Common Rail Placement Above Flywheel Housing for Compact Engine Layout

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional engine designs face challenges in reducing the space occupied by the common rail disposed on one side of the cylinder block, limiting the layout flexibility for other components.

Innovation Solution

The engine device incorporates a common rail attached to one lateral side of the cylinder block that pivotally supports the crankshaft, with a flywheel housing positioned on the opposite side, and integrates a fuel feed pump below an exhaust-gas recirculation device to optimize space utilization and protect components from damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the common rail is disposed on one lateral side portion of the cylinder block, then the fuel supply function is achieved, but the area occupied by the common rail increases, limiting space for other components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel supply functionVSAvoidarea occupied by common rail
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The common rail is positioned to extend in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder block, utilizing the length dimension rather than occupying lateral space. This dimensional reorientation allows the common rail to achieve its fuel supply function while minimizing the area occupied on the lateral side portion of the cylinder block.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

One end portion of the common rail is disposed above the flywheel housing, which is predetermined in the design. This preliminary positioning allows for optimized space utilization by coordinating the common rail layout with the pre-established flywheel housing position, thereby reducing the area occupied while maintaining functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the common rail is disposed on one lateral side portion of the cylinder block, then the fuel supply function is achieved, but the layout flexibility for other members is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel supply functionVSAvoidlayout flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By orienting the common rail along the longitudinal direction of the cylinder block rather than extending it laterally, the design frees up lateral space for other components. This dimensional change restores layout flexibility while maintaining the common rail's fuel supply function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The common rail's end portion is preliminarily positioned above the flywheel housing, creating a coordinated layout that optimizes space for multiple components. This preliminary action enhances layout flexibility by establishing a harmonious arrangement between the common rail and other engine members.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Area of stationary object

If the fuel feed pump is disposed below the exhaust-gas recirculation device, then space utilization is optimized, but component protection from foreign objects is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoiddamage from foreign objects
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel feed pump is preliminarily positioned below the exhaust-gas recirculation device, optimizing space utilization. However, the exhaust-gas recirculation device itself serves as a protective barrier, preliminarily shielding the fuel feed pump from foreign objects that might fall from above, thus resolving the protection concern while maintaining space optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4053394B1Engine device
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 YANMAR POWER TECH CO LTD
  • EP4053394B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4053394B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4053394B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An engine 1 includes a common rail 16 attached to one side portion 302 of a cylinder block 6 that pivotally supports a crankshaft in a rotatable manner, the one side portion 302 extending along a crankshaft center, the common rail 16 being configured to supply a fuel to the engine 1. A flywheel housing 7 that accommodats a flywheel that is rotated integrally with the crankshaft is disposed in one side portion out of opposite side portions of the cylinder block 6 intersecting the one side portion 302. One end portion of the common rail 16 is disposed above the flywheel housing 7. Also a cooling pump 21 is disposed on a side portion 312 of the cylinder block 6, whereby a coolant passage 610 in the cylinder block 6 is providing a concave region 611 for the electrical connector 601a of the common rail 16.