Fuel injector clamp with retaining ring
AssigneeInternational Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
InventorsDaniel W. Jensen, Kenneth R. Seymour, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for and method of clamping a device (201), such as a fuel injector (201), to a platform (409), such as a cylinder head (409), allows the fuel injector (201) to be removed from the cylinder head (409) together with the clamp (105). A retaining ring (103) is secured between a conical surface (403) of the clamp (105) and an annular groove (307) of a fastener (101) disposed within the clamp (105). The retaining ring (103) secures the fastener (101) to the clamp (105) during removal of the fastener (101), thereby providing that the clamp assembly and the device, such as a fuel injector (201), are removed together.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a clamp for use with a fuel injector disposed in a cylinder head, the clamp having a passage that comprises a conical surface;
- a fastener disposed within the passage of the clamp and having an annular groove;
- a retaining ring disposed in the annular groove, wherein the retaining ring is secured between the conical surface of the clamp and the annular groove when the fastener is removed from the cylinder head to thereby allow the apparatus to be removed together with the fuel injector.
An apparatus comprising:
- a fastener having a cylindrical segment with an outer diameter and having an annular groove disposed in the-cylindrical segment;
- a retaining ring disposed within the annular groove;
- a clamp comprising:
- a securing device capable of securing a fuel injector within a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine;
- and
- a passage characterized at least in part by a cylindrical surface that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical segment of the fastener and characterized at least in part by a conical surface extending away from the cylindrical surface such that the retaining ring is secured between the annular groove and the conical surface to thereby allow the apparatus and the fuel injector to be removed together from the cylinder head.
A method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a fastener in a first end of a passage of a clamp such that a plurality of threads on the fastener passes through a second end of the passage of the clamp, wherein the clamp is capable of clamping a fuel injector to a cylinder head when the fastener is fastened to the cylinder head;
- covering the plurality of threads with an first section of a mandrel having a second section that is tapered;
- sliding a retaining ring on the tapered second section;
- pushing the retaining ring over the tapered second section, across the first section, and into an annular groove on the fastener, thereby securing the fastener to the clamp.
An apparatus comprising:
- a clamp capable of clamping a device to a platform, the clamp having a passage that comprises a conical surface;
- a fastener disposed within the passage of the clamp and having an annular groove, wherein the fastener is capable of being fastened to the platform;
- a retaining ring disposed in the annular groove, wherein the retaining ring is secured between the conical surface of the clamp and the annular groove when the fastener is removed from the platform to thereby allow the apparatus to be removed together with the device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.