US2691888A - Diesel engine timing device - Google Patents

Description

OC. 19, 1954 M DAULBY DIESEL ENGINE TIMING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 7, 1951 r m ...m om Hh mmmw NT w NN\ Nm E Milton Daulby JNVENToR.

d/away HZLW Oct. 19, 1954 M- DAULBY DIESEL ENGINE TIMING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. '7, 1951 INVENToR.

BY #muy 12ML@ Milton Dau/by CNV Patented Oct. 19, 1954 UNITED l srATss ATENT OFFICE DIESEL ENGINE TIMING DEVICE Milton Daulby, Newport News, Va.

Application November 7, 1951, Serial No. 255,280

(Cl. 'i3-116) 9 Claims. l

This invention comprises novel and useful immovements in a diesel engine timing device and more specifically pertains to a timing indicator attachment for the injection nozzle of a fuel injection system of diesel engines for accurately indicating the time and duration of the fuel injection.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a mechanism whereby the time of the beginning of fuel injection and the duration of fuel injection of fuel injection nozzles of diesel engines may be quickly and accurately ascertained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a timing indicator being conformative with the preceding object which shall be readily applicable to various conventional types of fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines.

More specically, it is a primary object of' the present invention to provide a fuel injection timing indicator for diesel engines which shall indicate in an improved manner the exact time of the beginning and duration of fuel injections of the fuel injection nozzles; and which may be readily applied to conventional fuel injection nozzles of fuel injection systems by being either located directly upon the fuel injection injector or by being associated therewith but located remotely therefrom as preferred.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds are retained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been applied in different manners to a fuel injector of a conventional design in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view indicating the manner in which a timing indicator in accordance with this invention may be directly applied to the fuel injector and associated with the fly wheel of an internal combustion engine, parts of the injector and of the switch mechanism of the timer being indicated in section therein; and

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing an alternative manner in which the timing device may be associated with a fuel injector, but located at a remote position relative thereto, parts of the injector and of the timing device being shown in section therein.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference is first made to the application of the invention disclosed in Figure 1, wherein the numeral I designates generally a fuel injector for diesel engines of a 2 conventional design, the same being supplied with fuel under pressure by a conduit I2, the latter receiving its fuel from a fuel pump or other suitable fuel injecting pressure supplying means.

'Ihe conventional fuel injector herein disclosed includes a nozzle valve I 4 indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, which is provided with a spindle l5 having the usual compression spring i8 which yieldingly urges the spindle in a direction to cause the nozzle valve I4 to resist the fuel pressure within the pressure area below the nozzle valve, until a predetermined pressure is developed forcing the nozzle valve off its seat, the fuel charge entering the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine cylinder, not shown. The bowl or body of the injector is provided with a customary upstanding sleeve portion 2li which is provided with a usual screwthreaded closure plug at its upper end whereby access may be had to the compression spring I8.

In accordance with this invention as shown in Figure l, a housing or other suitable supporting means indicated by the numeral 22 is provided having an externally threaded sleeve or bushing 24 extending therefrom which is adapted to be screwthreadedly engaged in the upper end of the sleeve 20 in lieu of the closure plug. By this means, the housing or support 22 is mounted directly upon the body of the fuel injector,

The housing or support 22 carries a switch mechanism and operating means therefor to be set forth hereinafter, whereby actuation of the fuel injector nozzle valve and spindle serves to operate the switch, energize an electrical circuit and thereby cause the actuation of a signal in timed relation to operation of the fuel injector, as set forth hereinafter.

The timing indicator in accordance with this invention further includes an electrically operated signaling device indicated generally by the numeral 26. This signaling device may conveniently comprise a neon lamp or the like, although it is to be understood that any other desired type of signaling device such as an alarm, or some other signal or indicator may be utilized.

Where a signaling light such as a neon light is employed, the latter is preferably so positioned that the rays therefrom may illuminate timing indicia indicated generally by the numeral 28 and which are disposed upon any convenient movable portion of the internal combustion engine whereby the position of the pistons and crank shaft may be readily ascertained at about the time of top dead center position of the pistons. Conveniently, this member may constitute a portion of the ny wheel of an internal combustion engine, this y wheel having a xed pointer or trammel 32 adjacent thereto constituting a reference point and past which the indicia 28 on the fly wheel are adapted to move. Thus, at the instant the signal light 25 is energized, the person testing the fuel injection system can readily observe during the instant of illumination which of the indicia registers with the trammel 32 and by that means determine the position of the pistons with respect to the top dead center position thereof.

`It will of course be readily appreciated that any other moving element of the engine insteadv of the fly wheel may be utilized to determine the relative position of the pistons with respect to the top dead center position the instant that the signaling lamp is energized by the fuel injection actuated unit of the attachment.

It will also be understood that the indicia may be entirely omitted and a visual signal afforded by the flashing of the light 26 may be utilized as an indication that the injector has been actuated.

However, where the device is applied to a moving member of the engine such as the flywheel, it will be understood that the periodic flashing of the signal light 25 upon the moving indicia or the flywheel or other member of the engine during operation of the engine will produce a stroboscopic effect whereby the same indicia will be illuminated and rendered visible during c'ycle of operation of the engine, thereby rendering easier the reading of the indicia, and ascertaining the relative timing of the piston with respect to the operation of the fuel injector.

The electric signaling device 26,- whether in the form of a signal lamp, a neon signal light, or some other electrical signaling apparatus, is provided with a suitable electrical activating circuit which may conveniently include an electric storage battery 34, such as the storage battery of an automotive vehicle, which may be grounded as at 36 and which is connected as by a conducto-r 38 with the primary circuit of an-induction coil 40 of the usual type with which automotive vehicles are provided, the other terminal of the primaryl circuit being connected by a conductor 42 with a, switch assembly to be subsequently set forth,

whereby the primary may be automatically and intermittently opened and closed.

The secondary coil or' circuit of the spark coil 40 has a conductor 44 connecting the same with the signal device 26, a further conductor 46 connecting the signal device to the ground at 48.

Thus, whenever the primary circuit of the induc tion coil is opened, an induced flow of current throughl the signaling device 26 will be effected thereby energizing the latter 'and illuminating the indicia.

, The'electric switch assembly within the housing 22 While mounted upon the support constituted by the same includes a pair of oppositely disposed binding posts 50 and 52 disposed preferably in alignment with each other, the conductor 42 being connected to one of these binding posts while a branch conductor 54 connects the two posts parallel with the conductor 42.

Mounted upon the binding post 5i! and insulated from the support or housing 22 is an arm 2E having a stationary but adjustable terminal 58. A second, relatively stationary terminal 69 is disposed'in opposed relation to the terminal 58, and is carriedby a movable arm 62 mounted upon a pivot nin. in the form'of 'abolt B4, thisarm being electrically connected as by a flexible electrically conductive band and spring 66 with the binding post 52. A lug or abutment 68 is mounted upon the support or housing 22 and constitutes a stop which limits movement of the arm 62 towards a support arm 5t, thereby limiting movement of the terminal 60 with respect to the terminal 58.

The movable terminal of the switch member is mounted upon a movable armV orblade 10 which is pivotally mounted upon ab'olt or' the like 'i2 carried by the support or housing` 22, the movable terminal consisting of a pair of contacts 'M'and le disposed on opposite sides of the blade 10 and respectively adjacent the fixed terminals 60 and 58. The arrangement is such that when the' blade 'i0 is in its lowered position, the terminal 16' will contact the terminal 58, while the terminal M and 'Eil will be disengaged. However, when the blade is raised, the terminals 58 and 16 will be disengaged and the terminal 14 and Ell will be closed as will be readily apparent lfrom Figure 1.

The movement of the blade 'i0 is eiTectedin timed relation to and in response to movement of the spindle I6 and nozzle valve I4'of the'fuel injector. For that purpose, a pin B5'is slidably received in a sleeve 18, 'and is adju-.stably fixedly secured therein as by a set screw all.' This sleeve slidably extends through a guideboss or tube-G2 extending through the' upper portion of the support or housing 22, and rests upon the upper cir'- cuit of the switch blade or lever 1B. A compres-I sion spring 84' surrounds the sleeve 18, pressing downwardly upon the blade 10 and urging the latter into its lowered position at which time the contacts 'I6 and 58 are closed as illustratedi in Figure l.

A second sleeve 86- extends throughthe boss 24 and slidably embraces the pin 35,' being adjust# ably secured thereto as by a set screw 88.z This latter sleeve being clamped to the p'in 95 moves upwardly or downwardly therewith and serves' to positively raise the blade 'I0 on the upward stroke of the pin, and is pressed downward,-A carrying with it the sleeve 13 by virtue of the thrust of the spring 841l when the member raising` the pin "16 releases the latter.

At its lower end, the pin is provided with' an enlarged socketed portion 9'0 received within the upper part of the body of the fuel injector below the boss 24, and a connecting pin 92 is seated in this socket and at its lower end engages and abuts against the headed portion 941 of the in'- jector spindle I6.

It will'now be apparent that the arrangement is such that when the injector spindley is lifted upon the beginning of the fuel injection; it. carries with it the pin injector 92 and the pin 95. The pin 95, through the sleeve 86, raises the blade'- 'i0 `against the resistance ofv the'spring 8B, carrying with it the sleeve 18.`

From the position shown in Figure' 1, which is the normalrest position of the device when theV fuel injector is idle, it will be' seen that current is flowing through theV primaryfcircuit ofthe coilby virtue of the contacts 58 andA 'I6V being closed. When the blade 'Hl is lifted, breaking connections with the contacts 76 and 58, this change in the flow of current through the primary ofthe -co'il Q0' induces a flow through the secondary circuit thereby momentarily' energizing the signaling' de# vice 2E, and inthe arrangementY illustrated, there# by causing a momentary illumination ef the trammel 321 andscale 28 thereby' enabling the observer to' readily see ordtermine the'tiining- 5, of the beginning of injection with respect to the piston position relative to top dead center. When the fuel injector spindle I6 has continued its upward travel during the beginning of the fuel injection stroke of the injector, it will be seen that the contacts 14 and 60 are closed, thereby again closingthe circuit of the primary and causing the current to iicw through the primary circuit of the coil 4t by virtue of the contacts 14 and 60 being closed. When the blade 'lil is lowered by virtue of the injection pressure diminishing, contacts Hl and 6i) are separated, changing the flow of current to the secondary circuit of coil d, thereby momentarily energizing the signalling device 26 and in the arrangement illustrated, thereby causing a momentary illumination of the trammel 32 and scale 28, thereby enabling the observer to readily see or determine the timing of the ending of injection with respect to the position of the piston relative tol top dead center.

It will thus be apparent that the observer can determine the instant of the beginning of injection, as well as the extent or duration of the injection with respect to the degrees of piston travel.

The above described device possesses the advantage that each of the switch elements may be compactly and easily and quickly applied to each of the conventional fuel injectors on a Diesel engine in order to test the timing of injection.

It will also be understood that when the fuel injection pump is removed from the internal combustion engine, the above described device may be employed with the conventional fuel injectors and the conventional test stand in the manner previously described.

A further arrangement is provided, as shown in Figure 2, for arrangements in which it is preferred to position the testing device remote from the fuel injectors.

In this arrangement, the switch element responsive to the fuel injection pressure including the support or housing, the induction coil, the signalling device and the elements connecting the same may all be of the same construction previously described and therefore have been illustrated as of the same construction and bear the same reference numerals. However, the injector actuated switch is connected to the injector in a slightly different manner.

In this second embodiment or arrangement, the above mentioned externally threaded boss 24, instead of being directly threaded into the upper portion of the casing of the fuel injector I, is threaded into a cylindrical member |00. This member is provided with a cylindrical bore 102 into which the pin 95 extends. This pin, however, instead of being mechanically connected to the injector stem as in the previous arrangement, is provided at its lower end with a piston lili which is reciprocable within the cylinder H12.

A fluid conductor |06 is connected to the lower end of the bore m2 in the body |00 as by a coupling m8, and has its other end connected as by a coupling or fitting I I with a passage I l2 in the injector body lll. The conductor |06 may be of any desired length in accordance with the distance to which the switch unit is to be located with respect to the fuel injector i0.

This arrangement is such that whenever the fuel pressure within the ejector is raised to the necessary pressure to initiate or effect injection, this pressure will be communicated by the passage II'2, the conductor |86 to the bottom of the piston |04, and will through this fluid connection, actuate the stem ina manner previously set forth and to obtain the. above described functions.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. and changes will readily occur to those vskilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what claimed as new is:

1. 'A timing indicator for fuel injectors of Diesel engines comprising a signal light adapted to illuminate the timing indicia on an engine ily-- wheel, an electric circuit supplying current to said light, a switch controlling said circuit, actuating means for said switch responsive to operation of the fuel injector of a Diesel engine for actuating said switch, said electric circuit including an induction coil having primary and secondary circuits, said signal being operatively con-v nected with said secondary circuit and 'said switch with said primary circuit, said switch having a pair of spaced stationary contacts with a movable contact therebetween, said movable contact normally engaging one of the stationary contacts, said actuating means operatively connected to the movable contact to disengage the one stationary contact at the beginning of injection and the other contact at the end of injection, said stationary contacts being disposed in parallel in said primary circuit whereby the beginning and ending of the injection will be indicated.

2. A timing indicator for an injection nozzle comprising an electric signaling device, an electric circuit connected to said signaling device for activating the same, 4a switch controlling said circuit, means responsive to actuation of an injection nozzle for actuating said switch, said electric circuit including an induction coil having primary and secondary circuits, said signal being operatively connected with said secondary circuit and said switch with said primary circuit, said switch having a pair of spaced stationary contacts with a movable contact therebetween, said movable contact normally engaging one of the stationary contacts, said actuating means operatively connected to the movable contact to disengage the one stationary contact at the beginning of injection and the other contact at the end of injection, said stationary contacts being disposed in parallel in said primary circuit whereby the beginning and ending of the injection will be indicated.

3. In combination with a fuel injection system of a Diesel engine having a fuel injector, a timing indicator comprising a signal light positioned for illuminating the timing indicia on a moving part of said engine, an electric circuit connected with said light for activating the latter, a switch controlling said circuit, means connected to said switch and injector and responsive to operation of said injector for actuating said switch, said electric circuit including an induction coil having primary and secondary circuits, said signal being operatively connected with said secondary circuit and said switch with said primary circuit, said switch having a pair of spaced stationary contacts with a movable contact therebetween,

However, since numerous modifications' accuses:

said mavabiezcontact normally'engagingron of; the: stationary contacts#A said; actuating 'means' operatively kconnected to` the? movable. contact'to: disengagc the one.: stationary contact at: the: beginning of injection and the other Contact; ati'. the.v end-l of injection; saith stationary contacts being; disposed in parallel :in .said primaryfcircuitz whereby, the beginning antlzendingof` the injec.-v tionewill" be indicated.

4i.: The combination. of claim; 1. wherein: said actuating' means# includes.v ai". fluid.: pressure: ref sponsive-member connected; to' said switch, said.-` u-id pressure means-.beingad'apted to communi.- cate with. theL fuel injector. passage of. a: fuel injector.

5. The. combination offclaim 2 wherein. said actuating means includes a fluid.. pressure re sponsi-vaV member; connected to. said. switch, .sa-id uid. pressurefmeans being'. adapted .to :communi- I cate with.. the fuel: injector passageV of a: fuel injector.

6'. The.- combination? otV claimA 3 wherein. said. actuating means includes.v az.- fluid pressure 11e-fsponsive memberconnected: to.- said. switch', said.; fluid pressure means beingadapted.v to communi.- cate; with. theV fuel.- injector passage of a.V fuel; injector.

'hf/The combination.: ofiy claim. 1f wherein said.

References Citedin thele of this. patent'.

UNTIED STATES 5 PATENTS.

Number' Name Date 2;192',`863 Hetzelx'et al Mar: 5, 1940" 212895359H Hansbarger July'1'4; 1942 2,602,328 Tippett July, 19'52" FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 514,808` Great Britain Nov. 17; 1939` 620,637 Great Britain Mar. 28, .1949i

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