Fuel Injector Boot Standoff Protrusions Prevent Collapse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel system boots do not effectively maintain an air gap between the fuel injector and the inner boot surface, which can lead to potential leakage and reduced efficiency in fuel containment and delivery.
Innovation Solution
A boot design with radially inward standoff protrusions that contact the fuel injector to maintain an air gap between the fuel injector and the inner boot surface, preventing collapse and ensuring efficient fuel containment and delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a boot is used to position and protect fuel injector components, then protection and positioning are improved, but the boot may collapse against the fuel injector causing leakage and reduced containment efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The boot is segmented with multiple radially inwardly projecting standoff protrusions distributed along its length. These protrusions divide the boot wall into multiple segments that can independently maintain contact with the fuel injector, preventing overall collapse while allowing localized flexibility. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing structural support at multiple discrete points rather than requiring a completely rigid structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The standoff protrusions act as intermediary elements between the boot and the fuel injector. These protrusions maintain a controlled air gap while providing positioning and protection functions. The protrusions mediate the interaction between the flexible boot material and the rigid fuel injector, preventing direct contact that would cause collapse while still providing protective functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the boot is made flexible to accommodate installation and thermal expansion, then ease of installation and adaptability are improved, but the boot loses structural support causing collapse and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The boot wall is segmented by the standoff protrusions, creating multiple flexible sections between the protrusions. These sections can flex and deform to accommodate installation requirements and thermal expansion, while the protrusions themselves provide the necessary structural support to prevent collapse. This segmentation allows the boot to simultaneously achieve flexibility and structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The boot exhibits local quality variations where the standoff protrusions provide localized rigidity and support, while the boot wall material between protrusions maintains flexibility. This local differentiation allows different regions of the boot to perform different functions - the protrusions maintain structural integrity and prevent collapse, while the intervening flexible material accommodates installation and thermal effects.
Data Source
AI summary
A boot in a boot assembly in a fuel system includes an elongate boot body defining a longitudinal axis and having an inner boot surface. An injector portion of the boot has a window formed therein receiving an electrical connector of a fuel injector. The injector portion also includes a plurality of radially inward standoff protrusions in contact with the fuel injector to maintain an air gap clearance between an inner surface of the boot and the fuel injector.