Electrical actuator subassembly with external threads and fuel injector using same

A fuel injector comprising:

• an injector body with a retention surface;
• a collar with a retention ledge oriented in opposition to said retention surface, and said collar including a set of internal threads;
• an electrical actuator subassembly including a metallic body with a set of external threads, and at least one of a piezoelectric actuator component and a solenoid coil;
• said electrical actuator subassembly being mounted on said injector body via a mating of said external threads with said internal threads;
• said injector body includes a top and bottom;
• said electrical actuator subassembly being located above said top;
• said metallic body includes a side surface extending between a top surface and a bottom surface;
• an electrical connection penetrating through at least one of said side surface and said top;
• and
• a valve member positioned between a metallic body of said electrical actuator subassembly and said injector body, and being trapped between a high pressure seat and a low pressure seat.

A fuel injector comprising:

• an injector body;
• a collar with a set of internal threads attached to said injector body;
• an electrical actuator subassembly including a metallic body with set of external threads, and at least one of a piezoelectric actuator component and a solenoid coil mounted in said metallic body;
• said electrical actuator subassembly being mounted on said injector body via a mating of said external threads with said internal threads;
• said injector body includes a top and bottom;
• said electrical actuator subassembly being located above said top;
• said metallic body includes a side surface extending between a top surface and a bottom surface;
• an electrical connection penetrating through at least one of said side surface and said top;
• a valve member positioned between said metallic body and said injector body, and being trapped between a high pressure seat and a low pressure seat;
• said collar includes a first retention surface;
• said injector body includes a second retention surface oriented in opposition to said first retention surface;
• and
• a clip having one side in contact with said first retention surface and an other side in contact with said second retention surface.

A method of attaching an electrical actuator to a body component, comprising the steps of:

• attaching a collar having a set of internal threads to a body component;
• providing a electrical actuator subassembly that includes a metallic body with a set of external threads, and one of a piezoelectric actuator component and a solenoid coil mounted in said metallic body;
• mating the external threads of the electrical actuator subassembly to the internal threads of the collar;
• said mating step includes a step of rotating the collar relative to the body component;
• said attaching step includes the steps of:
• connecting a retention member to one of the collar and the body component;
• and
• pushing the collar onto the body component until a retention surface engages the retention member;
• attaching a valve member to an armature;
• and
• positioning the armature between the body component and the electrical actuator subassembly before said mating step;
• and
• said connecting step includes a step of mounting a snap ring on the body component.