Reagent injector with crimped pintle
AssigneeTenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
InventorsJohn M. Lowry, David Blumhardt, Eric Grant
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An injector for injecting a reagent includes an electromagnet and an axially translatable valve member positioned within a housing. The valve member is moveable from a seated position to an unseated position in response to energizing the electromagnet. The valve member includes a hollow tube including a curled end having a reduced diameter sized to allow a ball to partially extend beyond the tube end but not pass through the tube. The tube includes an inwardly extending detent restricting the ball from movement within the tube. A pintle head is fixed to the tube and positioned proximate the electromagnet.
Claims19
An injector for injecting a reagent, comprising:
- a housing;
- an electromagnet positioned within the housing;
- and
- an axially translatable valve member positioned within the housing, the valve member being translated from a seated position to an unseated position in response to energizing the electromagnet, the valve member including a hollow tube, a ball and a pintle head, the tube including a curled end having a reduced diameter sized to allow the ball to partially extend beyond the tube end but not pass through the tube, the tube including an inwardly extending detent restricting the ball from movement within the tube, the pintle head being fixed to the tube and positioned proximate the electromagnet.
The injector of claim 2, wherein the tube includes a reduced diameter portion extending through the pintle head.
A method of constructing a reagent injector, comprising:
- providing a substantially cylindrical tube having a first end and an opposite second end;
- reducing an inner diameter of the tube at the first end;
- inserting a ball into the tube at the second end;
- abutting the ball against an inner surface of the tube at the reduced diameter first end such that a portion of the ball extends outside of the tube beyond the first end;
- crimping the tube to form a radially inwardly protruding detent to restrict the ball from moving toward the second end;
- and
- coupling a pintle head to the second end of the tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.