Modular Fuel Rail Assembly with Adjustable Delivery Lines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fuel rail assemblies for internal combustion engines are typically designed specifically for particular engines, making them inflexible and costly for use with different engine configurations.

Innovation Solution

A modular fuel rail assembly featuring an elongated tubular fuel rail with adjustable fuel delivery lines, fixation brackets, and interchangeable components, allowing for easy configuration and cost-effective production across various engine shapes and sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If fuel rail assemblies are designed specifically for particular engines, then they achieve optimal performance for that engine, but they become inflexible and costly for use with different engine configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different engine configurationsVSAvoiddesign complexity for different engines
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel rail assembly is divided into modular components: a base assembly containing the fuel rail and multiple independently adjustable fuel delivery lines. Each fuel delivery line can be individually positioned and angled to reach different injector locations, allowing the same base assembly to serve multiple engine configurations without redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fuel delivery lines are designed with adjustable mounting mechanisms that allow their positions and angles to be modified after assembly. This dynamic adjustability enables a single fuel rail assembly design to adapt to various engine shapes and injector arrangements, eliminating the need for engine-specific custom designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If fuel rail assemblies are designed specifically for particular engines, then they achieve proper fit and function, but production costs increase due to lack of reusability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction cost efficiencyVSAvoidreusability across engine types
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The base assembly is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple fuel delivery line configurations. The standardized mounting interfaces and adjustable positioning mechanisms allow the same base assembly to be reused across different engine types, significantly reducing production costs while maintaining proper fit and function for each application.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If fixed-position fuel delivery lines are used, then assembly is simple, but adaptability to different engine shapes is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability for different engine shapesVSAvoidassembly simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel delivery lines incorporate adjustable mounting mechanisms that allow their positions and angles to be modified during assembly to match different engine shapes and injector locations. This maintains assembly simplicity through standardized components while providing the adaptability needed for various engine configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3221575B1Fuel rail assembly for an internal combustion engine
Publication Date: 2021.01.06 VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
  • EP3221575B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3221575B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3221575B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4B

AI summary

A fuel rail assembly (3) is disclosed. It comprises an elongated tubular fuel rail (31) and a plurality of fuel delivery lines (11) for hydraulically coupling the fuel rail (31) to fuel injectors (7). Each fuel delivery line (11) has an injector cup (47), a pipe (41) being arranged between the fuel rail (31) and the injector cup (47), and a fixation bracket (49). A rigid connection is established between the fixation bracket (49) and a portion of the pipe (41), said portion being spaced apart from each of the fuel rail (31) and from the injector cup (47). The injector cup (47), the pipe (41), and the fixation bracket (49) are individual parts. The fixation bracket (49) is spaced apart from the injector cup (47) and from the fuel rail (31).