EP1763628A1

EP1763628A1 - Injector

Info

Publication number: EP1763628A1
Application number: EP05707910A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wolfgang Stoecklein; Holger Rapp; Thomas Schwarz; Andreas Gruenberger
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2004-04-08
Filing date: 2005-02-01
Publication date: 2007-03-21
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-01
Also published as: JP2006525456A; WO2005098229A1; DE102004017303A1; EP1763628B1; DE502005009762D1; US20070221745A1; ATE471450T1; CN1942667A

Abstract

The invention relates to an injection nozzle for an internal combustion engine having a nozzle needle or needle unit for controlling an injection of fuel through at least one injection orifice and an actuator for driving a coupling piston. The nozzle needle or needle unit has a control surface that at least partially delimits a control chamber which communicates with a coupling chamber that is at least partially delimited by the coupling piston. The control surface is situated at the end of the nozzle needle or nozzle unit oriented away from the at least one injection orifice and the actuator drives the coupling piston to open the nozzle needle in such a way that a volume of the coupling chamber increases.

Description

Eύispritzdflse

State of the art

The invention relates to an injection nozzle for an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle, with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Such an injection nozzle is known from US Pat. No. 6,520,423 B1 and has a nozzle needle for controlling an injection of fuel through at least one spray hole. Furthermore, the injection nozzle comprises a piezoelectric actuator for driving a coupling piston, which plunges into a coupling space or at least partially delimits it. The nozzle needle or a needle assembly comprising the nozzle needle has a control surface which at least partially delimits a control space and which communicates with the coupling space. In the known injection nozzle, the control surface is arranged facing the at least one spray hole on the nozzle needle or on the needle assembly. To open the nozzle needle, the actuator drives the coupling piston in the known injection nozzle in such a way that it plunges deeper into the coupling space and thereby reduces the volume of the coupling space. By reducing the coupling space volume, the pressure in it increases, which leads to a corresponding pressure increase in the control space communicating with it. Accordingly, the control surface is subjected to the increased pressure in the control chamber, as a result of which a force directed away from the at least one spray hole is introduced into the nozzle needle or into the needle assembly. The result of this is that the opening forces acting on the nozzle needle or on the needle assembly predominate, so that the nozzle needle lifts out of its seat and enables an injection of kraßstoff through the at least one spray hole.

In the known injection nozzle, the control of the nozzle needle is therefore carried out with the aid of an overpressure which can be significantly higher than the pressure prevailing in the coupling space and in the control space. When the nozzle needle is closed, there is usually a comparatively high one in both the coupling space and the control space Injection pressure, so that relatively tight manufacturing tolerances must be observed in order to avoid high leakages. However, tight manufacturing tolerances are associated with comparatively high manufacturing costs. Furthermore, in the known injection nozzle, the control surface is formed on a control piston which drives the nozzle needle or forms part of the needle assembly. Depending on the pressurization of the control chamber or the control surface, more or less pronounced transverse forces can act on the control piston, which can be transmitted to the nozzle needle due to the coupling to the latter. This can lead to increased friction of the nozzle needle in its needle guide, which can impair the proper functioning of the nozzle needle.

Advantages of the invention

The injection nozzle according to the invention with the features of claim 1 has the advantage that the nozzle needle can be controlled directly with a negative pressure, which makes it possible in principle to specify the manufacturing tolerances less closely. However, an increased leadership game reduces manufacturing costs. Furthermore, in the injection nozzle according to the invention, the pressurization or pressure reduction of the control surface can be designed so that no transverse forces are introduced into the nozzle needle or the needle assembly, which improves the functionality of the injection nozzle.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the coupling piston can at least partially delimit the coupling space on a side facing the at least one spray hole. The result of this embodiment is that the coupling piston is driven by the actuator towards the at least one spray hole, which enables a particularly compact design for the injection nozzle.

An embodiment is also advantageous in which the coupling piston is mounted in a stroke-adjustable manner in a cylinder space which is formed in an insert part which is arranged axially between the actuator and the nozzle needle or the needle assembly. Such an insert can be manufactured particularly easily with sufficient accuracy, which reduces the manufacturing costs for the injection nozzle.

In a further development, a return spring can be arranged in the cylinder space, which rests at one end on the coupling piston and at the other end on a base of the cylinder space supported. With the aid of such a return spring, the coupling piston can be biased into its starting position with a defined restoring force in order to close the nozzle needle, which at the same time leads to a defined pressure increase in the coupling chamber and thus in the control chamber. As a result, the forces acting on the nozzle needle in the closing direction can be increased. The proposed return spring thus supports the closing movement of the nozzle needle.

Further important features and advantages of the injection nozzle according to the invention result from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures with reference to the drawings.

drawings

An embodiment of the injection nozzle according to the invention is shown in the drawings and is explained in more detail below, the same reference numerals referring to the same or similar or functionally identical components. Each shows schematically

1 shows a simplified longitudinal section through an injection nozzle according to the invention,

2 shows an enlarged detail view of a longitudinal section of the injection nozzle marked E in FIG. 1.

Description of the embodiment

1, an injection nozzle 1 according to the invention comprises a nozzle body 2, in which an actuator 3 and a nozzle needle 4 are arranged. The actuator 3 is preferably configured as a piezoelectric actuator 3, that is to say a piezo actuator 3 which increases its axial length when current is applied and reduces it again when the current is removed. The nozzle needle 4 serves to control an injection of fuel through at least one spray hole 5, which is accommodated in a nozzle tip 6. The injection nozzle 1 usually contains a plurality of spray holes 5, which can be arranged in a quasi-star shape with respect to a longitudinal central axis 7 of the nozzle needle 4 or the injection nozzle 1. The nozzle needle 4 works together with a needle seat 8. In the closed state of the nozzle needle 4, it sits in its needle seat 8 and separates the at least one spray hole 5 from one that is not shown here Fuel supply in which the fuel to be injected is provided under a relatively high injection pressure. In the open state, the nozzle needle 4 is lifted from the needle seat 8, whereby the at least one spray hole 5 is connected to the fuel supply. As a result, fuel is injected into an injection chamber 9, which may be a combustion chamber or a mixture formation chamber.

The injection nozzle 1 is used to inject fuel into the combustion chamber of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, which can in particular be arranged in a vehicle. A separate injection nozzle 1 is assigned to each cylinder of the Brerin engine. In the so-called "common rail system", a common fuel supply is provided for several, in particular for all, injection nozzles 1 of the Brerink engine, which provides the fuel to be injected at the relatively high level of the injection pressure.

The nozzle needle 4 here forms part of a needle assembly 10 which, in addition to the nozzle needle 4, can also have a coupling rod 11 and a control piston 12 as an example. The individual components of the needle assembly 10 form a jointly stroke-adjustable unit which is at least suitable for the transmission of compressive forces. In principle, it is possible for two adjacent components of the needle assembly 10 to lie loosely against one another. It is also possible that two adjacent components of the needle assembly 10 are firmly connected to each other, for. B. by a welded or soldered connection. It is also possible that at least two components of the needle assembly 10 are made in one piece from one piece.

The actuator 3 drives a piston rod 14 via an articulated coupling point 13 and via this a coupling piston 15.

According to FIG. 2, the coupling piston 15 at least partially delimits a coupling space 16. This coupling space 16 communicates with a control space 18 via a connection path 17. This control space 18 is at least partially delimited by the control piston 12 or by a control surface 19. The control surface 19 is formed here on the control piston 12. It is also possible to arrange the control surface 19 directly on the nozzle needle 4 or on another component of the needle assembly 10. According to the invention, the control surface 19 is arranged on the nozzle needle 4 or on the needle assembly 10 such that it faces away from the at least one spray hole 5. This means that a pressure prevailing in the control chamber 18 acts on the control surface 19 such that it can introduce a force acting in the closing direction of the nozzle needle 4 into the nozzle needle 4 or into the needle assembly 10. Furthermore, in the present invention, the arrangement of the coupling piston 15 relative to the coupling space 16 is selected such that when it is actuated to open the nozzle needle 4, the actuator 3 drives the coupling piston 15 in such a way that a volume of the coupling space 16 increases.

In the embodiment shown here, the coupling piston 15 at least partially delimits the coupling space 16 on a side 20 facing the at least one spray hole 5. As a result, the coupling piston 15 has a coupling surface 21 facing away from the at least one spray hole 5, which is arranged in the coupling space 16 or partially delimits it. In order to increase the volume of the coupling space 16, the actuator 3 thus drives the coupling piston 15 in the direction of the at least one spray hole 5.

In the preferred embodiment shown here, the coupling piston 15 is mounted in a stroke-adjustable manner in a cylinder space 22. A return spring 23 is arranged in this cylinder chamber 22, which is also referred to below as a coupling piston return spring 23. The coupling piston return spring 23 is supported in the axial direction at one end on the coupling piston 15 and at the other end on a base 24 of the cylinder chamber 22. The cylinder chamber 22 is also connected to a leakage system in a manner not shown here, so that a stroke adjustment of the coupling piston 15 can change the volume in the cylinder chamber 22 without this resulting in a significant pressure change in the cylinder chamber 22.

The cylinder chamber 22 is formed in an insert part 25 which is designed as a separate component and is arranged axially between the actuator 3 and the nozzle needle 4 or the needle assembly 10. In the embodiment shown here, the insert part 25 is supported on one end in the axial direction on a component of the nozzle body 2 and on the other end, for. B. from a sealing plate 26. In the embodiment shown here, the insert part 25 has an axially projecting, radially outer annular collar 27 on an end face facing the actuator 3, which is axially supported on the sealing plate 26, thereby axially between the sealing plate 26 and the insert part 25 Coupling space 16 is formed. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown here, the connection path 17 is integrated into the insert part 25. By way of example, the connection path 17 can be formed from two bores 28 and 29 which communicate with one another, one of which 28 is connected to the coupling space 16 and the other 29 to the control space 18.

In the embodiment shown here, the piston rod 14 penetrates the sealing plate 26 centrally and is supported axially on the coupling piston 15. Here, too, it is fundamentally possible for the piston rod 14 and the coupling piston 15 to lie loosely against one another. Likewise, coupling piston 15 and piston rod 14 can be firmly connected to one another or be made in one piece from one piece. The piston rod 14 protrudes into the coupling space 16, i. H. the piston rod 14 passes through the coupling space 16 in the axial direction up to the coupling piston 15. The piston rod 14 has at least inside the coupling space 16 an outer cross section 30, which is mine as an outer cross section 31 of the coupling piston 15. In this way the coupling surface 21 is realized or As a result, the dependency of the coupling space volume on the position of the coupling piston 15 and the piston rod 14 is realized. In the present case, the piston rod 14 and / or the coupling piston 15 are cylindrical, in particular circular cylindrical.

According to FIG. 1, a further restoring spring 33 can be arranged between the sealing plate 26 and a support plate 32 supported axially on the actuator 3, which restoring spring 33 is also referred to below. The actuator return spring 33 is supported in the axial direction on the one hand on the support plate 32 and on the other hand on the sealing plate 26 and is thus supported on the nozzle body 2 via the insert part 25. The actuator 3 is connected via the coupling point 13 centrally through the support plate 32 to the piston rod 14.

2, the control chamber 18 is formed axially between the insert part 25 and the control piston 12, wherein it is also radially surrounded by a sleeve 34 here. In this sleeve 34, the control piston 12 is adjustably supported. It is clear from FIG. 2 that the connection path 17 can advantageously be implemented within the insert part 25 in such a way that the connection path 17 opens out into the control chamber 18 centrally via the bore 29. As a result, a particularly uniform pressure build-up or pressure reduction in the control chamber 18 can be achieved in order to avoid transverse forces on the control piston 12 and thus on the needle assembly 10. 1, a further return spring 35 can be provided, which is also referred to below as a needle return spring 35. The needle return spring 35 is supported at one end in the axial direction on the sleeve 34 and at the other end on a support ring 36, which in turn is supported on the needle assembly 10 or forms part of the needle assembly 10.

The injection nozzle 1 according to the invention works as follows:

In an initial state, the nozzle needle 4 is closed, i. H. the nozzle needle 4 sits in the needle seat 8 and thus blocks the connection of the fuel supply to the at least one spray hole 5. In this initial state, the same pressure prevails in the control chamber 18 and in the coupling chamber 16, in particular the high-pressure fuel. This high fuel pressure can be set, for example, by a targeted and / or unavoidable leakage of the coupling space 16 and / or the control space 18 and / or the connection path 17 with respect to the fuel supply. The pressure effective in the control chamber 18 generates on the control surface 19 a force oriented in the closing direction of the nozzle needle 4. Furthermore, the needle return spring 35 also introduces a closing force into the needle assembly 10. Overall, the forces acting in the closing direction predominate on the needle assembly 10.

The actuator return spring 33 has biased the actuator 3 into its shortened starting position. The coupling piston return spring 23 also keeps the coupling piston 15 biased against the force acting in the coupling space 16.

In order to initiate an injection process through the at least one spray hole 5, the actuator 3 is actuated or activated, as a result of which it increases its length and thereby drives the coupling piston 15 axially in the direction of the at least one spray hole 5 via the piston rod 14. As a result, the coupling surface 21 of the coupling piston 15 exposed to the coupling space 16 is adjusted relative to the coupling space 16 such that the volume of the coupling space 16 increases. The increase in the coupling space volume is accompanied by a drop in pressure in the coupling space 16, which propagates into the control space 18 via the connecting path 17. The reduced pressure in the control chamber 18 reduces the forces acting on the control surface 19 in the direction of flow, such that the forces acting in the opening direction now predominate on the needle assembly 10. Consequently, the nozzle needle 4 lifts off from its needle seat 8, what that connects at least one spray hole 5 to the fuel supply and enables the injection process.

At the end of the injection process, the actuator 3 is deactivated, which reduces its length. The return springs 23, 33 and 35 tensioned by the opening process can now develop their return forces when the actuator 3 is deactivated and subsequently drive the actuator and the coupling piston 15 and the nozzle needle 4 back into the starting position. It is important for the closing process of the nozzle needle 4 that the coupling piston 15, driven by the coupling piston return spring 23, reduces the volume of the coupling chamber 16 again, which is accompanied by a corresponding pressure increase in the coupling chamber 16 and thus also in the control chamber 18. The increased pressure in the control chamber 18 increases the closing forces introduced into the needle assembly 10 via the control surface 19 to a corresponding extent. As soon as the nozzle needle 4 moves back into its needle seat 8, the connection of the at least one spray hole 5 to the fuel line is interrupted and the injection process is ended.

The injection nozzle 1 according to the invention is thus controlled directly via the pressure or negative pressure on the control surface 19, which can be varied with the aid of the actuator 3. It is noteworthy here that the hydraulically operating components of the injector 1 are exposed to a maximum of the injection pressure, since the pressure in the control chamber 18 is lowered to actuate the nozzle needle 4. As a result, the hydraulic components can be manufactured with less effort in terms of production technology. In particular, a smaller game and larger tolerances can be allowed, which has an advantageous effect on the manufacturing costs. Furthermore, there is no direct coupling between the nozzle needle 4 or the needle assembly 10 on the one hand and the coupling piston 15 on the other hand, which reduces or eliminates disadvantageous interactions between the components mentioned.

Bezugszeichenhste

1 injector

2 nozzle bodies

3 actuator

4 nozzle needle

5 spray hole

6 nozzle tip

7 longitudinal axis of the nozzle

8 needle seat

9 injection chamber

10 needle bandage

11 coupling rod

12 control pistons

13 coupling point

14 piston rod

15 coupling pistons

16 coupling space

17 liaison officer

18 control room

19 Control surface 0 side of 16 1 coupling surface 2 cylinder space 3 return spring 4 base of 22 5 insert part 6 sealing plate 7 ring collar 8 bore 9 bore Outside cross section of 16

External cross section of 15

support plate

Return spring

shell

Return spring

support ring

Claims

Expectations

1. Injection nozzle for a Brerinkkraftmaschine, in particular in a motor vehicle, - with a nozzle needle (4) for controlling an injection of fuel through at least one spray hole (5), - with an actuator (3) for driving a coupling piston (15), - whereby the nozzle needle (4) or a needle assembly (10) comprising the nozzle needle (4) has a control surface (19) which at least partially delimits a control space (18), - the control space (18) communicating with a coupling space (16), wherein the coupling piston (15) at least partially delimits the coupling space (16), characterized in that - the control surface (19) is arranged facing away from the at least one spray hole (5) on the nozzle needle (4) or on the needle assembly (10), that the actuator (3) drives the coupling piston (15) to open the nozzle needle (4) such that a volume of the coupling space (16) increases.

2. Injection nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling piston (15) at least partially delimits the coupling space (16) on a side (20) facing the at least one spray hole (5).

3. Injection nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that - the coupling piston (15) is mounted in a stroke-adjustable manner in a cylinder space (22), - that the cylinder space (22) is formed in an insert part (25) which is axially between the actuator (3) and the nozzle needle (4) or the needle bandage (10) is arranged.

4. Injection nozzle according to claim 3, characterized in that a return spring (23) is arranged in the cylinder space (22), which is supported at one end on the coupling piston (15) and at the other end on a base (24) of the cylinder space (22).

5. Injection nozzle according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a control path (18) with the coupling space (16) communicating connecting path (17) is formed in the insert part (25).

6. Injection nozzle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the actuator (3) drives the coupling piston (15) via a piston rod (14) which passes through to the coupling piston (15) through the coupling chamber (16) and the coupling chamber (16) exposed outer cross-section (30) is smaller than the outer cross-section (31) of the coupling piston (15) exposed to the coupling space (16).

7. Injection nozzle according to claims 3 and 6, characterized in that the coupling space (16) is formed axially between the insert part (25) and a sealing plate (26) which is penetrated centrally by the piston rod (14).

8. Injection nozzle according to claim 7, characterized in that - the sealing plate (26) is supported axially on the insert part (25) and / or - that on the sealing plate (25) a further return spring (33) is supported, which is also on the actuator (3) supported directly or indirectly. Injection nozzle according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a connecting path (17) communicating the control chamber (18) with the coupling chamber (16) is connected axially and centrally to the control chamber (18).