Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Flow-rite Controls, Ltd.

Harrie William Bonnah, Ii

Otto Muller-Girard, Jr

Michael Schneider

Karl Jacob Haltiner, Jr

Robert B Perry

Timothy P Landschoot

Brent J Wahba

Peter Ronald Wendt

James Robert Molnar

Corrine A Volo

Matthew T Shinew

Dennis James Anderson

Jason L Fox

George A Kotkowicz

Luke J Paul

Jeffrey M Stuecken

Gary Michael Zdyb

Chester Henry Ciesinski

John David Vanderhenst

Todd A Bordewyk

Michael Brian Lavan

The specification discloses a monitor, a system, and a method for monitoring the electrolyte level in a cell of a multi-cell battery. The system may be powered by leads attached across any one or more cells of the battery. The system includes an electrically conductive probe, having its own wire, that may be installed in any battery cell. The probe is current sampled to provide one or more signals used to determine if the probe is in physical contact with the electrolyte (indicating acceptable electrolyte level). The probe may be sampled as a cathode and as an anode. The probe may be sampled using PWM (pulse width modulation). The probe may be sampled using current limiting.

Battery electrolyte level monitor, system, and method

A locking fastener includes a thermoplastic fastener body, a locking coil, and a support collar. The fastener body defines a cylindrical cavity and a radially extending slot communicating with the cavity. The support collar has an arcuate portion and first and second tabs extending radially outward from the arcuate portion. The support collar is disposed within the fastener body with the arcuate portion adjacent the cavity wall and the tabs extending into the slot. The locking coil has a helical portion and first and second tangs extending radially outward from the helical portion. The helical portion of the locking coil is positioned within the support collar, and the first and second tangs extend into the slot and between the first and second tabs.

Locknut with locking coil and coil support

A fuel injector including a filterprovided within the tip portionof the injector body, down stream of the fuel inlet portand upstream of the spray aperture. The filteris in the form of a hollow truncated cone with a base regionhaving an outer diameter dimensioned to be a press fit against the inner sides of the tip portionsuch that the filter is a press fit within the tip portion. The top or upper region of the cone terminates in an aperturethrough which the pintlepasses, the aperture having an inner diameter dimensioned to be a close sliding fit over the pintle

Internal filter for a fuel injector

An electromagnetic fuel injector comprises a body having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet and a base comprising a valve seat sealably connected to the body. A disk-shaped armature disposed at the fuel outlet for controlling the flow of fuel has an upper surface and a lower surface that comprises a sealing interface with the valve seat. A ring-shaped flexural element comprising a plurality of spaced flexural legs is in contact with the injector body and the upper surface of the armature and provides a spring bias between the body and armature upper surface. When the injector is closed, spring bias between the body and armature upper surface maintains the armature in a sealing position with the valve seat, and when the injector is open, increased spring bias between the body and armature upper surface impels the armature to return to a sealing position with the valve seat.

Electromagnetic fuel injector comprising flexible element for positioning armature

A fuel injector includes a flexural element connected to a valve armature for restricting radial movement of the armature within a fuel passage. The flexural element is flat and exerts no force on the valve when it is closed but is flexed when the valve is opened and supplements the valve spring force during closing of the valve. The flexural element also is used to set the valve stroke length equal to the element's thickness. A flat tool presses a valve ball into the armature while the ball is seated on a valve seat until the flexural element engages a seat related surface. Engagement of the tool with the flexural element fixed to the armature assures that the flexural element is in an unloaded flat position when the valve is closed and establishes the valve stroke when the valve assembly and seat are installed in the injector body.

Flexural element for positioning an armature in a fuel injector

The present invention is directed to a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine wherein components external to the tubular body are positioned, joined, and retained on the body, and wherein the tubular body is structurally reinforced, by being encapsulated together in a molded shroud formed of a structural adhesive polymer.

Fuel injector having a molded shroud formed of a structural adhesive polymer

A method is provided for assembling a pole piece into an internal fuel passage of a fuel injector. The assembly method includes the steps of: (a) providing an endoskeletal injector tube, where the injector tube provides the fuel passage for the fuel injector; (b) forming at least one depression into an outer surface of the injector tube; (c) inserting an injector valve into the injector tube; (d) inserting the pole piece into the injector tube, wherein the pole piece is adjustable thereafter; and (e) affixing the pole piece within the injector tube, where an outer surface of the pole piece is in contact with an inner surface of the injector tube corresponding to the depressions, thereby creating a spring fit between the pole piece and the tube.

Retention feature for assembling a pole pieces into a tube of a fuel injector

A fuel injector for an engine includes a continuous endoskeletal injector tube enclosing an imperforate continuous passage for fuel flow from an inlet end to an outlet end of the tube. A valve seat, injection valve, tubular magnetic pole, biasing spring and adjusting sleeve are mounted within the tube, optionally with other elements, all being exposed to fuel in the passage defined by the tube. A solenoid coil and a magnetic body together with mounting components and seals are mounted on the exterior of the tube where they are protected from exposure to the fuel, which is restricted to passage within the continuous tube. The body, pole and armature form a magnetic flux concentrating path operative to attract the armature to the pole and open the valve when the coil is energized. The solenoid coil may be preassembled with its connector in a body forming a separate coil assembly for subsequent installation on the injector tube. During assembly, the tubular pole may be adjusted to set the desired stroke of the injection valve prior to fixing the pole in the tube. Various other features are also disclosed.

Engine fuel injector

A fuel injector includes a tubular injector body which has an open, upper end and defines an axial fuel passage. A solenoid actuator assembly is disposed in the injector body and includes a spool-like bobbin with a central through-bore and a wound wire coil supported thereon. A magnetic circuit pole subassembly includes a fuel tube, a valve guide, and a pole piece. The fuel tube has a tubular portion and a lower circular flange portion radially extending from a lower terminal end of the tubular portion to contact the open, upper end of the injector body. The nonmagnetic valve guide has a guide cylindrical portion, extending axially downward through the central throughbore and is closely encircled by the bobbin, and a guide circular flange portion radially extending from an upper end of the guide cylindrical portion and mating with the lower circular flange portion of the fuel tube. The pole piece is configured as a constant section cylinder to be received by the fuel tube tubular portion and the guide cylindrical portion. A valve armature is disposed within the injector body downstream of the pole piece where upon energization of the solenoid actuator assembly, the injector body, fuel tube, pole piece, and armature conduct a magnetic circuit to axially draw the valve armature permitting fuel injection.

Fuel Injector

The present invention relates to a fuel injector for delivery of fuel to an internal combustion engine comprising an injector body and a fuel discharge opening having a valve seat extending thereabout. A valve element is normally seated on the valve seat to close the fuel discharge opening and is operable to move inwardly off of the valve seat to open the fuel discharge opening allowing fuel to pass through. An annular valve guide is seated upstream of the valve seat in spaced relationship thereto and extends about the valve element to guide it as the valve element moves relative to the valve seat. The valve guide has fuel passages to pass fuel. An annular filter shelf located in the injector body, extends circumferentially about the valve seat intermediate of the valve guide and the valve seat. A filter is disposed intermediate of the valve guide and the valve seat and has a base configured to seat upon the annular filter shelf, an upper end configured to contact the valve guide, and a frustoconical wall extending between the base and the upper end. The wall has filtration openings to filter particulates from fuel passing through so as to prevent them from flowing to the valve seat. A base perimetrical fluid seal is established between the annular filter shelf and the base of the filter, and an upper end perimetrical fluid seal is established between the valve guide and the upper end of the filter where the seals operate to prevent fuel flow around the filter.

Fuel injector filter

A fuel injector for discharging fuel to an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The injector includes a nozzle body having a solenoid actuator, a pole piece with an axial extending fuel passage, a valve assembly including a reciprocably moveable armature operable against the bias of a spring member, a calibration tube extending through the pole piece fuel passage and operable to load the spring, an axially extending, drawn metal fuel tube having a first end defining an injector fuel inlet and a second end in communication with the axially extending fuel passage of the pole piece. The fuel tube includes features which extend radially inwardly in the wall of the fuel tube to define depressions in the outer surface of the wall which function, with a molded composite jacket to deter rotation of the tube. Additionally, the features define radial inward projections from the inner surface of the tube wall and may be used to position the filter assembly and to align externally installed components of the injector.

Growing community of inventors

East Grand Rapids, MI, United States of America

Harrie William Bonnah, Ii