EP2627892A1

EP2627892A1 - Fuel injector connection port assembly

Info

Publication number: EP2627892A1
Application number: EP11833459.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Robert Donald Roy; Michael Cosby; Stephen Singleton
Original assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Co LLC
Current assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Co LLC
Priority date: 2010-10-16
Filing date: 2011-10-14
Publication date: 2013-08-21
Also published as: CN103228902A; WO2012051494A1

Abstract

A fuel injector connection port assembly coupling a fuel injector to a rail that includes a fluid passageway engineer provided. The rail includes a vertical passage that extends through the rail to a location that aligns with a fuel injector when the rail is mounted on the engine. The connection port includes an upper member mountable through the upper end of the vertical passage and a lower member mountable through the lower end of the vertical passage. The lower member defines a connection port that mates with a reciprocal connector on the injector. The upper and lower members interconnect to secure the assembly in the vertical passage. At least one of the upper and lower members define a fluid passageway fluidly interconnecting the fluid passageway of the rail with the connection port in the lower member.

Description

FUEL INJECTOR CONNECTION PORT ASSEMBLY

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application makes reference to, claims priority to, and claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/393,884, which was filed on October 16, 2010 and is entitled "Through-Tube Injector Connection." The disclosure of the above-identified Provisional Patent Application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Hydraulically actuated, electronically controlled, unit fuel injection systems (HEUI) are commonly used in diesel engines. In an HEUI fuel system, fluid is supplied at high pressure through a common rail to each of a series of unit fuel injectors within the cylinder head. Each injector includes an electronically controlled valve, which governs the application of the high-pressure fluid to provide the force to inject fuel into the engine cylinders.

[0003] Each HEUI fuel injector has an actuating fluid control valve that is electronically controlled to control the timing and amount of the actuating fluid flowing into the injector. The actuating fluid control valve initiates and terminates the injection process. A representative HEUI fuel injector has a plunger that is displaced within an internal pumping chamber by fluid from the rail when an electronically controlled valve in the injector opens in response to a signal from the engine controller to inject fuel into a combustion chamber. The fluid acts via the plunger to amplify the fuel pressure in the pumping chamber to a magnitude large enough to force a normally closed valve at an outlet of the fuel injector to open. When the latter valve opens, the amplified fuel pressure forces fuel through the outlet and into the combustion chamber. Terminating the control signal to the electronically controlled valve terminates the injection. When that happens, the valve at the fuel injector outlet returns to the normally closed condition, and fluid flows from the rail to refill the pumping chamber, forcing the plunger to retract in the process. [0004] The rails include injector port for physically and fluidly interconnecting the rail with the fuel injectors. Typically, the injector ports are mounted in the bottom of the rail and are positioned to align different ones of the fuel injectors when the rail is mounted on the engine. Space limitations and the tight tolerance constraints between the connection ports and the injectors can make it difficult and time consuming to install the rail onto the engine.

SUMMARY

[0005] Embodiments described herein relate to a fuel injector port assembly and associated methods. In one embodiment, a fuel injector connection port assembly couples a fuel injector to a rail including a fluid passageway for conveying actuating fluid under pressure from an actuating fluid source to a fuel injector of an engine, and a vertical passage that extends through the rail to a location that aligns with the fuel injector when the rail is mounted on the engine. The assembly comprises an upper member mountable through the upper end of the vertical passage. A lower member is mountable through the lower end of the vertical passage and defines a connection port configured to mate with a reciprocal connector on the fuel injector. The upper and lower members are configured to interconnect with each other to secure the assembly in the vertical passage. At least one of the upper and lower members defines a fluid passageway that fluidly interconnects the fluid passageway of the rail with the connection port.

[0006] Another embodiment provides an assembly for delivering high pressure actuating fluid to a plurality hydraulically-actuated, electronically-controlled unit fuel injectors. The assembly comprises a rail including a generally longitudinal passage and a plurality of vertical passages with each vertical passage extending through the rail to a location that aligns with a different one of a plurality of fuel injection connection port assemblies when the rail is mounted on the engine. Each injection port connection assembly comprises an upper member mountable through the upper end of the vertical passage and a lower member mountable through the lower end of the vertical passage and defining a connection port configured to mate with a reciprocal connector on the fuel injector. The upper and lower members are configured to interconnect with each other to secure the connection port assembly in the vertical passage. At least one of the upper and lower members define a fluid passageway that fluidly interconnects a fluid passageway of the rail with the connection port in the lower member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a fuel injection connection port.

[0008] FIG. 2 a section view showing the connection port of Fig. 1 installed in a rail.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a section view showing a fuel injector installed in the connection port of Fig. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Referring to the drawings, a fuel injection port 120 for an injection rail will be described. The rail 100 includes a fluid inlet port 102 for fluidly coupling the rail to a high-pressure fluid pump (not shown). The rail 100 also includes a sensor port 104 for a pressure sensor (not shown). An engine control unit (not show) or other controller can be connected to the pressure sensor to monitor and regulate fluid pressure in the rail 100.

[0011] The rail 100 defines a longitudinal fluid passageway 106 (see Fig. 3).

Removable end caps 108 connect to the ends of the rail 100 to seal the ends of the of the fluid passageway 106. The longitudinal fluid passageway 106 fluidly couples the fluid supply (via the inlet port 102) with the injector ports 120 for supplying high-pressure fluid to drive the fuel injectors 110 (see FIG. 3). Each injector connection port 120 services a respective one of the fuel injectors 1 10.

[0012] The injector port 120 is configured to mount in vertical passages 121 that extend through the rail 100 at locations that to align with different ones of the fuel injectors 110 when the rail 100 is mounted on the engine (not shown). The vertical passages 121 extend upwardly from the bottom of the rail 100 and intersect the fluid passageway 106. The injector ports 120 are mounted in the vertical passages 121 and are used to interconnect the rail 100 to the fuel injectors 110. [0013] Each injector port includes an upper member 123 mountable through the upper end of the vertical passage 121 and a lower member 125 mountable through the lower end of the vertical passage 121 and defining a connection port configured to mate with a reciprocal connector on the fuel injection. The upper and lower members 123, 125 are configured to interconnect with each other to secure the assembly in the vertical passage 121. At least one of the upper and lower members 123, 125 defines a fluid passageway that fluidly interconnects the fluid passageway of the rail with the connection port.

[0014] In the illustrated embodiment, the upper member 123 is in the form of a top bolt 128, while the lower member 125 is in the form of a through-tube connector 122.

Top and bottom seal washers 124, 26 are interposed between the rail 100 and the top and bottom members 123, 125, respectively. The through-tube connector 122 further includes a connector body 130, a hex plug 132, a seal 134 and a back-up ring 135. The seal 134 fluidly seals between the injector port assembly 120 and a respective fuel injection. The back-up ring 135 provides structural rigidity to the seal 134 and prevents the seal 134 from deforming/extruding between the mating components due to the high pressure of the actuating fluid. The back-up ring may, for example, be rectangular in cross section.

[0015] The connector body 130 comprises a bottom portion 136 and an elongated tubular portion 138 that extends upwardly from the bottom portion 136. A vertical fluid passageway 140 extends between a bottom opening 142 in the bottom portion 136 and a plurality of top openings 144 (two in the illustrated embodiment) near the upper end of the tubular portion 138. When the through-tube connector 122 is mounted in the rail 100, the upper openings 144 intersect the longitudinal fluid passageway 106 to permit fluid flow between the vertical fluid passageway 140 and the longitudinal passageway 106. The hex plug 132 threads into the bottom portion 136 of the connector body 130 and includes a center opening 146 that aligns with the vertical fluid passageway 140 in the connector body 130. The lower end of the vertical passageway 140 and the center opening 146 define a connection port 150 that is configured to mate with a reciprocal connector 151 (see FIG. 3) on a respective fuel injector 1 10 for interconnecting the rail and the fuel injector 1 10. [0016] The top bolt 128 inserts through the upper end of the vertical passage 121, where it mates with the through-tube connector 122. The top bolt 128 includes threads 154 that mate with reciprocal threads 156 in the top end of the through-tube connector 122 for securing these components together. The top seal washer 124 is interposed between the top bolt 128 and the top face of the rail 100, while the bottom seal washer

126 is interposed between the through-tube connector 122 and the bottom face of the rail 100. The rail 100 includes annular recesses 160 at the top and bottom of the vertical passage 121, which are sized to receive the seal washers 124, 126. The top face of the bottom seal washer 126 includes an annular groove 162, which carries an O-ring seal 164 or other suitable seal. Similarly, the bottom face of the top seal washer 124 includes an annular groove 166, which carries an O-ring seal 168 or other suitable seal. As the top bolt 128 and the through-tube connector 122 are threaded together, the seals 164, 168 are compressed between the rail 100 and the seal washers 124, 126 to seal against fluid leakage.

[0017] The rail 100 can be installed on an engine as follows. Initially, each of through-tube connectors 122 is mounted on one of the fuel injectors 1 10 (which have previously be installed in place on the engine) by sliding the connection port 150 onto the connector 151 of a respective injector 110. When the through-tube connector 122 is mounted on the injector, the seals 134, 135 are compressed between the through-tube connector 122 and the injector connector 151 to seal against fluid leaks.

[0018] The bottom seal washers 126 are then installed on the through-tube connectors 122. Alternatively, the bottom seal washers 126 can be installed on the through-tube connectors 122 before the connectors 122 are installed on to the fuel injectors 1 10.

[0019] Once the through-tube connectors 122 and bottom seal washers 126 are installed, the rail 100 can be lowered into place over the through-tube connectors 122. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the vertical passages 121 are larger in diameter than the tubular portions 138 of the connector bodies 130. This clearance 171 makes it easier to install the rail 100 over the through-tube connectors 122. [0020] Once the rail 100 is in place, it can be secured to the engine block (not shown). The rail 100 has a plurality of coupling lugs 172 (see FIG. 1) for coupling the rail to the engine. This is preferably accomplished by passing a bolt (not shown) through a bore 174 defined in the lug 172 and threading the bolt into a threaded bore (not shown) defined in the engine.

[0021] Once the rail 100 is secured in place, the top bolts 128 and top seal washers 124 can be installed. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the annular recesses 160 are larger in diameter than the top and bottom seal washers 124, 126. This clearance compensates for lateral misalignment and facilitates installation of the top bolt 128, as well as installation of the rail onto the through-tube connectors 122. As the top bolt 128 is threaded into the through-tube connector 122, the seals 164, 168 are compressed between the seal washers 124, 126 and the rail 100 to seal against fluid leakage.

[0022] The bottom portion 136 of the connector body 130 presents a spherical surface 180 that abuts against a planar bevel 182 formed on the bottom seal washer 126 around its center opening 146. Similarly, the bottom face of the top bolt 128 presents a spherical surface 184 that abuts against a planar beveled surface 186 formed on the top seal washer 124 around its center opening 146. These interfaces can be analogized to a ball and socket joint. The combination of these interfaces and the clearance 171 between the rail 100 and the through-tube connector 122 allows angular displacement 190 of the injector port 120 relative to the axis of the vertical passage 121, which helps facilitate installation of the rail on to the injectors and provides better sealing between the fuel injector connector 151 and the injector connection ports 150. According to one embodiment, the injector port 120 can be displaced 2.5 degrees on either side of the axis (or 5 degrees in total).

Claims

1. A fuel injector connection port assembly for coupling a fuel injector to a rail, the rail including a fluid passageway for conveying actuating fluid under pressure from an actuating fluid source to a fuel injector of an engine, the rail further including a vertical passage that extends through the rail to a location that aligns with the fuel injector when the rail is mounted on the engine, the assembly comprising: an upper member mountable through the upper end of the vertical passage; a lower member mountable through the lower end of the vertical passage and defining a connection port configured to mate with a reciprocal connector on the fuel injector; the upper and lower members being configured to interconnect with each other to secure the assembly in the vertical passage; at least one of the upper and lower members defining a fluid passageway that fluidly interconnects the fluid passageway of the rail with the connection port.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower member comprises bottom portion and a tubular portion extending upwardly from the lower portion, the tubular portion defining a fluid passageway having a lower opening and at least one upper opening, the upper opening positioned to intersect the longitudinal fluid passageway when the lower member is mounted in the vertical passage.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower members threadably interconnect to each other.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an upper seal member interposed between the upper member and the rail for fluidly sealing therebetween and lower seal member interposed between the lower member and the rail for fluidly sealing therebetween.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein one of the upper member and the upper seal member includes a spherical surface and the other of the upper member and the upper seal member includes a beveled surface, the spherical surface and beveled surface engaging each other in a manner that permits the upper member to pivot relative to the longitudinal axis of the vertical passage.

6. The assembly of claim 4, wherein one of the lower member and the lower seal member includes a spherical surface and the other of the lower member and the lower seal member includes a beveled surface, the spherical surface and beveled surface engaging each other in a manner that permits the lower member to pivot relative to the longitudinal axis of the vertical passage.

7. An assembly for delivering high pressure actuating fluid to a plurality hydraulically-actuated, electronically-controlled fuel injectors, the assembly comprising: a rail including a generally longitudinal passage and a plurality of vertical passages, each vertical passage extending through the rail a location that aligns with a different one of the fuel injectors when the rail is mounted on an engine; a plurality of fuel injection connection port assemblies, each fuel injection port connection assembly comprising: an upper member mountable through the upper end of the vertical passage; a lower member mountable through the lower end of the vertical passage and defining a connection port configured to mate with a reciprocal connector on each of the fuel injectors; the upper and lower members being configured to interconnect with each other to secure the connection port assembly in the vertical passage; at least one of the upper and lower members defining a fluid passageway that fluidly interconnects a fluid passageway of the rail with the connection port in the lower member.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the lower member comprises bottom portion and a tubular portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion, the tubular portion defining a fluid passageway having a lower opening and at least one upper opening, the upper opening positioned to intersect the longitudinal fluid passageway when the lower member is mounted in the vertical passage.

9. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the upper and lower members threadably interconnect to each other.

10. The assembly of claim 6, further comprising an upper seal member interposed between the upper member and the rail for fluidly sealing therebetween and lower seal member interposed between the lower member and the rail for fluidly sealing therebetween.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein one of the upper member and the upper seal member includes a spherical surface and the other of the upper member and the upper seal member includes a beveled surface, the spherical surface and beveled surface engaging each other in a manner that permits the upper member to pivot relative to the longitudinal axis of the vertical passage.

12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein one of the lower member and the lower seal member includes a spherical surface and the other of the lower member and the lower seal member includes a beveled surface, the spherical surface and beveled surface engaging each other in a manner that permits the lower member to pivot relative to the longitudinal axis of the vertical passage.