Coupling Device

• US 20100170477A1
• Filed: 01/14/2010
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Biasci, Enio, Giorgetti, Edoardo, Marc, Daniel, Serra, Giandomenico
• Granted Patent: US 8,245,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/470
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2200/803 using clamp elements and fastening means; e.g. bolts or screws
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2200/853 involving use of quick-acting mechanism, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2200/855 using clamp elements or fastening means, e.g. bolts or screws
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 51/0664 having a cylindrically or partly cylindrically shaped armature, e.g. entering the winding; having a plate-shaped or undulated armature entering the winding
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 55/005 for high pressure conduits, e.g. connected to pump outlet or to injector inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 55/025 Common rails
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 61/14 Arrangements of injectors with respect to engines; Mounting of injectors

Abstract

Coupling device for hydraulically and mechanically coupling a fuel injector to a fuel rail of a combustion engine. The fuel injector has a central longitudinal axis. The coupling device has a fuel injector cup being designed to be hydraulically coupled to the fuel rail and to engage a fuel inlet portion of the fuel injector, a first plate element being fixedly coupled to the fuel injector cup, the first plate element comprising a recess, and a second plate element being fixedly coupled to the fuel injector and being arranged in the recess and being fixedly coupled to the first plate element to retain the fuel injector in the fuel injector cup in direction of the central longitudinal axis. The fuel injector comprises a groove. A snap ring is arranged in the groove of the fuel injector and is designed to fixedly couple the second plate element to the fuel injector.

Claims

1. A coupling device for hydraulically and mechanically coupling a fuel injector to a fuel rail of a combustion engine, the fuel injector having a central longitudinal axis, the coupling device comprising:

a fuel injector cup operable to be hydraulically coupled to the fuel rail and to engage a fuel inlet portion of the fuel injector,

a first plate element being fixedly coupled to the fuel injector cup, the first plate element comprising a recess, and

a second plate element being fixedly coupled to the fuel injector and being arranged in the recess and being fixedly coupled to the first plate element to retain the fuel injector in the fuel injector cup in direction of the central longitudinal axis, wherein

the fuel injector comprises a groove, and a snap ring is arranged in the groove of the fuel injector and is designed to fixedly couple the second plate element to the fuel injector.

2. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the second plate element and the recess being shaped in a manner that the second plate element and the recess are forming a positive fitting coupling.

3. The coupling device according to claim 2, wherein the second plate element and the recess being shaped in a manner that the second plate element and the recess are forming a torque proof coupling.

4. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the groove of the fuel injector and the snap ring being arranged and designed to form a positive fitting coupling between the second plate element and the fuel injector which is designed to prevent a movement of the second plate element relative to the fuel injector.

5. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the first plate element being in one part with the fuel injector cup.

6. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device comprising a single screw element, and the plate elements being designed and arranged to be fixedly coupled with the single screw element.

7. A method for hydraulically and mechanically coupling a fuel injector to a fuel rail of a combustion engine, the fuel injector having a central longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

hydraulically coupling a fuel injector cup to the fuel rail wherein the fuel injector cup engages a fuel inlet portion of the fuel injector,

fixedly coupling a first plate element to the fuel injector cup, the first plate element comprising a recess,

fixedly coupling a second plate element to the fuel injector and arranging the second plate element in the recess and fixedly coupling the second plate element to the first plate element to retain the fuel injector in the fuel injector cup in direction of the central longitudinal axis, and

arranging a snap ring in a groove of the fuel injector to fixedly couple the second plate element to the fuel injector.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second plate element and the recess being shaped in a manner that the second plate element and the recess are forming a positive fitting coupling.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the second plate element and the recess being shaped in a manner that the second plate element and the recess are forming a torque proof coupling.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the groove of the fuel injector and the snap ring being arranged and designed to form a positive fitting coupling between the second plate element and the fuel injector which is designed to prevent a movement of the second plate element relative to the fuel injector.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first plate element being in one part with the fuel injector cup.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the coupling device comprising a single screw element, and the plate elements being designed and arranged to be fixedly coupled with the single screw element.

13. A coupling device comprising:

a fuel injector cup operable to be hydraulically coupled to a fuel rail and to engage a fuel inlet portion of a fuel injector,

a first plate element being fixedly coupled to a fuel injector cup and comprising a recess,

a second plate element being fixedly coupled to the fuel injector and being arranged in the recess and being fixedly coupled to the first plate element to retain the fuel injector in the fuel injector cup in direction of a central longitudinal axis of the fuel injector, and

a snap ring operable to fixedly couple the second plate element to the fuel injector.

14. The coupling device according to claim 13, wherein the second plate element and the recess being shaped in a manner that the second plate element and the recess are forming a positive fitting coupling.

15. The coupling device according to claim 14, wherein the second plate element and the recess being shaped in a manner that the second plate element and the recess are forming a torque proof coupling.

16. The coupling device according to claim 13, wherein the groove of the fuel injector and the snap ring being arranged and designed to form a positive fitting coupling between the second plate element and the fuel injector which is designed to prevent a movement of the second plate element relative to the fuel injector.

17. The coupling device according to claim 13, wherein the first plate element being in one part with the fuel injector cup.

18. The coupling device according to claim 13, wherein the coupling device comprising a single screw element, and the plate elements being designed and arranged to be fixedly coupled with the single screw element.