Composite fuel rail socket for bottom- and side-feed fuel injectors

Claim 2

A fuel rail assembly for an internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of non-metallic socket members, each having a through-bore shaped to receive and seat a corresponding electromagnetic fuel injector, the receipt of such a fuel injector in each through-bore being via an open axial end thereof, the seated fuel injector and through-bore of the socket member cooperatively defining an annular-shaped fuel space with which a fuel inlet of the seated injector is in communication, and mechanical retention means coacting with said each socket member at said open axial end thereof for retaining the corresponding injector seated, characterized in that: said mechanical retention means comprises an annular cap having a sidewall containing an internal helical thread that is tightened to a complementary external helical thread on a sidewall portion of the corresponding socket member which is at said open axial end of the socket member's through-bore so as to strengthen said sidewall portion against circumferential expansion urged by the pressure of fuel in the corresponding annular-shaped fuel space, and means for reacting against the seated injector the force of tightening said cap on said sidewall portion so as to cause a force to be applied to the seated injector in a sense that maintains the injector seated.

Claim 3

A fuel rail assembly as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said means for reacting against the seated injector the force of tightening said cap on said sidewall portion so as to cause a force to be applied to the seated injector in a sense that maintains the injector seated comprises a radially inwardly directed flange on said cap that radially overlaps said sidewall portion of the socket member and means extending from said flange of said cap axially into the through-bore for engaging the injector.

Claim 4

A fuel rail assembly as set forth in claim 2 further characterized in that said means extending from said flange of said cap axially into the through-bore for engaging the injector comprises an annular-shaped spacer.

Claim 5

A fuel rail assembly as set forth in claim 3 further characterized in that said annular-shaped spacer is a separate part that is not integrally formed with said cap.

Claim 6

A fuel rail assembly as set forth in claim 4 further characterized in that said cap is metal.

Claim 7

A non-metallic socket member having a through-bore shaped to receive and seat an electromagnetic fuel injector for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine, the receipt of such a fuel injector in said through-bore being via an open axial end thereof, the seated fuel injector and through-bore of the socket member cooperatively defining an annular-shaped fuel space with which a fuel inlet of the seated injector is in communication, and mechanical retention means coacting with said socket member at said open axial end thereof for retaining the injector seated, characterized in that: said mechanical retention means comprises an annular cap having a sidewall containing an internal helical thread that is tightened to a complementary external helical thread on a sidewall portion of said socket member which is at said open axial end of said through-bore so as to strengthen said sidewall portion against circumferential expansion urged by the pressure of fuel in said annular-shaped fuel space, and means for reacting against the seated injector the force of tightening said cap on said sidewall portion so as to cause a force to be applied to the seated injector in a sense that maintains the injector seated.

Claim 8

A non-metallic socket member having a through-bore shaped to receive and seat an electromagnetic fuel injector for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine, the receipt of such a fuel injector in said through-bore being via an open axial end thereof, the seated fuel injector and through-bore of the socket member cooperatively defining an annular-shaped fuel space with which a fuel inlet of the seated injector is in communication, and mechanical retention means coacting with said socket member at said open axial end thereof for retaining the injector seated, characterized in that: said mechanical retention means comprises an annular cap having a sidewall containing an internal helical thread that is tightened to a complementary external helical thread on a sidewall portion of said socket member which is at said open axial end of said through-bore so as to strengthen said sidewall portion against circumferential expansion urged by the pressure of fuel in said annular-shaped fuel space, and means for reacting against the seated injector the force of tightening said cap on said sidewall portion so as to cause a force to be applied to the seated injector in a sense that maintains the injector seated.

Claim 9

A fuel rail assembly as set forth in claim 6 further characterized in that said means for reacting against the seated injector the force of tightening said cap on said sidewall portion so as to cause a force to be applied to the seated injector in a sense that maintains the injector seated comprises a radially inwardly directed flange on said cap that radially overlaps said sidewall portion of said socket member and means extending from said flange of said cap axially into said through-bore for engaging the injector.

Claim 10

A fuel rail assembly as set forth in claim 7 further characterized in that said means extending from said flange of said cap axially into said through-bore for engaging the injector comprises an annular-shaped spacer.

Claim 11

A fuel rail assembly as set forth in claim 8 further characterized in that said annular-shaped spacer is a separate part that is not integrally formed with said cap.

Claim 12

A fuel rail assembly as set forth in claim 9 further characterized in that said cap is metal.

Claim 13

A non-metallic socket member comprising a sidewall bounding a through-bore for receiving via an open axial end thereof and for seating therein an electromagnetic fuel injector for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine, characterized in that the thickness of said sidewall is generally uniform throughout, and on the exterior of said sidewall there is at least one stiffening rib having a thickness substantially the same as that of said sidewall for stiffening said sidewall, and characterized further in that the socket member includes at least one tube that is integral with and projects radially outwardly from said sidewall, that has a wall thickness substantially the same as that of said sidewall, and that is in fluid communication with said through-bore, and said at least one stiffening rib stiffens the merger of said tube with said side wall.

Claim 14

A non-metallic socket member comprising a sidewall bounding a through-bore for receiving via an open axial end thereof and for seating therein an electromagnetic fuel injector for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine, characterized in that the thickness of said sidewall is generally uniform throughout, and on the exterior of said sidewall there is at least one stiffening rib having a thickness substantially the same as that of said sidewall for stiffening said sidewall, and characterized further in that the socket member includes at least one tube that is integral with and projects radially outwardly from said sidewall, that has a wall thickness substantially the same as that of said sidewall, and that is in fluid communication with said through-bore, and said at least one stiffening rib stiffens the merger of said tube with said side wall.

Claim 15

A non-metallic socket member comprising a sidewall bounding a through-bore for receiving via an open axial end thereof and for seating therein an electromagnetic fuel injector for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine, characterized in that the thickness of said sidewall is generally uniform throughout, and on the exterior of said sidewall there is at least one stiffening rib having a thickness substantially the same as that of said sidewall for stiffening said sidewall, and characterized further in that said sidewall comprises a straight cylindrical region and a frusto-conically shaped region, and said at least one stiffening rib stiffens the merger of said regions.

Claim 16

A non-metallic socket member comprising a sidewall bounding a through-bore for receiving via an open axial end thereof and for seating therein an electromagnetic fuel injector for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine, characterized in that the thickness of said sidewall is generally uniform throughout, and on the exterior of said sidewall there is at least one stiffening rib having a thickness substantially the same as that of said sidewall for stiffening said sidewall, and characterized further in that said sidewall comprises a straight cylindrical region and a frusto-conically shaped region, and said at least one stiffening rib stiffens the merger of said regions.

Claim 17

A socket member as set forth in claim 12 characterized further in that said socket member comprises a circumferentially extending flange region adjacent said frusto-conically shaped region and integral with said sidewall around the exterior thereof, and said at least one stiffening rib stiffens the merger of said flange with said sidewall including said frusto-conically shaped region.

Claim 18

A non-metallic socket member having a through-bore shaped to receive and seat an electromagnetic fuel injector for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine, and in fact containing such a fuel injector, the receipt of said fuel injector in said through-bore being via an open axial end thereof, the seated fuel injector and said through-bore cooperatively defining an annular-shaped fuel space with which a fuel inlet of the seated injector is in communication, tubing that is integrally formed with said socket member for communicating fuel to said fuel space, and mechanical retention means coacting with said socket member at said open axial end thereof for retaining the injector seated, characterized in that: said mechanical retention means comprises an annular cap having a sidewall containing an internal helical thread that is tightened to a complementary external helical thread on a sidewall portion of said socket member which is at said open axial end of said through-bore so as to strengthen said sidewall portion against circumferential expansion urged by the pressure of fuel in said annular-shaped fuel space, and means for reacting against the seated injector the force of tightening said cap on said sidewall portion so as to cause a force to be applied to the seated injector in a sense that maintains the injector seated, said injector having electrical terminal means disposed in a terminal end portion thereof that protrudes through said cap, and including electrical connector structure separably fitted to said electrical terminal means of said injector for connecting said injector with a control circuit, said electrical connector structure comprising means closing an opening that exists between said cap and said terminal end portion of said injector.

Claim 19

A non-metallic socket member having a through-bore shaped to receive and seat an electromagnetic fuel injector for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine, and in fact containing such a fuel injector, the receipt of said fuel injector in said through-bore being via an open axial end thereof, the seated fuel injector and said through-bore cooperatively defining an annular-shaped fuel space with which a fuel inlet of the seated injector is in communication, tubing that is integrally formed with said socket member for communicating fuel to said fuel space, and mechanical retention means coacting with said socket member at said open axial end thereof for retaining the injector seated, characterized in that: said mechanical retention means comprises an annular cap having a sidewall containing an internal helical thread that is tightened to a complementary external helical thread on a sidewall portion of said socket member which is at said open axial end of said through-bore so as to strengthen said sidewall portion against circumferential expansion urged by the pressure of fuel in said annular-shaped fuel space, and means for reacting against the seated injector the force of tightening said cap on said sidewall portion so as to cause a force to be applied to the seated injector in a sense that maintains the injector seated, said injector having electrical terminal means disposed in a terminal end portion thereof that protrudes through said cap, and including electrical connector structure separably fitted to said electrical terminal means of said injector for connecting said injector with a control circuit, said electrical connector structure comprising means closing an opening that exists between said cap and said terminal end portion of said injector.