Partially plastic fuel injector component and method of making the same
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsDan R. Ibrahim, Stephen T. Konwinski, Dale C. Maley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Use of pump and line fuel injectors has become more common in fuel injection systems. While these fuel injectors do not typically include individual electrical actuators or fuel pressurization means, they still include a number of components that must be intricately machined in order for the fuel injector to perform as desired. The present invention is directed to reducing the number of machining steps, and therefore the cost, of producing such a fuel injector by utilizing a plastic component that can allow for a reliable and cost effective replacement of more intricately machined fuel injector components.
Claims10
A fuel injector component comprising:
- a metal tube being at least partially surrounded by plastic;
- said metal tube being attached to a metal component;
- at least one of said plastic and said metal component partially define a spring cage;
- and
- a needle stop moldably attached to said plastic and defining an upper boundary of said spring cage.
A fuel injector comprising:
- an injector body defining a nozzle outlet and including a metal tube attached to a metal component and being at least partially surrounded by plastic;
- a needle valve member being movably positioned in said injector body;
- said metal tube includes a first end attached to said metal component and second end including a coupling;
- wherein said metal component is secured to said plastic by an anchor defined by at least one of said metal component and said plastic;
- at least one of said metal component and said plastic partially define a spring cage;
- and
- said needle valve member includes an opening hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in said metal tube.
A fuel injector comprising:
- a metal component with an elongated tip portion having an end the defines a plurality of nozzle outlets, and including a conical valve seat;
- a needle valve member at least partially positioned in said metal component, and being movable into and out of contact with said conical valve seat;
- a metal tube attached to, and extending away from, said metal component;
- and
- a plastic component attached to, and surrounding a portion of, said metal tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.