Fuel Injector Clamp with Offset Passageways for Stress Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel injector clamp designs for diesel engines are either bulky, complex, and costly due to high stress and loading, or they require assembly and disassembly, which complicates maintenance and increases replacement costs, and they do not efficiently accommodate multiple valves on a cylinder head.
Innovation Solution
A two-part clamp assembly that can be secured to the cylinder head in an open configuration, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly without needing to be disassembled from the fuel injector, featuring offset passageways and a vertically protruding side for even force distribution, using dual bolts to reduce stress and weight, and allowing for increased loading capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single bolt clamp with slide-on mechanism is used, then ease of assembly is improved, but stress and loading on the clamp becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is divided into two separate members (first clamp member and second clamp member) that work together. Each member has its own fastening mechanism, distributing the stress and loading across multiple points rather than concentrating it on a single bolt, thereby reducing the stress on each individual clamp member while maintaining ease of assembly.
2Stress or pressure
If dual bolt clamp design is used, then stress and loading on the clamp is reduced, but assembly complexity increases requiring assembly on the injector
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp assembly is segmented into two separate members that can be independently positioned on the cylinder head. This segmentation allows the clamp to be assembled in an open configuration where both clamp members are accessible, eliminating the need to assemble the clamp around the injector and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining dual bolt stress distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp members are designed to be pre-positioned on the cylinder head in an open configuration before the injector is installed. This preliminary positioning allows for easier assembly and disassembly operations, as the clamp does not need to be assembled around the injector but can simply be closed after the injector is in place.
3Reliability
If traditional clamp designs are used, then adequate sealing is achieved, but the clamp becomes bulky and occupies excessive space on the cylinder head
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp members feature offset passageways that are positioned laterally from the central body rather than directly through the center. This dimensional offset allows the fastening mechanisms to be distributed more efficiently in space, reducing the overall bulk of the clamp assembly while maintaining adequate sealing capability through the properly positioned clamp members.
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel injector clamp and method of clamping a fuel injector includes clamp members each including a central body with a concaved section and two horizontally offset passageways. Clamp members are oppositely oriented such that the concaved section forms a region adapted to engage a fuel injector. Offset passageways are aligned such that a top passageway of one member is aligned with a bottom passageway of the opposing member. A fastening mechanism is passed through a first pair of aligned passageways to form a hinge, allowing clamp members to pivot about the hinge so a fuel injector can be disposed between the concaved sections. Members are then pivoted towards each other to close the clamp assembly; a second fastening mechanism is passed through a second pair of aligned offset passageways to lock the injector into place.