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
• • 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
  • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
  • F02M65/00—Testing fuel-injection apparatus, e.g. testing injection timing ; Cleaning of fuel-injection apparatus
• • 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
  • F02M65/00—Testing fuel-injection apparatus, e.g. testing injection timing ; Cleaning of fuel-injection apparatus
  • F02M65/006—Measuring or detecting fuel leakage of fuel injection apparatus
• • 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
  • F02M2200/24—Fuel-injection apparatus with sensors
• • 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
  • F02M2700/00—Supplying, feeding or preparing air, fuel, fuel air mixtures or auxiliary fluids for a combustion engine; Use of exhaust gas; Compressors for piston engines
  • F02M2700/05—Miscellaneous constructional elements; Leakage detection

Definitions

• the present invention relates to high-pressure pipe systems for combustion engines.
• the invention relates to leak alarms.
• the publication GB A 2060800 discloses a sort of fitting to be used in the double-walled fuel piping of an engine.
• the leak fuel can be drained out of the flow space formed by the outer wall.
• such fittings may be adapted in conjunction with the injector pump manifold and connect the outlets of the fittings to a common drain line.
• the fitting according to this specification is provided with a piston member, which in case of leakage is displaced so that the leak fuel can be directed through the fitting to the drain line and at the same time the pin of the piston member extends out indicating the leakage. It is, however, difficult to apply this arrangement particularly to a large engine provided with a common rail storage injection system, where the fuel piping is extensive and has many branch pipes. By using the disclosed solution the system becomes, among other things, very scattered and therefore difficult to use and maintain.
• FIG. 1 A more advanced fuel feed system is shown in Fig. 1 .
• the figure shows schematically a section of the fuel feed system of a combustion engine, especially a large combustion engine.
• a large combustion engine is meant for instance such engines that are applicable e.g. as main or auxiliary engines on ships or at power plants for producing heat and/or electricity.
• the large engines are diesel engines.
• Fig. 1 shows an example of a so-called common rail diesel engine.
• the combustion engine is shown here, for the sake of clarity, very schematically and it may be a known engine as such. It is mainly the cylinders 13 and cylinder heads 1 2 that are shown a bit in more detail. In two of the cylinders also a piston 23 is sho wn in its upper position.
• Fuel is supplied from a fuel tank 2 by means of a fuel delivery pump 1 via fuel piping 3 to each high- pressure pump 4, which in turn raises the fuel pressure to such a level that a sufficient injection pressure is provided for injectors 1 1 .
• the high-pressure pumps 4 are in communication with pressure accumulator units 6, into which the fuel is fed by means of the high-pressure pump. From the pressure accumulator unit fuel is conducted further to the injectors 1 1 by means of a fuel manifold 7.
• the example in Fig. 1 comprises preferably an assembly, where the fuel is delivered by means of a high-pressure pump 4 to a pressure accumulator unit 6, from where the fuel is further fed by means of the injectors 1 1 to engine cylinders 1 3.
• Each of the pressure accumulator units 6 is connected at least with two injectors 1 1 and provided with a high-pressure pump 4 of its own.
• the high-pressure pump 4 and the pressure accumulator unit are connected by a fuel feed pipe 5, the pressure accumulator units 6 and the injectors 1 1 by a fuel manifold 7, and the pressure accumulator units by connecting lines 8 for fuel, whereby at least the fuel feed pipes 5 and the fuel manifold 7 as well as the connecting lines 8 for fuel are formed of double- walled tube, the outer flow spaces 10 (for leak fuel) of which can be connected to each other.
• the leak fuel may flow along the outer flow space 10 and an outlet flow channel 20 to a leak tank 21 and to a leak indicator 22 connected thereto.
• the leak indicator being e.g. a float or an optical sensor indicating the filling of the leak tank, detects the leak.
• the leak fuel is conducted out of the engine 's leak tank via a throttle pipe 27.
• the actual fuel being at a high pressure flows inside an inner flow space 1 1 O.
• the connecting line 8 for fuel is equipped with at least one detector apparatus 1 8 for leak fuel being in communication with the outer flow space of the piping possibly by means of a connecting line 1 7.
• the detector apparatus 1 8 for leak fuel comprises members for identifying leakage, by means of which members the outer flow spaces can be either coupled into flow connection with one another or disconnected from one another.
• the detector apparatus is further connected by means of a connecting line 1 9 with the outlet flow channel 20.
• the connecting line 8 for fuel which connects the pressure accumulator units 6 in the fuel feed system are fitted with a partition wall 9 or the like, by which the outer flow space 1 0 of the feed system and the feed system itself are divided into separate departments, two of which are shown herein, and the first of which comprises one of the pressure accumulator units and the injectors connected thereto as well as a fuel delivery pump, and correspondingly, the second one comprises the other pressure accumulator unit and the injectors connected thereto as well as a fuel delivery pump, and the outer flow space 10 of both departments is connected to the detector apparatus 1 8 for leak fuel.
• the detector apparatus 18 for leak fuel arranged in the connecting lines for fuel is not, however, always necessary, but in some fuel feed systems and engines the locating of leakage can be carried out only by using primarily the detector apparatus for leak fuel arranged in conjunction with the pressure accumulator units 6.
• Fig. 1 The area 25 outlined with a dashed line in Fig. 1 depicts a so-called hotbox of the engine. Thus, the figure shows the devices placed inside the hotbox.
• Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the hotbox.
• the hotbox is an area restricted by a cover 28 a nd the engine 's body and other parts 29 thereof, which area utilises the heat energy produced by the engine. Since the cover can be opened, the condition of the devices can be easily checked.
• the indicating apparatus 18 for leak fuel with necessary connecting lines 1 7, 1 9 are, for the sake of simplicity, indicated merely by pipe 210.
• Fig. 2 is a simple principal diagram and therefore does not illustrate all possible devices arranged in the hotbox.
• Fig . 3 shows a combustion engine 31 seen from outside.
• the hotbox is normally located at the upper edge of the engine, where its cover 28 can be opened .
• Fig. 4 shows still another application of the detector apparatus for leak fuel. It shows by way of example a detail for locating leakage in a high-pressure pipe 5, 7, 8, i.e. at the joining point of the high-pressure pipe (e.g. at the cylinder head or in the pressure accumulator unit) .
• a pin 41 with a matching pin housing 42, and a spring-loaded ball 43 or the like adapted in conjunction with the outer flow space 10 in the pressure accumulator unit 6.
• the spring-loaded ball 43 or the like maintains the normal position of the pin by means of a groove or the like (not shown) arranged in the pin and being in cooperation with the ball or the like .
• the pin acts here as a member of action arranged in conjunction with the wall of the pressure accumulator unit 6, the position of which pin with respect to the pressure accumulator unit is changeable by the impact of the leak fuel pressure, and on the basis of the position of which pin with respect to the pressure accumulator unit the flow of the leak fuel can be conducted in the outer flow space of the fuel piping for detecting the leakage .
• leak fuel does not come out of the system even at the locating stage, but the leak is indicated by the pin protruding from the body.
• the use of pins requires relatively complicated and expensive arrangements.
• One of the problems related to the known concepts is also the fact that the delay between the start of leakage and the alarm is relatively long.
• the amount of the leak liquid is small relative to the volume of the leak passage, whereby it takes a fairly long time before the alarm device (e.g. a leak indicator in conjunction with the leak tank) reacts.
• the leak channel of the high-pressure piping is located outside the hotbox, whereby it needs to be cleaned after each alarm, as the leak fuel has plugged it. Fairly often the throttle channel in conjunction with the leak tank is also adjusted incorrectly with respect to the leak of the high-pressure pipe.
• An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems related to prior art.
• the object is achieved as is described in the claims.
• the idea of the invention is to connect the leak flow space of a high-pressure pipe through a valve to an e xpansion space and in addition, to measure the pressure prevailing in the leak flow space.
• the valve e.g. a check valve, provides the operatively necessary limitation of the volume of the flow space for measuring the pressure, and at the same time it acts as an outlet port for possible over-pressure and leak fuel.
• a direct passage out of the engine may act as an expansion space, whereby the possible leak fuel (and the overpressure produced at the same time) is allowed to discharge to the environment.
• a collecting vessel for leak fuel in conjunction with the outlet.
• the channel for continuous leak connected with the fuel recycle system will act as an expansion space.
• the advantage with the channel for continuous leak is the fact that it is ready-fitted in the engine, whereby it is fairly easy to arrange a leak pipe including a valve between the high-pressure pipe and the channel for normal leak. Then, the combined volume of the leak pipe and the leak flow space, limited by the valve, makes the volume, in which the pressure sensor measures the pressure.
• the invention relates to an apparatus in a combustion engine for leakage in a high-pressure pipe, which apparatus comprises at least one valve and at least one pressure sensor, in which apparatus a leak pipe is connected via the valve to an expansion space, and in which apparatus the pressure sensor is connected to a common flow space of the leak pipe and an outer flow space.
• Figure 1 shows an example of a prior art apparatus for leakage in a high- pressure pipe
• Figure 2 shows an example of the apparatus according to Fig. 1 in cross direction
• Figure 3 shows an example of a combustion engine seen from outside
• Figure 4 shows an example of an indicator pin for leak fuel
• Figure 5 shows an example of an apparatus according to the invention.
• Figure 6 shows an example of the apparatus according to Fig. 5 in cross direction.
• Fig. 5 shows an example of an apparatus according to the invention.
• the apparatus is based on the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 , but it has been modified so as to comply with the invention.
• the outer flow space 1 0 of a high-pressure pipe 8 connecting pressure accumulator units 6 is connected via a leak pipe 53 with the engine 's channel 1 5 for continuous leak.
• the leak pipe is provided with a valve 51 , preferably a check valve, by which the total volume of the outer flow space and the volume of the leak pipe attached thereto can be limited. It is to be noted that only that part of the leak pipe volume, which is located between the valve and the high-pressure pipe is included in the total limited volume.
• the pressure in the total limited volume is measured by a pressure sensor 52.
• the pressure sensor is preferably provided with an output for transmitting pressure measurement data for instance to a control centre.
• the pressure in the volume limited by the valve will show a rapid increase, on which the pressure sensor will react.
• the delay between the leakage and alarm is as short as possible.
• the fuel leaking to the outer flow space i.e. the leak fuel
• the valve 51 which will open due to the increased pressure, to the channel 1 5 for continuous leak.
• the valve does not only provide a limited volume (i.e. a common flow space formed by the leak pipe and the outer flow space), but it also offers the leak fuel a drain port out of the engine.
• the apparatus is provided with a pressure sensor.
• the high-pressure pipe 8 is divided by a separating element 9 (partiti on wall) into two separate volumes.
• the pressure in the first volume is measured by a pressure sensor 52 attached to the leak pipe 53 and the second volume by a sensor attached directly to the high-pressure pipe 8.
• the location of the pressure sensor is thus dependent on the architecture of the syste m provided that it is connected to the volume exposed to measurement.
• the leak pipe 53 may be realized in a way suitable for the application. It may be e.g. a channel drilled/milled in the constructions.
• Fig . 6 shows the apparatus according to Fig. 5 in cross direction. Figs. 5 and 6 reveal that the channel for normal leak is preferably located inside the hotbox. It is also possible that the leak pipe/pipes are in connection with a channel (if it is preferable to have one), which forms an immediate, or as direct as possible, path out of the engine. Thus it is not necessary that the channel for continuous leak, which is connected to the engine 's fuel recycle system, is used for transferring the leak fuel from the high-pressure pipe out of the engine.
• the leak pipe itself may form a channel out of the engine.
• the choice of the structural concept to be used is dependent on the rest of the engine structure.
• the channel for continuous leak is, though, ready-fitted in most engines, whereby the use thereof is motivated.
• a direct discharge passage for leak fuel is preferably provided with some kind of a collecting vessel for leak fuel outside the engine in order to avoid contamination of the environment.
• a conventional concept for most engines is thus to utilise the existing channel for continuous leak.
• the channel for normal leak located inside the hotbox where the channel for normal leak located inside the hotbox is employed, no separate cleaning of the channels after the alarm is required.
• the heat of the hotbox keeps the leak fuel in the channel fluent and thereby it does not solidify. After the leak, the leak channels are thus in good condition and ready for next leakage, should any occur. So, it is advantageous to arrange the operational members, the pressure sensors and valves included, in the hotbox.
• the pressure in the inner flow space . of the high-pressure pipe is generally max. about 1 600 bar (in CR engines), and therefore this pressure, in case of pipe fracture, will discharge into the outer flow space 10 and therethrough into the lea k pipe 53, whereby the pressure is also decreased. Due to the pressure increase the valve will open so as to allow pressure release to an outside space, which is called an expansion space in this context.
• an expansion space in this context.
• a direct passage out of the en- gine or a channel for continuous leak connected to the fuel recycle system of the engine may act as an expansion space. Also other structural concepts are conceivable for the required expansion space.
• the impact of the pressure in the leak fuel discharge channels needs to be taken into account before the arrangement according to the invention may be realised. If the pressure is not taken into account, the engine is susceptible to breakage.
• the pressure sensor can operate by a distinction of e .g. 0.1 bar and the valve by a distinction of 0.2 bar.
• a more secure operation of the pressure sensor is enabled before the pressure and leak fuel are allowed to discharge to the expansion space.
• the other operating parameters for the pressure sensor and valve are possible .
• each cylinder in the engine, whereby the combination of a pressure sensor and a valve is connected to each cylinder's injector pipe, i.e. high-pressure pipe, which supplies fuel to the cylinder.
• the pressure sensor and/or the valve may also be connected to the high-pressure pipe between the high-pressure pump and the pressure accumulator unit or to the high-pressure pipe between the pressure accumulator units.
• the above-described embodiments of the detector apparatus for leak fuel are independent, but it is indeed possible to choose for the same engine several basic concepts operating according to different embodiments. In the scope of the present invention it is also possible to combine the operational principles of various embodiments.
• the engine may be a standard engine, common rail engine or another type of engine.
• the engine may be any combustion engine, but preferably it is a diesel engine.

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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)
• Pipeline Systems (AREA)
• Rigid Pipes And Flexible Pipes (AREA)
• Testing Of Engines (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=29225964

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (11)

Families Citing this family (13)

Citations (7)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2003
  • 2003-10-17 FI FI20031522A patent/FI119702B/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2004
  • 2004-10-04 KR KR1020067007371A patent/KR101130388B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2004-10-04 WO PCT/FI2004/000578 patent/WO2005038232A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2004-10-04 AT AT04767092T patent/ATE464471T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2004-10-04 DE DE602004026614T patent/DE602004026614D1/de active Active
  • 2004-10-04 CN CNB2004800304482A patent/CN100430594C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-10-04 EP EP04767092A patent/EP1680592B1/en not_active Not-in-force

Patent Citations (8)

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