JP2008522073A - Automotive internal combustion engine including continuous diesel fuel recovery surface - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to, for example, an automobile engine. The engine of the present invention includes a cylinder head (20), a fuel injector (40), and pressurized fuel supply pipes (44, 47). The engine further includes an enclosure (10) for containing leaked fuel, such that the upper end of the fuel injector (40) is located inside the enclosure (10). , Generally delimited by lower walls (14, 18) and generally upper walls (12). The enclosure further comprises at least one fuel drain opening (100). In the present invention, the generally lower walls (14, 18) allow the leaked fuel to flow from the position of at least one fuel injector (40) to the position of one other fuel injector (40). The drain opening (100) is shaped to allow it and is arranged to collect the leaked fuel that has flowed through the enclosure (10).

Description

  The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine, particularly for automobiles.

  In particular, the present invention relates to an internal combustion engine that typically includes a cylinder head, a fuel injector that passes through the cylinder head, and a pressurized fuel supply pipe connected to the fuel injector.

  In internal combustion engines of the type described above, it is known that fuel leakage can occur at the connection between each fuel supply pipe and the associated fuel injector.

  Taking into account the pressure applied to the fuel, which can exceed 1000 bar, the fuel leaks in a spray-like form that is easy to ignite.

  Atomized fuel can come into contact with relatively hot engine components and cause a fire.

Leaked fuel can also be sprayed onto parts with safety functions, such as brake circuits, for example, which can pose a safety risk.
US 5 598 827 A DE 19 62 622 A1 FR 1 353 420 A US 5 927 254 A

  The present invention specifically aims to provide a simple, effective and economical solution to the risk of uncontrollable fuel leakage.

  It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a solution that can be easily applied to a given engine block and is effective for all fuel injectors involved.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an internal combustion engine including a cylinder head, a fuel injector, and a pressurized fuel supply pipe, particularly a diesel engine of an automobile, wherein the engine accommodates leaked fuel. The enclosure is delimited by an overall lower wall and an overall upper wall such that the upper end of the fuel injector is located inside the enclosure. The enclosure further provides an internal combustion engine having at least one fuel drain opening.

  According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the generally lower wall allows the leaked fuel to flow from the position of at least one of the fuel injectors to the position of the other one of the fuel injectors. The drain opening is arranged to collect the leaked fuel that has flowed through the enclosure.

  According to an advantageous variant, the generally lower wall is inclined towards the drain opening so as to encourage the leaked fuel contained in the enclosure to flow towards the drain opening. is doing.

  The enclosure preferably has a single drain opening.

  Advantageously, a drain tube extends from at least one of the drain openings, and the drain tube is an independent part that is attached to the enclosure during the assembly process.

  According to a preferred feature, a chamber is provided on the cylinder head, the chamber houses a camshaft and an oil bath, the camshaft is immersed in the oil bath, and the chamber is covered by a cover. And the enclosure for accommodating the leaked fuel is mechanically coupled to the cover of the chamber for accommodating the camshaft.

  According to an advantageous variant, the generally lower wall of the enclosure for accommodating the leaked fuel is at least partly integrated with the cover of the chamber for accommodating the camshaft.

  Desirably, at least one seal seals around at least one component that passes through the wall of the enclosure for containing the leaked fuel.

  Advantageously, the seal assembly comprises a series of annular seals, said annular seals being generally straight with a series of connecting tongues formed integrally with said annular seal and connecting said annular seals together. Arranged on the line.

  According to a desirable feature, a series of pressurized fuel supply pipes and a high pressure fuel supply chamber are connected to one of the high pressure fuel supply chambers in each connection region of the series of pressurized fuel supply pipes to the high pressure fuel supply chamber. The seal assembly is arranged such that each of the various annular seals surrounds the connection region between the corresponding pressurized fuel supply pipe and the high pressure fuel supply chamber. .

  According to an advantageous variant, the enclosure for accommodating the leaked fuel includes a lid part that is the generally upper wall and a dish part that is the generally lower wall, the lid part. And the dish part are connected to each other by respective peripheral end parts, and one of the two parts of the lid part and the dish part has at least one notch in the peripheral end part, The notch forms a passage for a part that penetrates the enclosure, and a seal is disposed in at least one of the notches, the seal extending from the passage and from the passage to an end region of the seal. The end region having a groove and connected via the groove is arranged to be received in the end of the notch that receives the seal.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding. In these drawings:
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an enclosure for recovering diesel fuel according to the present invention;
-Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an enclosure for recovering diesel fuel according to the invention, as seen from the first side;
-Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an enclosure for recovering diesel fuel according to the present invention as seen from the second side;
-Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a first seal according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second seal according to one embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows two main parts, a lid (generally upper wall) 12 and a pan (generally lower wall) 14a, which form an enclosure 10 according to the invention for recovering fuel. Show.

  FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the lid part 12 and the dish part 14 a arranged with respect to the cylinder head 20.

  A chamber 30 for accommodating the camshaft 32 and the oil bath 34 is formed on the cylinder head 20 below the surrounding portion 10. The camshaft 32 is immersed in the oil bath 34.

  The range of the bottom of the chamber 30 is limited by the concave portion 20a. The upper part of the concave part 20 a is open and is formed of the same material as the cylinder head 20. The cylinder head 20 covers the cylinder 21.

  Further, the range of the top of the chamber 30 is limited by the cylinder head cover 14b. The cylinder head cover 14b is also referred to as a “case cap” or a “cylinder head cover”. The plate part 14 a and the cylinder head cover 14 b are formed of an integral part that forms the lower wall (the entire lower wall) 14 of the surrounding part 10. In other words, the lower surface of the cylinder head cover 14b limits the range above the space 30 for lubricating the camshaft 32, and the upper surface defines the range below the enclosure 10 for collecting diesel fuel. limit.

  For this reason, the cylinder head cover 14b has a side wall 15 extending downward so as to form a cover on the space 30 for lubricating the camshaft. Further, the cylinder head cover 14b has a concave side wall 16 that extends upward and forms the dish portion 14a of the surrounding portion 10 for recovering diesel fuel.

  The enclosure 10 for recovering diesel fuel is here mounted on an in-line four-cylinder diesel engine type internal combustion engine.

  For this reason, there are four fuel injectors 40 mounted on the corresponding cylinders. As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel injector 40 is arranged in a straight line in the vertical direction with respect to the surrounding portion 10 for recovering diesel fuel.

  The fuel injector 40 extends through an assembly consisting of a cylinder head 20, a space 30 for lubricating the camshaft 32, and a cylinder head cover 14b, i.e., a pan 14a.

  Therefore, the fuel injector 40 extends from the lower side of the cylinder head 20, that is, from the inside of the cylinder 21 until the upper end portion comes out of the surrounding portion 10 for recovering diesel fuel.

  Therefore, the fuel injector 40 has an upper end portion located on the upper surface of the adjacent plate portion 14a.

  2 and 3, the end portion 46 of each fuel supply pipe (pressurized fuel supply pipe) 44 and the upper end portion of each fuel injector 40 are connected to each other. The connection region 48 provided with is formed.

  In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the enclosure 10 is closed to seal leaking fuel that may occur in the connection region 48 between the fuel supply pipe 44 and the fuel injector 40.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, the peripheral end portion 14 c of the dish portion 14 a is adjacent to the peripheral end portion 13 of the lid portion 12. The peripheral end portion 13 of the lid portion 12 is attached in a sealed state to the peripheral end portion 14c of the dish portion 14a. Both of these two peripheral ends 13, 14c have a flat edge (ie, peripheral edge) at least partially along the peripheral edge. These edges oppose each other and sandwich an annular seal 50 (FIG. 1) between them. Seal 50 is sandwiched between the edges by appropriate bolting.

  The lid 12 is preferably made of a plastic or elastomer material.

  Each of the four fuel supply pipes 44 to which the fuel injector 40 is attached is supplied with pressurized diesel fuel from a high-pressure rail (high-pressure fuel supply chamber) 60 having a generally cylindrical pipe shape. The high-pressure rail 60 is disposed below the pan portion 14a, particularly below the vertical portion of the peripheral end portion of the pan portion 14a. Each of the four fuel supply pipes 44 is connected to a side surface of the high-pressure rail 60. Each location where the fuel supply pipe 44 is connected to the side surface of the high-pressure rail 60 forms a connection region that is tightened by the tightening nut 61. Another high pressure pipe (pressurized fuel supply pipe) 47 is connected to the high pressure rail 60. The high pressure pipe 47 is for supplying pressurized diesel fuel to the high pressure rail 60. The high pressure pipe 47 also has a connection region 47 a with the high pressure rail 60. The connection area 47a is also tightened by the associated tightening nut 61.

  Each connection region between the high-pressure rail 60 and the fuel supply pipe 44 or between the high-pressure rail 60 and the high-pressure pipe 47 is located on the surface of the dish portion 14a. In particular, the dish portion 14a has a series of through holes. Each through hole receives a fastening nut 61 in each connection region of the fuel supply pipe 44 and the high pressure pipe 47 to the high pressure rail 60. Therefore, the supply of diesel fuel to each fuel injector 40 is performed through various through holes formed in the dish portion 14a.

  Each through hole has a width larger than the width of the tightening nut 61 in the connection region. For this reason, a gap remains around the tightening nut 61.

  This gap located around each tightening nut 61 is filled with annular seals 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 shown in FIG.

  The clamping nut forms a single elastomeric part, referred to herein as a seal assembly 70. The seal assembly 70 includes annular seals 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, and a series of connecting tongues 76, 77, 78, between the annular seals 71, 72, 73, 74, 75. 79 exists. The connecting tongues 76, 77, 78, 79 provide a distance between the seals equal to the distance between the fuel supply pipes 44 and the high pressure pipes 47 at the points where they are connected to the high pressure rail 60.

  The seal assembly 70 is compressed between the high-pressure rail 60 and the plate portion 14a by tightening a tightening nut that connects the fuel supply pipe 44 and the high-pressure tube 47 to the high-pressure rail 60, and the high-pressure rail 60 and the plate portion 14a. It is pinched between the lower side.

  The high pressure pipe 47 passes through the enclosure 10, passes through one of the side walls 16, and draws a path toward a high pressure diesel fuel source (not shown). For this reason, the high-pressure pipe 47 passes through the peripheral end portion 13 of the lid portion 12 through the first notch 17 a formed at the longitudinal end portion of the peripheral end portion 13. This notch 17 a has a width larger than the outer diameter of the high-pressure pipe 47. Therefore, a gap exists between the high-pressure pipe 47 and the notch 17 a, and this gap is filled with the seal 80. The outer shape of the seal 80 matches the inner shape of the notch 17a.

  The seal 80 shown in FIG. 4 has a generally triangular body. A groove 82 is formed in one top (end region) 81 of the triangle, and the groove 82 is extended by a central accommodating portion 83 for receiving the high-pressure pipe 47. The edge of the groove 82 is opened to allow the introduction of the high-pressure tube 47 into the central housing 83 of the seal 80.

  The crack in the top part 81 is arrange | positioned at the bottom (end part) of the notch 17a.

  As a result, the groove 82 is naturally closed again by the lateral support force applied to the triangular body of the seal 80 by the notch 17a.

  The seal 80 is extended by two tongues 84 along the end of the top 81 opposite the crack. The tongue 84 extends laterally with respect to each side of the triangular main body. These two tongue portions 84 are sandwiched between two related ends of the lid portion 12 and the plate portion 14a, and hold the seal 80 in a predetermined position by a compressive force between them. is there.

  The lid 12 is also provided with a second cutout 17b for passing a bundle of wires 90a (FIG. 3) for controlling the fuel injector 40 shown in FIG. This notch 17b is located in the vicinity of the above-mentioned notch 17a. Also in this case, the notch 17b has a size larger than the bundle of wires passing therethrough. The wiring bundle 90a passes through a seal indicated by reference numeral 90 in the figure for filling the gap around the wiring bundle 90a in the notch 17b.

  The seal 90 shown in FIG. 5 also has a generally triangular body with a groove 92 located near one of the tops (end regions). Also in this case, the top portion 91 is disposed at the bottom (end portion) of the notch 17b. This seal 90 has two passages 94, 95. One passage, the passage 94, leads to the groove 92. Another passage 95 having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the passage 94 is connected to the first passage 94 via a connection groove 96. A connecting groove 96 communicates between the two passages 94, 95.

  A first bundle of wires (not shown) is first disposed in the first passage 94 from the first groove 92, passes through the connection groove 96, passes through the second passage 95, and passes through the second passage 95. It is disposed in the passage 95.

  On both sides of the seal 90, there is provided a generally cylindrical extension 97 located in a first passage 94 for passing a bundle of wires 90a.

  The generally cylindrical extension 97 has two grooves 98 that form two semi-cylinders 99. For this reason, the two semi-cylinders 99 can be separated from each other so as to be connected to the end portion of the passage 94 when the bundle of wires 90a is arranged.

  The generally cylindrical extension 97 located on the extension of the passage 94 is flexible and thus provides good mechanical management of the electrical wiring, which is a component that may move during use of the vehicle. It is.

  It is advantageous to provide a clamp part for securely holding the bundle of wires 90 a in the substantially cylindrical extending portion 97.

  The seal 50, 80, 90 completely seals the enclosure 10, ensuring that the diesel fuel is protected even if the diesel fuel leaks in the form of a high-pressure spray jet toward the more closed area of the enclosure 10. Can be recovered.

  The leaked diesel fuel accumulates in the lower part of the dish part 14a and is then discharged.

  The lower part of the dish part 14a has the inclined surface 18a. The inclined surface 18a descends from the overhanging portion 18b surrounding the fastening nut 61 in the connection region to the lower continuous surface 18c extending around the fuel injector 40 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

  Accordingly, the lower portion (generally the lower wall) 18 of the plate portion 14a has a continuous and particularly continuous surface 18c shape extending from a fuel injector located at one end to a fuel injector located at the other end. Eggplant.

  The continuous surface 18c surrounds each connection region 48 of the fuel injector 40 and there are no obstructions that impede the flow of diesel fuel between the connection regions 48.

  Thus, the pan 14a forms a continuous surface 18c for recovering diesel fuel that is fluidly common to the entire fuel injector. In other words, in this embodiment, the diesel fuel is along this continuous surface 18c for all existing fuel injectors from one fuel injector position to the next adjacent fuel injector position. , Can flow one after another.

  It is clear that this unique configuration increases the effectiveness of the diesel fuel recovery function by the enclosure 10. This is because the flow of diesel fuel from the enclosure 10 is ensured because the flow of diesel fuel is not hindered or insufficient. For this reason, the reliability of this device is guaranteed for all fuel injectors involved.

  In combination with this increased effectiveness, a single drain opening 100 of diesel fuel in the enclosure 10 and a single drain pipe 110 of diesel fuel are used.

  The continuous surface 18c at the bottom of the dish portion 14a is preferably inclined toward the drain opening 100 so as to facilitate the flow of diesel fuel from the dish portion 14a.

  The drain tube 110 is provided to guide the diesel fuel to a tank of diesel fuel. Alternatively, the drain pipe 110 is provided to lead to the fuel supply pipe of the engine so that the diesel fuel is directly recycled. This tank may be a tank for collecting leaked diesel fuel or a main fuel tank of an automobile.

  The drain tube 110 is made in the form of a part independent of the other parts of the device. In other words, the drain pipe 110 is connected to the lid portion 12 in the assembly process.

  The drain pipe 110 is provided with a first attachment part 111 to the lid 12 and a second attachment part 112 to another member (not shown). The attachment parts 111, 112 enable attachment to, for example, an engine block part or a car chassis part not shown.

Claims (10)

  An internal combustion engine including a cylinder head (20), a fuel injector (40), and a pressurized fuel supply pipe (44, 47), in particular a diesel engine of an automobile, the engine for containing leaked fuel Of the fuel injector (40) so that the upper end of the fuel injector (40) is located inside the enclosure (10). 14, 18) and a generally upper wall (12), the enclosure further comprising at least one fuel drain opening (100) in an internal combustion engine having the generally lower The walls (14, 18) are shaped to allow the leaked fuel to flow from the location of at least one of the fuel injectors (40) to the location of the other one of the fuel injectors (40); Open the drain (100), characterized in that it is arranged to recover the leaked fuel flowing through the surrounding portion (10), an internal combustion engine.   The generally lower walls (14, 18) are designed to facilitate the flow of the leaked fuel contained in the enclosure (10) toward the drain opening (100). The internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine is inclined toward (100).   3. Internal combustion engine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the enclosure (10) has a single drain opening (100).   A drain pipe (110) extending from at least one of the drain openings (100), the drain pipe (110) being an independent part attached to the enclosure (10) in an assembly process. The internal combustion engine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   It includes a chamber (30) located above the cylinder head (20), the chamber (30) houses a camshaft (32) and an oil bath (34), and the camshaft (32) is the oil bath. (34), the chamber (30) is covered with a cover (14b), and the surrounding portion (10) for containing the leaked fuel contains the camshaft (32). 5. The internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the engine is mechanically connected to the cover (14 b) of the chamber (30).   The generally lower wall (14) of the enclosure (10) for containing the leaked fuel is at least partially with the cover (14b) of the chamber containing the camshaft (32). The internal combustion engine according to claim 5, wherein the internal combustion engine is integrated.   Having at least one seal (50, 80, 90), which seals around at least one part passing through the wall (12, 14) of the enclosure (10) for containing the leaked fuel. An internal combustion engine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that:   A seal assembly (70) comprising a series of annular seals (71, 72, 73, 74, 75), the annular seals (71, 72, 73, 74, 75) being connected to the annular seals; 8. The arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that it is arranged in a generally straight line with a series of connecting tongues (76, 77, 78, 79) that are integrally formed and connect the annular seals to one another. Internal combustion engine.   A high-pressure fuel supply chamber (60) and a series of pressurized fuel supply pipes (44, 47), each of the pressurized fuel supply pipes being connected to the high-pressure fuel supply chamber (60) in each connection region. Connected to one side of the supply chamber (60), the seal assembly (70) is connected to each of the various annular seals (71, 72, 73, 74, 75) corresponding to the pressurized fuel supply. 9. The internal combustion engine according to claim 8, wherein the internal combustion engine is arranged so as to surround the connection region between a pipe (44, 47) and the high-pressure fuel supply chamber (60).   The enclosure (10) for containing the leaked fuel includes a lid portion which is the generally upper wall (12) and a pan portion which is the generally lower wall (14), The lid part and the dish part are connected to each other by respective peripheral end parts (13, 14c), and any one of the two parts of the lid part and the dish part is at least one in the peripheral end part. Having two cutouts (17a, 17b), the cutouts forming a passage for parts penetrating the enclosure (10) and sealing the cutouts (17a, 17b) (80, 90). And the seal (80, 90) includes at least one passage (83, 94, 95) and a groove (82, 92) extending from the passage (83, 94, 95) to the end region of the seal. And are connected via the grooves (82, 92). 10. The end region is arranged to be received in the end of the notch (17a, 17b) that receives the seal. Internal combustion engine.

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