# US 9,038,601 B2 · Flow limiter assembly for a fuel system of an internal combustion engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,601 B2 - Document ID: US9038601B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/666,525 - Filed: 2012-11-01 - Published: 2013-05-02 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-01 - Assignees: Cummins Inc. - Applicants: Cummins Inc. - Inventors: Corydon E. Morris; David L. Buchanan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038601B2 ## CPC - F02M 61/161: {Means for adjusting injection-valve lift} - F02M 47/027: {Electrically actuated valves draining the chamber to release the closing pressure} - F02M 51/061: {using electromagnetic operating means} - F02M 55/002: {Arrangement of leakage or drain conduits in or from injectors} - F02M 59/366: {Valves being actuated electrically} - F02M 63/0056: {Throttling valves, e.g. having variable opening positions throttling the flow} - F02M 63/0215: {by draining or closing fuel conduits} - F02M 63/0225: {Fuel-injection apparatus having a common rail feeding several injectors (F02M63/0003 takes precedence); Means for varying pressure in common rails; Pumps feeding common rails} - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF ## Abstract A flow limiter for a fuel system is provided. The flow limiter includes a self-contained portion that enables testing of the flow limiter prior to assembly into a fuel system. A housing of the flow limiter is arranged to provide reduced or no pressure differential across a wall of the housing, permitting the housing to be reduced in size and thickness and providing improved consistency of operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel flow limiter assembly for a high-pressure fuel system, comprising: an outer housing containing a housing bore to receive high-pressure fuel and an inner wall forming the housing bore; a flow limiter housing including a longitudinal axis, a first portion, a second portion positioned in the housing bore upstream from the first portion, and a fuel flow passage extending through the second portion to receive high-pressure fuel, the second portion including an outer surface positioned a spaced radial distance from the inner wall to form a gap fluidly connected to the housing bore to receive high-pressure fuel; and a flow limiter plunger mounted in the fuel flow passage for reciprocal movement between a first position permitting fuel flow through the fuel flow passage and a second position blocking flow through the fuel flow passage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the gap extends axially along the longitudinal axis an entire length of the flow limiter plunger. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further including a filter positioned in the fuel flow passage upstream of the flow limiter plunger. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly of claim 3, wherein the gap extends axially along the longitudinal axis an entire length of the filter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The assembly of claim 4, wherein the gap extends axially along the longitudinal axis an entire length of the flow limiter plunger. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second portion includes an upstream distal end, the gap extending annularly around the second portion and extending axially from the upstream distal end along the entire length of the flow limiter plunger to cause the second portion to be radially unsupported by the inner wall of the outer housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion is positioned in sealing abutment against the outer housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer housing includes a transverse face extending transversely to the longitudinal axis, the first portion including a flange having a transverse extent larger than a transverse extent of the second portion and positioned in abutment against the transverse face. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, including a guide portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion having a transverse extent larger than the transverse extent of the second portion and smaller than the transverse extent of the first portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second portion includes a cylindrical wall separating the gap and the fuel flow passage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, including a plunger seat formed within the fuel flow passage and the flow limiter plunger contacts the plunger seat in the second position. ### Claim 12 A fuel injector for a high-pressure fuel system, comprising: an injector body including a longitudinal axis, a high-pressure fuel circuit and an end surface extending transverse to the longitudinal axis; an outer housing mounted on the injector body and including a housing bore to receive high-pressure fuel and a transverse face extending transverse to the longitudinal axis; a flow limiter housing including an extension portion positioned in the housing bore, a fuel flow passage extending through the extension portion to receive high-pressure fuel for delivery to the high-pressure fuel circuit, and a flange portion positioned axially between, and in compressive abutment against, the transverse face and the end surface to securely position the extension portion in the housing bore; and a flow limiter plunger mounted in the fuel flow passage for reciprocal movement between a first position permitting fuel flow through the fuel flow passage and a second position blocking flow through the fuel flow passage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The fuel injector of claim 12, wherein the extension portion extends along the longitudinal axis away from the injector body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The fuel injector of claim 12, wherein the second portion includes a cylindrical wall separating the gap and the fuel flow passage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The fuel injector of claim 12, wherein the outer housing further includes an inner wall forming the housing bore, said extension portion being free from contact with the inner wall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The fuel injector of claim 12, including a guide portion positioned between the extension portion and the flange portion, the guide portion having a transverse extent larger than a transverse extent of the extension portion and smaller than a transverse extent of the flange portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The fuel injector of claim 12, including a plunger seat formed within the fuel flow passage and the flow limiter plunger contacts the plunger seat in the second position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The fuel injector of claim 12, the flow limiter plunger including a plunger cavity and at least one transverse passage extending from the plunger cavity to an exterior of the flow limiter plunger. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The fuel injector of claim 12, including a filter positioned in the flow limiter housing and the flow limiter plunger including a plunger end face, the filter including a structure end surface, and the plunger end face is in abutting contact with the structure end face when the flow limiter plunger is in the first position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The fuel injector of claim 12, including a spring positioned in the fuel flow passage to bias the flow limiter plunger in the first position. ### Claim 21 A fuel flow limiter assembly for a high-pressure fuel system, comprising: an outer housing containing a housing bore to receive high-pressure fuel and an inner wall forming the housing bore; a flow limiter housing including a longitudinal axis, a first portion, a second portion positioned in the housing bore upstream from the first portion, and a fuel flow passage extending through the second portion to receive high-pressure fuel, the second portion including an outer surface positioned a spaced radial distance from the inner wall to form a gap fluidly connected to the housing bore to receive high-pressure fuel; and a flow limiter plunger mounted in the fuel flow passage for reciprocal movement between a first position permitting fuel flow through the fuel flow passage and a second position blocking flow through the fuel flow passage, wherein the gap extends axially along the longitudinal axis an entire length of the flow limiter plunger.