# US 6,296,012 B1 · Fuel pressure regulator with fuel temperature responsive shape memory calibration > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,296,012 B1 - Document ID: US6296012B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/229,154 - Filed: 1999-01-12 - Granted: 2001-10-02 - Earliest claimed: 1999-01-12 - Assignees: Siemens Automotive Corporation - Inventors: Jason T. Kilgore; Barry S. Robinson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6296012B1 ## CPC - F02M 63/00: Other fuel-injection apparatus having pertinent characteristics not provided for in groups F02M39/00 - F02M57/00 or F02M67/00; Details, component parts, or accessories of fuel-injection apparatus, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus of groups F02M39/00 - F02M61/00 or F02M67/00; {Combination of fuel pump with other devices, e.g. lubricating oil pump} - F02M 37/20: characterised by means for preventing vapour lock - F02M 69/54: Arrangement of fuel pressure regulators - Y10T 137/7737: Thermal responsive - Y10T 137/7797: Bias variable during operation - Y10T 137/7826: With valve closing bias - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel pressure regulator comprising: a housing; a movable diaphragm dividing the housing into a fuel chamber and a control chamber; said housing having a fuel inlet port for flowing pressurized fuel toward said fuel chamber and a fuel outlet port for flowing pressure regulated fuel from said housing; a valve between said fuel inlet port and said fuel outlet port and including a valve seat, a valve element movable toward and away from said valve seat and a spring for biasing said valve element toward said valve seat; said diaphragm including a member movable with and relative to said diaphragm toward and away from said valve element; and a device carried by said diaphragm engaging said member and formed of a temperature responsive shape memory material for displacing said valve element relative to said seat in response to a predetermined temperature of the fuel within the pressure regulator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A pressure regulator according to claim 1 wherein said device comprises a spring carried by said diaphragm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A pressure regulator according to claim 1 wherein said device comprises a helical coil spring carried by said diaphragm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A pressure regulator according to claim 1 wherein said device is formed of a nickel and titanium alloy. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A pressure regulator according to claim 1 wherein said device and said member displace said valve element away from said valve seat in response to a rise in temperature of the fuel in the regulator to the predetermined temperature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A pressure regulator according to claim 5 wherein said device and said member enable displacement of said valve element toward said seat in response to a lowering of the fuel temperature in the regulator from a temperature above said predetermined temperature to said predetermined temperature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A pressure regulator according to claim 1 including a calibration spring carried by said housing for calibrating the pressure regulator to a predetermined regulation pressure, said device and said member being configured to displace said valve element in a direction away from said valve seat in response to said predetermined temperature, thereby changing the calibration of the pressure regulator from said predetermined regulation pressure to a second calibrated regulation pressure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A pressure regulator according to claim 1 wherein said device comprises a helical coil spring carried by said diaphragm, said device being formed of a nickel and titanium alloy, said device and said member displacing said valve element in a direction away from said valve seat in response to a rise in temperature of the fuel in the regulator to the predetermined temperature and enabling displacement of said valve element toward said seat in response to a lowering of the fuel regulator from a temperature above said predetermined temperature to said predetermined temperature. ### Claim 9 A fuel pressure regulator comprising: a housing; a movable diaphragm dividing the housing into a fuel chamber and a control chamber; said housing having a fuel inlet port for flowing pressurized fuel toward said fuel chamber and a fuel outlet port for flowing pressure regulated fuel from said housing; a valve between said fuel inlet port and said fuel outlet port and including a valve seat, a valve element movable toward and away from said valve seat and a spring for biasing said valve element toward said valve seat; a calibration spring carried by said housing for calibrating the pressure regulator to a predetermined regulation pressure; and a device responsive to a predetermined temperature of the fuel in the regulator for changing the calibration of the pressure regulator from said predetermined regulation pressure to a second calibration pressure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A pressure regulator according to claim 9 wherein said device increases the calibration pressure in response to a rise in the temperature of the fuel within said regulator to said predetermined temperature such that said second calibration pressure is greater than said predetermined calibration pressure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A pressure regulator according to claim 7 wherein said device decreases the calibration pressure of said regulator from said second calibration pressure to said predetermined calibration pressure in response to a lowering of the fuel temperature in the regulator from a temperature above said predetermined temperature to said predetermined temperature.