Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Processes – Of fuel injection
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-14
2001-10-23
Douglas, Lisa Ann (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Processes
Of fuel injection
C239S088000, C239S570000, C251S150000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305616
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1)
Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to electromotive diesel (emd) fuel injectors, and more particularly, to gaskets used in emd fuel injectors.
2)
Description of the Prior Art
Emd fuel injectors are used in locomotives to inject diesel fuel for combustion.
FIG. 1
shows an emd fuel injector
10
that includes a follower
12
, a stop pin
14
, a stop pin retainer
16
, a stop pin spring
18
, a body assembly
20
, a plunger assembly
22
, a gear
24
, a seal ring
26
, a gear retainer
28
, a guide pin
30
, a valve nut
32
, a spacer
34
, a check valve
36
, a check valve cage
38
, a chart tip assembly
40
, a spring seat valve
42
, a spring cage valve
44
, a valve spring
46
, a spill deflector
48
, a locating dowel
50
, a body plug
52
, a rack assembly
54
, a rack
56
, a rack pin
58
, a filter
60
, a filter spring
62
, a filter cap or a filter nut
64
, a plunger spring
66
, a fuel connection
68
and fuel line
69
, and a calibrating slide
70
. Such an emd fuel injector
10
is well known in the art, such as a fuel injector manufactured by General Motors, as well as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,094, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
As shown in more detail in
FIGS. 2 and 4
, the filter nut
64
(of which two are provided) defines a filter nut fuel line passageway
72
that is in fluid communication with the fuel line
69
, which defines a fuel line passageway
74
. The fuel line
69
includes a frustaspherical end or fuel line surface
76
that matingly engages or abuts a frustaspherical-shaped surface or nut surface
78
so that fuel line passageways
72
and
74
are aligned.
Referring to
FIG. 3
, the frustaspherical end
76
sealingly engages the frustaspherical surface
78
through a support block
80
that abuts a connection portion
81
shown in phantom. The support block
80
defines three holes which receive fuel lines
69
and a stud
82
. A stud nut
84
is threadably received by the stud
82
and abuts against a surface of the support block
80
and which, in turn, forces the frustaspherical end
76
against the frustaspherical surface
78
, thereby forming a liquid seal.
Referring back to
FIG. 2
, in operation, fuel passes through the fuel line passageways
72
and
74
as indicated by arrows. Over time, the seal formed by the frustaspherical end
76
abutting the frustaspherical surface
78
may fail due to wear caused by vibration and loosening of the stud nut
84
. This causes a fuel line leak. The vibration especially is a problem with breaking the seal because both the filter nut
64
and the frustaspherical end
76
are made of steel.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to improve the seal between the frustaspherical end
76
and the filter nut
64
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a fuel line gasket for use with an electromotive diesel fuel injector that includes a nut defining a nut fuel line passageway that is in fluid communication with a fuel line having a fuel line passageway. The fuel line includes a fuel line surface and the nut includes a nut surface. The fuel line gasket includes a body interface surface and a hole positioned within the interface surfaces. At least a portion of the body is adapted to be positioned between the fuel line surface and the nut surface, so that the intermediate surfaces contact respective ones of the fuel line surface and the nut surface, and when the portion of the body is compressed between the fuel line surface and the nut surface, a liquid seal is formed and fuel can pass through the fuel line passageway, the nut fuel line passageway and through the hole defined in the body.
Preferably, the fuel line gasket includes a first portion, which includes the intermediate surfaces and the hole, and a depending second portion, which can be hexagonal in shape. Preferably, the gasket is a unitary piece molded from a polymeric material.
The present invention is also a method for providing the above-identified fuel line gasket to a prior art electromotive diesel fuel injector that includes the steps of: a) moving the nut away from the fuel line; b) positioning the gasket between the fuel line surface and the nut surface so that the opposite interface surfaces contact the fuel line surface and the nut surface, respectively; and c) compressing the gasket between the fuel line surface and the nut surface so that the intermediate surfaces contact respective ones of the fuel line surface and the nut surface and a liquid seal is formed there between so that fuel can pass through the fuel line passageway, the nut fuel line passageway and the hole defined in the body.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5328094 (1994-07-01), Goetzke et al.
Douglas Lisa Ann
Sardello, Inc.
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
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