Diesel Fuel Pump Shoe Guide Layout for Higher Stroke Capacity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

High pressure diesel fuel pumps face a challenge in increasing pump capacity without increasing the height of the hydraulic head, as current methods result in larger pumps that do not fit within tight engine bay constraints.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a shoe guide with a pair of tangs that reduces its effective length, allowing the cam to extend into the space occupied by the guide, thereby increasing the stroke length and pump capacity without elevating the hydraulic head, while maintaining compact dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the height of the hydraulic head is increased to increase pump capacity, then the stroke length is improved, but the overall pump size increases which violates engine bay constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump capacityVSAvoidpump size
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe guide is designed with a tilted bore relative to the pumping axis, creating a geometric transformation that converts vertical space into extended stroke length. The tangs extend laterally to support the roller while the tilted bore allows the shoe to travel along an inclined path, effectively using dimensional transformation to increase pump capacity without increasing vertical height.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The cam is positioned to extend into the space traditionally occupied by the shoe guide body, utilizing the lateral extensions (tangs) of the shoe guide to support the roller. This nesting arrangement allows the cam to reach further along the pumping axis while the shoe guide's tangs provide structural support, effectively one component occupying the space of another to achieve compact design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Length of moving object

If the shoe guide effective length is reduced to allow cam extension, then the stroke length is improved, but the structural support for the roller must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestroke lengthVSAvoidroller support capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe guide is segmented into a main body and lateral tangs, where the main body contains the tilted bore and the tangs provide lateral support for the roller. This segmentation allows the main body to be shortened along the pumping axis while the tangs extend laterally to maintain roller support capability, resolving the contradiction between reduced effective length and maintained structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support function is shifted from the vertical dimension to the lateral dimension through the tangs. Instead of extending the shoe guide body vertically to support the roller throughout the entire stroke, the tangs extend laterally to provide support at the necessary points, allowing the vertical effective length to be reduced while maintaining strength.

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

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration enhances the stroke length and pump capacity while minimizing the dimensions of the pump, reducing drive torque and CO2 emissions, and allowing for a more compact design that fits within existing engine bay constraints.

Implementation Method 1

a roller (7) mounted and retained within an aperture (not shown) provided at a lower end of the shoe (5) and slides within the bore (6a, 62) with the shoe (5) wherein the roller (7) contacts a surface of a cam (8)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCam mechanism: Cam

Implementation Method 2

A plunger return spring (3) is seated around the head (1) and extends to the top of a spring seat (4) fixed near a lower end (2a) of the plunger (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic potential energy: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3337975B1High pressure diesel fuel pumps
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 DELPHI TECH IP LTD
  • EP3337975B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3337975B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3337975B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A high pressure diesel fuel pump comprises a pumping assembly and a drivetrain assembly. The pumping assembly comprises a plunger (20) extending from a pump head (10) along a pumping axis (A-A'). The drivetrain assembly comprises a drive shaft (100) and a cam (80) within a cambox, a shoe (50) for contact with a lower end (22) of the plunger (20), a roller (70) mounted within a cavity (52) of the shoe (50) for contact with the cam (80), and a shoe guide (60) mounted within a guide chamber substantially between the cam (80) and the plunger (20) and adapted to receive the shoe (50) and roller (70) within a bore (62). The shoe guide (60) comprises a pair of tangs (68) extending from a lower end (61) of a main body (64) of the she guide (60) to support the roller (70).