Fuel Injector Coupler Guide Bushing Wear Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Fuel injectors for internal combustion engines experience hydraulic oscillations between the common rail and the fuel injector, leading to adverse effects on injection precision and coupler guide wear, while also being costly to produce.

Innovation Solution

A fuel injector design featuring a solid guide for the coupler rod within a guide bushing, combined with a control sleeve and compression spring, which separates the coupler space from the nozzle needle pressure chamber, eliminating the need for a separate high-pressure bore and additional check valves, and reduces production complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate high-pressure bore and additional check valve are used to depressurize the coupler space, then the injection function is improved, but the device complexity and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinjection functionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control sleeve integrates multiple functions: it acts as a sealing element, a check valve for depressurizing the coupler space, and a guide for the coupler rod. By combining these functions into a single component, the patent eliminates the need for separate check valves and high-pressure bores, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining injection reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control sleeve serves multiple purposes simultaneously: sealing the coupler space, controlling pressure equalization between chambers, and guiding the coupler rod. This multi-functional design replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate components, simplifying the overall device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If a double guide structure is used for the coupler rod, then the guidance precision is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The guide bushing and control sleeve are combined into a single integrated component. The control sleeve is guided by the guide bushing while simultaneously providing sealing and check valve functions, eliminating the need for a separate double guide structure and simplifying manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If the coupler rod is guided in the injector body, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the wear resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidwear resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide bushing acts as an intermediary component between the injector body and the coupler rod. It provides a dedicated bearing surface for the coupler rod, improving wear resistance without requiring changes to the overall simple structure of the injector body

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 design effectively dampens pressure fluctuations, improves coupler guide wear resistance, and reduces production costs by simplifying the manufacturing process and eliminating the need for complex double guides and separate high-pressure bores.

Implementation Method 1

The control sleeve is prestressed by means of a compression spring and is pressed with an annular surface by the prestressing force of the compression spring against an end face on the nozzle needle side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the control sleeve lifts off the sealing seat in the event of excess pressure in the coupler chamber compared to the pressure in the nozzle needle pressure chamber, so that pressure and quantity can be equalized between the chambers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure force: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP1911966B1Fuel injector for a combustion engine
Publication Date: 2011.10.19 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP1911966B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1911966B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1911966B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The fuel injector has nozzle needle (21), a coupling rod (40), which is partly surrounded by an annular space, which forms an internal storage space (36) for the fuel. The guide element (20) has a flange-like base plate (61) with a formed guide bush (62), which is guided in the axially adjustable coupling rod with the coupling piston (41).