Patent ID: 7958870

Claim:
A fuel lance for use in supplying fuel to a fuel injector and arranged to be received, in use, within a passage provided in an engine cylinder head, the fuel lance comprising a tubular member of constant external diameter; wherein the length of the fuel lance is shorter than the length of the passage of the cylinder head such that, in use, the fuel lance can be fully received within the passage; the fuel lance being shaped, at a first end thereof, for cooperation with a seating surface of the fuel injector and at a second end for cooperation with a connection arrangement comprising an inlet adapter; the fuel lance having a bore therethrough to define a fluid flow path between the fuel injector and the connection arrangement; wherein the fuel lance is provided with an external circumferential groove to receive a thrust clip for engagement with a surface of the inlet adapter, such that when the fuel lance is secured within the passage of the cylinder head by the inlet adapter, the surface of the inlet adapter exerts an axial load through the thrust clip along the length of the fuel lance to provide a sealing pressure between the first end of the fuel lance and the seating surface of the fuel injector.