Description:Complete Specification:

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a connector, and more specifically to the connector that is secured to a fuel injector of an engine and is adapted to channel pressurized fuel from the fuel injector to a fuel tank of a vehicle via a back flow fuel supply path.

Background of the invention
[0002] CN 103321806 A describes a pressure wave damping type fuel system. The pressure wave damping type fuel system comprises a fuel tank, a voltage stabilizer and a fuel injector, wherein the fuel tank is connected with a filter, a fuel delivery pump and a high-pressure fuel pump sequentially and then connected with the voltage stabilizer, the voltage stabilizer is connected with the fuel injector and also directly communicated with the fuel tank through a fuel return pipe, a safety valve is installed on the fuel return pipe, the voltage stabilizer comprises a voltage stabilizer casing, a hole pipe is installed inside the voltage stabilizer casing, a damping outer cavity is formed between the voltage stabilizer casing and the hole pipe, a damping inner cavity is formed inside the hole pipe, damping holes of different sizes are formed in the hole pipe, and the damping outer cavity is connected with a load. By the aid of the pressure wave damping type fuel system, high-frequency pressure fluctuations and hydraulic shocks can be effectively weakened and absorbed, the fluctuation of the fuel injection quantity per cycle is reduced, the stability of the circulating fuel injection quantity of an engine is improved, the mutual influence of all cylinders of the engine is weakened, and the consistency of operation of all cylinders of the engine is improved.

Brief description of the accompanying drawing
[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a connector that is secured to a fuel injector of an engine for channeling pressurized fuel from the fuel injector to a fuel tank of a vehicle.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a fuel injector 10 for injecting pressurized fuel in an engine. The fuel injector 10 comprises a housing 12, and a spring chamber 14 positioned within the housing 12 and adapted to store a spring 16 therein. An outlet flow path 18 is in flow communication with the spring chamber 14 and is adapted to receive fuel from the spring chamber 14. An outlet bore 20 is defined within the fuel injector 12 and is positioned perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fuel injector 10. The outlet bore 20 is in flow communication with the outlet flow path 18 and is adapted to receive fuel that is channeled from the spring chamber 14 to the outlet flow path 18. A connector 22 is inserted within a groove 33 that is defined in an outer circumference of the outlet bore 20, the connector 22 comprising a plurality of threaded grooves that are defined within a solid portion of the connector 22. Each of the plurality of threaded grooves that are defined within the solid portion of the connector 22 is adapted to receive a threaded fastener therein. A snap fit connector 26 comprises a first end 28 and an opposite second end 30, the first end 28 of the snap fit connector 26 inserted through a bore 28 defined through the connector 22 and adapted to receive pressurized fuel that is channeled from the spring chamber 14 to the connector 22 via the outlet flow path 18. A saddle type clamping device 34 is positioned within a groove 26 that is defined in the connector 22. The saddle type clamping device 34 that is positioned within the groove 36 that is defined in the connector 22 is secured within the groove 38 that is defined in the snap fit connector 26, the saddle type clamping device 34 adapted to secure the snap fit connector 26 that is positioned within the bore 28 defined through the connector 22.

[0005] Figure 1 illustrates a fuel injector 10 for injecting pressurized fuel in an engine in one embodiment of the invention. The fuel injector 10 comprises a housing 12, and a spring chamber 14 that is positioned within the housing 12. The spring 16 is positioned within the spring chamber 14 and is adapted to be compressed and elongated within the spring chamber 14 respectively. In an exemplary embodiment, an outlet flow path 18 is in flow communication with the spring chamber 14. More specifically, the outlet flow path 18 that is in flow communication with the spring chamber 14 is adapted to receive pressurized fuel from the spring chamber 14. An outlet bore 20 is defined within the housing 12 of the fuel injector 10 and is positioned perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fuel injector 10. The outlet bore 20 that is defined within the fuel injector 10 is in flow communication with the outlet flow path 18 and is adapted to receive pressurized fuel that is channeled through the outlet flow path 18 from the spring chamber 14. A connector 22 is inserted within a groove 33 that is defined at an outer periphery of the outer bore 20 that is defined within the housing 12 of the fuel injector 10. More specifically, the connector 22 that is inserted within the groove 33 that is defined at the outer periphery of the housing 12 of the fuel injector 10 comprises a cylindrically shaped portion having a cylindrical bore that is defined through the cylindrically shaped portion of the connector 22. In addition, the connector 22 that is inserted within the groove 33 that is defined within the outer bore 22 that is defined within the housing 12 of the fuel injector 10 comprises a U-shaped groove 36 that is defined proximate to an end of the cylindrically shaped portion of the connector 22.

[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, the connector 22 comprises a plurality of threaded grooves that are defined in the solid portion of the connector 22. More specifically, each of the plurality of threaded groove that are defined in the solid portion of the connector 22 is adapted to receive a threaded fastener 24 therein that are each secured within each of the plurality of threaded grooves. A snap fit connector 26 comprises a first end 28 and an opposite second end 30. The first end of the snap fit connector 26 is inserted through a bore 28 that is defined through the connector 22 and is adapted to receive pressurized fuel that is channeled from the spring chamber 14 to the connector 22 via the outlet flow path 18. The opposite second end of the snap fit connector 26 comprises a nozzle shaped portion that is adapted to channel pressurized fuel from the first end 28 of the snap fit connector 26 to a fuel tank of the vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, a saddle type clamping device 34 is positioned within a bore 36 that is defined in the connector 22. The saddle type clamping device 34 that is positioned within the bore 36 that is defined in the connector 22 is secured within a groove 38 that is defined in the snap fit connector 26. More specifically, the saddle type clamping device 34 is adapted to secure the snap fit connector 26 that is positioned within the bore 28 defined through the connector 22 to the connector 22 itself.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, each threaded fastener 24 that is positioned within each of the plurality of threaded grooves that are defined at an outer circumference of the connector 22 is secured within each of the plurality of threaded grooves that are defined at the outer circumference of the connector 22. More specifically, by tightening each of the threaded fasteners 24 within each of the threaded grooves by means of a wrench, the connector 22 is secured to the housing 12 of the fuel injector 10. This is accomplished because by tightening each of the threaded fasteners 24 within each of the threaded grooves, the connector 22 is secured to the housing 12 of the fuel injector 10 by causing the connector 22 to expand radially outwardly within the groove that is defined in the outlet bore 20 of the housing 12. Therefore, by expanding radially outwardly within the groove that is defined in the outlet bore 20 of the housing 12, the connector 22 may be secured firmly to the housing 12 of the fuel injector 10 such that the connector 22 may not be withdrawn from the housing 12 of the fuel injector 10.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, each threaded fastener 24 that is positioned within each of the plurality of threaded grooves that are defined at the outer circumference of the connector 22 is unsecured from within each of the plurality of threaded grooves that are defined at the outer circumference of the connector 22. More specifically, by unscrewing each of the threaded fasteners 24 from within each of the threaded grooves by means of the wrench, the connector 22 is unsecured from the housing 12 of the fuel injector 10. This is accomplished because by loosening each of the threaded fasteners 24 within each of the threaded grooves, the connector 22 is unsecured from the housing 12 of the fuel injector 10 by causing the connector 22 to contract radially inwardly within the groove 22 that is defined in the outlet bore 20 of the housing 12. Therefore, by contracting radially inwardly within the groove 22 that is defined in the outlet bore 20 of the housing 12, the connector 22 may be unsecured from the housing 12 of the fuel injector 10 such that the connector 22 may be withdrawn from the housing 12 of the fuel injector 10.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the first end 28 of the snap fit connector 26 comprises a cylindrical shaped portion that is inserted through the bore 32 defined through the connector 22, and wherein the opposite second end 30 of the snap fit connector 26 comprises a nozzle shaped portion that channels pressurized fuel from the fuel injector 10 via the outlet supply path 18 to a fuel tank of a vehicle. Moreover, in an exemplary embodiment, the saddle type clamping device 34 comprises an end portion 35 having a larger diameter and a middle portion 37 having its smallest diameter. The middle portion 37 of the saddle type clamping device 34 is positioned within the bore 38 that is defined in the snap fit connector 26. More specifically, the middle portion 37 of the saddle type clamping device 34 is positioned within the bore 36 that is defined in the snap fit connector 26 to facilitate securing the snap fit connector 26 that is positioned within the bore 36 defined through the connector 22 to the connector 22. When the middle portion 37 of the saddle type clamping device 34 is positioned within the groove 38 that is defined in the snap fit connector 26, the snap fit connector 26 is secured within the bore 32 that is defined within the connector 22 is prevented from being withdrawn from within the bore 32 that is defined through the connector 22.
[0010] It must be understood that the embodiments explained above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Many modifications in the embodiments with regard to dimensions of various components are envisaged and form a part of this invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.

, Claims:We Claim

1. A fuel injector (10) for injecting pressurized fuel in an engine, the fuel injector (10) comprising:
a housing (12);
a spring chamber (14) positioned within said housing (12) and adapted to store a spring (16) therein;
an outlet flow path (18) in flow communication with the spring chamber (14) and adapted to receive fuel from the spring chamber (14);
an outlet bore (20) defined within the fuel injector (10) and positioned perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fuel injector (10), the outlet bore (20) in flow communication with the outlet flow path (18) and adapted to receive fuel that is channeled from the spring chamber (14) to the outlet flow path (18);
a connector (22) inserted within a groove that is defined within the outlet bore (20), the connector (22) comprising a plurality of threaded grooves that are defined around an outer periphery of the connector (22), wherein each of the plurality of threaded grooves that are defined around the outer periphery of the connector (22) is adapted to receive a threaded fastener (24) therein;
a snap fit connector (26) comprising a first end (28) and an opposite second end (30), the first end (28) of the snap fit connector (26) inserted through a bore (32) defined through the connector (22) and adapted to receive pressurized fuel that is channeled from the spring chamber (14) to the connector (22) via the outlet flow path (18); and
a saddle type clamping device (34) positioned within a bore (36) that is defined in said connector (22), the saddle type clamping device (34) that is positioned within the bore (36) that is defined in said connector (22) secured within a groove (38) that is defined in said snap fit connector (26), the saddle type clamping device (34) adapted to secure the snap fit connector (26) that is positioned within the bore (36) defined through said connector (22).

2. The fuel injector (10) for injecting pressurized fuel in an engine in accordance with Claim 1, wherein each threaded fastener (24) that is positioned within each of the plurality of threaded grooves that are defined around the outer periphery of said connector (22) is secured within each of the plurality of threaded grooves that are defined around the outer periphery of said connector (22) by tightening each threaded fastener (24) by means of a wrench to facilitate securing said connector (22) to said housing (12) of the fuel injector (10) by causing said connector (22) to expand radially outwardly within the groove that is defined in the outlet bore (20) of said housing (12).

3. The fuel injector (10) for injecting pressurized fuel in an engine in accordance with Claim 1, wherein each threaded fastener (24) that is positioned within each of the plurality of threaded grooves that are defined around the outer periphery of said connector (22) is unsecured within each of the plurality of threaded grooves that are defined around the outer periphery of said connector (22) by unscrewing each threaded fastener (24) by means of a wrench to facilitate loosening said connector (22) from said housing (12) of the fuel injector (10) by causing said connector (22) to contract radially inwardly within the groove that is defined in the outlet bore (20) of said housing (12).

4. The fuel injector (10) for injecting pressurized fuel in an engine in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the first end (28) of said snap fit connector (26) comprises a cylindrical shaped portion that is inserted through the bore defined through the connector (22), and wherein the opposite second end (30) of the snap fit connector (26) comprises a nozzle shaped portion that channels pressurized fuel from the fuel injector (10) to an outlet supply path to a fuel tank of a vehicle.

5. The fuel injector (10) for injecting pressurized fuel in an engine in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the saddle type clamping device (34) comprises an end portion (35) having a larger diameter and a middle portion (37) having its smallest diameter, wherein the middle portion (37) of the saddle type clamping device (34) is positioned within the groove (38) that is defined in said snap fit connector (26), the middle portion (37) of the saddle type clamping device (34) positioned within the groove (38) that is defined in said snap fit connector (26) facilitates securing the snap fit connector (26) that is positioned within the groove (38) defined through the connector (22) and preventing the snap fit connector (26) from being withdrawn from within the bore that is defined through the connector (22).