Fuel cup

1. A fuel cup, comprising:

a fuel cup body having a central longitudinal axis and a first end for receiving an injector via a holder, and

a fixing element comprising a tab,

the first end of the fuel cup body having a nominal outside diameter, and

a recess in a side wall of the fuel cup body extending from the first end parallel to the central longitudinal axis,

wherein the tab includes:

a rectangular lower portion affixed within the recess of the fuel cup body, the rectangular lower portion mounted flush with a wall of the fuel cup body so that the rectangular lower portion does not extend beyond the nominal outside diameter of the first end of the fuel cup, and

an upper portion bent outward to protrude from the recess in a direction orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis extending away from the fuel cup body at a point remote from the first end of the fuel cup body and configured for engagement with said holder.

2. The fuel cup according to claim 1 , wherein the rectangular lower portion of the tab is brazed or welded to said fuel cup body.

3. The fuel cup according to claim 1 , wherein said fuel cup body comprises a top and a bottom, the top configured for connection to a common rail of an internal combustion engine, the bottom open for receipt of a portion of a fuel injector.

4. The fuel cup according to claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the tab comprises at least one aperture.

5. A fuel cup for a high pressure fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, the fuel cup having a central longitudinal axis, and comprising:

a cast or forged fuel cup body, and

a fixing element,

the fuel cup body having a top end and a bottom end, the top end fixable to a common rail of an internal combustion engine, the bottom end fixable to a fuel injector via a holder, the fuel cup body having inner and outer surfaces, the bottom end having a nominal outside diameter,

the fixing element comprising a tab having upper and lower ends,

the lower end including a rectangular portion affixed to the outer surface adjacent the bottom of the fuel cup body,

the upper end bent outward from the fuel cup body and extending away from the fuel cup body at a point remote from the bottom of the fuel cup body and configured for engagement with the holder,

wherein the fuel cup body comprises a recess formed in a portion of the outer surface of the bottom of the fuel cup body, the recess sized to receive the lower end of the tab, the lower end of the tab brazed or welded within the recess in the outer surface of the fuel cup body such that the affixed portion of the tab lies substantially flush with the outer surface of the fuel cup body surrounding the recess and does not extend beyond the nominal diameter of the bottom end.

6. A method for fabricating a fuel cup, the method comprising:

forming a fuel cup body having a central longitudinal axis and a first end for receiving an injector via a holder by a casting process;

forming a fixing element comprising a tab using a stamping process;

wherein the first end of the fuel cup body has a nominal outside diameter and a recess in a side wall of the fuel cup body extending from the first end parallel to the central longitudinal axis;

wherein the tab includes a rectangular lower portion and an upper portion bent outward;

affixing the fixing element within the recess of the fuel cup body by brazing or welding;

wherein the rectangular lower portion of the tab is mounted flush with a wall of the fuel cup body so that the rectangular lower portion does not extend beyond the nominal outside diameter of the first end of the fuel cup; and

the upper portion of the tab protrudes from the recess in a direction orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis extending away from the fuel cup body at a point remote from the first end of the fuel cup body.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the fuel cup body comprises a top and a bottom, the top configured for connection to a common rail of an internal combustion engine, the bottom open for receipt of a portion of a fuel injector.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the upper portion of the tab comprises at least one aperture.