Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation

Siemens Automotive Corporation

Continental Automotive Systems Us, Inc.

General Electric Company

Siemens-bendix Automotive Electronics Limited

Siemens Vdo Automative Corporation

James Archie Wynn, Jr

Barry S Robinson

Brian Clay McIntyre

Raymond Smith

Jeffery John Milton

Paul F Briggs

Louis G DeGrace

James Russell Morris

Stephen J Anderson

Christopher T Vannoy

Dawn M Etheridge

John M Parsons

A flow through pressure regulator apparatus and method for directing a flow of fuel and reducing valve seat wear within a fuel system. Present invention includes a lower housing having fuel inlet where fuel flows through the fuel inlet and communicates with a valve assembly and valve biasing member. The valve assembly comprises a lower and upper valve member where the lower valve element contains a plurality of fuel passages. The valve biasing member permits or inhibits fuel flow through the lower valve member by opening and closing an upper valve member. The valve biasing member comprises a flat disk having at least two reticulated concentric rings coupled by at least one bridge. The fuel flows past an open upper valve member through the plurality of fuel passages that encircle the lower valve member to the valve biasing member. The valve biasing member then diffuses the flow of fuel. A fuel cover directs the flow of fuel from the valve biasing member to the fuel outlet.

Fuel pressure regulator valve assembly

A flow through pressure regulator apparatus and method for directing a flow of fuel within a fuel system. Present invention includes a lower housing having a fuel inlet where fuel flows through the fuel inlet and communicates with a valve biasing member through a fuel chamber and lower valve element with fuel passages. The valve biasing member permits or inhibits fuel flow through a fuel chamber by opening and closing a ceramic valve element. The valve biasing member comprises a flat disk having at least two reticulated concentric rings coupled by at least one bridge. The fuel flows past an open valve element through the lower valve element fuel passages to the valve biasing member. The valve biasing member then diffuses the flow of fuel. A fuel cover directs the flow of fuel from the valve biasing member to the fuel outlet.

Pressure regulator with ceramic valve element

The present invention refers to a fuel pressure regulator assembly and method for regulating the pressure of the fuel supplied to the fuel rail at a predetermined pressure. The fuel pressure regulator includes a housing and fuel cover for containing the fuel pressure regulator and submersing the fuel pressure regulator in fuel at all times. A valve element allows excess fuel to exit the fuel pressure regulator and return to the fuel tank for reuse. The fuel component assembly also allows for a method of reducing turbulent fuel flow and for controlling noise and hydrocarbon emissions. The method is achieved by providing a containment assembly that submerges the pressure regulator in fuel for containing and directing fuel flow path.

Submersed fuel pressure regulator assembly

A flow-through pressure regulator includes a retainer that secures a diaphragm relative to a seat, and includes a cylindrical portion, an axial end portion and an annular portion. The cylindrical portion extends about a longitudinal axis and is fixed with respect to the seat. The axial end portion extends from the cylindrical portion and extends generally orthogonal relative to the longitudinal axis. The axial end portion includes a plurality of apertures that permit fluid communication and are selected so as to reduce noise due to fluid flow.

Flow-through pressure regulator including a perforated diaphragm-to-seat spring retainer

A pressure regulator includes a housing, a divider including a first valve member, and a second valve member. The housing includes an inlet and an outlet, and defines an interior volume. The divider separates the interior volume into first and second chambers, and included the first valve member, a diaphragm, and a retainer. The diaphragm extends between the housing and the first valve member. Fluid communication between the first and second chambers through the diaphragm being prevented. The retainer secures the diaphragm relative to the first valve member, and the retainer is press-fitted with respect to the first valve member. The second valve member is arranged between first and second configurations relative to the first valve member. The first configuration substantially prevents fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, and the second configuration permits fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet.

Pressure regulator including a press-fit spring retainer

A flow-through pressure regulator includes a divider, a closure member and a housing. The divider separates a first chamber from a second chamber, and includes a passage that provides fluid communication between the first and second chambers. The closure member moves relative to the divider between first and second configurations. The first configuration substantially prevents fluid communication through the passage, and the second configuration permits fluid communication through the passage. The housing includes a first homogeneous housing portion and a second housing portion. The first homogeneous housing portion includes an inlet, defines the first chamber, and forms a pocket that receives a majority of the closure member. The second housing portion includes an outlet and defines the second chamber.

Flow-through pressure regulator including a closure member assembly integrated with a housing

A pressure regulator includes a housing, a divider, and a valve. The housing includes an inlet and an outlet. The divider separates the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber. And the valve includes a spherical valve ball and a seat. The spherical valve ball is fixed with respect to a first one of the housing and the divider, and the seat is fixed with respect to a second one of the housing and the divider. A first configuration of the spherical valve ball with respect to the seat substantially prevents fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, and a second configuration of the spherical valve ball with respect to the seat permits fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet.

Pressure regulator including a fixed valve ball and method of assembling the same

A tool is provided for removing a component from a fuel rail in an automotive fuel system. The tool has a pair of jaws connected to a pair of pivoting handles, which allow the jaws to be opened and closed. The jaws have an inner cavity shaped to conform to an outer surface of the component. A pair of release members are slidably mounted on an outer surface of the jaws. When the release members are moved relative to the jaws, rims on the release members contact a retention clip holding the component to the fuel rail. Contact between the rims and the clip causes the clip to disengage from a retention surface on the fuel rail, freeing the component.

Fuel damper removal tool

A filter module for an automotive fuel supply system includes a housing, a filter mounted in the housing, a pressure regulator conduit mounted in the housing, and a pressure regulator. The housing includes a module inlet and a module outlet. The filter is in fluid communication with the module inlet and the module outlet. The pressure regulator conduit includes a regulator inlet in fluid communication with the filter, regulator outlet, and a receptacle in fluid communication with the regulator inlet and the regulator outlet. The pressure regulator extends into the void between the first surface of the receptacle and the second surface of the receptacle.

Filter module with pressure regulator

A pressure regulation assembly of a fuel supply includes a receptacle, an inlet connectable to the fuel supply and in fluid communication with the receptacle, an outlet in fluid communication with the receptacle, and a pressure regulator mounted in the receptacle to selectively open fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet. The receptacle includes a first surface surrounding an axis, and a second surface surrounding the axis and the first surface to provide a void between the first surface and the second surface. The pressure regulator extends into the void between the first surface of the receptacle and the second surface of the receptacle and includes a third surface surrounding the axis and a fourth surface surrounding the axis and the third surface. A first seal engages the first surface of the receptacle and the third surface of the pressure regulator. A second seal engages the second surface of the receptacle and the fourth surface of the pressure regulator. The pressure regulator can include a first housing member, a second housing member connected to the first housing member, and a closing member movably contained within the first housing member and the second housing member. The second housing member includes a continuous wall having a base, a recess in the base, an opening in the recess, and a seat adjacent the opening and surrounding the opening. The closing member is selectively engageable with the seat to fluidly seal the opening. The recess has a first surface surrounding an axis and an inner sealing portion on the first surface. The wall also includes a second surface surrounding the axis and the first surface and having an outer sealing portion.

Seal assembly for fuel pressure regulator

A pump module for mounting in a fuel tank of an automotive fuel supply system includes a housing, a fuel pump mounted in the housing, a pressure regulator conduit mounted in the housing, and a pressure regulator. The housing includes a module inlet and a module outlet in fluid communication with the module inlet. The fuel pump is in fluid communication with the module inlet. The pressure regulator conduit is in fluid communication with the fuel pump. The pressure regulator conduit includes a regulator inlet, regulator outlet, and a receptacle in fluid communication with the regulator inlet and the regulator outlet. The receptacle includes a first surface surrounding an axis, and a second surface surrounding the axis and the first surface to provide a void between the first surface and the second surface. The pressure regulator is mounted in the receptacle to selectively open fluid communication between the regulator inlet and the regulator outlet. The pressure regulator extends into the void between the first surface of the receptacle and the second surface of the receptacle. The pressure regulator includes a third surface surrounding the axis, and a fourth surface surrounding the axis and the third surface. A first seal engages the first surface of the receptacle and the third surface of the pressure regulator and a second seal engages the second surface of the receptacle and the fourth surface of the pressure regulator.

Pump module with pressure regulator

Fuel system including a flow-through pressure regulator

A fuel component assembly having a fuel component disposed between a base and a cover, which prevent fluid communication to an exterior thereof. The fuel component defines at least one aperture, the base supports the fuel component and defines a passage in communication with the at least one aperture. The cover is located proximate the base. A securement having a projection and the receiver that engage to form a fluid tight seal. The projection is radially disposed about a longitudinal axis of the fuel component, and the receiver continuously engages the projection. The projection being disposed on one of the cover and the base, and the receiver being disposed on the other of the cover and the base. The fuel component assembly allows for a method of encapsulating a fuel component within a fuel supply. The method can be achieve by defining a passage within a base of an assembly; seating the fuel component within the passage; providing a cover that is contiguous with the base; and welding the cover to the base to form a hermetic seal. The fuel component assembly also provides a method of regulating a fuel supply. The method can be achieved by encapsulating a fuel component within a passage defined by a continuous wall of a housing; and controlling the pressure of fuel within the passage with the fuel component.

Apparatus and method for sealing a fuel component in a fuel communication passage

An internal fuel filter for a pressure regulator having a body that encloses a fuel flow path. A first support includes a first surface adapted to be sealingly surrounded by the body. A second support is spaced from the first support along an axis. At least one rib is disposed between and contiguous with the first and second supports, wherein one of the rib and the second support includes a second surface adapted to sealingly surrounded the body. A filter element extends between the first support and the second support and surrounds the axis.

Growing community of inventors

Virginia Beach, VA, United States of America

James Archie Wynn, Jr