Fuel injector isolation

• US 6,009,856 A
• Filed: 05/27/1998
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Youakim, Mike, Smith, Ralph A. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Moulis, Thomas N.
• Application Number:
  US09/085,550
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.31, 123/468, 123/469, 123/470, 123/541, 239/584, 239/585.4, 239/900, 137/375
• US Class Current: 123/470
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 61/14 Arrangements of injectors with respect to engines; Mounting of injectors
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 61/16 Details not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus of groups F02M61/02 - F02M61/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 61/168 Assembling; Disassembling; Manufacturing; Adjusting

Abstract

Fuel injectors used in present day applications are normally requiring high pressure injection, short injection times and split or modified injection. Thus, this type of injection inherently produces an excess of noise. The present fuel injector assembly (22) overcomes the above deficiencies by controlling the noise emitted from a fuel injector (33). For example, as an actuation system (27) operates the fuel injector (33) the noise created by the opening and closing of the fuel injector (33) is absorbed within an isolator (34). As the fuel injector assembly (22) is installed, the fuel injector assembly (22) is positioned within a bore (26) with the fuel injector assembly being in a second position (29). And, a plurality of fasteners (28) are tightened to a predetermined value moving the fuel injector assembly (22) into a first position (24). Additionally, the fuel injector assembly (22) remains seated with respect to a cylinder (14) as the isolation material of the isolator (34) is biased positioning the fuel injector assembly (22) into the first position (24).

Claims

1. A fuel injector assembly having a first injector end, a body portion extending from said first injector end and a bracket being connected with said body portion;

said fuel injector assembly comprising;

a sleeve being spaced from said body portion; and

an insulator being interposed said body portion and said sleeve, said insulator being bonded to said sleeve.

2. The fuel injector assembly (22) of claim 1 wherein said body portion (44) defines a plurality of peaks (48) and valleys (50) and said insulator (34) being positioned about said peaks (48) and said valleys (50).

3. The fuel injector assembly (22) of claim 2 wherein said sleeve (32) defines a first end (62) and a second end (64) and said bracket (52) being spaced from said second end (64) of said sleeve (32) by a preestablished distance.

4. The fuel injector assembly (22) of claim 3 wherein said preestablished distance is in the range of between about 0.25 to 0.50 inches (6.4 to 12.2 mm).

5. The fuel injector assembly (22) of claim 2 wherein said sleeve (32) has a preestablished thickness and said insulator (34) has a preestablished thickness being at least twice that of the thickness of the sleeve (32).

6. A method of isolating noise from a fuel injector, said fuel injector defining a first injector end, a body portion extending from the first injector end and a bracket being attached to said body portion;

comprising the steps of;

positioning a sleeve in a spaced relationship about said body portion, said positioning said sleeve about said body portion including said spaced relationship defining a preestablished thickness of said insulator, said preestablished thickness being in a range of about 0.50 inches (12.2 mm); and

positioning an insulator within said spaced relationship.

7. The method of isolating noise from the fuel injector (33) of claim 6 wherein said positioning the insulator (34) within said spaced relationship includes said insulator (34) being bonded to said sleeve (32).

8. The method of isolating noise from the fuel injector (33) of claim 7 wherein positioning the sleeve (32) includes said sleeve (32) being spaced from said bracket (52) a preestablished distance.

9. The method of isolating noise from the fuel injector (33) of claim 8 wherein said preestablished distance between said sleeve (32) and said bracket (52) being in a range of about 0.25 to 0.50 inches (6.4 to 12.2 mm).

10. The method of isolating noise from the fuel injector (33) of claim 9 further including positioning a seal (80) on said first injector end (40).

11. An engine (10) having a block (12) and a cylinder head (14) being attached to said block (12), said block (12) defining a cylinder (14) therein and said cylinder head (14) defining a bore (26) having a first bore (70) therein, a second bore (74) communicating between said first bore (70) and said cylinder (14) and a third bore (76) defining a sealing surface (78);

said engine comprising;

a fuel injector (33) being positioned in said first bore (70), said fuel injector (22) including a first injector end (40) having a body portion (44) extending therefrom and a bracket (52) being attached to said body portion (44);

a sleeve (32) being spaced from said body portion (44) a preestablished distance; and

an isolator (34) being interposed said body portion (44) and said sleeve (32).

12. The engine (10) of claim 11 wherein said insulator (34) is bonded to said sleeve (32).

13. The engine (10) of claim 11 wherein said body portion (44) defines a plurality of peaks (48) and valleys (50) and said insulator (34) being positioned about said peaks (48) and said valleys (50).

14. The engine (10) of claim 11 wherein said sleeve (32) defines a first end (62) and a second end (64) and said bracket (52) being spaced from said second end (64) of said sleeve (32) by a preestablished distance.

15. The engine (10) of claim 14 wherein said preestablished distance is in the range of between about 0.25 to 0.50 inches (6.4 to 12.2 mm).

16. The engine (10) of claim 11 wherein said sleeve (32) has a preestablished thickness and said insulator (34) has a preestablished thickness being at least twice that of the thickness of the sleeve (32).