EP1998038A1

EP1998038A1 - Fixing device for fixing a fuel injector in a cylinder head of a combustion engine

Info

Publication number: EP1998038A1
Application number: EP07010814A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mario D'onofrio; Gianbattista Fischetti
Original assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
Current assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
Priority date: 2007-05-31
Filing date: 2007-05-31
Publication date: 2008-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2027-05-31
Also published as: EP2199592B1; EP1998038B1; EP2199592A1; DE602007007739D1

Abstract

Fixing device (30) for fixing a fuel injector (18) in a cylinder head (14) of a combustion engine (22), comprising a tubular portion (32) including a central longitudinal axis (L), the tubular portion (32) being designed to engage the fuel injector (20) and to be rigidly coupable to the fuel injector (18), a supporting element (38) with a first axial end (48) and a second axial end (50), the second axial end (50) having a larger radial distance relative to the central longitudinal axis (L) than the first axial end (48), and the first axial end (48) being rigidly coupled to the tubular portion (32), a force receiving element (36) extending outwards in radial direction relative to the central longitudinal axis (L) from an inner coupling section (52) to an outer coupling section (54), the inner coupling section (52) being designed to be rigidly coupable to the fuel injector (18) and the outer coupling section (54) being rigidly coupled to the supporting element (38).

Description

The invention relates to a fixing device for fixing a fuel injector in a cylinder head of a combustion engine and a fuel injector.
Fuel injectors are in wide spread use, in particular for internal combustion engines where they may be arranged in order to dose fuel into an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine or directly into the combustion chamber of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine. Fuel can be supplied to the internal combustion engine by the fuel injector that comprises the fixing device. The fuel injectors can be coupled to the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine in different manners.
The coupling of the fuel injectors to the cylinder heads needs to be very precise to get a correct injection angle.
The object of the invention is to create a fixing device for fixing a fuel injector in a cylinder head of a combustion engine which is simply to be manufactured and which facilitates a reliable and precise coupling between the fuel injector and the cylinder head of the combustion engine.
It is furthermore the object of the invention to create a fuel injector that ensures a precise dosing of fuel.
The objects are achieved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are given in the sub-claims.
According to a first aspect the invention is distinguished by fixing device for fixing a fuel injector in a cylinder head of a combustion engine, comprising a tubular portion including a central longitudinal axis, the tubular portion being designed to engage the fuel injector and to be rigidly coupable to the fuel injector, a supporting element with a first axial end and a second axial end, the second axial end having a larger radial distance to the central longitudinal axis than the first axial end, and the first axial end being rigidly coupled to the tubular portion, a force receiving element extending outwards in radial direction relative to the central longitudinal axis from an inner coupling section to an outer coupling section, the inner coupling section being designed to be rigidly coupable to the fuel injector and the outer coupling section being rigidly coupled to the supporting element.
The supporting element is arranged and designed to receive a retaining force. The retaining force acts in the direction of the central longitudinal axis to retain the fuel injector in the cylinder head, and the supporting element follows the force receiving element in the direction of the retaining force and is designed to transfer the retaining force from the force receiving element to the tubular portion.
This has the advantage that the force receiving element can have a high robustness against mechanical stress, in particular a high robustness against a permanent retaining force. By this the force receiving element can be constructed with a small amount of material. Furthermore, a compact construction is possible. Additionally, a good transfer of the retaining force from the force receiving element via the supporting element to the tubular portion is possible.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the first axial end of the supporting element and the second axial end of the supporting element are arranged on an axis forming an angle of 45° with the central longitudinal axis. This has the advantage that a compact construction of the fixing device is possible. Furthermore, an optimization of the radial as well as of the axial extension of the fixing device is possible.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the force receiving element and the supporting element are formed in one piece with the tubular portion. By this the force receiving element, the supporting element and the tubular portion can be formed from a single sheet of one material.
According to a second aspect the invention is distinguished by a fixing device for fixing a fuel injector in a cylinder head of a combustion engine, comprising a tubular portion including a central longitudinal axis, the tubular portion being designed to engage the fuel injector and to be rigidly coupled to the fuel injector, the tubular portion comprising a first axial end and a second axial end being designed to be completely attachable to the fuel injector, and projections being formed in one piece with the tubular portion and being arranged at the first axial end of the tubular portion and being designed to receive a retaining force, the retaining force acting in the direction of the central longitudinal axis to retain the fuel injector in the cylinder head, wherein the tubular portion is formed from a panel comprising a first portion of a non-rectangular parallelogram shape and a second portion of a triangular shape being in one-piece with the first portion and the second portion being designed in a manner that the first axial end of the tubular portion is circumferentially closed.
This has the advantage that a continuous welding of the first axial end of the tubular portion to the fuel injector is possible. By this, a firm coupling of the fixing device to the injector is possible. Furthermore, the fixing device can be flexible in particular in radial direction due to a recess which can be formed in the tubular portion. Additionally, a good force introduction from the projections into the first axial end of the tubular portion is possible.
In an advantageous embodiment of the second aspect of the invention the second portion of the tubular portion is arranged to directly follow one of the projections in the direction of the retaining force. This has the advantage that a high robustness of the fixing device against mechanical stress due to permanent retaining forces is possible. Furthermore, a force introduction via the projections into the first axial end of the tubular portion causes only small mechanical stress to the first axial end of the tubular portion.
According to a third aspect the invention is distinguished by a fixing device for fixing a fuel injector in a cylinder head of a combustion engine, comprising the features of an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention and the features of an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention.
According to a fourth aspect the invention is distinguished by a fuel injector comprising a fixing device.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in the following with the aid of schematic drawings. These are as follows:

Figure 1: an internal combustion engine in a schematic view,
figure 2: a first embodiment of a fixing device for a fuel injector in a perspective view,
figure 3: the fuel injector with the first embodiment of the fixing device and a cylinder head in a side view,
figure 4: the fuel injector with a further embodiment of the fixing device and the cylinder head in a side view,
figure 5: the further embodiment of the fixing device for the fuel injector in a perspective view,
figure 6: a further view of the further embodiment of the fixing device for the fuel injector of figure 5, and
figure 7: a further embodiment of the fixing device for the fuel injector in a perspective view.

Elements of the same design and function that occur in different illustrations are identified by the same reference character.
Figure 1 shows an internal combustion engine 22, with an intake air tract 10, a motor block 12, a cylinder head 14 and an exhaust gas tract 16. In the motor block 12 a combustion chamber 20 is arranged.
The cylinder head 14 comprises a fuel injector 18 and a sparking plug 19. A fixing device 30 enables the fixing of the fuel injector 18 to the cylinder head 14 of the combustion engine 22.
The fuel injector 18 (figure 3 and 4) comprises an injector coupling portion 24 and a valve assembly 27. The injector coupling portion 24 is designed to be coupled to a highpressure fuel chamber of the internal combustion engine 22, the fuel is stored under high pressure, for example, under the pressure of about 200 bar in the case of a gasoline engine or of about 2,000 bar in the case of a diesel engine.
Furthermore, the injector coupling portion 24 is designed to be coupled to an electrical supply to actuate a not shown actuator unit of the fuel injector 18.
The valve assembly 27 comprises a valve body 26 with a central longitudinal axis L and a not shown cavity which is axially led through the valve body 26. The valve assembly 27 further comprises a not shown valve needle taken in the cavity of the valve body 26. On a free end of the valve assembly 27 an injection nozzle 28 is formed which is closed or opened by an axial movement of the valve needle. In a closing position a fuel flow through the injection nozzle 28 is prevented. In an opening position fuel can flow through the injection nozzle 28 into the combustion chamber 20 of the internal combustion engine 22.
A first embodiment of the fixing device 30 shown in figure 2 comprises a tubular portion 32 extending in the direction of the central longitudinal axis L. The tubular portion 32 of the fixing device 30 has an inner surface 40 in which the fuel injector 18 with an outer surface 42 is arranged. The tubular portion 32 of the fixing device 30 engages the fuel injector 18 and is rigidly coupled to the fuel injector 18. The coupling between the fuel injector 18 and the fixing device 30 can be realized by welding, but it may also be carried out by another adequate coupling method.
The fixing device 30 further comprises supporting elements 38 which are in one piece with the tubular portion 32. The tubular portion 32 follows the supporting elements 38 directly in the direction of the retaining force F. The supporting elements 28 extend outward from the tubular portion 32 from a first axial end 48 to a second axial end 50. Thus, the second axial end 50 has a larger distance from the central longitudinal axis L than the first axial end 48. The supporting elements 38 are coupled to force receiving elements 36. A retaining force F can be applied to the force receiving elements 36 to fix the fuel injector 18 in a recess 15 of the cylinder head 14 (figure 3).
The tubular portion 32 of the fixing device 30 has a first axial end 44 and a second axial end 46. As the fixing device 30 has a recess 56 in axial direction the axial ends 44, 46 of the fixing device 30 are open in circumferential direction. As they are formed continuously over a large extension in circumferential direction it is possible to attach the first axial end 44 as well as the second axial end 46 in one piece to the fuel injector 18. Therefore, a good coupling of the tubular portion 32 to the fuel injector 18 may be obtained, preferably by applying a single weld seam between the outer surface 42 of the fuel injector 18 and each of the axial ends 44, 46 of the tubular portion 32 of the fixing device 30.
The force receiving elements 36 extend outwards in radial direction relative to the central longitudinal axis L from an inner coupling section 52 to an outer coupling section 54. Preferably, as shown in figure 2, the outer coupling section 54 of the force receiving element 36 is an outer end of the force receiving element 36. The outer coupling section 54 of the force receiving element 36 can also be a central section of the force receiving element 36. The inner coupling section 52 of the force receiving element 36 is formed in a manner that it can be rigidly coupled to the fuel injectior 18. Preferably, the coupling of the inner coupling section 52 to the fuel injector 18 is realised by welding, but it may also be carried out by another adequate coupling method. The supporting element 38 and the force receiving element 36 are a one-piece element. The force receiving element 36 and the supporting element 38 are rigidly coupled with each other via the outer coupling section 54 of the force receiving element 36. The supporting element 38 is following the force receiving element 36 in the direction of the retaining force F. This allows the retaining force F to be transferred from the force receiving element 36 via the supporting element 38 to the tubular portion 32.
The inner end 48 and the outer end 50 of the supporting 38 are arranged on an axis A. Preferably the axis A is forming an angle ALPHA of about 45° with the central longitudinal axis L. By this, the radial and the axial extension of the fixing device 30 can be optimized. If the angle ALPHA is less than 45° this would result in a longer size of the fuel injector 18 as the force receiving elements 36 should have a minimal radial extension being sufficient that a force exerting device can be in proper engagement with the force receiving elements 36 to exert the retaining force F. On the other hand, if the angle ALPHA is larger than 45° the transfer of the retaining force F from the force receiving element 36 to the supporting element 38 is small.
In a further embodiment of the fixing device 30 shown in figures 4 to 6 the first axial end 44 of the fixing device 30 is circumferentially closed. With this it is possible to rigidly fix the fixing device 32 to the fuel injector 18 over the whole circumference of the fuel injector 18 via the first axial end 44. This enables a very strong coupling between the fuel injector 18 and the fixing device 30.
As can be best seen in Figure 6, the tubular portion 32 is formed from a panel 60 which comprises a first portion 62 and a second portion 64 and two projections 34. The first portion 62 is of a non-rectangular parallelogram shape with the first axial end 44 and the second axial end 46 of the tubular portion 32 and a first lateral end 68 and a second lateral end 70 of the tubular portion 32. The second portion 64 of the panel 60 has a triangular shape and is arranged at the second lateral end 70 of the tubular portion 32. The second axial end 46 of the tubular portion 32 and the second lateral end 70 of the first portion of the tubular portion 32 form an angle BETA.
The first portion 62, the second portion 64 and the two projections 34 of the panel 60 are forming a one-piece element. The triangular shaped second portion 64 of the panel 60 is arranged to directly follow one of the projections 34 in the direction of the retaining force F. The second portion 64 of the panel 60 is directly followed by the parallelogram shaped first portion 62 of the panel 60. By this a direct transfer of the retaining force F from the projection 32 via the second portion 64 of the panel 60 to the first portion 62 of the panel 60 is possible. The panel 60 has a coupling passage 66 which allows to directly couple the first lateral end 68 and the second lateral end 70 of the tubular portion 32.
As can be seen in Figure 5, the construction of the tubular portion 32 allows a continuous welding seam of the first axial end 44 of the tubular portion 32 to the fuel injector 18. As the second portion 64 of the tubular portion 32 is directly following one of the projections 34 in the direction of the retaining force F a very robust construction of the fixing device 30 against mechanical stress due to a permanent retaining force F can be obtained. Therefore, an introduction of the retaining force F via the projections 34 into the first axial end 44 of the tubular portion 32 causes only small mechanical stress exerted on the first axial end 44.
Due to the welding between the first axial end 44 and the fuel injector 18, a circumferentially continuous coupling of the tubular portion 32 at the first axial end 44 can be obtained via the coupling passage 66.
It is preferred that the angle BETA between the second axial end 46 of the tubular portion 32 and the second lateral end 70 of the first portion of the tubular portion 32 is about 60°. By this the second portion 64 of the tubular portion 32 is large enough to transfer the retaining force F from the projection 34 to the first portion 62 of the tubular portion 32 thereby allowing a good distribution of the mechanical load.
Figure 7 shows a combination of the embodiments of the fixing device 30 of figures 2 and 5, wherein each of the projections 34 comprises one of the force receiving elements 36 and one of the supporting elements 38.
In the following, the assembly of the fuel injector 18 and the fixing device 30 and the fixing of the fuel injector 18 in the cylinder head 14 of the combustion engine 22 will be described:
For assembling the fuel injector 18 the fuel injector 18 is inserted into the fixing device 30. The fixing device 30 is clamped together. By this the first axial end 44 and the second axial end 46 of the tubular portion 32 are in contact with the outer surface 42 of the fuel injector 18 thereby enabling a fixed coupling of the fixing device 30 to the fuel injector 18 preferably by welding.
The fuel injector 18 with the fixing device 30 is inserted into the recess 15 of the cylinder head 14 with the support of a protrusion which allows orienting the fuel injector 18 relative to the cylinder head 14. Additionally, a force exerting device is arranged in a way that it is in contact with the force receiving elements 36. Consequently, the retaining force F from the force exerting device is transmitted to the force receiving elements 36 and the supporting elements 38 or to the projections 34 of the fixing device 30. By this the fuel injector 18 can be fixed in a secure manner in the recess 15 of the cylinder head 14 even if large forces exert on the fuel injector 18 in opposite direction to the retaining force F.
As the tubular portion 32 directly follows the supporting elements 28 or the projections 34 in the direction of the retaining force F the fixing device 30 is very robust against mechanical stress in particular in the area between the supporting elements 28 and the tubular portion 32 or the projections 34 and the tubular portion 32. By this a high lifetime of the fixing device 30 can be obtained.

Claims

Fixing device (30) for fixing a fuel injector (18) in a cylinder head (14) of a combustion engine (22), comprising
- a tubular portion (32) including a central longitudinal axis (L), the tubular portion (32) being designed to engage the fuel injector (20) and to be rigidly coupable to the fuel injector (18),

- a supporting element (38) with a first axial end (48) and a second axial end (50), the second axial end (50) having a larger radial distance relative to the central longitudinal axis (L) than the first axial end (48), and the first axial end end (48) being rigidly coupled to the tubular portion (32),

- a force receiving element (36) extending outwards in radial direction relative to the central longitudinal axis (L) from an inner coupling section (52) to an outer coupling section (54), the inner coupling section (52) being designed to be rigidly coupable to the fuel injector (18) and the outer coupling section (54) being rigidly coupled to the supporting element (38).
Fixing device (30) in accordance with claim 1, with the first axial end (48) of the supporting element (38) and the second axial end (50) of the supporting element (38) being arranged on an axis (A) forming an angle (ALPHA) of 45° with the central longitudinal axis (L).
Fixing device (30) in accordance with one of the preceding claims, with the force receiving element (36) and the supporting element (38) being formed in one piece with the tubular portion (32).
Fixing device (30) for fixing a fuel injector (18) in a cylinder head (14) of a combustion engine (22), comprising
- a tubular portion (32) including a central longitudinal axis (L), the tubular portion (32) being designed to engage the fuel injector (18) and to be rigidly coupled to the fuel injector (18), the tubular portion (32) comprising a first axial end (44) and a second axial end (46) being designed to be completely attachable to the fuel injector (18), and

- projections (34) being formed in one piece with the tubular portion (32) and being arranged at the first axial end (44) of the tubular portion (32) and being designed to receive a retaining force (F), the retaining force (F) acting in the direction of the central longitudinal axis (L) to retain the fuel injector (18) in the cylinder head (14),
wherein the tubular portion (32) is formed from a panel (60) comprising a first portion (62) of a non-rectangular parallelogram shape and a second portion (64) of a triangular shape being in one-piece with the first portion (62) and the second portion (64) being designed in a manner that the first axial end (44) of the tubular portion (32) is circumferentially closed.
Fixing device (30) in accordance with claim 4, with the second portion (64) of the tubular portion (32) being arranged to directly follow one of the projections (34) in the direction of the retaining force (F).
Fixing device (30) in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 3 and one of the claims 4 and 5.
Fuel injector (18) comprising a fixing device (30) according to one of the preceding claims.