Retaining apparatus for fuel injector in internal combustion engine

Claim 1

In an internal combustion engine having an airtight main fuel delivery pipe, at least one auxiliary fuel delivery pipe branched off therefrom and at least one fuel injector, an apparatus for airtightly retaining said fuel injector on said auxiliary fuel delivery pipe, comprising: a cylindrical portion of said fuel injector being sealingly fitted in said auxiliary fuel delivery pipe for permitting delivery of fuel from said auxiliary fuel delivery pipe to said fuel injector; and resilient retaining means slidably mounted on main fuel delivery pipe and cooperating with said fuel injector for rotatably retaining said fuel injector on said auxiliary fuel delivery pipe, including at least one longitudinal slot formed on said main fuel delivery pipe for slidably mounting said retaining means, said retaining means having a flange inserted in each said slot, including a circular slot formed in said cylindrical portion, wherein said retaining means has a surface defining a circular opening with a diameter larger than that of said circular slot and a connecting opening connecting said circular opening with an edge of said retainer and having a width smaller than the diameter of said circular slot, wherein said edge extends transverse to the direction of elongation of said main fuel delivery pipe when said retaining means is mounted thereon, said surface of said retaining means covering said surface of said main fuel delivery pipe when said retaining means is mounted thereon, and wherein said retaining means has guide wall means for guiding said fuel injector during installation and removal, said guide wall means extending from a portion of said surface adjacent said circular opening and circumferentially opposite said connecting opening, said guide wall means comprising a planar wall extending in a direction transverse to both said surface and said direction of elongation of said main fuel delivery pipe.