Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Delphi International Operations Luxembourg S.a.r.l.

Delphi Technologies Holding S.arl

Karl W Graham

Guy C Sandford

Manfred Kolkman

Sami V Horkko

Philip J Butler

A tubular clip for securing a sleeve to the body of a piezoelectric actuator in an actuator assembly. In use, the wall of the clip has a plurality of corrugations. The pitch of the corrugations is variable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the clip. The clip is configurable into an unfitted configuration and into a fitted configuration and in the fitted configuration the minimum transverse internal separation of the clip walls is less than in the unfitted configuration.

Process of fitting a collapsible clip to a sleeve of a piezoelectric actuator

A piezoelectric actuator arrangement () for use in a fuel injector (), the actuator arrangement () comprising a stack () of one or more piezoelectric elements for receipt with an fluid chamber () of the injector (), electrode means for generating an electric field within the stack (), in use, and an electrical connector arrangement () for electrically connecting the electrode means to an external power supply, in use. The connector arrangement () comprises a first portion () in the form of a, base member, and a second portion () in the form of a body member, that are mutually arranged to form an articulated joint so as to provide the first portion () with at least one degree of freedom relative' to the second portion ().

Piezoelectric actuator

A clip for securing a sleeve to the body of a piezoelectric actuator in an actuator assembly. The clip takes the form of a band and has at least a first and a second stable state. The minimum separation of the walls of the band when the clip is in one of the stable states is less than the minimum separation of the walls of the band when the clip is in an unstable state. The clip is forced into an unstable state in order to be fitted over the sleeve of the actuator assembly. The force is then removed to allow the clip to revert towards a stable state. The dimensions of the clip are such that the clip is unable to fully revert to a stable state when fitted to the actuator assembly thereby maintaining sufficient additional strain energy to maintain a sufficient clamping force between the sleeve and the body of the actuator.

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Ballymena, United Kingdom

Karl W Graham