Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine comprising: an injector body (12) including a first portion (14) having an inlet (18) for communicating with a fuel source, a second portion (16) having an outlet (20) for ejecting fuel from said body, and an inner passageway (22) which communicates with said inlet and said outlet; fuel valve means (30) located within said inner passageway for controlling fuel ejection from said outlet; nozzle means (40) positioned adjacent to said second portion for dispersing fuel as it is ejected from said outlet; and retainer means (50) connected to said injector body (12) for retaining said nozzle means (40) against said second portion, said retainer means having a side portion (52) and a base portion (54) extending at an angle relative to said side portion (52) for applying a spring-biased force against said nozzle means (40) to retain said nozzle means (40) against said second portion, thereby substantially sealing the interface between said nozzle means (40) and said second portion (16) from fuel leakage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nozzle means comprises at least one silicon nozzle plate having one or more openings therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said at least one silicon nozzle plate has a substantially square shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
126 words
A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 3, wherein said side portion of said retainer means comprises a substantially cylindrical upper section having a first inner diameter, a substantially cylindrical lower section having a second inner diameter, and an intermediate interconnecting section interposed therebetween, said at least one silicon nozzle plate being located within said cylindrical lower section and said second inner diameter of said lower section being substantially equal to each diagonal of said at least one silicon nozzle plate, thereby maintaining said at least one silicon nozzle plate in proper position below said second portion of said injector body and substantially preventing said at least one silicon nozzle plate from lateral movement within said retainer means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said second portion of said injector body includes a recess formed therein for receiving said at least one silicon nozzle plate, and said base portion of said injector body serves to retain said at least one nozzle plate in said recess by applying said spring-biased force against said nozzle plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said nozzle means comprises two silicon nozzle plates, each having one or more openings therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base portion of said retainer means extends at an acute angle relative to said side portion for applying said spring-biased force against said nozzle means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base portion of said retainer means is deformed against said nozzle means prior to said retainer means being connected to said injector body to generate said spring-biased force.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said retainer means is weldably connected to said injector body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said retainer means is snap-fitted onto said injector body.