Fuel Injector Passage Sealing With Lobe-Based Pressure Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing techniques for fuel passages in fuel injectors fail to provide adequate pressure distribution, leading to fuel leakage and potential damage from unintentional burning, while tight connections increase maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A sealing system with a ring and lobes that accommodate and seal fuel passages, using mechanical fasteners to apply pressure, ensuring effective sealing and preventing leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sealing techniques are used for fuel passages, then the structure is simple, but fuel leakage occurs due to inadequate pressure distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is divided into multiple lobes (typically three) that correspond to individual fuel passages. Each lobe independently seals a specific fuel passage, allowing the sealing function to be segmented and distributed. This segmentation enables better pressure distribution across each sealing interface while maintaining overall structural coherence through the ring that connects all lobes.
Solution Approach 2:
Each lobe of the sealing structure is specifically designed to accommodate and seal a corresponding fuel passage with localized pressure application. The mechanical fasteners apply pressure at specific locations corresponding to each lobe, creating local quality in the sealing action. This ensures that each fuel passage receives adequate sealing pressure independently, preventing fuel leakage at critical interfaces.
2Strength
If tight connections are made between subcomponents, then structural integrity is improved, but friction increases leading to higher maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure incorporates flexibility through its lobe design, allowing dynamic adaptation to manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion. The lobes can deform elastically under pressure from mechanical fasteners, maintaining sealing effectiveness without requiring excessively tight connections. This dynamic capability reduces friction and wear between components while preserving joint strength.
3Reliability
If pressure is applied to seal fuel passages, then fuel leakage is prevented, but uneven pressure distribution causes ineffective sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is divided into multiple lobes (typically three) that correspond to individual fuel passages. Each lobe independently seals a specific fuel passage, allowing the sealing function to be segmented and distributed. This segmentation enables better pressure distribution across each sealing interface while maintaining overall structural coherence through the ring that connects all lobes.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring serves as an intermediary structure that connects all lobes and distributes the force from mechanical fasteners evenly across each lobe. The ring mediates the pressure application process, ensuring that each lobe receives appropriate sealing pressure without concentration or gaps. This intermediary structure is crucial for achieving uniform pressure distribution across multiple sealing interfaces.
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
Prevents fuel leakage and damage by providing equal pressure distribution, reducing maintenance costs and enhancing the life of the fuel injector components.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of mechanical fasteners is adapted to apply a pressure on the sealing structure to seal the plurality of fuel passages
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing system for a fuel injector is provided. The fuel injector includes a body defining a plurality of fuel passages. Each of the plurality of fuel passages is defined by a first portion of the body and a second portion of the body. The sealing system includes a sealing structure adapted to be disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The sealing structure extends circumferentially around a central axis of the fuel injector. The sealing structure includes a ring and a plurality of lobes. Each lobe from the plurality of lobes is adapted to accommodate and seal a corresponding fuel passage from the plurality of fuel passages. The sealing system also includes a plurality of mechanical fasteners adapted to couple the first portion with the second portion, and to apply a pressure on the sealing structure to seal the plurality of fuel passages.