EP2292918A1 - Fuel injector equipped with a metering servovalve for an internal-combustion engine - Google Patents
Fuel injector equipped with a metering servovalve for an internal-combustion engine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2292918A1 EP2292918A1 EP09425297A EP09425297A EP2292918A1 EP 2292918 A1 EP2292918 A1 EP 2292918A1 EP 09425297 A EP09425297 A EP 09425297A EP 09425297 A EP09425297 A EP 09425297A EP 2292918 A1 EP2292918 A1 EP 2292918A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- calibrated
- discharge duct
- injector
- control chamber
- hole
- 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
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Classifications
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- 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
- F02M47/00—Fuel-injection apparatus operated cyclically with fuel-injection valves actuated by fluid pressure
- F02M47/02—Fuel-injection apparatus operated cyclically with fuel-injection valves actuated by fluid pressure of accumulator-injector type, i.e. having fuel pressure of accumulator tending to open, and fuel pressure in other chamber tending to close, injection valves and having means for periodically releasing that closing pressure
- F02M47/027—Electrically actuated valves draining the chamber to release the closing pressure
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- 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
- F02M63/00—Other fuel-injection apparatus having pertinent characteristics not provided for in groups F02M39/00 - F02M57/00 or F02M67/00; Details, component parts, or accessories of fuel-injection apparatus, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus of groups F02M39/00 - F02M61/00 or F02M67/00; Combination of fuel pump with other devices, e.g. lubricating oil pump
- F02M63/0012—Valves
- F02M63/0031—Valves characterized by the type of valves, e.g. special valve member details, valve seat details, valve housing details
- F02M63/004—Sliding valves, e.g. spool valves, i.e. whereby the closing member has a sliding movement along a seat for opening and closing
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- 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
- F02M63/00—Other fuel-injection apparatus having pertinent characteristics not provided for in groups F02M39/00 - F02M57/00 or F02M67/00; Details, component parts, or accessories of fuel-injection apparatus, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus of groups F02M39/00 - F02M61/00 or F02M67/00; Combination of fuel pump with other devices, e.g. lubricating oil pump
- F02M63/0012—Valves
- F02M63/007—Details not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus of the groups F02M63/0014 - F02M63/0059
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- 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
- F02M2200/00—Details of fuel-injection apparatus, not otherwise provided for
- F02M2200/28—Details of throttles in fuel-injection apparatus
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- 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
- F02M2547/00—Special features for fuel-injection valves actuated by fluid pressure
- F02M2547/003—Valve inserts containing control chamber and valve piston
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a fuel injector equipped with a metering servovalve for an internal-combustion engine.
- injectors for internal-combustion engines comprise a metering servovalve having a control chamber, which communicates with a fuel inlet and with a fuel-discharge duct.
- the metering servovalve comprises an open/close element, which is axially movable under the action of an electric actuator to open/close an outlet opening of the discharge duct and vary the pressure in the control chamber.
- the pressure in the control chamber controls opening/closing of a terminal nozzle of the injector to introduce the fuel into a corresponding cylinder.
- the discharge duct has a calibrated stretch, which is of particular importance for proper operation of the metering servovalve.
- the flow rate of a fluid is associated to a predefined pressure differential.
- the calibrated stretch of the discharge duct is obtained by making a perforation via electron discharge machining (EDM), followed by a finishing operation, necessary for eliminating any possible perforation defects that, albeit small, would in any case result in large errors on the pressure drop in fuel flow and, consequently, in the flow rate of fuel leaving the control chamber.
- the finishing operation has the purpose of stabilizing the flow rate of fluid that traverses the calibrated stretch: in practice, it is a sort of "ageing" aimed at guaranteeing robustness of operation.
- the finishing operation is of an experimental nature and is carried out by getting an abrasive liquid to flow through the hole made via EDM, setting the pressure upstream and downstream of the hole, and detecting the flow rate: the flow rate tends to increase progressively with the abrasion caused by the liquid on the lateral surface of the hole, until a preset design value is reached.
- the flow is interrupted: in use, the final passage section obtained will come to define, to a close approximation, a pressure drop equal to the difference in pressure set upstream and downstream of the hole during the finishing operation and a flow rate of fuel leaving the control chamber equal to the preset design value.
- the discharge duct has an outlet made in an axial stem that guides the open/close element, said stem being defined by a sliding sleeve.
- the calibrated stretch of the discharge duct is coaxial with the axial stem and is made in a perforated plate, which axially delimits the control chamber. Downstream of said calibrated stretch, the discharge duct comprises an axial stretch and then two opposed radial stretches, which define, together, a relatively large passage section for the discharged fuel.
- the incoming fuel that flows into the control chamber determines a pressure drop that causes the pressure to reach approximately 700-800 bar in the control chamber; then, between the upstream and downstream ends of the calibrated stretch of the discharge duct, the fuel pressure drops from approximately 700-800 bar to just a few bar.
- the calibrated stretch in order to generate a pressure drop of approximately 700-800 bar, the calibrated stretch must have an extremely small diameter, which is extremely complex to obtain precisely and in a constant way between the various injectors.
- the European patent application No. 08425460.6 filed in the name of the present applicant, proposes provision of two or more calibrated restrictions set in series along the discharge duct: in this case, the pressure drop, which, in use, occurs between the control chamber and the discharge environment when the open/close element is in the opening position, is split into as many pressure drops as are the calibrated restrictions set in series along the discharge duct.
- one of the main factors that determines onset or otherwise of cavitation is defined by the ratio between the pressure upstream and the pressure downstream of the calibrated restriction. Even if it were assumed that it is possible theoretically to split the total pressure drop into 95% on the first calibrated restriction and 5% on the second calibrated restriction, with a pressure of the control chamber of approximately 700-800 bar, there is, upstream of the second calibrated restriction, a pressure of approximately 40-35 bar and, downstream, a pressure close to the atmospheric pressure of the discharge environment. Consequently, the ratio between the pressure upstream and the pressure downstream of the second calibrated restriction is in any case high and such as to cause cavitation phenomena, even if said phenomena are markedly reduced as compared to solutions in which the pressure drop is not split into two.
- the aim of the present invention is to provide a fuel injector equipped with a metering servovalve for an internal-combustion engine, which will enable improvement of the solution described above, reducing the presence of cavitation, i.e., formation of fuel vapour, and hence wear in the sealing area between the open/close element and the axial stem, to a minimum.
- a fuel injector for an internal-combustion engine is provided, as defined in Claim 1.
- the reference number 1 designates, as a whole, a fuel injector (partially shown) for an internal-combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine.
- the injector 1 comprises a hollow body or casing 2, commonly referred to as “injector body", which extends along a longitudinal axis 3, and has a lateral inlet 4 designed to be connected to a duct for delivery fuel at a high pressure, for example at a pressure of around 1600 bar.
- the casing 2 terminates with an injection nozzle (not shown in the figure), which is in communication with the inlet 4 through a duct 4a, and is designed to inject fuel into a corresponding engine cylinder.
- the casing 2 defines an axial cavity 6, in which a metering servovalve 5 is housed, comprising a valve body, made of a single piece and designated by the reference number 7.
- the valve body 7 comprises a tubular portion 8 defining a blind axial hole 9 and a centring ridge 12, which radially projects with respect to a cylindrical outer surface of the portion 8 and is coupled with an internal surface 13 of the body 2.
- a control rod 10 is able to slide axially in a fluid-tight way in the hole 9 to control, in a way known and not shown, an needle open/close element that opens and closes the injection nozzle.
- the casing 2 defines another cavity 14 coaxial with the cavity 6 and housing an actuator 15, which comprises an electromagnet 16 and a notched-disk armature 17 operated by the electromagnet 16.
- the armature 17 is made of a single piece with a sleeve 18, which extends along the axis 3.
- the electromagnet 16 comprises a magnetic core 19, which has a surface 20 that is perpendicular to the axis 3 and defines an axial stop for the armature 17, said magnetic core 19 being held in position by a support 21.
- the actuator 15 has an axial cavity 22 housing a helical compression spring 23, which is preloaded so as to exert a thrust on the armature 17 in the axial direction opposite to the attraction exerted by the electromagnet 16.
- the spring 23 has one end resting against an internal shoulder of the support 21, and the other end acting on the armature 17 via axial interposition of a washer 24.
- the metering servovalve 5 comprises a control chamber 26 radially delimited by the lateral surface of the hole 9 of the tubular portion 8.
- the control chamber 26 is axially delimited on one side by a terminal surface 25 of the rod 10, which advantageously has the shape of a truncated-cone, and on the other side by a bottom surface 27 of the hole 9.
- the control chamber 26 is in permanent communication with the inlet 4 through a duct 28 made in the portion 8 to receive pressurized fuel.
- the duct 28 comprises a calibrated stretch 29 and gives out on one side into the control chamber 26 in the proximity of the bottom surface 27 and on the other side into an annular chamber 30, radially delimited by the surface 11 of the portion 8 and by an annular groove 31 of the internal surface of the cavity 6.
- the annular chamber 30 is axially delimited on one side by the ridge 12 and on the other by a gasket 31a. Giving out into the annular chamber 30 is a duct 32 made in the body 2 and in communication with the inlet 4.
- the valve body 7 comprises an intermediate axial portion defining an external flange 33, which projects radially with respect to the ridge 12, is housed in a portion 34 of the cavity 6 of oversized diameter, and is located axially in contact with an internal shoulder 35 of the cavity 6.
- the flange 33 is gripped against the shoulder 35 by a threaded ring nut 36, screwed into an internal thread 37 of the portion 34 in order to guarantee fluid tightness against the shoulder 35.
- the valve body 7 also comprises a guide element for the armature 17 and the sleeve 18.
- Said element is defined by a substantially cylindrical stem 38 having a diameter much smaller than that of the flange 33.
- the stem 38 projects in cantilever fashion from the flange 33, along the axis 3 on the side opposite to the tubular portion 8, i.e., towards the cavity 22.
- the stem 38 is externally delimited by a lateral surface 39, which comprises a cylindrical portion for guiding axial sliding of the sleeve 18.
- the sleeve 18 has an internal cylindrical surface 40, coupled to the lateral surface 39 of the stem 38, that is substantially fluid-tight, i.e., via a coupling with an appropriate diametral play, from example of less than 4 ⁇ m, or else via interposition of specific sealing elements.
- the control chamber 26 is in permanent communication with a fuel-discharge duct, designated as a whole by the reference number 42.
- the duct 42 comprises a blind axial stretch 43, made along the axis 3 in the valve body 7 (partly in the flange 33 and partly in the stem 38).
- the duct 42 also comprises at least one outlet stretch 44, which is radial, starts from the stretch 43, and defines, at the opposite end, an outlet opening onto the lateral surface 39, in a position corresponding to a chamber 46 defined by an annular groove made in the lateral surface 39 of the stem 38.
- the chamber 46 is obtained in an axial position adjacent to the flange 33 and is opened/closed by a terminal portion of the sleeve 18, which defines an open/close element 47 for the duct 42.
- the open/close element 47 terminates with an internal surface 48 shaped like a truncated cone, which is designed to engage a surface 49 shaped like a truncated cone between for connection between the flange 33 and the stem 38 to define a sealing area.
- the sleeve 18 slides on the stem 38, together with the armature 17, between an advanced end-of-travel position and a retracted end-of-travel position.
- the open/close element 47 closes the annular chamber 46 and thus the outlet of the stretches 44 of the duct 42.
- the open/close element 47 opens the chamber 46 sufficiently to allow the stretches 44 to discharge fuel from the control chamber 26 through the duct 42 and the chamber 46.
- the passage section left open by the open/close element 47 has the shape of a truncated cone and is at least three times larger that the passage section of a single stretch 44.
- the advanced end-of-travel position of the sleeve 18 is defined by the surface 48 of the open/close element 47 coming to bear upon the surface 49 having the shape of a truncated cone for connection between the flange 33 and the stem 38.
- the retracted end-of-travel position of the sleeve 18 is defined by the armature 17 axially coming to bear upon the surface 20 of the core 19, with interposition of a nonmagnetic gap plate 51.
- the chamber 46 is set in communication with a discharge duct of the injector (not shown), through an annular passage between the ring nut 36 and the sleeve, through the notches in the armature 17, through the cavity 22, and through an opening 52 of the support 21.
- the spring 23 brings the armature 17, together with the open/close element 47, into the advanced end-of-travel position of Figure 1 .
- the chamber 46 is closed, and the pressurized fuel arriving from the duct 28 re-establishes the high pressure in the control chamber 26 so that the rod 10 moves away from the bottom surface 27 and governs closing of the injection nozzle.
- the fuel exerts a substantially zero resultant axial thrust on the sleeve 18, since the pressure in the chamber 46 acts only radially on the lateral surface 40 of the sleeve 18.
- the duct 42 comprises calibrated restrictions.
- restriction is understood a portion of duct in which the passage section available as a whole for the fuel is smaller than the passage section that the flow of fuel encounters upstream and downstream of said portion of duct.
- the restriction is defined by said single hole.
- the restriction is defined by the entirety of said holes.
- calibrated is meant the fact that the passage section is provided precisely so as to define exactly a predetermined flow of fuel leaving the control chamber 26 and so as to cause a predetermined pressure drop between upstream to downstream.
- the calibration may be achieved in a precise manner by a finishing operation of an experimental nature, which is carried out by getting an abrasive liquid to flow in the hole previously made (for example, by EDM or laser), setting a pressure upstream and downstream of said hole, and detecting the rate of flow: the flow rate tends to increase progressively with the abrasion caused by the liquid on the lateral surface of the hole (hydro-erosion or hydro-abrasion), until a pre-set design value is reached.
- the flow is interrupted: in use, if there is a pressure upstream of the hole equal to the one set during the finishing operation, the final passage section obtained comes to define a pressure drop equal to the difference in pressure set between upstream and downstream of the hole during the finishing operation and a fuel flow rate equal to the preset design flow rate.
- the restrictions of the duct 42 have a diameter of between 150 and 300 ⁇ m, whereas the stretch 43 of the duct 42 is obtained in the valve body 7 by means of a normal drill, without particular precision, to obtain a diameter that is at least four times larger than the diameter of the calibrated restrictions.
- the calibrated restrictions are at least two and are arranged in series with respect to one another along the duct 42 (in the attached drawings, the diameter of the calibrated restrictions is shown only qualitatively and not in scale) so as to obtain respective successive pressure drops when the open/close element is in its retracted end-of-travel position.
- the duct 42 comprises a widened intermediate portion, i.e., with a passage section greater that that of both of the calibrated restrictions.
- one of the calibrated restrictions is defined by the combination of the two stretches 44, whilst the other is designated by the reference number 53 and is obtained in an element separate from the valve body 7 and subsequently fixed in a position corresponding to the bottom surface 27 of the hole 9.
- the calibrated restriction 53 is provided in a cylindrical bushing 54 made of a relatively hard material, defining an insert housed in a seat 55 of the valve body 7 and set flush with the bottom surface 27.
- the bushing 54 has an outer diameter such as to enable insertion and fixing by interference fit in the seat 55 after the finishing operation described above.
- the calibrated restriction 53 extends axially for just part of the length of the bushing 54 and occupies a position adjacent to stretch 43, whereas the rest of the bushing 54 has an axial stretch 43a of larger diameter, for example, equal to that of stretch 43 in the valve body 7.
- the volume of the stretch 43a comes to be added to the one defined by the bottom of the hole 9 to define the volume of the control chamber 26.
- the bushing 54 could be reversed so as to have the calibrated restriction 53 that gives out directly onto the bottom of the hole 9, as appears from the variants of Figures 7 and 8 .
- the calibrated restriction 53 may also be located in an intermediate axial position along the bushing 54.
- a single stretch 44 with a calibrated passage section is provided.
- this passage section is equal to the sum of the passage sections of the stretches 44 of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 .
- the calibrated restriction 53 is obtained in a bushing 54a throughout its axial length.
- the bushing 54a has an outer diameter substantially corresponding to that of the stretch 43, and is driven into this stretch 43 so that its bottom surface is flush with the bottom surface 27 of the hole 9.
- the calibrated restriction 53 is obtained axially on a plate 56 located in the control chamber and resting axially against the valve body 7. Since the travel of the rod 10 for opening and closing the nozzle of the injector 1 is relatively small, the plate 56 may be held in contact with the bottom surface 27 by means of a compression spring 57 forced between the plate 56 and the terminal surface 25 of the rod 10.
- the fact that the terminal surface 25 is shaped like a truncated cone enables it to perform the function of centring of the compression spring 57.
- the plate 56 has a diameter smaller than that of the hole 9, whilst the compression spring 57 has the shape of a truncated cone.
- the hole 9 comprises a bottom portion having a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the plate 56: in this case, the plate 56 could be fixed by interference fit in said bottom portion.
- the duct 42 has an axial hole of relatively large diameter, made in the flange 33, to facilitate manufacture.
- said axial hole of relatively large diameter is designated by the reference number 58 and terminates axially at an area of connection between the stem 38 and the flange 33.
- the duct 42 comprises two holes 59, which are diametrally opposed, define a calibrated restriction, and are inclined with respect to the axis 3 by a certain angle so as to put the chamber 46 in direct communication with the bottom of the hole 58.
- the angle of inclination with respect to the axis 3 is of between 30° and 45°.
- the stem 38 By causing the hole 58 to be completely within the flange 33 of the valve body 7, the stem 38 proves to be more robust as compared to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 .
- the diameter of the stem 38, and hence the diameter of the annular sealing area between the sleeve 18 and the stem 38 may consequently be reduced, with obvious benefits in limiting any leakage in said seal in dynamic conditions.
- the diameter of the sealing area can now be reduced to a value of between 2.5 and 3.5 mm without the stem 38 becoming structurally weak.
- the hole 58 has a diameter of between 8 and 20 times that of the calibrated restriction 53. In this way, the intersection of the holes 59 with the bottom of the hole 58 during drilling of the holes 59 is facilitated.
- the calibrated restriction 53 is made in a cylindrical bushing 61 and extends throughout the length of the bushing 61.
- the bushing 61 is driven, i.e., force fitted, into an axial seat 60 after the hole 58 has been cleaned.
- the seat 60 has a diameter larger than that of the hole 58 and a length smaller than that of the hole 58 so that drive fitting is facilitated; the bushing 61 could have a slight conical external chamfer (not shown) on the side fitting into the flange 33 to facilitate its axial insertion into the seat 60.
- the axial hole of relatively larger diameter is designated by the reference number 63 and defines the initial stretch of a blind axial hole 62.
- the inlet of the stretch 63 houses a bushing 64 force fitted therein and having the calibrated restriction 53, which extends throughout the axial length of the bushing 64.
- the bushing 64 could have a slight external conical chamfer (not shown) on the side fitting into the flange 33.
- the hole 62 also comprises a blind stretch 66, having a diameter smaller than that of the stretch 63, extending beyond the flange 33 into the stem 38, and defining a calibrated restriction.
- the diameter of the stretch 66 is greater than that of the calibrated restriction 53: for example, it is approximately twice that of the calibrated restriction 53. Notwithstanding the larger diameter, it is possible to obtain a pressure drop of the same order of magnitude as that caused by the calibrated restriction 53 by calibrating in an appropriate way the length of the stretch 66.
- the diameter of the stretch 66 is in any case relatively small, the diameter of the stem 38 and hence the diameter of the seal with the sleeve 18 can be reduced with respect to the solution of Figures 1 and 2 . Also in this configuration, advantageously the diameter of the sealing area can be reduced down to a value of between 2.5 and 3.5 mm according to the materials chosen and the type of heat treatment adopted.
- the duct 42 also comprises two diametrally opposed radial stretches 67, which are made so as to define a passage section larger than that of the stretch 66 and without any particular machining precision.
- the stretches 67 give out directly into the calibrated stretch 66, on one side, and into the chamber 46, on the other.
- bushings 61 and 64 are replaced by bushings similar to the one designated by the reference number 54 in Figure 1 .
- the variants illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 differ from those illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 in that the calibrated restriction 53 is obtained in a bushing, 61a and 64a, respectively, and extends for a relatively small part of the axial length of the bushing 61a and 64a.
- the calibrated restriction 53 is adjacent to the bottom surface 27 so that the volume of the control chamber 26 is exclusively defined by the volume at the bottom of the hole 9.
- the remaining part of the bushing 61a and 64a has an axial hole 68 made with a diameter greater than that of the calibrated restriction 53, without any particular machining precision.
- the hole 58 and the seat 60 are replaced by a blind axial hole 58a, which is made entirely within the flange 33 like the hole 58 in Figure 6 , but defines a cylindrical seat completely engaged by the bushing 61a.
- the stretch 63 is completely engaged by the bushing 64a.
- the bushing 61a and 64a is press-fitted into the hole 58a and into the stretch 63, respectively, until it bears upon a conical end narrowing of the hole 58a and of the stretch 63, respectively.
- the stretches 67 are replaced by stretches 67a that define a calibrated restriction
- the stretch 66 is replaced by a stretch 66a made without any particular precision and having a passage section larger than that of the stretches 67a
- the calibrated restriction 53 is made in a plate 69, having a relatively small thickness and made of a relatively hard material, and is housed at the bottom of the stretch 63.
- the plate 69 is not interference fitted, but is axially gripped to the bottom of the stretch 63 by an insert defined by a sleeve 70, which is interference fitted to the inlet of the stretch 63, is made of a relatively soft material to facilitate drive fitting, and defines a through hole, the volume of which comes to form part of the control chamber 26.
- valve body 7 is replaced by three distinct pieces: a tubular body 75 (partially shown), which delimits the control chamber 26 radially and terminates with an external flange 33a axially resting against the shoulder 35, a disk 33b, which delimits the control chamber 26 axially on the opposite side of the terminal surface 25 and axially rests against the end of the body 75, and a distribution and guide body 76, which is made of a single piece and comprises the stem 38 and a base defining an external flange 33c.
- the flange 33c is axially gripped via the ring nut 36 and is axially delimited by a surface 77, which axially rests against the disk 33b, in a fluid-tight way and in a fixed position.
- the stem 38 extends axially in cantilever fashion from the base 33c in the opposite direction with respect to the disk 33b and comprises the calibrated restriction defined by the holes 44.
- the blind stretch 43 is provided partly in the base 33c and partly in the stem 38; the calibrated restriction 53 and the stretch 43a are provided in the disk 33b.
- the stretches 44 are inclined like the stretches 59 shown in Figures 5 and 7 .
- the stretches 44 are made without any particular precision, whilst the calibrated restriction is made in the stretch 43, in a way similar to what has been shown as regards the stretch 66 of Figures 6 and 8 .
- the body 76 is replaced by a body 78 that differs from the body 76 in that it comprises a seat 55a made in the flange 33c through the surface 77.
- the stretch 43 is coaxial with the seat 55a and gives out directly into the seat 55a.
- the seat 55a has a diameter greater than that of the stretch 43 and is engaged by an insert defined by a cylindrical bushing 54b, which is interference fitted in the seat 55b and set flush with the surface 77 of the base 33c.
- the bushing 54b defines a calibrated restriction 79, set in series to the calibrated restrictions 44 and 53.
- the calibrated restriction 79 extends for only part of the axial length of the bushing 54b and is in a position adjacent to the stretch 43.
- the rest of the bushing 54b has an axial stretch 43b, having a diameter greater than that of the calibrated restrictions and communicating directly with stretch 43a.
- the stretches 44 are inclined like the stretches 59 in Figures 5 and 7 ; or else the stretches 44 are made without any particular precision, whilst the calibrated restriction is made in the stretch 43, as in Figures 6 and 8 .
- valve body 7 is replaced by two distinct pieces, one defined by the distribution body 76 of Figure 10 and the other by a valve body 80.
- the valve body 80 radially and axially delimits the control chamber 26 and comprises a terminal portion 82 provided with the ridge 12 and an external flange 33d axially gripped between the flange 33c and the shoulder 35 (not shown).
- the calibrated restriction 53 is made in the portion 82 and gives out into two coaxial stretches 83 and 84 of the duct 42.
- the stretches 83 and 84 have a diameter greater than that of the calibrated restriction 53 and substantially equal to that of the stretch 43.
- the stretch 83 is defined by a hole in the portion 82 and communicates directly with the control chamber 26;
- the stretch 84 is defined by a seal ring 85, which is housed in a seat 86 and rests against the surface 77 to define fluid-tight seal of the duct 42 between the bodies 80 and 76.
- the fluid tightness can again be obtained through metal-to-metal contact between the bodies 80 and 76 without any seal ring.
- the calibrated restriction 53 is obtained in an insert axially driven into the portion 80 from the side facing the control chamber 26, as in the solutions represented in Figures 1 , 2, 3, 4 and 9 , or from the side facing the base 33c.
- the calibrated restriction of the body 76 is defined by outlet stretches inclined like the stretches 59 of Figures 5 and 7 , or by a blind axial stretch like the stretch 66 of Figures 6 and 8 .
- a third calibrated restriction is provided inside the body 76 or inside the valve body 80 and is located axially and in series between the calibrated restrictions 53 and 44.
- the flange 33c has a circular seat 90, which is obtained along the surface 77 coaxially with the seat 86 and has the same diameter as the seat 86.
- the seat 90 houses a disk 91, which has an axial hole 92 defining the third calibrated restriction.
- the disk 91 is kept axially resting against the bottom of the seat 90 by a seal ring 85a, provided instead of the ring 85.
- the ring 85a has a rectangular or square cross section, with an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the seats 90 and 86 and engages both of the seats 90 and 86 to define a centring member between the two bodies 80 and 76.
- the ring 85a provides three functions: axial centring between the bodies 80 and 76 during coupling, sealing between the bodies 80 and 76 around the fuel flow in the duct 42, and positioning of the disk 91 in the seat 90.
- the axial end of the valve body 7, opposite to the portion 8, has an axial recess 139, which is defined by a surface 149 substantially shaped like a truncated cone and houses an open/close element 147.
- the open/close element 147 is axially movable in response to the action of the actuator 15, in a way known and not described in detail, to open/close an axial outlet of the duct 42.
- the open/close element 147 has a spherical external surface 148, which engages the surface 149 when the open/close element 147 is located in its advanced end-of-travel position or closing position so as to define a sealing area.
- the duct 42 comprises a calibrated restriction 53 made in an element that is separate from the valve body 7, in particular in the bushing 54 that is inserted in the seat 55 of the valve body 7 and is set flush with the bottom surface 27.
- the axial stretch 43 is made in the flange 33 and exits in an axial stretch 144 of the duct 42.
- the stretch 144 defines a calibrated restriction set in series to, and coaxial with, the calibrated restriction 53.
- the stretch 144 exits in a final axial stretch 130, which has a passage section larger than that of the stretch 144 and defines the outlet of the duct 42 onto the surface 149.
- the pressure drop which, in use, occurs in the control chamber 26 and in the discharge duct when the open/close element 47 is in the open position, is split into as many pressure drops as are the calibrated restrictions set in series along the duct 42.
- the pressure drop is split into two or more successive pressure drops: the cavitation phenomena, and hence phenomena of evaporation of the flow of fuel, are prevented or at least limited.
- the total pressure drop of the flow of fuel from the control chamber 26 to the discharge environment is known.
- the European patent application No. 08425460.6 describes how to split this pressure drop into two or more differentials. It is thus possible to obtain to a first approximation the value of the diameters of the calibrated restrictions, once the percentages into which the total pressure drop between the two holes or restrictions in series is to be split and once the flow rate from the control chamber 26 have been set.
- the pressure drop associated to the first calibrated restriction is set so as to be greater than the subsequent ones. Consequently, the first calibrated restriction (designated by the reference number 53 in Figures 1 to 13 ) will have a passage section smaller than the subsequent calibrated restrictions.
- the calibrated restriction 53 is associated to a pressure drop of at least 60% of the total pressure drop and, conveniently, 80%.
- the ratio between the passage section of the second calibrated section and that of the first calibrated section is approximately equal to 2.
- the hole or holes 44, 59, 66, 67a, 144 that define the last calibrated restriction are defined by a slight flaring 200, of a conical type, so as to be divergent, except possibly for their inlet 201 and their outlet 202, which can be chamfered or radiused, on account of the specific technologies used for providing and/or calibrating said holes.
- the divergence of the holes 44, 59, 66, 67a, 144 corresponds to a slight increase in the passage section in the direction of advance of the flow of fuel so that it favours a reduction in the rate of flow of fuel and a rise in the pressure; this phenomenon tends to reduce the amount of bubbles of vapour at outlet from the calibrated restriction, and hence tends to limit the cavitation in the sealing area.
- the conicity is comprised between 4% and 15% (understood as the ratio between the difference of the diameters and the length of the divergent stretch in percentage terms).
- the holes 53, 92, 79 are purposely provided with a flaring or conicity so as to pay attention to the production technologies and prevent the geometrical shape obtained for said holes from being left to chance and the conicity or cylindricity of the holes from possibly being subject to variations from one injector to another in one and the same production lot, on account of the inevitable imprecisions in machining.
- This attention to the geometrical shape of the calibrated restrictions has consequently repercussions in an equalization of the behaviour of the various injectors.
- a tapering 205 (for example, conical) is chosen instead of a flaring, except possibly for its inlet 206 and its outlet 207, which can be chamfered or radiused, on account of the specific technologies used for obtaining and/or calibrating said hole 53.
- the convergence of the calibrated hole 53 favours an increase in the rate of flow of the fuel and a further reduction in pressure, and favours inlet of the lines of flow of the fuel that flows in the discharge duct 42.
- a possible cavitation and formation of vapour at outlet from the first calibrated restriction does not affect the service life of the injector 1 in so far as the phenomenon would be relatively far from the sealing area between the open/close element 47 and the stem 38.
- restriction also the passage section defined in the region of the sealing area between the open/close element and the fluid-tightness seat
- restriction there are three restrictions in series: the flow becomes in any case choked in a region corresponding to the second calibrated restriction (corresponding to the holes 44 of Figure 1 ) in any operating condition of the injector.
- the divergence of the second calibrated restriction “smooths" the phenomenon of cavitation and prevents the flow in the passage section defined between the open/close element and the fluid-tightness seat from possibly being cavitating.
- the flow rate Q will be substantially equal to the one set in the design stage, and will not be affected by the pressure and by operation of all the other restrictions, which "adapt" to the flow rate Q set by the holes 44.
- the flaring of the holes 44 is provided to smooth the phenomenon of cavitation due to the pressure drop associated to the last calibrated restriction so as to reduce the risks of presence of vapour in the sealing area.
- the divergence reduces the rate of flow of fuel and consequently tends to recompress the fuel to reduce the phenomenon of cavitation in the region of the sealing area of the open/close element.
- the flow of the second calibrated restriction will always be choked, i.e., cavitating; in this way, the flow rate Q that traverses the restrictions in series will be constant and independent of the different conditions of pressure that are set up in the control chamber 26 as the operating conditions of the engine vary. All this results in a robustness and stability of operation of the injector.
- the holes of the calibrated restrictions are not cylindrical enables a more stable operation of the injector over time, because a cylindrical hole, without any conicity, is in general more subject to erosion.
- no hole can ever be perfectly cylindrical; consequently, it is better to provide a hole with a pre-set conicity instead of providing a cylindrical hole with an uncertainty on the geometrical tolerances.
- the balanced-type metering servovalve 5 of Figures 1-13 could comprise an open/close element defined by an axial pin sliding in a sleeve fixed with respect to the casing 2 and defining the final part of the duct 42.
- An adjustment spacer could be provided between the bodies 76 and 80 in the embodiment of Figure 12 , even though in this case additional finishing and surface-hardening operations would be required.
- the actuator 15 could be replaced by a piezoelectric actuator, which, when subjected to a voltage, increases its own axial dimension to actuate the sleeve 18 in order to open the outlet of the duct 42.
- the chamber 46 could be at least partially dug in the surface 40, but always with a shape such that the open/close element 47 defined by the sleeve 18 is subject to a zero pressure resultant along the axis 3 when it is located in the closing end-of-travel position.
- the axes of the stretches 44 could lie in different planes, and/or could not all be set equal distances apart from one another about the axis 3, and/or the calibrated holes could be limited to just a part of the stretches 44.
- the duct 42 might not be symmetrical with respect to the axis 3; for example, the stretches 44 could have different cross sections and/or diameters, but always calibrated and flared or tapered to generate an appropriate pressure drop.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a fuel injector equipped with a metering servovalve for an internal-combustion engine.
- Normally, injectors for internal-combustion engines comprise a metering servovalve having a control chamber, which communicates with a fuel inlet and with a fuel-discharge duct. The metering servovalve comprises an open/close element, which is axially movable under the action of an electric actuator to open/close an outlet opening of the discharge duct and vary the pressure in the control chamber. The pressure in the control chamber, in turn, controls opening/closing of a terminal nozzle of the injector to introduce the fuel into a corresponding cylinder.
- The discharge duct has a calibrated stretch, which is of particular importance for proper operation of the metering servovalve. In particular, in said calibrated stretch, the flow rate of a fluid is associated to a predefined pressure differential.
- In injectors that are currently produced, the calibrated stretch of the discharge duct is obtained by making a perforation via electron discharge machining (EDM), followed by a finishing operation, necessary for eliminating any possible perforation defects that, albeit small, would in any case result in large errors on the pressure drop in fuel flow and, consequently, in the flow rate of fuel leaving the control chamber. In addition, the finishing operation has the purpose of stabilizing the flow rate of fluid that traverses the calibrated stretch: in practice, it is a sort of "ageing" aimed at guaranteeing robustness of operation.
- In particular, the finishing operation is of an experimental nature and is carried out by getting an abrasive liquid to flow through the hole made via EDM, setting the pressure upstream and downstream of the hole, and detecting the flow rate: the flow rate tends to increase progressively with the abrasion caused by the liquid on the lateral surface of the hole, until a preset design value is reached. At this point, the flow is interrupted: in use, the final passage section obtained will come to define, to a close approximation, a pressure drop equal to the difference in pressure set upstream and downstream of the hole during the finishing operation and a flow rate of fuel leaving the control chamber equal to the preset design value.
- In the injector disclosed in the patent No.
EP1612403 , the discharge duct has an outlet made in an axial stem that guides the open/close element, said stem being defined by a sliding sleeve. The calibrated stretch of the discharge duct is coaxial with the axial stem and is made in a perforated plate, which axially delimits the control chamber. Downstream of said calibrated stretch, the discharge duct comprises an axial stretch and then two opposed radial stretches, which define, together, a relatively large passage section for the discharged fuel. Considering, for example, a fuel supply pressure of approximately 1600 bar to the injector, when the metering servovalve is open, i.e., when the sleeve that defines the open/close element is raised in the open position, the incoming fuel that flows into the control chamber determines a pressure drop that causes the pressure to reach approximately 700-800 bar in the control chamber; then, between the upstream and downstream ends of the calibrated stretch of the discharge duct, the fuel pressure drops from approximately 700-800 bar to just a few bar. - Experimentally, it is found that, on account of the high pressure drop across the calibrated stretch of the discharge duct, there is the onset of cavitation. In other words, the fuel pressure upstream of the discharge environment drops below the vapour pressure, in the region, and immediately downstream, of the outlet of the calibrated stretch, where the rate of flow of fuel is maximum and the pressure is minimum.
- In the area where the open/close element must provide tightness against the axial stem, it is possible to distinguish three undesirable phenomena:
- on account of the rapid increase in the passage section, the pressure tends to rise and the previously formed vapour bubbles tend to implode; when this phenomenon takes place at the surfaces that define the seal, it causes undesirable wear on said surfaces;
- during closing of the open/close element, contact between the surfaces that define the seal takes place in the presence of vapour, namely in "dry" conditions, with consequent impact that leads to further wear; and
- once again on account said "dry" conditions, moreover, given that the damping effect of the liquid ceases, the open/close element rebounds, and this leads to a delay in closing of the servovalve, with a consequent undesirable increase in the amount of fuel injected with respect to the amount set down in the design stage.
- To sum up, the wear deriving from the phenomena set forth above, reduces enormously the service life of the injector, whilst the rebounds during closing render the injector imprecise.
- In addition, in order to generate a pressure drop of approximately 700-800 bar, the calibrated stretch must have an extremely small diameter, which is extremely complex to obtain precisely and in a constant way between the various injectors.
- To overcome the above drawbacks, the European patent application No.
08425460.6 - Unfortunately, when the calibrated restrictions are just two, also said solution is not altogether satisfactory, because cavitation phenomena in any case arise downstream of the second calibrated restriction (i.e., the one closer to the sealing area).
- In fact, one of the main factors that determines onset or otherwise of cavitation is defined by the ratio between the pressure upstream and the pressure downstream of the calibrated restriction. Even if it were assumed that it is possible theoretically to split the total pressure drop into 95% on the first calibrated restriction and 5% on the second calibrated restriction, with a pressure of the control chamber of approximately 700-800 bar, there is, upstream of the second calibrated restriction, a pressure of approximately 40-35 bar and, downstream, a pressure close to the atmospheric pressure of the discharge environment. Consequently, the ratio between the pressure upstream and the pressure downstream of the second calibrated restriction is in any case high and such as to cause cavitation phenomena, even if said phenomena are markedly reduced as compared to solutions in which the pressure drop is not split into two.
- The aim of the present invention is to provide a fuel injector equipped with a metering servovalve for an internal-combustion engine, which will enable improvement of the solution described above, reducing the presence of cavitation, i.e., formation of fuel vapour, and hence wear in the sealing area between the open/close element and the axial stem, to a minimum.
- According to the present invention, a fuel injector for an internal-combustion engine is provided, as defined in Claim 1.
- For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment will now be described, purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
-
Figure 1 shows, in cross section and with parts removed, a preferred embodiment of the fuel injector equipped with a metering servovalve for an internal-combustion engine, according to the present invention; -
Figure 2 shows a detail ofFigure 1 at an enlarged scale; -
Figure 3 is similar toFigure 2 and shows a variant of the embodiment ofFigure 1 at a further enlarged scale; -
Figures 4 to 9 are similar toFigure 3 and show respective variants of the embodiment ofFigure 1 ; -
Figure 10 is similar toFigure 1 and shows, at an enlarged scale, a second preferred embodiment of the injector according to the present invention; -
Figure 11 is similar toFigure 10 and shows a variant of the embodiment ofFigure 10 ; -
Figure 12 is similar toFigure 2 and shows a third preferred embodiment of the injector according to the present invention; -
Figure 13 shows a variant of the embodiment ofFigure 12 ; -
Figure 14 is similar toFigure 1 and shows a fourth preferred embodiment of the injector according to the present invention; -
Figure 15 shows a detail ofFigure 14 , at an enlarged scale; and -
Figures 16 and 17 are diagrams that illustrate two holes defining respective calibrated restrictions included in the metering servovalve according to the present invention. - With reference to
Figure 1 , the reference number 1 designates, as a whole, a fuel injector (partially shown) for an internal-combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine. The injector 1 comprises a hollow body orcasing 2, commonly referred to as "injector body", which extends along alongitudinal axis 3, and has alateral inlet 4 designed to be connected to a duct for delivery fuel at a high pressure, for example at a pressure of around 1600 bar. Thecasing 2 terminates with an injection nozzle (not shown in the figure), which is in communication with theinlet 4 through aduct 4a, and is designed to inject fuel into a corresponding engine cylinder. - The
casing 2 defines anaxial cavity 6, in which ametering servovalve 5 is housed, comprising a valve body, made of a single piece and designated by thereference number 7. - The
valve body 7 comprises atubular portion 8 defining a blindaxial hole 9 and acentring ridge 12, which radially projects with respect to a cylindrical outer surface of theportion 8 and is coupled with aninternal surface 13 of thebody 2. - A
control rod 10 is able to slide axially in a fluid-tight way in thehole 9 to control, in a way known and not shown, an needle open/close element that opens and closes the injection nozzle. - The
casing 2 defines anothercavity 14 coaxial with thecavity 6 and housing anactuator 15, which comprises anelectromagnet 16 and a notched-disk armature 17 operated by theelectromagnet 16. Thearmature 17 is made of a single piece with asleeve 18, which extends along theaxis 3. On the other hand, theelectromagnet 16 comprises amagnetic core 19, which has asurface 20 that is perpendicular to theaxis 3 and defines an axial stop for thearmature 17, saidmagnetic core 19 being held in position by asupport 21. - The
actuator 15 has anaxial cavity 22 housing ahelical compression spring 23, which is preloaded so as to exert a thrust on thearmature 17 in the axial direction opposite to the attraction exerted by theelectromagnet 16. Thespring 23 has one end resting against an internal shoulder of thesupport 21, and the other end acting on thearmature 17 via axial interposition of awasher 24. - The
metering servovalve 5 comprises acontrol chamber 26 radially delimited by the lateral surface of thehole 9 of thetubular portion 8. Thecontrol chamber 26 is axially delimited on one side by aterminal surface 25 of therod 10, which advantageously has the shape of a truncated-cone, and on the other side by abottom surface 27 of thehole 9. - The
control chamber 26 is in permanent communication with theinlet 4 through aduct 28 made in theportion 8 to receive pressurized fuel. Theduct 28 comprises acalibrated stretch 29 and gives out on one side into thecontrol chamber 26 in the proximity of thebottom surface 27 and on the other side into anannular chamber 30, radially delimited by thesurface 11 of theportion 8 and by anannular groove 31 of the internal surface of thecavity 6. Theannular chamber 30 is axially delimited on one side by theridge 12 and on the other by a gasket 31a. Giving out into theannular chamber 30 is aduct 32 made in thebody 2 and in communication with theinlet 4. - The
valve body 7 comprises an intermediate axial portion defining anexternal flange 33, which projects radially with respect to theridge 12, is housed in aportion 34 of thecavity 6 of oversized diameter, and is located axially in contact with aninternal shoulder 35 of thecavity 6. Theflange 33 is gripped against theshoulder 35 by a threadedring nut 36, screwed into aninternal thread 37 of theportion 34 in order to guarantee fluid tightness against theshoulder 35. - The
valve body 7 also comprises a guide element for thearmature 17 and thesleeve 18. Said element is defined by a substantiallycylindrical stem 38 having a diameter much smaller than that of theflange 33. Thestem 38 projects in cantilever fashion from theflange 33, along theaxis 3 on the side opposite to thetubular portion 8, i.e., towards thecavity 22. Thestem 38 is externally delimited by alateral surface 39, which comprises a cylindrical portion for guiding axial sliding of thesleeve 18. In particular, thesleeve 18 has an internalcylindrical surface 40, coupled to thelateral surface 39 of thestem 38, that is substantially fluid-tight, i.e., via a coupling with an appropriate diametral play, from example of less than 4 µm, or else via interposition of specific sealing elements. - The
control chamber 26 is in permanent communication with a fuel-discharge duct, designated as a whole by thereference number 42. - The
duct 42 comprises a blindaxial stretch 43, made along theaxis 3 in the valve body 7 (partly in theflange 33 and partly in the stem 38). Theduct 42 also comprises at least oneoutlet stretch 44, which is radial, starts from thestretch 43, and defines, at the opposite end, an outlet opening onto thelateral surface 39, in a position corresponding to achamber 46 defined by an annular groove made in thelateral surface 39 of thestem 38. - In particular, in the embodiment of
Figures 1 and2 , twosections 44 are provided that are diametrally opposite to each other. - The
chamber 46 is obtained in an axial position adjacent to theflange 33 and is opened/closed by a terminal portion of thesleeve 18, which defines an open/close element 47 for theduct 42. In particular, the open/close element 47 terminates with aninternal surface 48 shaped like a truncated cone, which is designed to engage asurface 49 shaped like a truncated cone between for connection between theflange 33 and thestem 38 to define a sealing area. - The
sleeve 18 slides on thestem 38, together with thearmature 17, between an advanced end-of-travel position and a retracted end-of-travel position. In the advanced end-of-travel position, the open/close element 47 closes theannular chamber 46 and thus the outlet of thestretches 44 of theduct 42. In the retracted end-of-travel position, the open/close element 47 opens thechamber 46 sufficiently to allow thestretches 44 to discharge fuel from thecontrol chamber 26 through theduct 42 and thechamber 46. The passage section left open by the open/close element 47 has the shape of a truncated cone and is at least three times larger that the passage section of asingle stretch 44. - The advanced end-of-travel position of the
sleeve 18 is defined by thesurface 48 of the open/close element 47 coming to bear upon thesurface 49 having the shape of a truncated cone for connection between theflange 33 and thestem 38. Instead, the retracted end-of-travel position of thesleeve 18 is defined by thearmature 17 axially coming to bear upon thesurface 20 of the core 19, with interposition of anonmagnetic gap plate 51. In the retracted end-of-travel position, thechamber 46 is set in communication with a discharge duct of the injector (not shown), through an annular passage between thering nut 36 and the sleeve, through the notches in thearmature 17, through thecavity 22, and through anopening 52 of thesupport 21. - When the
electromagnet 16 is energized, thearmature 17 shifts towards thecore 19, together with thesleeve 18, so that the open/close element 47 opens thechamber 46. The fuel is then discharged from the control chamber 26: in this way, the pressure of the fuel in thecontrol chamber 26 drops, causing axial displacement of therod 10 towards thebottom surface 27, and hence opening of the injection nozzle. - Instead, by de-energizing the
electromagnet 16, thespring 23 brings thearmature 17, together with the open/close element 47, into the advanced end-of-travel position ofFigure 1 . In this way, thechamber 46 is closed, and the pressurized fuel arriving from theduct 28 re-establishes the high pressure in thecontrol chamber 26 so that therod 10 moves away from thebottom surface 27 and governs closing of the injection nozzle. In the advanced end-of-travel position, the fuel exerts a substantially zero resultant axial thrust on thesleeve 18, since the pressure in thechamber 46 acts only radially on thelateral surface 40 of thesleeve 18. - In order to control the rate of variation of pressure in the
control chamber 26 upon opening and closing of the open/close element 47, theduct 42 comprises calibrated restrictions. By the term "restriction" is understood a portion of duct in which the passage section available as a whole for the fuel is smaller than the passage section that the flow of fuel encounters upstream and downstream of said portion of duct. In particular, if the fuel passes through a single hole, the restriction is defined by said single hole. On the other hand, if the fuel passes through a plurality of holes, which are arranged parallel to one another, and hence subject to the same pressure drop between upstream and downstream, the restriction is defined by the entirety of said holes. - Instead, by the term "calibrated" is meant the fact that the passage section is provided precisely so as to define exactly a predetermined flow of fuel leaving the
control chamber 26 and so as to cause a predetermined pressure drop between upstream to downstream. - In particular, for holes having relatively small diameters, the calibration may be achieved in a precise manner by a finishing operation of an experimental nature, which is carried out by getting an abrasive liquid to flow in the hole previously made (for example, by EDM or laser), setting a pressure upstream and downstream of said hole, and detecting the rate of flow: the flow rate tends to increase progressively with the abrasion caused by the liquid on the lateral surface of the hole (hydro-erosion or hydro-abrasion), until a pre-set design value is reached. At this point, the flow is interrupted: in use, if there is a pressure upstream of the hole equal to the one set during the finishing operation, the final passage section obtained comes to define a pressure drop equal to the difference in pressure set between upstream and downstream of the hole during the finishing operation and a fuel flow rate equal to the preset design flow rate.
- For example, the restrictions of the
duct 42 have a diameter of between 150 and 300 µm, whereas thestretch 43 of theduct 42 is obtained in thevalve body 7 by means of a normal drill, without particular precision, to obtain a diameter that is at least four times larger than the diameter of the calibrated restrictions. - The calibrated restrictions are at least two and are arranged in series with respect to one another along the duct 42 (in the attached drawings, the diameter of the calibrated restrictions is shown only qualitatively and not in scale) so as to obtain respective successive pressure drops when the open/close element is in its retracted end-of-travel position. Obviously, between two consecutive calibrated restrictions, the
duct 42 comprises a widened intermediate portion, i.e., with a passage section greater that that of both of the calibrated restrictions. - In the embodiment of
Figures 1 and2 , one of the calibrated restrictions is defined by the combination of the two stretches 44, whilst the other is designated by thereference number 53 and is obtained in an element separate from thevalve body 7 and subsequently fixed in a position corresponding to thebottom surface 27 of thehole 9. In particular, the calibratedrestriction 53 is provided in acylindrical bushing 54 made of a relatively hard material, defining an insert housed in aseat 55 of thevalve body 7 and set flush with thebottom surface 27. Thebushing 54 has an outer diameter such as to enable insertion and fixing by interference fit in theseat 55 after the finishing operation described above. - The calibrated
restriction 53 extends axially for just part of the length of thebushing 54 and occupies a position adjacent to stretch 43, whereas the rest of thebushing 54 has anaxial stretch 43a of larger diameter, for example, equal to that ofstretch 43 in thevalve body 7. The volume of thestretch 43a comes to be added to the one defined by the bottom of thehole 9 to define the volume of thecontrol chamber 26. On the basis of the optimal volume required for thecontrol chamber 26, thebushing 54 could be reversed so as to have the calibratedrestriction 53 that gives out directly onto the bottom of thehole 9, as appears from the variants ofFigures 7 and 8 . - According to a variant (not illustrated), the calibrated
restriction 53 may also be located in an intermediate axial position along thebushing 54. - According to the variant in
Figure 3 , asingle stretch 44 with a calibrated passage section is provided. In particular, this passage section is equal to the sum of the passage sections of thestretches 44 of the embodiment illustrated inFigures 1 and2 . Furthermore, the calibratedrestriction 53 is obtained in abushing 54a throughout its axial length. Thebushing 54a has an outer diameter substantially corresponding to that of thestretch 43, and is driven into thisstretch 43 so that its bottom surface is flush with thebottom surface 27 of thehole 9. - According to the variant in
Figure 4 , the calibratedrestriction 53 is obtained axially on aplate 56 located in the control chamber and resting axially against thevalve body 7. Since the travel of therod 10 for opening and closing the nozzle of the injector 1 is relatively small, theplate 56 may be held in contact with thebottom surface 27 by means of acompression spring 57 forced between theplate 56 and theterminal surface 25 of therod 10. The fact that theterminal surface 25 is shaped like a truncated cone enables it to perform the function of centring of thecompression spring 57. Preferably, theplate 56 has a diameter smaller than that of thehole 9, whilst thecompression spring 57 has the shape of a truncated cone. - According to a variant (not illustrated), the
hole 9 comprises a bottom portion having a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the plate 56: in this case, theplate 56 could be fixed by interference fit in said bottom portion. - According to the variants in
Figures 5 and 6 , theduct 42 has an axial hole of relatively large diameter, made in theflange 33, to facilitate manufacture. According to the variant ofFigure 5 , said axial hole of relatively large diameter is designated by thereference number 58 and terminates axially at an area of connection between thestem 38 and theflange 33. Instead of thestretches 44, theduct 42 comprises twoholes 59, which are diametrally opposed, define a calibrated restriction, and are inclined with respect to theaxis 3 by a certain angle so as to put thechamber 46 in direct communication with the bottom of thehole 58. Preferably, the angle of inclination with respect to theaxis 3 is of between 30° and 45°. - By causing the
hole 58 to be completely within theflange 33 of thevalve body 7, thestem 38 proves to be more robust as compared to the embodiment ofFigures 1 and2 . The diameter of thestem 38, and hence the diameter of the annular sealing area between thesleeve 18 and thestem 38 may consequently be reduced, with obvious benefits in limiting any leakage in said seal in dynamic conditions. In particular, with this solution, the diameter of the sealing area can now be reduced to a value of between 2.5 and 3.5 mm without thestem 38 becoming structurally weak. - Furthermore, by reducing the axial length and widening the diameter of the
hole 58 with respect to thestretch 43, the operations of making thehole 58 and subsequent cleaning to remove swarf are facilitated. Advantageously, thehole 58 has a diameter of between 8 and 20 times that of the calibratedrestriction 53. In this way, the intersection of theholes 59 with the bottom of thehole 58 during drilling of theholes 59 is facilitated. - The calibrated
restriction 53 is made in acylindrical bushing 61 and extends throughout the length of thebushing 61. Thebushing 61 is driven, i.e., force fitted, into anaxial seat 60 after thehole 58 has been cleaned. Theseat 60 has a diameter larger than that of thehole 58 and a length smaller than that of thehole 58 so that drive fitting is facilitated; thebushing 61 could have a slight conical external chamfer (not shown) on the side fitting into theflange 33 to facilitate its axial insertion into theseat 60. - According to the variant of
Figure 6 , the axial hole of relatively larger diameter is designated by thereference number 63 and defines the initial stretch of a blindaxial hole 62. The inlet of thestretch 63 houses abushing 64 force fitted therein and having the calibratedrestriction 53, which extends throughout the axial length of thebushing 64. Like thebushing 61, thebushing 64 could have a slight external conical chamfer (not shown) on the side fitting into theflange 33. - The
hole 62 also comprises ablind stretch 66, having a diameter smaller than that of thestretch 63, extending beyond theflange 33 into thestem 38, and defining a calibrated restriction. The diameter of thestretch 66 is greater than that of the calibrated restriction 53: for example, it is approximately twice that of the calibratedrestriction 53. Notwithstanding the larger diameter, it is possible to obtain a pressure drop of the same order of magnitude as that caused by the calibratedrestriction 53 by calibrating in an appropriate way the length of thestretch 66. - Since the diameter of the
stretch 66 is in any case relatively small, the diameter of thestem 38 and hence the diameter of the seal with thesleeve 18 can be reduced with respect to the solution ofFigures 1 and2 . Also in this configuration, advantageously the diameter of the sealing area can be reduced down to a value of between 2.5 and 3.5 mm according to the materials chosen and the type of heat treatment adopted. - The
duct 42 also comprises two diametrally opposed radial stretches 67, which are made so as to define a passage section larger than that of thestretch 66 and without any particular machining precision. The stretches 67 give out directly into the calibratedstretch 66, on one side, and into thechamber 46, on the other. - According to variants of
Figures 5 and 6 (not illustrated), thebushings reference number 54 inFigure 1 . - The variants illustrated in
Figures 7 and 8 differ from those illustrated inFigures 5 and 6 in that the calibratedrestriction 53 is obtained in a bushing, 61a and 64a, respectively, and extends for a relatively small part of the axial length of thebushing restriction 53 is adjacent to thebottom surface 27 so that the volume of thecontrol chamber 26 is exclusively defined by the volume at the bottom of thehole 9. - The remaining part of the
bushing axial hole 68 made with a diameter greater than that of the calibratedrestriction 53, without any particular machining precision. - In the variant illustrated in
Figure 7 , thehole 58 and theseat 60 are replaced by a blindaxial hole 58a, which is made entirely within theflange 33 like thehole 58 inFigure 6 , but defines a cylindrical seat completely engaged by thebushing 61a. Likewise, in the variant illustrated inFigure 8 , thestretch 63 is completely engaged by thebushing 64a. - In the variants illustrated in
Figure 7 and Figure 8 , thebushing hole 58a and into thestretch 63, respectively, until it bears upon a conical end narrowing of thehole 58a and of thestretch 63, respectively. - In the variant illustrated in
Figure 9 , as compared to that illustrated inFigure 8 , thestretches 67 are replaced bystretches 67a that define a calibrated restriction, thestretch 66 is replaced by astretch 66a made without any particular precision and having a passage section larger than that of thestretches 67a, and the calibratedrestriction 53 is made in aplate 69, having a relatively small thickness and made of a relatively hard material, and is housed at the bottom of thestretch 63. - The
plate 69 is not interference fitted, but is axially gripped to the bottom of thestretch 63 by an insert defined by asleeve 70, which is interference fitted to the inlet of thestretch 63, is made of a relatively soft material to facilitate drive fitting, and defines a through hole, the volume of which comes to form part of thecontrol chamber 26. - In the embodiment of
Figure 10 , where possible, the components of the injector 1 are designated by the same reference numbers as the ones used inFigure 1 . In this embodiment, thevalve body 7 is replaced by three distinct pieces: a tubular body 75 (partially shown), which delimits thecontrol chamber 26 radially and terminates with anexternal flange 33a axially resting against theshoulder 35, adisk 33b, which delimits thecontrol chamber 26 axially on the opposite side of theterminal surface 25 and axially rests against the end of thebody 75, and a distribution and guidebody 76, which is made of a single piece and comprises thestem 38 and a base defining anexternal flange 33c. Theflange 33c is axially gripped via thering nut 36 and is axially delimited by asurface 77, which axially rests against thedisk 33b, in a fluid-tight way and in a fixed position. - The
stem 38 extends axially in cantilever fashion from thebase 33c in the opposite direction with respect to thedisk 33b and comprises the calibrated restriction defined by theholes 44. Theblind stretch 43 is provided partly in thebase 33c and partly in thestem 38; the calibratedrestriction 53 and thestretch 43a are provided in thedisk 33b. - According to a variant of
Figure 10 (not illustrated), thestretches 44 are inclined like thestretches 59 shown inFigures 5 and7 . - According to a further variant of
Figure 10 (not illustrated), thestretches 44 are made without any particular precision, whilst the calibrated restriction is made in thestretch 43, in a way similar to what has been shown as regards thestretch 66 ofFigures 6 and8 . - In the variant represented in
Figure 11 , thebody 76 is replaced by abody 78 that differs from thebody 76 in that it comprises aseat 55a made in theflange 33c through thesurface 77. - The
stretch 43 is coaxial with theseat 55a and gives out directly into theseat 55a. Theseat 55a has a diameter greater than that of thestretch 43 and is engaged by an insert defined by acylindrical bushing 54b, which is interference fitted in the seat 55b and set flush with thesurface 77 of thebase 33c. - The
bushing 54b defines a calibratedrestriction 79, set in series to the calibratedrestrictions restriction 79 extends for only part of the axial length of thebushing 54b and is in a position adjacent to thestretch 43. The rest of thebushing 54b has anaxial stretch 43b, having a diameter greater than that of the calibrated restrictions and communicating directly withstretch 43a. - According to variants of
Figure 11 (not illustrated), thestretches 44 are inclined like thestretches 59 inFigures 5 and7 ; or else thestretches 44 are made without any particular precision, whilst the calibrated restriction is made in thestretch 43, as inFigures 6 and8 . - In the embodiment of
Figure 12 , the components of the injector 1 are designated, wherever possible, by the same reference numbers as the ones used inFigure 2 . In this embodiment, thevalve body 7 is replaced by two distinct pieces, one defined by thedistribution body 76 ofFigure 10 and the other by avalve body 80. - The
valve body 80 radially and axially delimits thecontrol chamber 26 and comprises aterminal portion 82 provided with theridge 12 and anexternal flange 33d axially gripped between theflange 33c and the shoulder 35 (not shown). - The calibrated
restriction 53 is made in theportion 82 and gives out into twocoaxial stretches duct 42. The stretches 83 and 84 have a diameter greater than that of the calibratedrestriction 53 and substantially equal to that of thestretch 43. Thestretch 83 is defined by a hole in theportion 82 and communicates directly with thecontrol chamber 26; thestretch 84 is defined by aseal ring 85, which is housed in aseat 86 and rests against thesurface 77 to define fluid-tight seal of theduct 42 between thebodies stretch 84, the fluid tightness can again be obtained through metal-to-metal contact between thebodies - According to variants of
Figure 12 (not illustrated), the calibratedrestriction 53 is obtained in an insert axially driven into theportion 80 from the side facing thecontrol chamber 26, as in the solutions represented inFigures 1 ,2, 3, 4 and9 , or from the side facing thebase 33c. In addition, as an alternative to thestretches 44, the calibrated restriction of thebody 76 is defined by outlet stretches inclined like thestretches 59 ofFigures 5 and7 , or by a blind axial stretch like thestretch 66 ofFigures 6 and8 . - According to further variants of
Figure 12 , a third calibrated restriction is provided inside thebody 76 or inside thevalve body 80 and is located axially and in series between the calibratedrestrictions - One of said variants is shown in
Figure 13 : theflange 33c has acircular seat 90, which is obtained along thesurface 77 coaxially with theseat 86 and has the same diameter as theseat 86. Theseat 90 houses adisk 91, which has anaxial hole 92 defining the third calibrated restriction. - The
disk 91 is kept axially resting against the bottom of theseat 90 by aseal ring 85a, provided instead of thering 85. Thering 85a has a rectangular or square cross section, with an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of theseats seats bodies ring 85a provides three functions: axial centring between thebodies bodies duct 42, and positioning of thedisk 91 in theseat 90. - In the embodiment of
Figures 14 and15 , the components of the injector 1 are designated, wherever possible, by the same reference numbers as the ones used inFigures 1 and2 . - The axial end of the
valve body 7, opposite to theportion 8, has anaxial recess 139, which is defined by asurface 149 substantially shaped like a truncated cone and houses an open/close element 147. - The open/
close element 147 is axially movable in response to the action of theactuator 15, in a way known and not described in detail, to open/close an axial outlet of theduct 42. The open/close element 147 has a sphericalexternal surface 148, which engages thesurface 149 when the open/close element 147 is located in its advanced end-of-travel position or closing position so as to define a sealing area. - In a way similar to what has been described for the embodiment of
Figures 1 and2 , theduct 42 comprises a calibratedrestriction 53 made in an element that is separate from thevalve body 7, in particular in thebushing 54 that is inserted in theseat 55 of thevalve body 7 and is set flush with thebottom surface 27. - The
axial stretch 43 is made in theflange 33 and exits in anaxial stretch 144 of theduct 42. Thestretch 144 defines a calibrated restriction set in series to, and coaxial with, the calibratedrestriction 53. At the opposite end, thestretch 144 exits in a finalaxial stretch 130, which has a passage section larger than that of thestretch 144 and defines the outlet of theduct 42 onto thesurface 149. - In all the arrangements described above, the pressure drop, which, in use, occurs in the
control chamber 26 and in the discharge duct when the open/close element 47 is in the open position, is split into as many pressure drops as are the calibrated restrictions set in series along theduct 42. - Thanks to the sequence of calibrated restrictions, the pressure drop is split into two or more successive pressure drops: the cavitation phenomena, and hence phenomena of evaporation of the flow of fuel, are prevented or at least limited. The greater the number of calibrated restrictions, the smaller the likelihood of cavitation occurring.
- As mentioned above, for a hole defining a calibrated restriction, a close correlation exists between the rate of flow and the difference in pressure upstream and downstream of said hole. In particular, up to a threshold value of the pressure drop, the following relation applies:
- where:
- ρ is the density of liquid;
- cefflus is the coefficient of outflow of hole (experimentally obtainable);
- Aforo is the cross passage section of the hole,
- Δp is the difference in pressure between upstream and downstream of the hole,
- Q is the flow rate.
- In the injector 1, the total pressure drop of the flow of fuel from the
control chamber 26 to the discharge environment is known. The European patent application No.08425460.6 control chamber 26 have been set. - The further the calibrated restrictions are from the sealing area defined by the
surfaces - To reduce the risks of presence of vapour in the sealing area (
Figure 17 ), the pressure drop associated to the first calibrated restriction is set so as to be greater than the subsequent ones. Consequently, the first calibrated restriction (designated by thereference number 53 inFigures 1 to 13 ) will have a passage section smaller than the subsequent calibrated restrictions. - In particular, in the case of two calibrated restrictions, the calibrated
restriction 53 is associated to a pressure drop of at least 60% of the total pressure drop and, conveniently, 80%. To obtain a distribution of 80% on the first calibrated restriction (hole 53) and of 20% on the second calibrated restriction, the ratio between the passage section of the second calibrated section and that of the first calibrated section is approximately equal to 2. - According to the present invention, as illustrated in
Figures 16 and 17 (schematically and without respecting a scale of proportionality with the actual sizes, for reasons of clarity), at least part of the holes that define the calibrated restrictions are provided with a flaring such as to reduce further the risks of presence of vapour in the region of the sealing area. - In particular, the hole or holes 44, 59, 66, 67a, 144 that define the last calibrated restriction (i.e., the one closest to the sealing area) are defined by a
slight flaring 200, of a conical type, so as to be divergent, except possibly for theirinlet 201 and theiroutlet 202, which can be chamfered or radiused, on account of the specific technologies used for providing and/or calibrating said holes. - The divergence of the
holes - The divergence must not in any case be excessive, to prevent detachment of the flow of fuel from the internal surface of the
flaring 200. By way of example, the conicity is comprised between 4% and 15% (understood as the ratio between the difference of the diameters and the length of the divergent stretch in percentage terms). - In practice, a conicity of 4-15% can be easily obtained by making a hole by means of EDM, or else via laser, hence with extremely low additional costs as compared to the known art.
- Even with said conicity, it is necessary to subject the holes to a calibration, which stabilizes the coefficient of outflow and renders operation of the hole during the service life of the injector stable and foreseeable. If a hydro-erosion treatment is used, said treatment stabilizes the coefficient of outflow and generates a slightly convergent mouth.
- Advantageously, also the
holes - Preferably, as regards the first calibrated restriction, i.e., the one closest to the
control chamber 26, a tapering 205 (for example, conical) is chosen instead of a flaring, except possibly for itsinlet 206 and itsoutlet 207, which can be chamfered or radiused, on account of the specific technologies used for obtaining and/or calibrating saidhole 53. - The convergence of the calibrated
hole 53 favours an increase in the rate of flow of the fuel and a further reduction in pressure, and favours inlet of the lines of flow of the fuel that flows in thedischarge duct 42. - A possible cavitation and formation of vapour at outlet from the first calibrated restriction does not affect the service life of the injector 1 in so far as the phenomenon would be relatively far from the sealing area between the open/
close element 47 and thestem 38. - As mentioned above, once the downstream pressure has been fixed for each calibrated restriction, the relation
applies for values Δp lower than a given threshold; beyond said threshold, and for a given passage section, the flow rate Q tends to remain constant and independent of the ratio between the pressures downstream/upstream of the restriction: when this operating condition arises, the flow that traverses said passage section is said to be "choked" or cavitating, and entails onset of cavitation. - In the case of a number of restrictions in series, once the pressure downstream of the last restriction has been fixed and if it is assumed to increase progressively the pressure upstream of the first calibrated restriction, the total pressure drop is split between the various restrictions in such a way as to respect the equation given above: the flow rate increases until in one of the various restrictions in series the aforesaid threshold for the value Δp is reached, and then the flow becomes choked. Once this condition arises, the flow rate does not increase any longer, even though the pressure upstream of the first calibrated restriction increases.
- Considering as restriction (variable and not calibrated) also the passage section defined in the region of the sealing area between the open/close element and the fluid-tightness seat, there are three restrictions in series: the flow becomes in any case choked in a region corresponding to the second calibrated restriction (corresponding to the
holes 44 ofFigure 1 ) in any operating condition of the injector. As mentioned above, the divergence of the second calibrated restriction "smooths" the phenomenon of cavitation and prevents the flow in the passage section defined between the open/close element and the fluid-tightness seat from possibly being cavitating. - Thanks to the cavitation in the region of the last calibrated restriction, the flow rate Q will be substantially equal to the one set in the design stage, and will not be affected by the pressure and by operation of all the other restrictions, which "adapt" to the flow rate Q set by the
holes 44. - From what has been set forth above, it emerges that the flaring of the
holes 44 is provided to smooth the phenomenon of cavitation due to the pressure drop associated to the last calibrated restriction so as to reduce the risks of presence of vapour in the sealing area. In other words, in theholes 44 that define the last calibrated restriction, the divergence reduces the rate of flow of fuel and consequently tends to recompress the fuel to reduce the phenomenon of cavitation in the region of the sealing area of the open/close element. - The flow of the second calibrated restriction will always be choked, i.e., cavitating; in this way, the flow rate Q that traverses the restrictions in series will be constant and independent of the different conditions of pressure that are set up in the
control chamber 26 as the operating conditions of the engine vary. All this results in a robustness and stability of operation of the injector. - The fact that the holes of the calibrated restrictions are not cylindrical enables a more stable operation of the injector over time, because a cylindrical hole, without any conicity, is in general more subject to erosion. In addition, from the constructional standpoint, no hole can ever be perfectly cylindrical; consequently, it is better to provide a hole with a pre-set conicity instead of providing a cylindrical hole with an uncertainty on the geometrical tolerances.
- Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations may be made to the injector 1 described herein, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention, as defined in the attached claims.
- In particular, the balanced-
type metering servovalve 5 ofFigures 1-13 could comprise an open/close element defined by an axial pin sliding in a sleeve fixed with respect to thecasing 2 and defining the final part of theduct 42. An adjustment spacer could be provided between thebodies Figure 12 , even though in this case additional finishing and surface-hardening operations would be required. - The
actuator 15 could be replaced by a piezoelectric actuator, which, when subjected to a voltage, increases its own axial dimension to actuate thesleeve 18 in order to open the outlet of theduct 42. - In addition, the
chamber 46 could be at least partially dug in thesurface 40, but always with a shape such that the open/close element 47 defined by thesleeve 18 is subject to a zero pressure resultant along theaxis 3 when it is located in the closing end-of-travel position. - The axes of the
stretches 44 could lie in different planes, and/or could not all be set equal distances apart from one another about theaxis 3, and/or the calibrated holes could be limited to just a part of thestretches 44. - The
duct 42 might not be symmetrical with respect to theaxis 3; for example, thestretches 44 could have different cross sections and/or diameters, but always calibrated and flared or tapered to generate an appropriate pressure drop.
Claims (12)
- A fuel injector (1) for an internal-combustion engine; the injector terminating with a nozzle for injecting fuel into a corresponding cylinder of the engine and comprising:- a hollow injector body (2) extending in an axial direction (3);- a metering servovalve (5) housed in said injector body (2) and comprising:a) an electric actuator (15);b) a control chamber (26) communicating with an inlet (4) for the fuel and with a discharge duct (42) for the fuel; the pressure of said control chamber (26) governing opening/closing of said nozzle;c) an open/close element (47), axially movable in response to the action of said electric actuator (15) between a closing position, in which an outlet of said discharge duct (42) is closed, and an opening position, in which said discharge duct (42) is open, to vary the pressure in said control chamber (26);
said discharge duct (42) comprising at least two calibrated restrictions (53, 44) which have calibrated passage sections set in series with respect to one another so as to cause, in use, respective successive pressure drops when said discharge duct (42) is open;
said injector being characterized in that, considering the direction of the flow leaving said control chamber (26) and entering said discharge duct (42), the last of said calibrated restrictions is defined by at least one hole (44), which is flared. - The injector according to Claim 1, characterized in that the divergence of said hole (44) is defined by a conicity comprised between 4% and 15%.
- The injector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first of said calibrated restrictions is defined by a flared or tapered hole (53).
- The injector according to Claim 3, characterized in that, considering the direction of the flow leaving said control chamber (26) and entering said discharge duct (42), the hole (53) of the first calibrated restriction is tapered.
- The injector according to Claim 4, characterized in that the convergence of the hole (53) of said first calibrated restriction is defined by a conicity comprised between 4% and 15%.
- The injector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said calibrated restrictions (53, 44) are defined by respective bodies (54, 7) distinct from one another.
- The injector according to Claim 6, characterized in that one of said bodies is defined by an insert (54) coupled by interference fit.
- The injector according to Claim 6, characterized in that one of said bodies is defined by a plate (56; 33b) delimiting axially, on one side, said control chamber (26).
- The injector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said discharge duct (42) is provided in a fixed position with respect to said injector body (2).
- The injector according to Claim 9, characterized by comprising a guide (38) located in a fixed position with respect to said injector body (2) and having a lateral surface (39) that guides said open/close element between said opening position and closing position; said discharge duct (42) defining an outlet opening located on said lateral surface (39) in a position such as to generate a substantially zero resultant axial force by the fuel when said open/close element is located in said closing position.
- The injector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, considering the direction of the flow leaving said control chamber (26) and entering said discharge duct (42), the first of said calibrated restrictions (53) is associated to a pressure drop greater than the pressure drops to which the subsequent calibrated restrictions (44) are associated.
- The injector according to Claim 11, characterized in that said discharge duct has just two calibrated restrictions, and in that the ratio between the cross passage section of the second calibrated restriction (44) and that of the first calibrated restriction (53) is approximately equal to 2.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP09425297A EP2292918B1 (en) | 2009-07-23 | 2009-07-23 | Fuel injector equipped with a metering servovalve for an internal-combustion engine |
AT09425297T ATE523684T1 (en) | 2009-07-23 | 2009-07-23 | FUEL INJECTION DEVICE WITH MEASUREMENT SERVO VALVE FOR AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP09425297A EP2292918B1 (en) | 2009-07-23 | 2009-07-23 | Fuel injector equipped with a metering servovalve for an internal-combustion engine |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2292918A1 true EP2292918A1 (en) | 2011-03-09 |
EP2292918B1 EP2292918B1 (en) | 2011-09-07 |
Family
ID=41606689
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP09425297A Active EP2292918B1 (en) | 2009-07-23 | 2009-07-23 | Fuel injector equipped with a metering servovalve for an internal-combustion engine |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP2292918B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE523684T1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8690075B2 (en) | 2011-11-07 | 2014-04-08 | Caterpillar Inc. | Fuel injector with needle control system that includes F, A, Z and E orifices |
DE102014000451A1 (en) * | 2014-01-16 | 2015-01-29 | L'orange Gmbh | fuel injector |
CN106523222A (en) * | 2017-01-18 | 2017-03-22 | 哈尔滨工程大学 | Double-way oil inlet resonance pore plate type electronic oil injector with engraved groove |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
RU197666U1 (en) * | 2020-01-27 | 2020-05-21 | Общество с ограниченной ответственностью Управляющая компания "Алтайский завод прецизионных изделий" | FUEL BURNER |
Citations (7)
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---|---|---|---|---|
EP1126160A2 (en) * | 2000-02-17 | 2001-08-22 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Injector for injecting fuel in an internal combustion engine |
EP1306545A2 (en) * | 2001-10-23 | 2003-05-02 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Solenoid valve for controlling an injection valve |
WO2003071122A1 (en) * | 2002-02-22 | 2003-08-28 | Crt Common Rail Technologies Ag | Fuel injection valve for internal combustion engines |
EP1612403A1 (en) | 2004-06-30 | 2006-01-04 | C.R.F. Societa' Consortile per Azioni | Servo valve for controlling an internal combustion engine fuel injector |
EP1916411A2 (en) * | 2006-10-25 | 2008-04-30 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Fuel injection valve device |
DE102007009165A1 (en) * | 2007-02-26 | 2008-08-28 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Fuel injector for injecting fuel into combustion chamber of internal-combustion engine, has output choke arranged in area of passage from riser bore into ring chamber, where amount of fuel guided by riser bore flows through choke |
EP1985840A1 (en) * | 2007-04-23 | 2008-10-29 | C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni | Fuel injector with balanced metering servovalve for an internal combustion engine |
-
2009
- 2009-07-23 AT AT09425297T patent/ATE523684T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2009-07-23 EP EP09425297A patent/EP2292918B1/en active Active
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1126160A2 (en) * | 2000-02-17 | 2001-08-22 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Injector for injecting fuel in an internal combustion engine |
EP1306545A2 (en) * | 2001-10-23 | 2003-05-02 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Solenoid valve for controlling an injection valve |
WO2003071122A1 (en) * | 2002-02-22 | 2003-08-28 | Crt Common Rail Technologies Ag | Fuel injection valve for internal combustion engines |
EP1612403A1 (en) | 2004-06-30 | 2006-01-04 | C.R.F. Societa' Consortile per Azioni | Servo valve for controlling an internal combustion engine fuel injector |
EP1916411A2 (en) * | 2006-10-25 | 2008-04-30 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Fuel injection valve device |
DE102007009165A1 (en) * | 2007-02-26 | 2008-08-28 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Fuel injector for injecting fuel into combustion chamber of internal-combustion engine, has output choke arranged in area of passage from riser bore into ring chamber, where amount of fuel guided by riser bore flows through choke |
EP1985840A1 (en) * | 2007-04-23 | 2008-10-29 | C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni | Fuel injector with balanced metering servovalve for an internal combustion engine |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8690075B2 (en) | 2011-11-07 | 2014-04-08 | Caterpillar Inc. | Fuel injector with needle control system that includes F, A, Z and E orifices |
DE102014000451A1 (en) * | 2014-01-16 | 2015-01-29 | L'orange Gmbh | fuel injector |
CN106523222A (en) * | 2017-01-18 | 2017-03-22 | 哈尔滨工程大学 | Double-way oil inlet resonance pore plate type electronic oil injector with engraved groove |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2292918B1 (en) | 2011-09-07 |
ATE523684T1 (en) | 2011-09-15 |
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