Injector Cup Wing Design for Spring Clip Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injector cups for internal combustion engines face challenges in preventing injector inclination and loosening during transportation and assembly, which can lead to misalignment and performance issues, as they lack sufficient stabilization without additional stiffeners.
Innovation Solution
The injector cup design incorporates two wings on the cup ring element that extend bent away from the cup reference plane, providing a through opening and increased thickness to secure the spring clip, preventing injector movement and inclination, and the spring clip is adapted with deflectable fork arms and projections for a secure snap fit connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple injector cup design is used, then manufacturing cost and device complexity are reduced, but injector stability and positioning accuracy deteriorate due to insufficient prevention of injector inclination and loosening
Solution Approach 1:
The cup ring element incorporates two wings with increased local thickness at specific positions where the spring clip contacts the cup. This localized thickening provides enhanced mechanical support and stability at the connection points without requiring the entire cup structure to be more complex or heavier, thus resolving the contradiction between simple design and reliable positioning.
2Reliability
If additional stiffeners are added to prevent injector loosening, then injector stability improves, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizing function previously requiring separate stiffener components is merged into the cup ring element itself through the integrated wings. The wings are formed as part of the cup ring element and provide the necessary structural support and thickness to prevent injector loosening, eliminating the need for additional stiffeners and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizing function is extracted from the concept of separate stiffener components and implemented through the geometric configuration and material distribution of the cup ring element's wings. The wings provide the necessary mechanical support through their shape and positioning rather than through additional attached components.
3Reliability
If the cup ring element has sufficient thickness to secure the spring clip, then injector stability improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cup ring element is segmented into two wings that are spaced apart, creating a through opening between them. This segmentation allows the spring clip to be properly retained while maintaining manufacturability, as the wings can be formed using standard stamping or bending processes rather than requiring complex thick-section fabrication.
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 reduces the risk of injector loosening and misalignment by providing a stable connection between the injector and the injector cup, ensuring accurate positioning and preventing unintended dismounting during handling and assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the spring clip is adapted with deflectable fork arms and projections for a secure snap fit connection
Data Source
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AI summary
An injector cup (1) is disclosed which comprises a cup body (2) extending from a first axial end (4) to a second axial end (5) and a cup ring element (3) which adjoins the border (6) of the second axial end (5) by radially extending beyond said border (6). A base surface (7) of the cup ring element (3) defines a cup reference plane (8). The cup ring element (3) comprises two spaced wings (12), each having a free end section (13) which extends bent away from the cup reference plane (8) at the side of the cup reference plane (8) which is towards the cup body (2), a through opening (14) being provided between the two wings (12). Further, a spring clip (20), a fluid injection assembly for an internal combustion engine and a method for assembling a fluid injection assembly are disclosed.