Fuel injector with a locating pin, internal combustion engine using the same, and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11136953-B2
Application number	US-201816196871-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2018
Priority date	Nov 20, 2018
Publication date	Oct 5, 2021
Grant date	Oct 5, 2021

Abstract

A fuel injector includes a nozzle body to be inserted into a fuel injector receiving bore along a nozzle body axis; a valve housing; and a locating pin extending from the valve housing along a locating pin axis. The locating pin axis is eccentric to the nozzle body axis. The locating pin has a width in a first direction radially relative to the nozzle body axis and through the locating pin axis and a length in a second direction perpendicular to the width such that the width is less than the length. The locating pin includes a first crush rib and a second crush rib which are diametrically opposed at the length of the locating pin and such that the first crush rib and the second crush rib plastically deform when inserted into the locating bore, thereby preventing rotational movement of the fuel injector about the nozzle body axis.

First claim

We claim:

1. A fuel injector for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, said fuel injector comprising:
a nozzle body configured to be inserted into a fuel injector receiving bore of said internal combustion engine along a nozzle body axis;
a valve housing held in fixed relationship to said nozzle body; and
a locating pin extending from said valve housing along a locating pin axis from a locating pin fixed end which is fixed to said valve housing to a locating pin free end such that said locating pin is configured to radially orient said nozzle body in said fuel injector receiving bore, said locating pin being configured to be inserted into a locating bore;
wherein said locating pin axis is eccentric to said nozzle body axis;
wherein said locating pin has 1) a width in a first direction radially relative to said nozzle body axis and through said locating pin axis and 2) a length in a second direction which is perpendicular to said width such that said width is less than said length; and
wherein said locating pin includes a first crush rib projecting outward therefrom and also includes a second crush rib projecting outward therefrom such that said first crush rib and said second crush rib are diametrically opposed at said length of said locating pin and such that said first crush rib and said second crush rib are configured to plastically deform when inserted into said locating bore, thereby preventing rotational movement of said fuel injector about said nozzle body axis.

2. The fuel injector as in claim 1 , wherein:
said first crush rib terminates radially outward from said locating pin axis in a first crush rib apex which is linear;
said second crush rib terminates radially outward from said locating pin axis in a second crush rib apex which is linear; and
said first crush rib apex and said second crush rib apex lie in a common plane.

3. The fuel injector as in claim 2 , wherein said locating pin axis is coincident with said common plane.

4. The fuel injector as in claim 2 , wherein:
said first crush rib is arc-shaped when viewed in a third direction parallel to said locating pin axis; and
said second crush rib is arc-shaped when viewed in said third direction parallel to said locating pin axis.

5. The fuel injector as in claim 2 , wherein:
said first crush rib apex is inclined relative to said locating pin axis such that said first crush rib apex is closer to said locating pin axis at a first location proximal to said locating pin free end than at a second location proximal to said locating pin fixed end; and
said second crush rib apex is inclined relative to said locating pin axis such that said second crush rib apex is closer to said locating pin axis at a third location proximal to said locating pin free end than at a fourth location proximal to said locating pin fixed end.

6. The fuel injector as in claim 2 , wherein said first crush rib and said second crush rib bifurcate an outer periphery of said locating pin into a first locating pin surface and a second locating pin surface.

7. The fuel injector as in claim 6 , wherein:
a first distance radially outward from a point on said locating pin axis to said first crush rib apex is no more than 25% greater than a second distance radially outward from said point on said locating pin axis to an intersection of said first locating pin surface and said first crush rib; and
a third distance radially outward from said locating pin axis to said second crush rib apex is no more than 25% greater than a distance radially outward from said locating pin axis to an intersection of said second locating pin surface and said second crush rib.

8. The fuel injector as in claim 2 , wherein:
a first crush rib inflection is formed on each side of said first crush rib which define an extent to which said first crush rib extends around a periphery of said locating pin; and
a second crush rib inflection is formed on each side of said second crush rib which define an extent to which said second crush rib extends around said periphery of said locating pin.

9. The fuel injector as in claim 8 , wherein:
said first crush rib extends no more than 45° about said locating pin axis; and
said second crush rib extends no more than 45° about said locating pin axis.

10. The fuel injector as in claim 1 , wherein said first direction is in a plane which is perpendicular to said nozzle body axis and wherein said second direction is also in said plane.

11. An internal combustion engine comprising:
a combustion chamber;
a fuel injector receiving bore;
a locating bore; and
a fuel injector comprising:
a nozzle body within said fuel injector receiving bore along a nozzle body axis;
a valve housing held in fixed relationship to said nozzle body; and
a locating pin extending from said valve housing along a locating pin axis from a locating pin fixed end which is fixed to said valve housing to a locating pin free end such that said locating pin radially orients said nozzle body in said fuel injector receiving bore, said locating pin being located in said locating bore;
wherein said locating pin axis is eccentric to said nozzle body axis;
wherein said locating pin has 1) a width in a first direction radially relative to said nozzle body axis and through said locating pin axis and 2) a length in a second direction which is perpendicular to said width such that said width is less than said length; and

said locating pin includes a first crush rib projecting outward therefrom and also includes a second crush rib projecting outward therefrom such that said first crush rib and said second crush rib are diametrically opposed at said length of said locating pin and such that said first crush rib and said second crush rib are plastically deformed within said locating bore, thereby preventing rotational movement of said fuel injector about said nozzle body axis.

12. The internal combustion engine as in claim 11 , wherein:
said first crush rib terminates radially outward from said locating pin axis in a first crush rib apex which is linear;
said second crush rib terminates radially outward from said locating pin axis in a second crush rib apex which is linear; and
said first crush rib apex and said second crush rib apex lie in a common plane.

13. The internal combustion engine as in claim 12 , wherein said locating pin axis is coincident with said common plane.

14. The internal combustion engine as in claim 12 , wherein:
said first crush rib is arc-shaped when viewed in a third direction parallel to said locating pin axis; and
said second crush rib is arc-shaped when viewed in said third direction parallel to said locating pin axis.

15. The internal combustion engine as in claim 12 , wherein:
said first crush rib apex is inclined relative to said locating pin axis such that said first crush rib apex is closer to said locating pin axis at a first location proximal to said locating pin free end than at a second location proximal to said locating pin fixed end; and
said second crush rib apex is inclined relative to said locating pin axis such that said second crush rib apex is closer to said locating pin axis at a third location proximal to said locating pin free end than at a fourth location proximal to said locating pin fixed end.

16. The internal combustion engine as in claim 12 , wherein said first crush rib and said second crush rib bifurcate an outer periphery of said locating pin into a first locating pin surface and a second locating pin surface.

17. The internal combustion engine as in cla

Assignees

• Delphi Tech Ip Ltd

Inventors

• Chinnici David A
• Braun Charles W
• De Angelis Gary J

Classifications

• F02M2200/852

  provisions for mounting the fuel injection apparatus in a certain orientation, e.g. markings or notches · CPC title

• F02M2200/858

  sealing arrangements between injector and engine · CPC title

• F02M61/14 Primary

  Arrangements of injectors with respect to engines; Mounting of injectors · CPC title

• F02M61/18

  Injection nozzles, e.g. having valve seats; {Details of valve member seated ends, not otherwise provided for} · CPC title

• F02M61/168

  Assembling; Disassembling; Manufacturing; Adjusting · CPC title