Classifications

• • 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
  • F02M55/00—Fuel-injection apparatus characterised by their fuel conduits or their venting means; Arrangements of conduits between fuel tank and pump F02M37/00
  • F02M55/004—Joints; Sealings
  • F02M55/005—Joints; Sealings for high pressure conduits, e.g. connected to pump outlet or to injector inlet
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
  • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
  • F02B77/00—Component parts, details or accessories, not otherwise provided for
  • F02B77/08—Safety, indicating, or supervising devices
• • 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
  • F02M55/00—Fuel-injection apparatus characterised by their fuel conduits or their venting means; Arrangements of conduits between fuel tank and pump F02M37/00
  • F02M55/002—Arrangement of leakage or drain conduits in or from injectors
• • 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
  • F02M55/00—Fuel-injection apparatus characterised by their fuel conduits or their venting means; Arrangements of conduits between fuel tank and pump F02M37/00
  • F02M55/02—Conduits between injection pumps and injectors, e.g. conduits between pump and common-rail or conduits between common-rail and injectors
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
  • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
  • F02B3/00—Engines characterised by air compression and subsequent fuel addition
  • F02B3/06—Engines characterised by air compression and subsequent fuel addition with compression ignition

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to apparatus for draining liquids from engines and more particularly to connector fittings and conduits that permit high, pressure fuel lines to pass through engine walls.
• Patent 2,326,171 entitled “Fuel Injection Device” issued to Reggio on August 10, 1943; U. S. Patent 2,463,707 entitled “Pipe Coupling” issued to Matousek on March 8, 1949; U. S. Patent 2,548,904 entitled “Jet Engine Fuel Nozzle Holder and Mounting” issued to Neal et al on April 17, 1951; and U. S.
• the present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.
• an apparatus for draining liquid from an engine preferably for a fuel line of the engine, is contemplated that includes a first member having a bore therethrough and a drain passage connected to the bore; a second member connected to said first member and defining therewith a drain channel having a remote drain point and communicating with the drain passage; and a connector fitting having a drain port therein and being received in said bore such that liquid can be communicated from the drain port to the remote drain point through the drain passage and drain channel.
• the present invention solves the problem of having the internal leakage from a fuel line fitting drain at an inconvenient location on the engine by providing an improved fuel line fitting that drains into a drain passage located within the engine wall. This drain passage in the engine wall is routed to the most convenient location for monitoring.
• One feature that is obtained by running the drain passage in the engine wall and by locating the drain point at a location remote from the fitting is that leakage from the fitting cannot be mistaken for leakage from the fuel pump or the fuel lines.
• Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, broken away and in section, of the interior of a valve cover
• Fig. 2 is a side elevational and enlarged view, broken away and in section, of the fuel line fitting of Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 is a top plan view, broken away, of the interior of the valve cover of Fig. 1 and illustrating a common drain passage that communicates with all of the fuel line fittings in the engine according to the present invention.
• Fig. 1 illustrates the interior of a valve compartment on a compression ignition engine 4.
• the valve compartment includes a valve cover base 7 that is rigidly mounted on an engine head 9.
• the valve cover base is sealed by a valve cove 11 and gasket of conventional construction.
• Fuel from the fuel pumping system of the engine is brought through the wall of the valve cover base 9 by a fuel line fitting 12 according to the present invention.
• the fuel enters the fitting from an inlet fuel line 15 and is directed into a standard fuel injector 14 connected to an outlet fuel line 16.
• the interior of the valve compartment also includes a plurality of rocker arras 18 which actuate a corresponding plurality of valves 19 and valve springs 20.
• the fuel line fitting 12 is received in a bore 22 formed through a support member, such as valve cover base 7 or a convenient wall of the engine 4.
• the fitting includes an elongate body 24 having two free ends 28, 28' that are each threaded to receive nut 30 and 30' , respectively.
• the body further has a generally cylindrical sidewall and mounting collar or nut portion 26 for engaging a wrench to tighten nut 30 or 30' onto the threaded free end 28 or 28'.
• the free ends each contain a connecting chamber 32, 32' that is conically counter-bored to form an inclined end wall 34, 34'.
• the body 24 of the fuel line fitting further includes a central, axial, main fuel passage 36 that connects the centers of the end walls 34. All of the fuel passing through the fitting 12 to the fuel injector 14 flows through the main fuel passage.
• the main fuel passage contains a filter 38 of conventional construction.
• the connector includes a conical end 44 that is either brazed to the end of the fuel line 15 or formed by upsetting the end of the fuel line 15.
• the end 44 is shaped to engage the end wall 34 of the connecting chamber 32.
• Behind the conical end is a ferrule 46 that is engaged by the nut 30.
• the nut 30 When the nut 30 is threaded onto the free end 28 of the body 24, the nut forces the ferrule 46 into the connecting chamber 32 and the conical end 44 frictionally engages the inclined end wall 34. Leakage around the connector 42 is eliminated by an O-ring seal 48.
• the outlet fuel line 16 is secured to the body 24 of the fuel fitting 12 using a connector 42' having a conical end 44' in engagement with the inclined end wall 34' and which is constructed and operates in the same manner as the connector described above.
• the connectors 42 and 42' are sealed against the end walls 34 by abutting engagement so that the fuel in the inlet fuel line 15 passes into the main fuel passage 36, through the filter 38, into the connector 42' and on to the fuel injector through the outlet fuel line 16.
• Any leakage between the abutting surfaces of the conical ends 44, 44' of the connector and the end walls 34, 34* collects in an annular area 52, 52' in the respective connecting chambers 32, 32'. Leakage to the outside from around the connectors 42, 42' is stopped by the O-rings 48, '48'.
• the leakage fuel which collects in the annular area 52 is drained from the fitting through an axial drain passage 54 in the body 24 of the fitting.
• the axial drain passage is parallel and spaced apart from the main fuel passage 36.
• the axial drain passage communicates with the annular area in each connecting chamber and with a radial connecting passage or drain port 56.
• the connecting passage or drain port drains the leakage into a circumferential medial groove 58 in the sidewall of the body 24 of the fitting.
• the medial groove extends completely around the body and is of sufficient depth to accommodate all of the flow from the connecting passage.
• the leakage draining into the medial groove 58 is prevented from flowing outward along the outside of the body 24 of the fitting by two O-rings 60 that are received in the two outer grooves 61.
• each fuel line fitting 12 drains into a common engine drain passage 64 that is functionally located within a wall of the engine.
• the engine drain passage is formed by a drain channel 66 that is formed in the mating surface 68, Fig. 3, of the valve cover base 7.
• the drain passage is also formed by a valve cover gasket 70 and two ridges 72, Fig. 2, in the mating surface of the valve cover 11.
• Each fuel line fitting 12 in the engine communicates with the common drain channel 66 through an associated engine drain connecting passage 78 located in the bottom of the drain channel 66.
• any leakage from a fitting 12 flows along the mating surface 68 of the valve cover base in the drain passage 64 to a convenient point for observation by the operator of the engine.
• the drain passage 64 terminates at a drain point 80 that is near the engine oil dipstick 82.
• the drain point can be a hole in the valve cover base or can be a receptacle for a hose leading to a collecting container (not shown).
• Fig. 3 also illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the drain point 80 is threaded to receive a fuel pump fitting 90.
• the fitting is connected by a suitable conduit 94 to an alarm 96 and/or a fuel transfer pump 92 of the engine.
• the alarm may, for example, be an electronic sensor for detecting fuel in the conduit 94 and signaling the operator of the leakage. If fuel transfer pump 92 is connected to the conduit 94, with or without the alarm 96, the fuel transfer pump will draw any leakage through the engine drain
• the fuel line fitting 12 and drain conduits 78, 66, described herein can be used in any high pressure fluid system where fluid must be transferred through a wall or bulkhead and leakage on at least one side of the wall cannot be tolerated.
• One specific application of such an apparatus is in the fuel line of a conventional compression ignition or diesel engine.
• the apparatus can be used on any sized engine having any number of cylinders.
• the fittings described herein can be used to supply either one cylinder or a plurality of cylinders.
• the fuel line fitting 12 is installed in the wall of an engine by first routing the inlet and outlet fuel lines 15, 16 to the bore 22 and installing the connectors 42, 42' on the ends thereof.
• the wall of the engine is a valve cover base 7.
• the body 24 of the fitting is next inserted into the bore 22 with the O-rings 60 in place and is secured to the base 7 with a clamp (not shown) that engages the mounting collar 26.
• the fuel lines 15, 16 are secured in place by tightening the nuts 30, 30' which engage the threads on the free ends of the body 24.
• the nuts are tightened until the conical ends 44, 44' of the fuel line connectors abut against the conical end walls 34, 34' of the connecting chambers 32, 32' and two fluid tight seals are formed.
• the fuel enters the fitting 12, Fig. 2, from the inlet fuel line 15.
• the fuel passes through the connector 42 and enters the main fuel passage 36.
• the fuel is directed through the filter 39 and thereafter passes into the outlet connector 42*.
• the fuel leaves the fitting through the outlet fuel line 16.
• the fuel that leaks collects in the annular area 52.
• the O-ring 48 prevents the leakage from passing around the outside of the ferrule 46.
• the fuel that collects in the annular area 52 drains from the fitting through the axial drain passage 54, the radial connecting passage 56, and the medial groove 58.
• each fitting 12 in the engine 4 communicates through an engine drain connecting passage 78 to the common drain channel 66 in the mating surface 68 of the valve cover base 7. Any leakage from any of the fittings flows into the drain channel 66 and onto the drain point 80.
• the drain point 80 is an orifice in the side of the engine. If any of the fittings 12 do leak, then the leakage drains down the side of the engine and is easily observed by the operator when the lubricating oil level is checked with the dipstick.
• a fuel pump fitting 90 is installed and any leakage is directed to a fuel leakage alarm 96 and/or to the suction side of the fuel transfer pump 92. If the leakage is directed to the suction side of the fuel transfer pump 92, the leakage is thereafter
• OMFI . v/ ⁇ ?o directed back into the inlet fuel line 15.
• the fuel transfer pump maintains a slight vacuum in both the common drain channel 66 and the drain passages within each fuel line fitting 12 so that the flow of fuel that has internally leaked in the fitting is induced.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Fuel-Injection Apparatus (AREA)
• Joints With Pressure Members (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=22161144

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (1)

Citations (10)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 1981
  • 1981-03-18 WO PCT/US1981/000339 patent/WO1982003251A1/en unknown
  • 1981-12-24 JP JP1981198969U patent/JPH0227179Y2/ja not_active Expired

Patent Citations (10)

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