Patent Publication Number: US-2023141758-A1

Title: Fuel Injector Removal Adapter

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is related to and clams the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application 63/263,833, filed on Nov. 10, 2021, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Fuel injectors are subjected to engine temperatures that can become elevated due to various vehicle applications, such as towing, higher elevations, and higher ambient temperatures for example. Rubber/polymer “O” ring seals can become hardened relative to age and application duty cycles. Embodiments relate to a removal adapter configured to engage a fuel injector secured to an engine and to allow for the removal of the fuel injector from the engine without damaging the fuel injector. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Fuel injectors are typically removed from engines using a sliding ring type collet. A ring collet consists of typically two small steel fingers that are placed at a spot around an object to be extracted. When the collet ring is pushed down the collet, or fingers, exerts a strong clamping force on the object. Due to the small cross section of the collet, the technique is inefficient, as fuel injectors are typically made of plastic, the strong clamping force, the wide extraction angle combined with the small contact point of the injector can damage the injector by cracking and breaking. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments relate to a fuel injector removal adapter configured to engage a fuel injector secured to an engine and to allow for removal of the fuel injector from the engine. The adapter engages the fuel injector laterally parallel to the injector via a ridge. When the adapter is pulled, force is transferred to the fuel injector and dislodges it from the engine. The configuration of the adapter eliminates lateral and angular force vectors that would otherwise be placed on the injector by other removal methods. Specifically, engagement via the ridge and over 270 degrees of contact places most, if not all, of the force on the strongest part of the fuel injector. The adapter&#39;s configuration and engagement prevent damage to the fuel injector during removal. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a fuel injector removal adapter comprises a member. The member includes a first face, a fuel injector-receiving opening, and a pocket. The first face comprises a cut-away portion that extends through an edge of the first face. The fuel injector-receiving opening is positioned on a side of the member and is adjoined with a precision machined cut-away portion on the first face. The fuel injector-receiving opening has a width that it greater than the width of the cut-away portion, thereby forming a ridge. The ridge extends radially inward within the member. The pocket is positioned within the member and is adjoined with the fuel injector receiving opening and the cut-away portion. 
     In some embodiments, the cut-away portion and fuel injector-receiving opening form a defilade architecture. 
     In some embodiments, the member has a sidewall, an outer sidewall surface, and an inner sidewall surface, the inner sidewall surface is at least partially defined by the cut-away portion, and the defilade architecture provides 270 degrees of contact between the inner sidewall surface and an outer surface of a fuel injector when the fuel injector is received by the fuel injector removal adapter. 
     In some embodiments, the member is cylindrical. 
     In some embodiments, the member is rigid. 
     In some embodiments, the rigid member is machined turned aluminum. 
     In some embodiments, the member has a second face, and the second face comprises an aperture. 
     In some embodiments, the member has at least one indent located on the side and positioned on the opposite end in relation to the first face of the member. The indent extends along the longitudinal axis of the member. 
     In some embodiments, the cut-away portion on the first face complements a shape of a fuel injector for a precision fit. 
     In some embodiments, the fuel injector-receiving opening complements a shape of a fuel injector. 
     In some embodiments, the pocket complements a shape of a fuel injector. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a method of using a fuel injector removal adapter involves inserting a fuel injector into the fuel injector removal adapter. The fuel injector removal adapter comprises a member. The member has a first face, a fuel injector-receiving opening, and a pocket. The first face comprises a cut-away portion that extends through an edge of the first face. The fuel injector-receiving opening is positioned on a side of the member and is adjoined with the cut-away portion on the first face. The fuel injector-receiving opening has a width that is greater than the width of the cut-away portion, thereby forming a ridge. The ridge extends radially inward within the member. The pocket is positioned within member and is adjoined with the fuel injector receiving opening and the cut-away portion. The method of inserting the fuel injector into the fuel removal adapter involves inserting the fuel injector into the fuel injector-receiving opening. 
     In some embodiments, the method involves engaging the fuel injector via the ridge and nearly 270 degrees of contact. 
     In some embodiments, the method involves engaging the fuel injector via the ridge, and pulling the fuel injector removal adapter to transfer force to the fuel injector. 
     In some embodiments, the member further comprises a second face comprising an aperture, and the method involves engaging the fuel injector via the ridge, and inserting a tool into the aperture. 
     In some embodiments, the member further comprises a second face comprising an aperture, and the method involves engaging the fuel injector via the ridge, inserting a tool into the aperture, and pulling the tool to transfer force to the fuel injector. 
     In some embodiments, the method involves forming a defilade architecture about the fuel injector when the fuel injector is inserted into the fuel injector-receiving opening. 
     In some embodiments, the member has a sidewall, an outer sidewall surface, and an inner sidewall surface, the inner sidewall surface is at least partially defined by the cut-away portion, and the defilade architecture provides 270 degrees of contact between the inner sidewall surface and an outer surface of the fuel injector when the fuel injector is received by the fuel injector removal adapter. 
     Further features, aspects, objects, advantages, and possible applications of the present invention will become apparent from a study of the exemplary embodiments and examples described below, in combination with the Figures, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, aspects, features, advantages and possible applications of the present innovation will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings. Like reference numbers used in the drawings may identify like components. 
         FIGS.  1 - 4    shows an embodiment of the fuel injector removal adapter. 
         FIG.  5    shows an embodiment of the fuel injector removal adapter with a fuel injector inserted into the fuel injector removal adapter. 
         FIG.  6    shows an embodiment of the fuel injector with a tool inserted into the threaded aperture of the fuel injector removal adapter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is of exemplary embodiments that are presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles and features of various aspects of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by this description. Embodiments relate to a fuel injector removal adapter  100  comprising a member  102  configured to receive a fuel injector  114 . It is contemplated that the member  102  is a rigid material (e.g., metal, metal alloy, plastic, polymer, ceramic, composite material, etc.). In a preferred embodiment, the member  102  is aluminum or some like metal. In a more preferred embodiment, the member  102  is machined aluminum. In a most preferred embodiment, the member  102  is machine turned aluminum. The member  102  has a first face  104 , a second face  106 , and sidewalls  103 . The member  102  has a longitudinal axis Lx (see  FIG.  4   ) running from a first face  104  to a second face  106 . It is contemplated for the member  102  to be cylindrical in shape with a circular cross-section when viewed along the longitudinal axis Lx. Other cross-sectional shapes can be used, such as triangular, square, hexagonal, etc. Each of the first face  104  and the second face  106  is shown to form a planar terminus, but any one or combination of the faces  104 ,  106  need not be planar in shape. The member also has a fuel injector-receiving opening  108  and a pocket  110 . 
     At or near the first face  104  there is a cut-away portion  112 . The cut-away portion  112  extends from some area on the first face  104  through an edge of the first face  104 . The cut-away portion  112  may be any shape, such as circular, triangular, square, hexagonal, etc., but is contemplated to complement the shape of a fuel injector  114 , which typically consists of a generally cylindrical or prismatic stem-like member topped with a spherical, hemispherical, or prismatic knob-like member. The cut-away portion  112  can be generated via machining techniques to form a precision machined cut-away formation. 
     The fuel-injector receiving opening  108  is positioned on a side (e.g., within a sidewall  103 ) of the member  102  and is adjoined with the cut-away portion  112  on the first face  104 . The fuel-injector receiving opening  108  may be any shape, such as circular, triangular, square, hexagonal, etc., but is contemplated to complement the shape of a fuel injector  114 , which typically consists of a generally cylindrical or prismatic stem-like member topped with a spherical, hemispherical, or prismatic knob-like member. The width of the fuel-injector receiving opening  108  is configured to be greater than the width of the cut-away portion  112  in order to form a ridge  116 . The ridge  116  extends radially inward, which means the ridge  116  extends from the perimeter of the first face  104  inward towards the center point of the cross-sectional shape of the member  102 . 
     The pocket  110  is positioned within the member  102  and is adjoined with the fuel injector-receiving opening  108  and the cut-away portion  112 . The pocket  110  may be any shape, such as circular, triangular, square, hexagonal, etc., but is contemplated to complement the shape of a fuel injector  114 , which typically consists of a generally cylindrical or prismatic stem-like member topped with a spherical, hemispherical, or prismatic knob-like member. The pocket  110 , the fuel injector-receiving opening  108 , and the cut-away portion  112  can work in conjunction to house a fuel injector  114  when the fuel injector  114  is inserted into the fuel injector removal adapter  100 . Once inserted, the fuel injector  114  can be engaged by the ridge  116  to prevent the fuel injector  114  from escaping the fuel injector removal adapter  100 . Once the fuel injector  114  is inserted into the fuel injector removal adapter  100 , the fuel injector removal adapter  100  can be pulled (e.g., pulled in a direction that is defined by a vector leading from the front face  104  to the second face  106 ) to transfer force to the fuel injector  114 . The engagement via the ridge  116  places most, if not all, of the pull force on the strongest part of the fuel injector  114 . This configuration and engagement prevents damage to the fuel injector  114  during removal. 
     As can be appreciated from the above disclosure, a preferred embodiment of the fuel injector removal adapter  100  comprises a member  102  with a first face  104 , a second face  106 , and sidewalls  103 . At or near the first face  104  is a cut-away portion  112  that is machined into the sidewall  103 . The cut-away portion  112  forms a bored out region within the member  102 . This cut-away portion  112  not only complements a shape of a fuel injector  114 , but the cut-away portion  112  is generated so that it forms a fuel-injector receiving opening  108  within the sidewall  103 . Thus, member  102  includes sidewalls  103  having an inner sidewall surface  103   a  and an outer sidewall surface  103   b.  The cut-away portion  112  is defined by the inner sidewall surface  103   b,  the ridge  116 , and the pocket  110 . The fuel-injector receiving opening  108  is an opening that complements a side profile of a fuel injector  114 , or is an opening that is at least as wide as the fuel injector  114  so as to allow the fuel injector removal adapter  100  to receive the fuel injector  114  via lateral sliding motion—see  FIG.  5   . The cut-away portion  112  of the inner sidewall surface  103   b,  the ridge  116 , and the pocket  110  are precision cut to generate a precision fit with the fuel injector  114 . The fuel injector  114  has a formation  115  (e.g., rim, lip, collar, etc.) that fits into the cut-away portion  112  via the fuel-injector receiving opening  108  and mechanically engages (e.g., abuts against) with the ridge  116  when the fuel injector removal adapter  100  is pulled from the front face  104  to the second face  106 —i.e., the inner sidewall surface  103   b  has an inner diameter that is equal to or greater than the outer diameter of this formation  115 , but the ridge  116  has an inner diameter that is less than the outer diameter of this formation  115 . While the fuel-injector receiving opening  108  is wider than that of the fuel injector  114  to allow for lateral sliding motion of the fuel injector  114  therein and therefrom, it is only slightly wider. This configuration allows for the inner sidewall surface  103   b  to mechanically engage with or abut against an outer surface of the fuel injector  114 . With this configuration, the fuel injector removal adapter  100  forms an defilade about the fuel injector  114 —e.g., the inner sidewall surface  103   b  surrounds and abuts against the fuel injector  114  outer surface about the circumference of the fuel injector  114  except at the fuel-injector receiving opening  108 . With the fuel injector receiving opening  108  being only slightly wider than the fuel injector  114 , the inner sidewall surface  103   b  can generate up to 270 degrees of contact with the fuel injector  114  outer surface (or at least the fuel injector  14  outer surface portion that is within the adapter  100 ) when the fuel injector  114  is received by the adapter  100 . This defilade architecture provides structural support to the fuel injector  114  and helps keep the fuel injector  114  in a straight position when forces are applied to remove the fuel injector  114 . The ridge  116  and pocket  110  provide additional structural support and further assist with proper alignment of the fuel injector  114 . When the fuel injector  114  is received by the fuel injector removal adapter  100  and the adapter  100  is pulled from the front face  104  to the second face  106 , the ridge  116  mechanically engages with or abuts with the formation  115  of the fuel injector  114 . Force vectors are then transferred to the fuel injector  114  at this formation  115 . This ridge  116  extends about the circumference of the inner sidewall surface  103   b,  and thus the force(s) applied to the fuel injector  114  is/are spread about this entire ridge  116 . This prevents or reduces high pressure points being applied to the fuel injector  114 —high pressure points that tend to lead to damage of the fuel injector  114 . The ridge  116  is parallel or substantially parallel with the formation  15  when the fuel injector  114  is properly aligned due to the defilade architecture, and thus the force vectors transferred to the fuel injector  114  via the ridge  116  are parallel or substantially parallel to longitudinal axis Lx. The defilade architecture forces the fuel injector  114  to be in proper alignment so that its longitudinal axis Ly is coaxial with that of Lx. Thus, the force vectors imposed on the fuel injector  114  are parallel or substantially parallel to Ly. The formation  15  of the fuel injector  114  is structurally able to accommodate these force vectors without damage to the fuel injector  114 . Notably, there are little to no lateral (directions that are non-parallel to Ly) force vectors imposed on the fuel injector  114 . Furthermore, there are no high pressure forces imposed on the fuel injector  114 , as the force(s) imposed on the fuel injector  114  is/are spread about the formation  15 /ridge  116  contact area. 
     The member  102  can have at least one indent  118  formed in a sidewall  103 . It is contemplated that the member  102  has a plurality of indents  118 . The indents  118  can be positioned opposite of the first face  104  and can extend with the longitudinal axis of the member  102 , which means that the indents  118  run parallel with the longitudinal axis Lx of the member  102 . The indents  118  can improve the fuel injector removal adapter&#39;s  100  efficiency in removing the fuel injector  114 . For instance, the indents  118  may provide for an ergonomic design that allows a user to grip the member  102  easily with fingers and/or hands. 
     The second face  106  can have an aperture  106 . It is contemplated that the second face  106  has a threaded aperture  120 . The threaded aperture  120  can receive a tool  122 , such as a drive tool or rotary tool, which may assist the fuel injector removal adapter&#39;s  100 % efficiency in removing the fuel injector  114 . For instance, a tool  122  can be inserted into the threaded aperture  120  that allows a user to more easily pull the member  102  and transfer force to the fuel injector  114 . The threading of the aperture is used to provide an engagement or securement between the tool  122  and the adapter  100 . Other mechanical engaging aperture configurations can be used, such as pin-detent, interference fit, magnetic connection, etc. 
     It should be understood that modifications to the embodiments disclosed herein can be made to meet a particular set of design criteria. For instance, the number of or configuration of components or parameters may be used to meet a particular objective. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations of the described examples and embodiments are possible in light of the above teachings of the disclosure. The disclosed examples and embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration only. Other alternative embodiments may include some or all of the features of the various embodiments disclosed herein. For instance, it is contemplated that a particular feature described, either individually or as part of an embodiment, can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described herein can therefore be combined to provide further embodiments. 
     It is the intent to cover all such modifications and alternative embodiments as may come within the true scope of this invention, which is to be given the full breadth thereof. Additionally, the disclosure of a range of values is a disclosure of every numerical value within that range, including the end points. Thus, while certain exemplary embodiments of the device and methods of making and using the same have been discussed and illustrated herein, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.