Injector actuating fluid check and methods

• US 6,467,457 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2000
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Yang, Xilin, Zielke, Martin R., Lei, Ning, Seymour, Kenneth R. II, Yager, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moulis, Thomas N.
• Application Number:
  US09/694,637
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 123/446, 123/456, 123/467, 123/468, 123/469, 123/470, 137/614.2
• US Class Current: 123/456
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 55/004 Joints; Sealings
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 55/005 for high pressure conduits, e.g. connected to pump outlet or to injector inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 57/025 hydraulic, e.g. with pressure amplification
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 59/105 hydraulic drive F02M59/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 63/00 Other fuel-injection apparatus having pertinent characteristics not provided for in groups F02M39/00 - F02M57/00 or F02M67/00; Details, component parts, or accessories of fuel-injection apparatus, not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus of groups F02M39/00 - F02M61/00 or F02M67/00; Combination of fuel pump with other devices, e.g. lubricating oil pump
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/04 with partly spherical engaging surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/042 comprising two pipes normally at right angles to each other
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 27/047 held in place by a screwed member having an internal spherical surface

Abstract

A connector assembly and the actuating system including the connector assembly, the connector assembly for fluidly coupling an actuating fluid rail to a fuel injector, the actuating fluid rail conveying a quantity of actuating fluid, the fuel injector having an actuating fluid inlet, the connector assembly includes a check valve operably disposed in a connecting member for controlling the flow of actuating fluid between the actuating fluid rail and the fuel injector. The connecting member has a fluid passageway defined therein, the fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the actuating fluid rail and the fuel injector actuating fluid inlet. A method of minimizing negative pressure effects caused by operation of a fuel injector on the actuating fluid in an actuating fluid rail and a method of providing a high pressure actuating fluid flow from a high pressure pump to a plurality of fuel injectors of a diesel engine are further included.

Claims

1. A connector for fluidly coupling an actuating fluid rail to a certain fuel injector, the actuating fluid rail conveying a quantity of high pressure actuating fluid to a plurality of fuel injectors, the connector means comprising:

check means operably disposed in a connecting member for checking the flow of actuating fluid to the actuating fluid rail from the fuel injector, the connecting member having a fluid passageway defined therein, the fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the actuating fluid rail and the fuel injector.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein the check means is biased in a closed disposition substantially blocking flow of actuating fluid between the actuating fluid rail and the certain injector, pressure of the actuating fluid in the actuating fluid rail acting to overcome the bias to shift the check means from the closed disposition to an open disposition for effecting the conveyance of actuating fluid to the certain fuel injector.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein the check means acts to minimize pressure pulses generated by operation of the certain fuel injector and acting on the actuating fluid in the certain fuel injector from reaching the actuating fluids conveyed in the actuating fluid rail by substantially closing the connecting member fluid passageway to the flow of actuation fluid from the certain fuel injector to the actuating fluid rail.

4. The connector of claim 1 wherein the check means acts to stabilize the pressure of the actuating fluid conveyed in the actuating fluid rail by substantially closing the connecting member fluid passageway to the flow of actuation fluid from the fuel injector to the actuating fluid rail.

5. The connector of claim 1 wherein the check means acts to minimize the noise emitted from the actuating fluid rail as a result of a water hammer effect generated by operation of the plurality of fuel injectors on the actuating fluid conveyed in the actuating fluid rail, the minimization being effected by substantially closing the connecting member fluid passageway to the flow of actuation fluid from the certain fuel injector to the actuating fluid rail.

6. The connector of claim 1 wherein the check means acts to minimize cross talk between more than one fluidly coupled actuating fluid rails, an actuating fluid rail being associated with each cylinder bank of a multi bank engine, by substantially closing the connecting member fluid passageway to the flow of actuation fluid from the fuel injector to a respective actuating fluid rail.

7. The connector of claim 6 wherein the check means acts to eliminate the need for a check disposed between the more than one fluidly coupled actuating fluid rails for minimizing cross talk between said actuating fluid rails by substantially closing the connecting member fluid passageway to the flow of actuation fluid from the certain fuel injector to the actuating fluid rail.

8. The connector of claim 2 wherein the check means includes a check valve having a spring bias.

9. The connector of claim 8 wherein the check means check valve is seatable in a closed disposition on a closed seat, the closed seat being disposed in the connecting member fluid passageway.

10. The connector of claim 8 wherein the check means check valve has a relatively small area unchecked bore defined therein, the bore being open to the flow of actuating fluid therethrough at all times.

11. The connector of claim 9 wherein the check means further includes an open seat, the check valve being seatable on the open seat when in an open disposition, the open seat being spaced apart from the closed seat and acting to limit travel of the check valve from the closed disposition to the open disposition.

12. The connector means of claim 9 wherein the check means check valve has a substantially hemispherical sealing face, the sealing face being in a substantially sealing engagement with the closed seat when the check valve is seated on the closed seat.

13. The connector of claim 12 wherein the check valve sealing face has a plurality of scalloped surfaces defined therein, the scalloped surfaces defining in part fluid flow areas when the check valve is open to fluid flow.

14. The connector means of claim 12 wherein the spring bias is a coil spring and the check valve sealing face is presented on a valve head exterior margin, a base depending from the valve head, the base being receivable within at least a portion of coils of the biasing spring.

15. A connector assembly for fluidly coupling an actuating fluid rail to a certain fuel injector, the actuating fluid rail conveying a quantity of high pressure actuating fluid, the connector assembly comprising:

a check valve operably disposed in a connecting member for checking the flow of actuating fluid to the actuating fluid rail from the fuel injector, the connecting member having a fluid passageway defined therein, the fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the actuating fluid rail and the fuel injector.

16. The connector assembly of claim 15 wherein the check valve is biased in a closed disposition substantially throttling flow of actuating fluid between the actuating fluid rail and the certain fuel injector, pressure of the actuating fluid in the actuating fluid rail acting to overcome the bias to shift the check valve from the closed disposition to an open disposition for effecting the conveyance of actuating fluid to the fuel injector.

17. The connector assembly of claim 15 wherein the check valve acts to minimize pressure pulses generated by operation of the certain fuel injector and acting on the actuating fluid in the certain fuel injector from reaching the actuating fluid conveyed in the actuating fluid rail by substantially closing the connecting member fluid passageway to the flow of actuation fluid from the certain fuel injector to the actuating fluid rail.

18. The connector assembly of claim 15 wherein the check valve acts to stabilize the pressure of the actuating fluid conveyed in the actuating fluid rail by substantially closing the connecting member fluid passageway to the flow of actuation fluid from the fuel injector to the actuating fluid rail.

19. The connector assembly of claim 15 wherein the check valve acts to minimize the noise emitted from the actuating fluid rail as a result of a water hammer effect generated by operation of the plurality of fuel injectors on the actuating fluid conveyed in the actuating fluid rail, the minimization being effected by substantially closing the connecting member fluid passageway to the flow of actuation fluid from the fuel injector to the actuating fluid rail.

20. The connector assembly of claim 15 wherein the check valve acts to minimize cross talk between more than one fluidly coupled actuating fluid rails, an actuating fluid rail being associated with each cylinder bank of a multi bank engine, by substantially closing the connecting member fluid passageway to the flow of actuation fluid from the fuel injector to the actuating fluid rail.

21. The connector assembly of claim 20 wherein the check valve acts to eliminate the need for a fluid check disposed between the more than one fluidly coupled actuating by substantially closing the connecting member fluid passageway to the flow of actuation fluid from the certain fuel injector to the actuating fluid rail.

22. The connector assembly of claim 16 wherein the check valve includes a spring, the spring biasing the check valve in the closed disposition.

23. The connector assembly of claim 22 wherein the check valve is seatable in the closed disposition on a closed seat, the closed seat being disposed in the connecting member fluid passageway.

24. The connector assembly of claim 16 wherein the check valve has a relatively small area unchecked bore defined therein, the bore being open to the flow of actuating fluid therethrough at all times.

25. The connector assembly of claim 23 wherein the check valve further includes an open seat, the check valve being seatable on the open seat when in the open disposition, the open seat being spaced apart from the closed seat and acting to limit travel of the check valve from the closed disposition to the open disposition.

26. The connector assembly of claim 23 wherein the check valve check valve has a substantially hemispherical sealing face, the sealing face being in a substantially sealing engagement with the close seat when the check valve is on the closed seat.

27. The connector assembly of claim 26 wherein the check valve sealing face has a plurality of scalloped surfaces presented thereon, the scalloped surfaces defining in part fluid flow areas when the check valve is open to fluid flow.

28. The connector assembly of claim 26 wherein the spring bias is a coil spring and the check valve sealing face is presented on a valve head exterior margin, a base depending from the valve head, the base being receivable within at least a portion of the coils of the biasing spring.

29. An actuating fluid system for use with an engine having at least one bank of cylinders, the actuating fluid system having a high pressure pump providing high pressure actuation fluid to an actuating fluid rail servicing a plurality of fuel injectors of each bank of the at least one bank of cylinders, there being no check between the high pressure pump and the actuating fluid rail servicing each bank of the at least one bank of cylinders, a connector assembly for fluidly coupling an actuating fluid rail to a fuel injector, the actuating fluid rail conveying a quantity of actuating fluid, the fuel injector having an actuating fluid inlet, the connector assembly comprising:

a check valve operably disposed in a connecting member for checking the flow of actuating fluid to the actuating fluid rail from a certain fuel injector, the connecting member having a fluid passageway defined therein, the fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the actuating fluid rail and the certain fuel injector actuating fluid inlet.

30. The actuating fluid system of claim 29 wherein the check valve is biased in a closed disposition substantially throttling flow of actuating fluid between the actuating fluid rail and the certain fuel injector, pressure of the actuating fluid in the actuating fluid rail acting to overcome the bias to shift the check valve from the closed disposition to an open disposition for effecting the conveyance of actuating fluid to the fuel injector.

31. The actuating fluid system of claim 30 wherein the check valve acts to minimize pressure pulses generated by operation of the certain fuel injector and acting on the actuating fluid in the certain fuel injector from affecting the actuating fluid conveyed in the actuating fluid rail, said minimization being effected by substantially closing the connecting member fluid passageway to the flow of actuation fluid from the fuel injector to the actuating fluid rail.

32. The actuating fluid system of claim 30 wherein the check valve acts to stabilize the pressure of the actuating fluid conveyed in the actuating fluid rail by substantially throttling the flow of actuation fluid from the fuel injector to the actuating fluid rail in the connecting member fluid passageway.

33. The actuating fluid system of claim 30 wherein the check valve acts to minimize the noise emitted by the actuating fluid rail as a result of a water hammer effect generated by operation of the plurality of fuel injectors fluidly coupled to the actuating fluid rail on the actuating fluid conveyed in the actuating fluid rail, said minimization being effected by substantially throttling the flow of actuation fluid from the fuel injector to the actuating fluid rail in the connecting member fluid passageway.

34. The actuating fluid system of claim 30 wherein the check valve acts to minimize cross talk between more than one actuating fluid rails by substantially throttling the flow of actuation fluid from the certain fuel injector to the actuating fluid rail to which the connector assembly is coupled.