EP0571413A1 - Fuel rail having rolling ball fuel injectors. - Google Patents

Fuel rail having rolling ball fuel injectors.

Info

Publication number
EP0571413A1
EP0571413A1 EP92903597A EP92903597A EP0571413A1 EP 0571413 A1 EP0571413 A1 EP 0571413A1 EP 92903597 A EP92903597 A EP 92903597A EP 92903597 A EP92903597 A EP 92903597A EP 0571413 A1 EP0571413 A1 EP 0571413A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fuel
sphere
axis
seat
bar
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP92903597A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0571413B1 (en
Inventor
Paul Desmond Daly
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Siemens AG
Original Assignee
Siemens AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Siemens AG filed Critical Siemens AG
Publication of EP0571413A1 publication Critical patent/EP0571413A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0571413B1 publication Critical patent/EP0571413B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M51/00—Fuel-injection apparatus characterised by being operated electrically
    • F02M51/06—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle
    • F02M51/061—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means
    • F02M51/0625—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means characterised by arrangement of mobile armatures
    • F02M51/0635—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means characterised by arrangement of mobile armatures having a plate-shaped or undulated armature not entering the winding
    • F02M51/066—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means characterised by arrangement of mobile armatures having a plate-shaped or undulated armature not entering the winding the armature and the valve being allowed to move relatively to each other or not being attached to each other
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D41/00—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents
    • F02D41/30—Controlling fuel injection
    • F02D41/3005—Details not otherwise provided for
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M51/00—Fuel-injection apparatus characterised by being operated electrically
    • F02M51/005—Arrangement of electrical wires and connections, e.g. wire harness, sockets, plugs; Arrangement of electronic control circuits in or on fuel injection apparatus
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M51/00—Fuel-injection apparatus characterised by being operated electrically
    • F02M51/06—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle
    • F02M51/061—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means
    • F02M51/0614—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means characterised by arrangement of electromagnets or fixed armature
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M51/00—Fuel-injection apparatus characterised by being operated electrically
    • F02M51/06—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle
    • F02M51/061—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means
    • F02M51/0625—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means characterised by arrangement of mobile armatures
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M51/00—Fuel-injection apparatus characterised by being operated electrically
    • F02M51/06—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle
    • F02M51/061—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means
    • F02M51/0625—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means characterised by arrangement of mobile armatures
    • F02M51/0635—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means characterised by arrangement of mobile armatures having a plate-shaped or undulated armature not entering the winding
    • F02M51/0642—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means characterised by arrangement of mobile armatures having a plate-shaped or undulated armature not entering the winding the armature having a valve attached thereto
    • F02M51/0646—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means characterised by arrangement of mobile armatures having a plate-shaped or undulated armature not entering the winding the armature having a valve attached thereto the valve being a short body, e.g. sphere or cube
    • F02M51/065—Injectors peculiar thereto with means directly operating the valve needle using electromagnetic operating means characterised by arrangement of mobile armatures having a plate-shaped or undulated armature not entering the winding the armature having a valve attached thereto the valve being a short body, e.g. sphere or cube the valve being spherical or partly spherical
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M61/00—Fuel-injectors not provided for in groups F02M39/00 - F02M57/00 or F02M67/00
    • F02M61/16—Details not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus of groups F02M61/02 - F02M61/14
    • F02M61/166—Selection of particular materials
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M61/00—Fuel-injectors not provided for in groups F02M39/00 - F02M57/00 or F02M67/00
    • F02M61/16—Details not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus of groups F02M61/02 - F02M61/14
    • F02M61/20—Closing valves mechanically, e.g. arrangements of springs or weights or permanent magnets; Damping of valve lift
    • F02M61/205—Means specially adapted for varying the spring tension or assisting the spring force to close the injection-valve, e.g. with damping of valve lift
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
    • F02M69/00—Low-pressure fuel-injection apparatus ; Apparatus with both continuous and intermittent injection; Apparatus injecting different types of fuel
    • F02M69/46—Details, component parts or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus covered by groups F02M69/02 - F02M69/44
    • F02M69/462—Arrangement of fuel conduits, e.g. with valves for maintaining pressure in the pipes after the engine being shut-down
    • F02M69/465—Arrangement of fuel conduits, e.g. with valves for maintaining pressure in the pipes after the engine being shut-down of fuel rails
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D2400/00—Control systems adapted for specific engine types; Special features of engine control systems not otherwise provided for; Power supply, connectors or cabling for engine control systems
    • F02D2400/21—Engine cover with integrated cabling
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F02D41/00—Electrical control of supply of combustible mixture or its constituents
    • F02D41/30—Controlling fuel injection
    • F02D41/38—Controlling fuel injection of the high pressure type
    • F02D41/3809—Common rail control systems

Definitions

  • This invention relates to fuel rails and fuel injectors for internal combustion engines.
  • Conventional fuel rails for fuel-injected internal combustion engines comprise sockets which are spaced apart along the fuel rail's length and into which the fuel injectors are inserted.
  • the fuel injectors are retained in fluid-tight relation to the fuel rail by suitable sealing and retention means.
  • the typical fuel injector has an elongated shape and is customarily arranged on the fuel rail such that the long dimension of the injector is transverse to the long dimension of the fuel rail.
  • the envelope that is occupied by the fuel rail assembly in the engine compartment of an automotive vehicle will have an extent transverse to the fuel rail that is determined by the long dimension of the fuel injector.
  • the fuel rail may comprise a circular cylindrical-walled tube within which the fuel injectors are essentially entirely disposed so that the transverse dimension of the fuel rail assembly at the location of a fuel injector is essentially that of the O.D. of the tube.
  • the fuel injectors are mounted on a carrier to form a sub-assembly that is assembled into the tube by endwise insertion.
  • the electrical leads for the fuel injectors run along the carrier to a receptacle that is at one lengthwise end of the completed fuel rail assembly.
  • the injectors' tip ends from which liquid fuel is injected are seated in a sealed manner in holes in the sidewall of the tube.
  • the fuel injectors themselves are unique. Rather than having a solenoid, an armature, a needle, and a seat coaxially arranged along the length of the fuel injector, as in conventional fuel injectors, the fuel injector of the present invention has a magnetic circuit that encircles a spherical valve element. This sphere is resiliently urged by a cantilever spring blade toward closure of a hole that is circumscribed by a frusto-conical seat.
  • the sphere-encircling magnetic circuit may be considered to comprise four sides.
  • the armature and the solenoid are disposed at two opposite sides.
  • the stator has a U-shape whose base passes through the solenoid and whose legs form the remaining two sides.
  • the armature is a bar of magnetically permeable material whose midpoint acts on the sphere.
  • the solenoid When the solenoid is not energized, working gaps exist between the ends of the bar and the distal ends of the stator's legs, and when the solenoid is energized, the magnetic flux attracts the bar to reduce these working gaps. As a result, the bar pushes the sphere out of concentricity with the seat to cause the hole to open and pass for injection from the injector's tip end the pressurized liquid fuel that has been supplied to the injector via the interior of the fuel rail tube.
  • the cantilever spring When the solenoid is de-energized, the cantilever spring pushes the sphere back to concentricity with the seat, and the resultant hole closure terminates the injection.
  • the fuel injector of the invention is well-suited for miniaturization to fit within a fuel rail and is an efficient and economical use of parts and materials.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the general organization and arrangement of a fuel injector embodying principles of the invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the fuel injector of Fig. 1 from one direction.
  • Fig. 3 is a top view of Fig. 2.
  • Fig. 4 is a left side view of Fig. 2.
  • Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of certain portions of a fuel rail assembly that embodies principles of the invention and contains fuel injectors like that of Figs. 1-4.
  • Fig. 6 is a transverse cross sectional view through the fuel rail assembly of Fig. 5 on a different scale and illustrates further detail, including a particular step in the process of fabricating the fuel rail assembly.
  • Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating the condition after completion of the step being portrayed by Fig. 6.
  • Fig. 8 is an elevational view of another embodiment of fuel injector.
  • Fig- 9 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment in which the fuel rail is integrated in an engine manifold.
  • Figs. 1-7 disclose a fuel rail assembly 18 containing several fuel injectors 20 pursuant to the present invention.
  • the fuel injectors are disposed on a carrier 22 that fits within a circular cylindrical walled tube 24, and there are four injectors for this particular example.
  • carrier 22 comprises a somewhat rectangular-shaped well 26 which has a sidewall 28 and a bottom wall 30.
  • Each injector comprises a seat member 32 that has a frustoconical seat 34 that funnels to a hole 36.
  • Seat 34 and hole 36 share a co-axis 38 which is perpendicular to bottom wall 30, and wall 30 has a suitably-shaped hole allowing seat member 32 to fit therein in the manner illustrated.
  • a sphere 40 is seated on seat 34, and all Figs, show the sphere concentric with axis 38 in closure of hole 36.
  • the sphere is resiliently urged to such concentricity by an overlying flat spring blade 42 which is cantilever-mounted atop an upright post 44 on wall 30 aside seat member 32.
  • All Figs, show blade 42 to be essentially parallel with wall 30.
  • the cantilever mounting of the blade on the post is accomplished by means of a hole in the blade through which a close-fitting pin on the post passes and a head 46 on the pin which overlaps the margin of the hole in the blade to hold the corresponding end of the blade securely on the top of post 44.
  • post 44 could have a hole in its top, and the shank of a headed screw could be passed through the hole in the blade, and the screw tightened in the post hole so that the screw head holds the blade against the top of the post.
  • the spring exerts a pre-load force on sphere 40 when the sphere is concentric with axis 38.
  • This pre-load can be created by suitable shaping of the blade, by setting the relative elevations of the top of post 44 and the top of the sphere in a particular way, or by a combination of both.
  • the injector has a magnetic circuit that encircles sphere 40 and is composed of a solenoid coil 48, a stator 50, and an armature 52.
  • the magnetic circuit may be considered to have a generally four-sided rectangular shape for fitting into well 26.
  • Coil 48 and armature 52 form two opposite sides while the remaining two sides, which are opposite each other, are formed by portions of stator 50.
  • Coil 48 is disposed in well 26 with its axis parallel to bottom wall 30 and spaced from axis 38.
  • Wall 30 includes a hole for cradling coil 48.
  • Stator 50 is generally U-shaped, comprising a base 54 that passes through coil 48 and parallel legs 56, 58 that extend from base 54 to form two opposite sides of the magnetic circuit.
  • Legs 56, 58 contain bends that provide for the transition from the level of coil 48 to the level of sphere 40.
  • Armature 52 is in the form of a bar that is disposed along side sphere 40 and operated by the magnetic circuit to act on the sphere at essentially the midpoint of the bar indicated by the reference numeral 60.
  • Seat member 32 contains a suitably shaped notch 61 that allows the armature to act on the sphere.
  • the opposite ends of the bar are spaced from the distal ends of legs 56, 58 by generally equal working gaps 62, 64, and the midpoint of the armature is in contact with the sphere at the end of a particular radial of the sphere.
  • the magnetic flux that is generated in the magnetic circuit operates to reduce working gaps 62, 64 by attracting armature 52 toward the ends of the stator's legs 56, 58.
  • This causes armature 52 to be moved bodily predominantly along the direction of an imaginary line that intersects axis 38 and that when viewed along axis 38 is essentially coincident with the radius of the sphere whose end is contacted by the midpoint of the armature.
  • the cooperative effect of the motion of armature 52, of the resilience of spring blade 42, and of the angle of seat 34 is such that the sphere is moved from concentricity with axis 38 to eccentricity with axis 38 with the result that hole 36 opens.
  • Sphere 40 is actually caused to roll slightly up seat 34 in the direction toward post 44.
  • the magnetic attractive force that stator 50 had been exerting on the armature ceases, and this enables the resiliency of spring blade 42 to return the sphere to concentricity with axis 38 and resulting closure of hole 36.
  • Hole 36 is surrounded by the tip end, or nozzle, 68 of the fuel injector at which fuel is injected into the engine.
  • An O-ring seal 70 is seated in a groove extending around the sidewall of the injector tip end.
  • Electric lead wires 72 from the injectors are disposed in channels 74 in carrier 22 and extend to a connector 76 at the near end of the carrier as viewed in Fig. 5.
  • the solenoid coils, stators, and seat members are secured within the carrier wells by any suitable means of secure ent, and a cover 78 containing suitable windows each providing an inlet for each fuel injector fits over the carrier to entrap the lead wires in the channels.
  • the cover may comprise certain means of confinement for certain of the components of the fuel injectors, such as projections 79 (Fig. 2) that serve to confine armatures 52 and to limit the extent to which the spring blades 42 can be flexed away from seat members 32.
  • the combination of the carrier, the injectors, and the cover forms a sub-assembly that is assembled into tube 24 by insertion through one end of the tube.
  • the sub-assembly has an envelope that is smaller than the main longitudinal hole 81 in tube 24.
  • the sub-assembly is inserted into the tube to align the injector tip ends 68 with corresponding circular holes 82 through the wall of the tube.
  • the sub-assembly is then displaced radially to pass the tip ends into holes 82 so that O-rings 70 seal between the tip ends and the holes in fluid-tight manner.
  • a keeper 84 is then inserted via the same open end of the tube into the space 86 (Fig.
  • Keeper 84 is illustrated as a length of angled metal that may have a certain resiliency for resiliently fitting between the sub-assembly and the tube wall in the manner portrayed.
  • the bend of keeper 84 bears against the inside of the wall of tube 24 diametrically opposite holes 82 and the keeper's two sides extend from the bend to capture the sub-assembly in the assembled position of Fig. 7.
  • pressurized liquid fuel is introduced into tube 24 via a suitable inlet so that the fuel injectors are essentially completely immersed in fuel.
  • the fuel rail may contain a pressure regulator and also have a return outlet for return fuel when the rail is part of a recirculating fuel system. Neither an inlet fitting, a return outlet fitting, nor a pressure regulator are specifically shown in the drawing Figs., nor are the provisions that would be required for enclosing the tube ends if the inlet and/or outlet were to be located in other than such ends.
  • the particular configuration for any specific fuel rail embodying the principles of the present invention will depend on the specific engine which the fuel rail must fit.
  • connector 76 serves to connect the fuel injectors to the usual engine management computer so that the injectors are operated at the proper times and for the proper durations.
  • the energization of an injector solenoid will open the injector to cause an injection of fuel from the interior of the tube to be emitted at the injector tip end through hole 36.
  • Metering of injected fuel can be performed by a thin orifice disc
  • Fig. 8 presents an alternate embodiment of fuel injector using the same earlier reference numerals to designate like parts. The essential difference is that the injector of Fig. 8 places the cantilever mounting of spring blade 42 on the opposite side of seat 34 from solenoid coil 48. This allows the magnetic circuit path to be shortened since the solenoid coil can be placed closer to the seat and the legs of the stator can be shorter.
  • Fig. 9 presents an alternate embodiment of fuel rail using the same earlier reference numerals to designate like parts.
  • Fig. 9 shows the tube hole 81 to be an integral part of an engine manifold 90 into which the sub-assembly composed of the carrier, the fuel injectors, and the cover is inserted.
  • the keeper 84 is also inserted into hole 81 to capture the sub-assembly in assembled position in the same manner as in Fig. 7.
  • seat member 32 does not shunt flux from the magnetic circuit, it is fabricated from non-magnetically-permeable material, such as a suitable stainless steel. It is contemplated that certain plastics may be useful for certain parts.
  • carrier 22, tube 24, and cover 78 can be made from plastics that are inert when placed in a wet fuel environment, and of course.all materials that are exposed to fuel must be inert to the particular fuel composition or compositions that are used. It is contemplated that sphere 40 can itself be a suitable plastic.
  • stator 50 that may be used to advantage in fabricating the fuel injector's magnetic circuit.
  • the stator is constructed from two separate pieces, each of which comprises the entirety of one of the stator's legs and a fraction of its base.
  • One piece contains a threaded hole in the end of its base portion and the other piece contains a threaded shank in the end of its base portion. The two pieces are joined by screwing the threaded shank into the threaded hole after the respective base portions have been inserted into the solenoid coil.
  • the magnetic circuit is preferably constructed such that the working gaps do not close to an extent that allows full surface-to-surface contact of the armature with the ends of the stator legs. This can be accomplished by designing seat member 32, sphere 40, and the magnet circuit such that when the sphere is displaced from concentricity with axis 38, its travel will be arrested by abutment with an axial wall 92 (Fig. 8) of seat member 32 before the working gaps have fully closed.
  • Axial wall 32 extends away from seat 34 parallel to axis

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Fuel-Injection Apparatus (AREA)

Abstract

Une série d'injecteurs (20) de carburant est montée sur un support (22) de forme allongée introduit par le bout à l'intérieur d'un corps creux (24) oblong tel qu'une tubulure ou un collecteur d'admission de moteur. Des câbles de branchement (72) relient les injecteurs (20), le long du support (22), à une prise (76) sur l'extérieur. Les buses (68) des injecteurs de carburant sont scellées dans des cavités (82) traversant la paroi dudit corps creux (24). Un dispositif de fixation (84) introduit lui aussi par le bout dans le corps creux (24), maintient le support en place. Chaque injecteur (20) comporte une sphère (40) obturant, sous l'effet d'une lame de ressort plate (42), l'orifice (30) dont l'entrée est commandée par le siège tronconique sur lequel repose la bille. Le ressort à lame (42) est monté en cantilever sur un tenon (44) adjacent au siège (34). Le circuit magnétique (48) autour de la sphère (40) comprend une armature (52) agissant contre le côté de la sphère (40) en déplaçant celle-ci de manière excentrique par rapport au siège (34) de manière à libérer l'orifice de sortie (36). Le corps creux contient du carburant liquide sous pression, de sorte que l'injecteur se trouve immergé dans ce liquide, lequel va être injecté par la buse (68) au moment où la sphère, déplacée de son siège (34), libère le passage.A series of fuel injectors (20) are mounted on an elongated support (22) introduced by the end inside an elongated hollow body (24) such as an intake manifold or manifold. engine. Connection cables (72) connect the injectors (20), along the support (22), to a socket (76) on the outside. The nozzles (68) of the fuel injectors are sealed in cavities (82) extending through the wall of said hollow body (24). A fixing device (84), also introduced from the end into the hollow body (24), keeps the support in place. Each injector (20) comprises a sphere (40) closing, under the effect of a flat leaf spring (42), the orifice (30), the entry of which is controlled by the frustoconical seat on which the ball rests. The leaf spring (42) is cantilevered on a tenon (44) adjacent to the seat (34). The magnetic circuit (48) around the sphere (40) includes an armature (52) acting against the side of the sphere (40) by moving the latter eccentrically with respect to the seat (34) so as to release the outlet (36). The hollow body contains liquid fuel under pressure, so that the injector is immersed in this liquid, which will be injected through the nozzle (68) at the moment when the sphere, moved from its seat (34), releases the passage .

Description

FUEL RAIL HAVING ROLLING BALL FUEL INJECTORS
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fuel rails and fuel injectors for internal combustion engines.
Background and Summary of the Invention
Conventional fuel rails for fuel-injected internal combustion engines comprise sockets which are spaced apart along the fuel rail's length and into which the fuel injectors are inserted. The fuel injectors are retained in fluid-tight relation to the fuel rail by suitable sealing and retention means. The typical fuel injector has an elongated shape and is customarily arranged on the fuel rail such that the long dimension of the injector is transverse to the long dimension of the fuel rail. As a consequence of this arrangement, the envelope that is occupied by the fuel rail assembly in the engine compartment of an automotive vehicle will have an extent transverse to the fuel rail that is determined by the long dimension of the fuel injector. Accordingly, a reduction in the extent to which a fuel injector projects transversely of the fuel rail will be beneficial in reducing the envelope occupied by the fuel rail assembly, and this benefit will accrue to the advantage of automotive vehicle designers insofar as styling and packaging considerations are concerned.
One of the several aspects of the present invention relates to a fuel rail that contains a novel fuel injector configuration which allows for certain reductions in the size of the envelope that is occupied by the fuel rail assembly on an internal combustion engine, particularly reductions in the extent to which the fuel injectors project transversely of the fuel rail. More specifically, the fuel rail may comprise a circular cylindrical-walled tube within which the fuel injectors are essentially entirely disposed so that the transverse dimension of the fuel rail assembly at the location of a fuel injector is essentially that of the O.D. of the tube. The fuel injectors are mounted on a carrier to form a sub-assembly that is assembled into the tube by endwise insertion. The electrical leads for the fuel injectors run along the carrier to a receptacle that is at one lengthwise end of the completed fuel rail assembly. The injectors' tip ends from which liquid fuel is injected are seated in a sealed manner in holes in the sidewall of the tube.
The fuel injectors themselves are unique. Rather than having a solenoid, an armature, a needle, and a seat coaxially arranged along the length of the fuel injector, as in conventional fuel injectors, the fuel injector of the present invention has a magnetic circuit that encircles a spherical valve element. This sphere is resiliently urged by a cantilever spring blade toward closure of a hole that is circumscribed by a frusto-conical seat. The sphere-encircling magnetic circuit may be considered to comprise four sides. The armature and the solenoid are disposed at two opposite sides. The stator has a U-shape whose base passes through the solenoid and whose legs form the remaining two sides.
The armature is a bar of magnetically permeable material whose midpoint acts on the sphere. When the solenoid is not energized, working gaps exist between the ends of the bar and the distal ends of the stator's legs, and when the solenoid is energized, the magnetic flux attracts the bar to reduce these working gaps. As a result, the bar pushes the sphere out of concentricity with the seat to cause the hole to open and pass for injection from the injector's tip end the pressurized liquid fuel that has been supplied to the injector via the interior of the fuel rail tube. When the solenoid is de-energized, the cantilever spring pushes the sphere back to concentricity with the seat, and the resultant hole closure terminates the injection. The fuel injector of the invention is well-suited for miniaturization to fit within a fuel rail and is an efficient and economical use of parts and materials.
Further features, advantages, and benefits of the invention, along with those already mentioned, will be seen in the ensuing description and claims, which are accompanied by drawings. The drawings disclose a presently preferred embodiment of the invention according to the best mode contemplated at the present time in carrying out the invention.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the general organization and arrangement of a fuel injector embodying principles of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the fuel injector of Fig. 1 from one direction.
Fig. 3 is a top view of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a left side view of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of certain portions of a fuel rail assembly that embodies principles of the invention and contains fuel injectors like that of Figs. 1-4.
Fig. 6 is a transverse cross sectional view through the fuel rail assembly of Fig. 5 on a different scale and illustrates further detail, including a particular step in the process of fabricating the fuel rail assembly.
Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating the condition after completion of the step being portrayed by Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is an elevational view of another embodiment of fuel injector.
Fig- 9 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment in which the fuel rail is integrated in an engine manifold.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Figs. 1-7 disclose a fuel rail assembly 18 containing several fuel injectors 20 pursuant to the present invention. The fuel injectors are disposed on a carrier 22 that fits within a circular cylindrical walled tube 24, and there are four injectors for this particular example.
For each injector 20, carrier 22 comprises a somewhat rectangular-shaped well 26 which has a sidewall 28 and a bottom wall 30. Each injector comprises a seat member 32 that has a frustoconical seat 34 that funnels to a hole 36. Seat 34 and hole 36 share a co-axis 38 which is perpendicular to bottom wall 30, and wall 30 has a suitably-shaped hole allowing seat member 32 to fit therein in the manner illustrated. A sphere 40 is seated on seat 34, and all Figs, show the sphere concentric with axis 38 in closure of hole 36. The sphere is resiliently urged to such concentricity by an overlying flat spring blade 42 which is cantilever-mounted atop an upright post 44 on wall 30 aside seat member 32. All Figs, show blade 42 to be essentially parallel with wall 30. The cantilever mounting of the blade on the post is accomplished by means of a hole in the blade through which a close-fitting pin on the post passes and a head 46 on the pin which overlaps the margin of the hole in the blade to hold the corresponding end of the blade securely on the top of post 44. Alternately, post 44 could have a hole in its top, and the shank of a headed screw could be passed through the hole in the blade, and the screw tightened in the post hole so that the screw head holds the blade against the top of the post. Although the Figs, show the blade to be flat and essentially parallel with wall 38, the spring exerts a pre-load force on sphere 40 when the sphere is concentric with axis 38. This pre-load can be created by suitable shaping of the blade, by setting the relative elevations of the top of post 44 and the top of the sphere in a particular way, or by a combination of both.
The injector has a magnetic circuit that encircles sphere 40 and is composed of a solenoid coil 48, a stator 50, and an armature 52. As viewed in Fig. 3, the magnetic circuit may be considered to have a generally four-sided rectangular shape for fitting into well 26. Coil 48 and armature 52 form two opposite sides while the remaining two sides, which are opposite each other, are formed by portions of stator 50. Coil 48 is disposed in well 26 with its axis parallel to bottom wall 30 and spaced from axis 38. Wall 30 includes a hole for cradling coil 48. Stator 50 is generally U-shaped, comprising a base 54 that passes through coil 48 and parallel legs 56, 58 that extend from base 54 to form two opposite sides of the magnetic circuit. Legs 56, 58 contain bends that provide for the transition from the level of coil 48 to the level of sphere 40. Armature 52 is in the form of a bar that is disposed along side sphere 40 and operated by the magnetic circuit to act on the sphere at essentially the midpoint of the bar indicated by the reference numeral 60. Seat member 32 contains a suitably shaped notch 61 that allows the armature to act on the sphere. In the condition portrayed in the Figs., which is for the solenoid coil not energized, the opposite ends of the bar are spaced from the distal ends of legs 56, 58 by generally equal working gaps 62, 64, and the midpoint of the armature is in contact with the sphere at the end of a particular radial of the sphere. When the solenoid coil is energized, the magnetic flux that is generated in the magnetic circuit operates to reduce working gaps 62, 64 by attracting armature 52 toward the ends of the stator's legs 56, 58. This causes armature 52 to be moved bodily predominantly along the direction of an imaginary line that intersects axis 38 and that when viewed along axis 38 is essentially coincident with the radius of the sphere whose end is contacted by the midpoint of the armature. The cooperative effect of the motion of armature 52, of the resilience of spring blade 42, and of the angle of seat 34 is such that the sphere is moved from concentricity with axis 38 to eccentricity with axis 38 with the result that hole 36 opens. Sphere 40 is actually caused to roll slightly up seat 34 in the direction toward post 44. When energization of the solenoid coil terminates, the magnetic attractive force that stator 50 had been exerting on the armature ceases, and this enables the resiliency of spring blade 42 to return the sphere to concentricity with axis 38 and resulting closure of hole 36.
Hole 36 is surrounded by the tip end, or nozzle, 68 of the fuel injector at which fuel is injected into the engine. An O-ring seal 70 is seated in a groove extending around the sidewall of the injector tip end. Electric lead wires 72 from the injectors are disposed in channels 74 in carrier 22 and extend to a connector 76 at the near end of the carrier as viewed in Fig. 5. The solenoid coils, stators, and seat members are secured within the carrier wells by any suitable means of secure ent, and a cover 78 containing suitable windows each providing an inlet for each fuel injector fits over the carrier to entrap the lead wires in the channels. The cover may comprise certain means of confinement for certain of the components of the fuel injectors, such as projections 79 (Fig. 2) that serve to confine armatures 52 and to limit the extent to which the spring blades 42 can be flexed away from seat members 32.
The combination of the carrier, the injectors, and the cover forms a sub-assembly that is assembled into tube 24 by insertion through one end of the tube. As perhaps best seen in Fig. 6, the sub-assembly has an envelope that is smaller than the main longitudinal hole 81 in tube 24. The sub-assembly is inserted into the tube to align the injector tip ends 68 with corresponding circular holes 82 through the wall of the tube. The sub-assembly is then displaced radially to pass the tip ends into holes 82 so that O-rings 70 seal between the tip ends and the holes in fluid-tight manner. A keeper 84 is then inserted via the same open end of the tube into the space 86 (Fig. 7) that exists between the sub-assembly and the semi-circumference of the tube wall that is generally opposite holes 82. Keeper 84 is illustrated as a length of angled metal that may have a certain resiliency for resiliently fitting between the sub-assembly and the tube wall in the manner portrayed. The bend of keeper 84 bears against the inside of the wall of tube 24 diametrically opposite holes 82 and the keeper's two sides extend from the bend to capture the sub-assembly in the assembled position of Fig. 7.
In use pressurized liquid fuel is introduced into tube 24 via a suitable inlet so that the fuel injectors are essentially completely immersed in fuel. The fuel rail may contain a pressure regulator and also have a return outlet for return fuel when the rail is part of a recirculating fuel system. Neither an inlet fitting, a return outlet fitting, nor a pressure regulator are specifically shown in the drawing Figs., nor are the provisions that would be required for enclosing the tube ends if the inlet and/or outlet were to be located in other than such ends. The particular configuration for any specific fuel rail embodying the principles of the present invention will depend on the specific engine which the fuel rail must fit. In use, connector 76 serves to connect the fuel injectors to the usual engine management computer so that the injectors are operated at the proper times and for the proper durations. The energization of an injector solenoid will open the injector to cause an injection of fuel from the interior of the tube to be emitted at the injector tip end through hole 36. Metering of injected fuel can be performed by a thin orifice disc
(not shown) mounted on the injector tip end in covering relation to the outlet of hole 36. The injection terminates with the termination of solenoid energization.
Fig. 8 presents an alternate embodiment of fuel injector using the same earlier reference numerals to designate like parts. The essential difference is that the injector of Fig. 8 places the cantilever mounting of spring blade 42 on the opposite side of seat 34 from solenoid coil 48. This allows the magnetic circuit path to be shortened since the solenoid coil can be placed closer to the seat and the legs of the stator can be shorter.
Fig. 9 presents an alternate embodiment of fuel rail using the same earlier reference numerals to designate like parts. Fig. 9 shows the tube hole 81 to be an integral part of an engine manifold 90 into which the sub-assembly composed of the carrier, the fuel injectors, and the cover is inserted. The keeper 84 is also inserted into hole 81 to capture the sub-assembly in assembled position in the same manner as in Fig. 7.
The materials, surface finishes, hardnesses, elasticities, etc. of the various parts should be chosen to provide acceptable performance and longevity in their particular operating environment. So that seat member 32 does not shunt flux from the magnetic circuit, it is fabricated from non-magnetically-permeable material, such as a suitable stainless steel. It is contemplated that certain plastics may be useful for certain parts. For example, carrier 22, tube 24, and cover 78 can be made from plastics that are inert when placed in a wet fuel environment, and of course.all materials that are exposed to fuel must be inert to the particular fuel composition or compositions that are used. It is contemplated that sphere 40 can itself be a suitable plastic. Fig. 3 illustrates a particular construction for stator 50 that may be used to advantage in fabricating the fuel injector's magnetic circuit. Rather than being a one-piece element, the stator is constructed from two separate pieces, each of which comprises the entirety of one of the stator's legs and a fraction of its base. One piece contains a threaded hole in the end of its base portion and the other piece contains a threaded shank in the end of its base portion. The two pieces are joined by screwing the threaded shank into the threaded hole after the respective base portions have been inserted into the solenoid coil.
The magnetic circuit is preferably constructed such that the working gaps do not close to an extent that allows full surface-to-surface contact of the armature with the ends of the stator legs. This can be accomplished by designing seat member 32, sphere 40, and the magnet circuit such that when the sphere is displaced from concentricity with axis 38, its travel will be arrested by abutment with an axial wall 92 (Fig. 8) of seat member 32 before the working gaps have fully closed.
Axial wall 32 extends away from seat 34 parallel to axis
38. It is also possible to place a non-magnetic coating over the ends of the stator and the armature. Because the armature experiences relatively small displacement as it is operated, an equivalent armature could comprise a pivotal mounting at one end so that the armature travel is executed over a small arc. This will still result in essentially the same action on the sphere, i.e. motion that is directed essentially toward axis along the radial of the sphere that is contacted by the middle of the armature.
While a presently preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, it should be understood that principles of the invention may be practiced in other equivalent ways.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. In a fuel injector which is operated by electric operating means and comprises body structure having a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, and a frusto-conical seat that circumscribes an orifice and is disposed between said fuel inlet and said fuel outlet, a sphere that is disposed for coaction with said seat to selectively open and close said orifice to fuel flow between said fuel inlet and said fuel outlet, resilient means acting to resiliently urge said sphere along an imaginary axis about which said frusto-conical seat is a surface of revolution toward concentrically seating on said seat and thereby closing said orifice, the improvement which comprises a movable bar that is disposed along side said sphere and operated by said electric operating means to execute motion that is predominantly along the direction of an imaginary line that intersects said axis, said bar executing such motion toward and from said axis in accordance with an electric control signal applied to said electric operating means, such motion of said bar toward said axis acting on said sphere at the end of a radial of said sphere which radial, when viewed along said axis, is essentially coincident with said imaginary line, and such motion of said bar along said imaginary line being effective, in cooperation with said seat and resilient means, to cause said sphere to be bodily displaced from concentricity with said axis to eccentricity with said axis and thereby open said orifice to flow, and such motion of said bar away from said axis being effective to allow said resilient means, in cooperation with said seat, to cause said sphere to be bodily displaced from eccentricity with said axis to concentricity with said axis and thereby close said orifice to flow.
2. The improvement set forth in claim 1 in which said bar is a free element that is captured within a confined space in the fuel injector.
3. The improvement set forth in claim 1 in which said fuel injector comprises a magnetic circuit that operatively couples said electric operating means with said bar, said magnetic circuit including a stator through which magnetic flux is conducted to said bar, said bar comprising magnetically permeable material, and working gap means between said stator and said bar through which said magnetic flux is conducted.
4. The improvement set forth in claim 3 in which said working gap means comprises two working gaps at opposite ends of said bar.
5. The improvement set forth in claim 4 including abutment means disposed to be abutted by said sphere to limit the extent to which said sphere can be eccentrically displaced relative to said axis and to prevent the full closure of said working gaps when said sphere abuts said abutment means.
6. The improvement set forth in claim 1 in which said resilient means comprises a resilient blade that resiliently bears against said sphere and that is cantilever-mounted on said body structure adjacent said sphere.
7. In a fuel injector which is operated by electric operating means and comprises body structure providing a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, and a frusto-conical seat that circumscribes an orifice and is disposed between said fuel inlet and said fuel outlet, a sphere that is disposed for coaction with said seat to selectively open and close said orifice to fuel flow between said fuel inlet and said fuel outlet, resilient means acting to resiliently urge said sphere along an imaginary axis about which said frusto-conical seat is a surface of revolution toward concentrically seating on said seat and thereby closing said orifice, the improvement which comprises said resilient means comprising a resilient blade that resiliently bears against said sphere and that is cantilever-mounted on said body adjacent said sphere.
8. The improvement set forth in claim 7 in which said body structure comprises a post adjacent said seat, and said blade is cantilever-mounted on said post.
9. The improvement set forth in claim 8 in which said electric operating means comprises a solenoid coil, and said solenoid coil and said post are disposed on the same side of said seat.
10. The improvement set forth in claim 8 in which said electric operating means comprises a solenoid coil, and said solenoid coil and said post are disposed on opposite sides of said seat.
11. The improvement set forth in claim 8 in which said electric operating means is operatively coupled with said sphere by a magnetic circuit arranged to encircle said sphere, and said magnetic circuit comprises a stator that conducts magnetic flux to an armature that acts on said sphere.
12. The improvement set forth in claim 11 in which said armature comprises a movable bar that is disposed along side said sphere and operated by said electric operating means acting through said magnetic circuit to execute motion that is predominantly along the direction of an imaginary line that intersects said axis, said bar executing such motion toward and from said axis in accordance with an electric control signal applied to said electric operating means, such motion of said bar toward said axis acting on said sphere at the end of a radial of said sphere which radial, when viewed along said axis, is essentially coincident with said imaginary line, and such motion of said bar along said imaginary line being effective, in cooperation with said seat and blade, to cause said sphere to be bodily displaced from concentricity with said axis to eccentricity with said axis and thereby open said orifice to flow, and such motion of said bar away from said axis being effective to allow said blade, in cooperation with said seat, to cause said sphere to be bodily displaced from eccentricity with said axis to concentricity with said axis and thereby close said orifice to flow.
13. In a fuel injector which is operated by an electric solenoid coil and comprises body structure providing a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, and a frusto-conical seat that circumscribes an orifice and is disposed between said fuel inlet and said fuel outlet, a sphere that is disposed for coaction with said seat and is operated by a magnetic circuit associated with said electric solenoid coil to selectively open and close said orifice to fuel flow between said fuel inlet and said fuel outlet, resilient means acting to resiliently urge said sphere along an imaginary axis about which said frusto-conical seat is a surface of revolution toward concentrically seating on said seat and thereby closing said orifice, the improvement which comprises said magnetic circuit being arranged to encircle said sphere, and said magnetic circuit comprising a stator that conducts magnetic flux to an armature that acts on said sphere.
14. The improvement set forth in claim 13 in which said armature comprises a movable bar that is disposed along side said sphere and operated by said electric solenoid coil acting through said magnetic circuit to execute motion that is predominantly along the direction of an imaginary line that intersects said axis, said bar executing such motion toward and from said axis in accordance with an electric control signal applied to said electric solenoid coil, such motion of said bar toward said axis acting on said sphere at the end of a radial of said sphere which radial, when viewed along said axis, is essentially coincident with said imaginary line, and such motion of said bar along said imaginary line being effective, in cooperation with said seat and resilient means, to cause said sphere to be bodily displaced from concentricity with said axis to eccentricity with said axis and thereby open said orifice to flow, and such motion of said bar away from said axis being effective to allow said resilient means, in cooperation with said seat, to cause said sphere to be bodily displaced from eccentricity with said axis to concentricity with said axis and thereby close said orifice to flow.
15. The improvement set forth in claim 14 in which said magnetic circuit is essentially four-sided, said bar forming one side, and said stator comprising a base and two legs that form the remaining three sides, said base of said stator passing through said electric solenoid coil.
16. The improvement set forth in claim 15 in which said stator comprises two parts assembled together, one part of said stator comprising the entirety of one of said legs and one portion of said base and the other part of said stator comprising the entirety of the other of said legs and another portion of said base.
17. The improvement set forth in claim 16 in which said resilient means comprises a resilient spring blade that is cantilever-mounted on said body structure adjacent said seat.
18. In a fuel rail assembly for multi-point injection of liquid fuel into an internal combustion engine via electrically operated fuel injectors carried by a fuel rail member which has a main fuel rail hole via which a liquid fuel supply is presented to the injectors carried by the fuel rail member, the improvement which comprises a fuel injector carrier which carries said fuel injectors and disposes said fuel injectors within said main fuel rail hole so that said fuel injectors are immersed in said liquid fuel supply, nozzle-receiving means in said fuel rail member for receiving nozzles of said fuel injectors in a sealed manner so that fuel can be injected from said nozzles without fuel from said liquid fuel supply leaking through said nozzle-receiving means, and electrical conductors leading from said injectors to terminations that are at the exterior of said fuel rail.
19. The improvement set forth in claim 18 in which said electrical conductors extend along said carrier to a connector containing said terminations.
20. The improvement set forth in claim 18 including a cover that overlies said carrier, said cover including means to capture certain parts of each fuel injector within a confined space.
21. The improvement set forth in claim 20 in which said means to capture certain parts of each fuel injector within a confined space comprises means to limit the extent to which a resilient spring blade of each fuel injector can be resiliently flexed and to confine an armature of each fuel injector.
22. The improvement set forth in claim 18 including keeper means that acts between the wall of said hole and said carrier to keep said nozzles received in said nozzle-receiving means.
23. The improvement set forth in claim 22 in which said keeper means comprises a keeper in the form of an elongate angle having a bend disposed against the wall of said hole diametrically opposite said nozzle-receiving means and sides which extend from said bend toward said carrier.
24. The method of making a fuel rail which comprises mounting a plurality of electrically operated fuel injectors at spaced apart locations along the length of an elongate carrier, inserting said injector-containing carrier endwise into an open end of an elongate hole in a member that has a plurality of spaced apart nozzle-receiving means for receiving nozzles of said carrier-mounted fuel injectors to register said nozzles with said nozzle receiving means, and then transversely displacing said carrier to dispose said nozzles in said nozzle-receiving means.
25. The method set forth in claim 24 including inserting an elongate keeper endwise into said hole to retain said carrier in position that keeps said nozzles in said nozzle-receiving means.
EP92903597A 1991-02-11 1992-02-05 Rolling ball fuel injector Expired - Lifetime EP0571413B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US65359891A 1991-02-11 1991-02-11
US653598 1991-02-11
PCT/EP1992/000253 WO1992014047A1 (en) 1991-02-11 1992-02-05 Fuel rail having rolling ball fuel injectors

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0571413A1 true EP0571413A1 (en) 1993-12-01
EP0571413B1 EP0571413B1 (en) 1994-11-23

Family

ID=24621544

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92903597A Expired - Lifetime EP0571413B1 (en) 1991-02-11 1992-02-05 Rolling ball fuel injector

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0571413B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH06505073A (en)
DE (1) DE69200710T2 (en)
WO (1) WO1992014047A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103573510B (en) * 2012-07-30 2015-12-30 广西玉柴机器股份有限公司 Electric-controlled fuel injector stationary platen

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4446837A (en) * 1977-03-25 1984-05-08 The Bendix Corporation Pressure regulator-accumulator for use with mechanical diaphragm pump
US4950171A (en) * 1989-08-11 1990-08-21 Itt Corporation Fuel injector connector system
US5030116A (en) * 1989-09-04 1991-07-09 Sumitomo Wiring System, Ltd. Connector block for injectors for internal combustion engine and junction terminal for use with the same connector block

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9214047A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0571413B1 (en) 1994-11-23
DE69200710T2 (en) 1995-05-18
WO1992014047A1 (en) 1992-08-20
DE69200710D1 (en) 1995-01-05
JPH06505073A (en) 1994-06-09

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5494224A (en) Flow area armature for fuel injector
JPH044464B2 (en)
US5178115A (en) Fuel rail assembly having self-contained electronics
FR2581705A1 (en) ELECTROMAGNETIC INJECTION VALVE WITH INTERMITTENT ACTION
US5465911A (en) Angled terminal/coil design for small diameter fuel injector
US5197675A (en) Fuel rail having rolling ball fuel injectors
EP0571413A1 (en) Fuel rail having rolling ball fuel injectors.
US5178114A (en) Fuel rail end closure and electrical connector
CA2018241A1 (en) Fuel injection
US6334580B2 (en) Gaseous injector with columnated jet oriface flow directing device
JP2003519334A (en) Fuel injection valve
JPH1054324A (en) Fuel injection valve
KR19990072050A (en) Amateur needle valve assembly with plastic connection
JP2004511699A (en) Fuel injection valve
US5308038A (en) Using the stator to prevent valve seat turning
KR980009868A (en) Injector fuel injection valve
EP0571437B1 (en) Fuel rail assembly
JP2712588B2 (en) Electromagnetic fuel injection device
JP4217941B2 (en) Fuel injection apparatus and adjustment method thereof
US11136953B2 (en) Fuel injector with a locating pin, internal combustion engine using the same, and method
US11788496B2 (en) Fuel dosing valve
JP2811062B2 (en) Side feed type fuel injection valve
JPH06621Y2 (en) Electromagnetic fuel injection valve
RU14057U1 (en) ELECTROMAGNETIC INJECTOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
JP2001295721A (en) Solenoid fuel injection valve

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19930618

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19940214

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69200710

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19950105

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19980113

Year of fee payment: 7

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19980223

Year of fee payment: 7

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19980420

Year of fee payment: 7

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990205

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19990205

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19991029

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19991201

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20050205