Injector Clamp With Copper Sleeve For Sealing Force Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing injector attachment systems for internal combustion engines face challenges in assembly and maintenance, with structural shapes preventing automatic mounting and leading to issues like leaks due to settling phenomena and loss of sealing force.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an injector attachment system using a claw screw connection with an expansion screw and a copper sleeve, which increases the elasticity of the screw assembly and reduces the loss of preload force, featuring a sleeve between the screw head collar and clamping claw, and a conical surface to prevent incorrect assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional clamp screw connection is used to fasten the injector, then the injector can be secured to the cylinder head, but the screw assembly lacks sufficient elasticity leading to loss of sealing force and leaks due to settling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing forceVSAvoidelasticity of screw assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The copper sleeve is inserted inside the screw assembly, nested within the clamp structure. This nested configuration allows the copper sleeve to deform elastically under load, compensating for settling and maintaining sealing force without requiring a complete redesign of the screw assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The copper sleeve changes its physical parameters (elastic deformation) in response to settling forces. As the injector settles, the copper sleeve compresses and deforms, maintaining constant sealing pressure by adjusting its own dimensional parameters rather than requiring adjustment of the screw assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the clamp screw connection is designed for secure fastening, then the injector is firmly attached, but automatic assembly becomes impossible requiring manual threading for each injector

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic assemblyVSAvoidthreading requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The threading operation is extracted from the assembly process itself and replaced by a simple insertion motion. The copper sleeve and clamp design eliminate the need for threaded fastening, allowing the injector to be automatically assembled by simply inserting the clamp over the injector body without any rotational threading action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using threads to create a secure connection through rotational engagement, the design inverts the approach by using a friction-fit clamp with elastic deformation. The security of attachment comes from the elastic copper sleeve conforming to the injector body rather than from threaded engagement, reversing the traditional fastening methodology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the screw assembly is made rigid for stable fastening, then the injector position is fixed, but the sealing force is lost due to settling phenomena

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing forceVSAvoidrigidity of screw assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The copper sleeve acts as a flexible element within the otherwise rigid screw assembly. This flexible component deforms elastically to accommodate settling while maintaining sealing force, providing the necessary compliance without requiring the entire screw assembly to be flexible or complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 enhances the assembly and maintenance of internal combustion engines by significantly reducing the loss of sealing force and preventing leaks, while ensuring correct assembly through the unique sleeve and collar configuration.

Implementation Method 1

The greatly increased screw length and the reduced shaft diameter of the expansion screw 7 significantly increase the elasticity of the screw assembly. The sleeve 12 itself further contributes to the increase in elasticity.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The sleeve 12 has a conical surface 18 on the underside for resting on the spherical counter surface of the clamping claw 1.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGeometry: Geometry

Data Source

PatentEP3945206B1Injector clamp
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 DEUTZ AG
  • EP3945206B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3945206B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

2. A combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, especially of a motor vehicle, is described, comprising at least one working cylinder and a cylinder head (4) closing the working cylinder, in which an injector for fuel injection (3) is arranged for the working cylinder, wherein a clamping jaw (1) is provided for the injector for fuel injection (3), one end of which rests on the other end, and is provided with at least two arms such that each arm of the clamping jaw (1) acts on an injector for (3) and the injector for fuel injection (3) is pressed with a defined force against a seat ora seal (11) in the cylinder head (4) presses in a sealing manner, wherein a clamping screw (7) designed as a through screw with screw head collar (17) and with corresponding thread in the cylinder head (4) is provided, which fastens the clamping clamp (1) to the cylinder head (4), wherein the arms of the clamping clamp (1) are designed such that the arms of the clamping clamp (1) come to rest on a bearing surface (2) on the injector (3) and on a bearing surface (5) on the cylinder head (4).