Fuel nozzle check damper

Claim 2

A fuel injector comprising: an injector body (8) including a nozzle (12); a valve seat (40) within said body (8) and closely adjacent said nozzle (12); a valve (22, 38) within said body (8) movable between positions seated against and spaced from said seat (40); means (32) within said body (8) biasing said valve (22) towards said position seated against said seat (40); means (10, 14, 18,20) in said body for receiving fuel under pressure and delivering said fuel to said valve; means (24) responsive to the receipt of fuel under pressure within said body (8) for moving said valve (22) to said position spaced from said seat (40); and means (42) for retarding the rate of movement of said valve (22) in moving from said positions spaced from said seat (40) towards said position seated against said seat (40) at least as said valve (22) approaches said position seated against said seat (40) to thereby reduce the force of impact of said valve (22) against said seat (40).

Claim 3

In combination with a fuel injector of the type wherein high pressure fuel forces an injector valve (22) received in an injector body (8) to an open position, allowing fuel to escape into a combustion space, and including means (32) to bias the injector valve (22) to a closed position on a reduction in fuel pressure, the improvement comprising: means for retarding the rate of movement of said valve (22) in moving from said open position towards said closed position at least as said valve (22) approaches said closed position to thereby reduce the force of impact of said valve (22) against said seat (40).

Claim 4

In combination with a fuel injector of the type wherein high pressure fuel forces an injector valve (22) received in an injector body (8) to an open position, allowing fuel to escape into a combustion space, and including means (32) to bias the injector valve (22) to a closed position on a reduction in fuel pressure, the improvement comprising: means for retarding the rate of movement of said valve (22) in moving from said open position towards said closed position at least as said valve (22) approaches said closed position to thereby reduce the force of impact of said valve (22) against said seat (40).

Claim 5

The improved fuel injector of claim 1 or 2 wherein said retarding means is a hydraulic damper (42).

Claim 6

The improved fuel injector of claim 1 or 2 wherein said retarding means is a closely controlled diametral clearance (45) between said injector valve (22) and said injector body (18).

Claim 7

The improved fuel injector of claim 3 or 4 wherein said retarding means or said hydraulic damper is a flat, relatively thin circular spacer interposed between said biasing means (32) and said injector valve (22) having a maximum diameter which is slightly less than the inside diameter of said injector body (8).

Claim 8

A fuel injector comprising: an injector body (8) including a nozzle (12); a valve seat (40) within said body (8) and closely adjacent said nozzle (12); a valve (22) within said body (8) movable within said body (8) between positions seated against and spaced from said seat (40); means (32) within said body (8) biasing said valve (22) towards said position seated against said seat (40); means (10, 14, 18, 20) in said body (8) for receiving fuel under pressure and delivering said fuel to said valve (22); means (24) responsive to the receipt of said fuel under pressure within said body (8) for moving said valve (22) to said position spaced from said seat (40); and a flat, relatively thin circular spacer (42) interposed between said biasing means (32) and said injector valve (22) having a maximum diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of said injector body (8) for retarding the rate of movement of said valve (22) in moving from said position spaced from said seat (40) towards said position seated against said seat (40) as said valve (22) approaches said position seated against said seat (40) to thereby reduce the force of impact of said valve (22) against said seat (40).

Claim 9

A fuel injector comprising: an injector body (8) including a nozzle (12); a valve seat (40) within said body (8) and closely adjacent said nozzle (12); a valve (22) within said body (8) movable within said body (8) between positions seated against and spaced from said seat (40); means (32) within said body (8) biasing said valve (22) towards said position seated against said seat (40); means (10, 14, 18, 20) in said body (8) for receiving fuel under pressure and delivering said fuel to said valve (22); means (24) responsive to the receipt of said fuel under pressure within said body (8) for moving said valve (22) to said position spaced from said seat (40); and a flat, relatively thin circular spacer (42) interposed between said biasing means (32) and said injector valve (22) having a maximum diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of said injector body (8) for retarding the rate of movement of said valve (22) in moving from said position spaced from said seat (40) towards said position seated against said seat (40) as said valve (22) approaches said position seated against said seat (40) to thereby reduce the force of impact of said valve (22) against said seat (40).

Claim 10

A fuel injector comprising an injector body (8) including a nozzle (l2) ; a valve seat (40) within said body (8) and closely adjacent said nozzle (12); a valve (22) within said body (8) movable within said body (8) between position seated against and spaced from said seat (40); means (32) within said body biasing said valve (22) towards said position seated against said seat (40); means (10, 14, 18, 20) in said body for receiving fuel under pressure and delivering said fuel to said valve (22); means (24) responsive to the receipt of said fuel under pressure within said body (8) for moving said valve (22) to said positions spaced from said seat (40); and a closely controlled diametral clearance between said valve (22) and said injector body (8) for retarding the rate of movement of said valve (22) in moving from said position spaced from said seat (40) towards said position seated against said seat (40) as said valve (22) approaches said position seated against said seat (40) to thereby reduce the force of impact of said valve (22) against said seat (40).

Claim 11

A fuel injector comprising an injector body (8) including a nozzle (l2) ; a valve seat (40) within said body (8) and closely adjacent said nozzle (12); a valve (22) within said body (8) movable within said body (8) between position seated against and spaced from said seat (40); means (32) within said body biasing said valve (22) towards said position seated against said seat (40); means (10, 14, 18, 20) in said body for receiving fuel under pressure and delivering said fuel to said valve (22); means (24) responsive to the receipt of said fuel under pressure within said body (8) for moving said valve (22) to said positions spaced from said seat (40); and a closely controlled diametral clearance between said valve (22) and said injector body (8) for retarding the rate of movement of said valve (22) in moving from said position spaced from said seat (40) towards said position seated against said seat (40) as said valve (22) approaches said position seated against said seat (40) to thereby reduce the force of impact of said valve (22) against said seat (40).

Claim 12

The fuel injector as set forth in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by an injector valve shoulder (44).

Claim 13

The fuel injector as set forth in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diametral clearance (45) between the check damper (42) and the inner surface of the spring chamber (28) is typically .001".

Claim 14

The fuel injector as set forth in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by a slight clearance (27) provided between a piston portion (24) of the injector valve (22) and the injector tip (26).