Fuel Injector Cup Clamping Arrangement for Bending Moment Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel injector cup connections in internal combustion engines experience bending moments due to high fuel pressures, leading to potential separation and leakage, which complicates the design and increases material usage and costs.
Innovation Solution
A clamping arrangement with a U-shaped clip and fastening bracket secures the injector cup directly to the fuel injector, eliminating bending moments and ensuring a lightweight, cost-effective connection by using a resilient material and strategically positioned bolts to maintain axial alignment and prevent deflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the injector cup is secured to the engine at a point spaced from the axis of the injector cup and injector, then the connection is secured, but bending moments are imposed that tend to separate the connection between the injector cup and the fuel injector
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the injector cup axially aligned with the fuel injector before securing operations. The cup is held in this predetermined position using a retaining feature during the securing process, ensuring that when the securing device is activated, the components are already in the correct alignment. This prevents bending moments from developing during operation and eliminates the risk of separation between the injector cup and fuel injector.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a flexible clamp arrangement is provided to generate a bending moment in the opposite direction to counteract the fluid pressure bending moment, then the connection stability is improved, but the construction becomes substantial and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex flexible clamp arrangement from the design. Instead of using a clamp that generates counteracting bending moments, the invention removes the source of the problem entirely by ensuring axial alignment between the injector cup and fuel injector through the retaining feature. This simplifies the construction significantly while maintaining connection stability, as no counteracting forces are needed when bending moments are prevented from occurring in the first place.
3Reliability
If the injector cup and fuel injector are secured together with axial alignment, then bending moments are minimized and separation risk is reduced, but additional securing components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the retaining feature with the securing device into an integrated assembly. The retaining feature is incorporated as part of the overall securing mechanism, allowing axial alignment and secure attachment to be achieved simultaneously with a single integrated component rather than requiring separate alignment and securing elements. This reduces the total number of components while maintaining high connection reliability.
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 minimizes bending moments, reduces the risk of separation and leakage, and allows for a more compact and cost-effective construction by ensuring secure and efficient hydraulic sealing.
Implementation Method 1
using a resilient material and strategically positioned bolts to maintain axial alignment and prevent deflection
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments include a fuel injector assembly for an internal combustion engine comprising: an injector cup; a securing device to fasten the injector cup to the engine; wherein a first end of the injector cup remote from the fuel inlet port comprises an outwardly extending flange; a connector abutting the flange, wherein the injector cup and the fuel injector are secured together through the connector; and a fastening bracket supported on the flange, wherein the injector cup and the connector are secured through the fastening bracket by a fastening device. The fastening device comprises a U-shaped clip with a first arm disposed between a clamping face of the fastening device and the fastening bracket and a second arm generally parallel to the first arm disposed on the opposite side of the fastening bracket.