Patent ID: 7621469

Claim:
A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine, the fuel injector comprising: a valve group subassembly including: a tube assembly comprising a wall having a longitudinal axis extending between a first end and a second end, the tube assembly further comprising at least one inlet hole through the wall between the first and second ends; a seat secured at the second end of the tube assembly, the seat defining an opening; an armature assembly disposed within the tube assembly, the armature assembly having a sealing member for sealing the seat opening when in contact with the seat; and a member biasing the armature assembly toward the seat; a coil group subassembly including: a solenoid coil operable to displace the armature assembly with respect to the seat; the valve group assembly being disposed in a central bore of the coil group subassembly; and an O-ring retaining cup including: a cylindrical sleeve portion surrounding at least a portion of the tube assembly and having at least one inlet opening coincident with the at least one inlet hole of the tube assembly; first and second external O-ring grooves encircling the sleeve portion on respective sides of the at least one inlet opening; and first and second circumferential welds connecting the cylindrical sleeve to the tube assembly on respective sides of the at least one inlet opening.