Fuel Injection Valve Needle Guidance via Radial Spring Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel injection systems for internal combustion engines require precise machining of components, leading to high production costs and potential wear issues due to the need for precise guidance of the valve needle, which is challenging to achieve cost-effectively.
Innovation Solution
A fluid injection device with a spring element that supports the valve needle radially, preventing tilting and allowing for precise guidance while reducing the need for precise component alignment, thus lowering production costs and maintaining accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the valve needle is guided with very little play in the pressure chamber, then the dosing accuracy and atomization symmetry are improved, but the machining precision requirements increase and production costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
A guide ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the valve needle and the pressure chamber. The guide ring provides the guidance function with larger tolerances, while the valve needle only needs to fit within the guide ring with minimal play. This mediator absorbs the machining precision requirements, allowing the main components to be manufactured more economically without sacrificing dosing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance function is separated from the valve needle by introducing a dedicated guide ring component. This segmentation allows the guidance function to be optimized independently with appropriate tolerances, while the valve needle can be manufactured with standard precision. The guide ring handles the precision guidance requirement, freeing the valve needle from high machining precision demands.
2Reliability
If the valve needle is precisely guided to prevent tilting, then the wear on the valve seat is reduced, but the component complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide ring serves as a mediator that provides precise guidance and prevents valve needle tilting without requiring the valve needle itself to be highly precision-machined. This intermediary approach reduces wear on the valve seat while avoiding the complexity of precision-machining the valve needle and pressure chamber interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide ring can be manufactured as a separate, relatively simple component that is easier and cheaper to produce than precision-machining the entire valve assembly. By concentrating the guidance function in this dedicated component, the overall system achieves reliable wear prevention at lower manufacturing cost.
3Measurement precision
If lateral ground portions are provided on the valve needle for fuel passage, then the dosing precision is improved, but the machining effort and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel passage function is separated from the valve needle by providing lateral ground portions on the guide ring instead. This segmentation allows the valve needle to be manufactured with standard machining processes, while the guide ring provides the precise fuel passage paths. The complex machining is concentrated in the guide ring, which is a dedicated component for this function.
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
The solution enables robust and inexpensive fuel injection with precise guidance of the valve needle, reducing wear and allowing for symmetrical atomization and accurate fuel dosing, while also providing design flexibility and preventing radial play over time.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring element (17) which is arranged in a radial direction between the valve body (13) and the valve needle (5) and by means of which the valve needle (5) is supported on the valve body (13)
Implementation Method 2
The spring element (17) is preloaded in a radial direction. At opposite sides of the gap (16), the spring element (17) exerts oppositely directed radial forces on the valve needle (5) and on the valve body.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to internal combustion engines. Various embodiments of the teaching thereof may include a fluid injection device for internal combustion engines, for example: a valve body with a valve needle; a spring element compressed in a radial direction between the valve body and the valve needle; the spring element supporting the valve needle on the valve body; and the spring element guiding the valve needle to at least substantially prevent tilting of the valve needle relative to the longitudinal axis during operation of the fluid injection device.