Fuel Injection Pump Relief Grooves for Pressure Peak Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel injection pumps face challenges in reducing the dynamic loads on rod seals due to fluid pressure peaks, leading to reduced robustness and service life.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating relief grooves in the stop surfaces of the piston and housing to allow fluid to escape into a media-carrying pressure chamber, preventing pressure buildup and reducing stress on the rod seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rod seal is used for media separation in the piston guide area, then reliable separation between fuel and lubricating medium is achieved, but high dynamic loads and pressure peaks reduce the service life of the seal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedia separation reliabilityVSAvoidrod seal service life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The stop surface is segmented by introducing relief grooves that divide the surface into multiple sections. These grooves create separate pressure relief paths, allowing fluid to escape at multiple locations rather than building up a single large pressure peak, thereby reducing the overall load on the rod seal while maintaining media separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The relief grooves act as intermediary channels between the high-pressure fuel injection chamber and the lower-pressure lubrication chamber. They provide a controlled path for fuel to escape before it can build up excessive pressure against the rod seal, mediating the pressure transition and protecting the seal from direct high-pressure exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If stop surfaces are made larger to define dead centers, then positioning precision is improved, but fluid backup and pressure peaks increase, affecting sealing function

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedead center positioning precisionVSAvoidfluid pressure peak
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the stop surface with relief grooves, the patent allows larger stop surfaces to maintain positioning precision while preventing fluid backup. The grooves create multiple escape routes that distribute and reduce pressure buildup across the enlarged surface area, eliminating the trade-off between size and pressure management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The relief grooves provide partial pressure relief by allowing controlled escape of fluid at specific locations on the stop surface. This partial action is sufficient to prevent harmful pressure peaks while maintaining the overall structural integrity and positioning function of the enlarged stop surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

Enhances the service life of the rod seal and the pump by mitigating pressure peaks, ensuring effective media separation and maintaining sealing functionality.

Implementation Method 1

via which the cylinder bore is connected to a media-carrying pressure chamber when the lifting rod comes into contact with the stop surface of the housing part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

A rod seal (5) is integrated into the cylinder bore (3) for media separation, in particular for separating the fuel as the first medium from a lubricating medium as the second medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP4367381B1Pump, in particular fuel injection pump
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP4367381B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4367381B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3c

AI summary

The invention relates to a pump (1), in particular a fuel injection pump, comprising a housing part (2) having a cylindrical bore (3) in which a reciprocating rod (4) is received so as to be movable back and forth, wherein a rod seal (5) is integrated into the cylindrical bore (3) for media separation, in particular for separating the fuel as first medium from a lubricating medium as second medium. According to the invention, the housing part (2) forms a first stop surface (6) which limits the stroke of the reciprocating rod (4) and which interacts in a stop-forming manner with a second stop surface (7) formed on the reciprocating rod (4), wherein at least one stop surface (6, 7) has at least one relief groove (8) formed therein, via which the cylindrical bore (3) is connected to a media-conducting pressure chamber (9) when the reciprocating rod (4) comes into contact with the stop surface (6) of the housing part (2).