Cummins Engine Company, Inc.

Gordon K Butler

Scott Robert Simmons

Bela Doszpoly

John D Lane

Mark S Cavanagh

Don E Beeson

Alfred R Nerz

Frank R Hunt

Robert T Jefferson

An improved rotary fuel distributor is provided which effectively dynamically centers the rotor during operation while actively cooling the rotor and refilling fuel passages to minimize cavitation. A pressure balancing system is provided which includes pressure area defining grooves formed adjacent a rotor outlet port to control the pressure gradient in the clearance between the rotor and the distributor housing thereby effectively providing a more predictable force component which can be controlled to more effectively balance the rotor in conjunction with two balancing ports positioned on the opposite side of the rotor from the outlet port. A refill and cooling system is provided to continuously and actively cool the rotor with cool, low pressure fuel throughout rotation thereby displacing the hot fuel with cool fuel and effectively preventing thermal seizure of the rotor. The refill and cooling system also includes passages for effectively refilling delivery passages formed in the distributor housing while intermittently refilling supply passages with cool, low pressure fuel after each injection event.

Rotary distributor for a high pressure fuel system

An expandable hydraulic tappet with a variable exit valve is supplied for use in an internal combustion engine to selectively vary timing by altering the effective profile of a camshaft. The tappet expands to extend the drive train between the camshaft and a camshaft operated mechanism by enlarging and filling an internal hydraulic chamber with a noncompressible hydraulic fluid via an inlet port and inlet valve. The fluid is retained in the tappet chamber until a predetermined pressure is attained, when an exit valve opens to exit the pressurized fluid from the chamber at a predetermined rate. The exit valve includes a bore having a predetermined configuration to provide one or more exit flow rates and also dampen valve operation. An exit valve control means responds to the pressure within the hydraulic chamber to open and close the exit valve and vary the flow rates as desired.

Expandable hydraulic tappet with a variable exit valve

This disclosure relates to a seal which is particularly suited for use in a coolant pump of an internal combustion engine. The seal parts are subjected to high rotational torques during operation of the pump, and the seal parts are constructed and assembled in such a manner as to accommodate the rotational torques. The seal includes a flexible bellows having a composition which withstands the engine coolant on one side and oxidation on the other side, and has ribs which strengthen it. The seal faces are constructed of a material and have dimensions to reduce the magnitude of the rotational torques. The seal parts are secured together so as to prevent them from being pulled apart by the rotational torques, adhesives being used for this purpose which withstand the engine coolant.

Seal construction

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Crothersville, IN, United States of America

Gordon K Butler