlled communication of either a low pressure or a high pressure source with an interior chamber of the transducer housing, such controlled communication being produced by a pair of heated bimetal actuator devices, each including a bimetal arm which is normally biased to seal the respective inlet port associated with each of the low pressure and high pressure sources. One or the other of the bimetal arms is heated if the pressure level differs from the level corresponding to the electrical signal value by means of a bimetal heater circuit associated with each bimetal arm with the varying electrical signal to be transduced causing activation of the heater current in one or the other respective bimetal heater circuit depending on whether the pressure level is to be increased or decreased, until the pressure level reaches the corresponding level to that of the electrical signal. The electrical signal is disclosed as an error signal in an automatic control system which causes either a vacuum pressure or atmospheric vent port to be placed in communication with the interior chamber of the pressure transducer housing so as to either increase or decrease the vacuum pressure within the enclosure.

Bimetal controlled actuator

An automatic control system for regulating the temperature of the passenger compartment in automotive vehicles is disclosed of the type in which a vacuum operated actuator is utilized to control the position of a blend air door, the position of the blend air door in turn controlling the temperature of the air circulated into the passenger compartment by proportioning the flow of cooled air circulated through a heater prior to entering the passenger compartment. This air flow is utilized to correct the temperature level in the passenger compartment. The disclosed control system features a nulling pressure signal feedback loop in which the error signal developed by the difference in the temperature selector and sensor signals acts on a vacuum modulator to generate an actuator pressure level which is sensed and a corresponding electrical signal used to null the temperature error signal, to provide a stabilizing feedback loop in the control system. A particular vacuum modulator structure is also disclosed in which a pair of heated bimetal actuator devices are utilized to control communication of a vent port and a source of vacuum pressure with an interior chamber, the resulting pressure communicated to the vacuum operated actuator. The heater circuit for the heated bimetals is controlled to develop the proper actuator pressure and also features an interrupted heater current mode of operation in which the heater current is interrupted after a predetermined deflection of the heated bimetals to thereby improve their response and to simplify the design thereof.

Vacuum actuated automatic temperature control system with actuator

A thermomechanical vacuum regulator adapted for use in automatic temperature control systems includes a bimetal strip which flexes in accordance with the temperature of air stream whose temperature is to be controlled. The bimetal strip positions a whiffle tree beam which carries a vacuum valve for communicating a source of vacuum with a chamber within which vacuum is regulated, and a vent valve for communicating the chamber with a source of ambient air. The vent valve seat is located on a floating diaphragm which forms one wall of the chamber. In alternative embodiments, one of the valves is replaced by an orifice and column.

Thermomechanical vacuum regulator using bimetallic position sensing

A pressure responsive diaphragm is attached to a substrate carrying a thick film metallic coating covered by a dielectric glass coating so that the diaphragm and thick film coating comprise a pressure variable capacitor. Changes in pressure difference across the diaphragm force the diaphragm to roll against the glass to vary the area of diaphragm in contact with the glass, thus changing the capacity.

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Grafton, VA, United States of America

George T Bata