Siemens Automotive Corporation

Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation

Jason T Kilgore

Barry S Robinson

Jan L Bennett

Kevin Francis

James M Wynn

Bunnareth Hem

Markus Kopetzky

Joseph K Cecelic

An apparatus, system, and method of damping pressure pulsations and attenuating noise transmission in a fuel supply system. The apparatus includes a first end in fluid communication with a fuel supply line, a second end in fluid communication with a manifold, and a body that couples in fluid communication the first and second ends. The first end is adapted to receive fuel from a pump. The second end is adapted to supply the fuel to a plurality of nozzles in individual fluid communication with the manifold. And the body includes a tube that is arranged in a helix around a central axis.

Apparatus, system, and method for reducing pressure pulsations and attenuating noise transmission in a fuel system

A flow-through pressure regulator having a housing, and a divider. The housing includes an inlet and an outlet disposed along a longitudinal axis. The divider separates the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, and includes a seat, a diaphragm, a retainer and a flow diffuser member. The seat defines a passage between the first and second chambers. The diaphragm extends between the housing and the seat. The retainer secures the diaphragm to the seat, and may include a base portion proximate the seat, an intermediate portion extending along the longitudinal axis from the base portion toward the outlet, an end portion extending from the intermediate portion, and at least one aperture having a flow axis that permits fluid communication between the passage and the second chamber. The flow diffuser member is disposed between the passage and the outlet, and defines a plurality of flow paths.

Regulator with flow diffuser

A fuel communicating assembly including a base having a wall disposed about a longitudinal axis. The wall having a surface exposed to the longitudinal axis. The surface defining a chamber. The wall having an end that defines an aperture to the chamber. The assembly further including a component having a housing. The housing having an exterior surface. A portion of the exterior surface disposed within the chamber. A metallic member having an inner surface and an outer surface contiguous with the exterior surface of the component. The outer surface is contiguous with the surface of the wall so that the portion of the exterior surface of the component is retained within the chamber and the aperture of the chamber is hermetically sealed. A method of retaining a component within a base is also described.

Compliant sealing connection for fuel components

A flow-through pressure regulator having a housing, and a divider. The housing includes an inlet and an outlet disposed along a longitudinal axis. The divider separates the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, and includes a seat, a diaphragm, a retainer and a flow distributor member. The seat includes a sealing surface and a second surface, and defines a first flow path from the sealing surface to the second surface. The diaphragm extends between the housing and the seat. The retainer secures the diaphragm to the seat, and may include a base portion proximate the seat, an intermediate portion extending along the longitudinal axis from the base portion toward the outlet, an end portion extending from the intermediate portion, and at least one aperture that permits fluid communication between the first flow path and the second chamber. The flow distributor member is disposed between the first flow path and the end portion, and defines a second flow path with the second seat surface such that the second flow path includes a second flow axis disposed radially outward from the longitudinal axis.

Regulator with flow distributor

A press fit plug assembly used to seal a fuel rail in which a pressure pulsation damper is inserted. The fuel rail includes an elongated member, a first member, and a second member. The elongated member extends along a longitudinal axis, the first member being positioned within the elongated member, with at least one inward projection extending toward the longitudinal axis. The second member, positioned within the first member, has at least one outward projection extending away from the longitudinal axis. The outward projection engages the inward projection between the first member end and the inward projection. A method of assembling a pressure pulsation damper within a passage of a fuel rail is achieved by forming a first seal between the fuel rail and a first member; inserting the pressure pulsation damper through the first member; and forming a second seal between the first member and a second member.

Fuel system with press fit plug assembly

A flow-through pressure regulator includes a retainer that secures a diaphragm relative to a seat, and includes an intermediate portion, an end portion and a base portion. The intermediate portion extends along a longitudinal axis and is fixed with respect to the seat. The end portion extends from the intermediate portion and includes a concave surface facing the seat. The regulator includes multiple flow diffusers such that the end portion includes at least one aperture having a flow axis that is oblique to the longitudinal axis so as to reduce noise due to fluid flow and/or the seat forms a passage having an increasing cross-sectional area from an inlet to an outlet.

Regulator with multiple flow diffusers

The present invention provides a flow-through pressure regulator which is self-contained. The flow-through pressure regulator includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet offset along an axis. The housing is separated by a valve assembly into a first chamber and a second chamber. The valve assembly is disposed between the inlet and the outlet along the axis. The valve assembly has a closure member that permits or inhibits flow.

Flow-through pressure regulator self-contained valve assembly

The present invention provides a fuel system for an internal combustion engine powered by fuel that includes a fuel tank having a wall defining a volume. The fuel system also includes a pump that is disposed proximate the fuel tank and operatively connected to the volume. The fuel system further includes piping that is coupled to the pump and is operatively connected to the internal combustion engine. A pressure regulator with a self-contained valve assembly is disposed in at least one of the pump or the piping.

Fuel system including a self-contained flow-through pressure regulator

A self-tightening clip having a planar member and at least one retention member attached to the planar member. The planar member includes an inner perimeter, an outer perimeter, and defines a central axis. The least one retention member including a planar leg portion and a planar hook portion. The leg portion extends from the inner perimeter in a first direction along the central axis. The hook portion projects from the leg portion toward the central axis in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction along the central axis. The hook portion is acute to the central axis and has a free end located on an imaginary perimeter concentric to the inner perimeter of the planar member. The central axis and a plane passing through the hook portion of the at least one retention member form an angle in the range of approximately 20&deg;-30&deg;.

Method of retaining a first housing to a second housing using a self-tightening clip

A fuel rail assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a generally hollow fuel rail, a fluid dampening element and a clip. The fuel rail has an inner wall and a longitudinal rail axis extending therethrough. The fluid dampening element is disposed within the fuel rail and has a cross-sectional configuration. The clip includes an interior portion having a cross-sectional opening corresponding to and surrounding the cross-sectional configuration of the fluid dampening element and a plurality of exterior portions extending from the interior portion. Each of the plurality of exterior portions has an engagement end distal from the interior portion, with at least one of the engagement ends engaging the inner wall. A method of assembling the fuel rail assembly is also provided.

Retaining clip and assembly for internal dampening element

An assembly having a support structure and a body attached to the support structure by a retention member. The support structure having a pocket proximate a surface. The pocket having a wall, which defines a chamber, with a first end connected to the surface and a second end projecting away from the surface. A lip disposed proximate the second end of the wall, and a port projects from the surface into the chamber. The body at least partially disposed within the chamber of the pocket, and a retention device attaching the body to the wall of the pocket by engaging both the body and the lip.

Assembly for attachment of a housing to a structural member

A fuel rail assembly is disclosed. The fuel rail assembly includes a generally hollow fuel rail having a longitudinal rail axis extending therethrough and a fuel damper element having a wall and a longitudinal damper element axis extending therethrough. The fuel damper element is located within the fuel rail. The damper axis is generally parallel with the rail axis. A method of forming the fuel rail assembly is also disclosed.

Fuel pressure dampening element

A returnless fuel regulator includes a diaphragm assembly dividing the regulator into a control chamber for calibration purposes and a fuel chamber in communication with fuel under pressure from a supply and a fuel rail which receives fuel under regulation pressure. The regulator includes a spring-biased valve element which is opened to a greater or lesser extent by movement of the diaphragm assembly. In the diaphragm assembly, a post is spring-biased into a predetermined position relative to the diaphragm assembly to engage the valve element. The spring is formed of a shape memory alloy which elongates in response to a predetermined temperature of the fuel within the regulator to open or further open the valve element.

Fuel pressure regulator with fuel temperature responsive shape memory calibration

The fuel system includes a fuel tank for supplying fuel to a fuel rail having fuel injectors and a fuel pressure regulator for regulating the pressure of the fuel supplied to the fuel rail to a predetermined pressure. The pressure regulator includes a spring-biased ball movable toward and away from a valve seat with an intervening flow channel director. The flow channel director is sized to provide a substantially constant regulated pressure over a flow range typical for automotive engine use, i.e., a pressure of 350-430 kPa over a flow range of 20-50 kg/hr. The pressure regulator provides the predetermined regulated pressure without a movable diaphragm dividing the regulator into flow and non-flow chambers on opposite sides of the diaphragm.

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Newport News, VA, United States of America

Jason T Kilgore