Fuel injector mounting assembly for an opposed-piston engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11326569-B2
Application number	US-201916694861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2019
Priority date	Nov 25, 2019
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

A fuel injector mounting assembly in an opposed-piston engine allows for mounting of a fuel injector in a cylinder block without significantly deforming the wall of the cylinder into which the injector is configured to deliver fuel. The fuel injector mounting assembly includes a clamping arrangement to clamp the fuel injector to the cylinder block, an elongate tubular sleeve that sheathes a nozzle portion of the fuel injector, and a spanner nut attached to the elongate tubular sleeve. Clamping loads applied to retain the fuel injector in the cylinder block are controlled by the spanner nut.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel injector mounting assembly for mounting a fuel injector to an opposed-piston engine cylinder block, the fuel injector mounting assembly comprising:
an elongate tubular sleeve configured to receive and sheathe at least a nozzle portion of the fuel injector;
the elongate tubular sleeve comprising a first end and a second end, the first end defining an opening for insertably receiving the nozzle portion and comprising first threads on a sleeve exterior surface portion at the first end, the second end configured to receive a nozzle of the nozzle portion and comprising second threads on a sleeve exterior surface portion at the second end;
a clamp with a first opening for the fuel injector and a plurality of openings to accommodate threaded fasteners;
a plurality of threaded fasteners configured to pass through the plurality of openings in the clamp and threadedly engage the cylinder block; and
a spanner nut configured to threadedly engage the first threads at the first end of the elongate tubular sleeve;
in which the second threads are configured to threadedly engage interior threads of a cylinder wall portion in the cylinder block.

2. The fuel injector mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elongate tubular sleeve is further configured to be insertably received in a recess of the cylinder block that opens through the cylinder wall to an aperture to a cylinder bore.

3. The fuel injector assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second threads are configured to be received in a threaded portion of the recess.

4. The fuel injector mounting assembly of claim 3 , wherein the spanner nut is further configured to be received in and seat against an annular groove of the recess.

5. An opposed-piston engine, comprising:
a cylinder block including a recess extending through a cylinder wall of the cylinder block to a bore of a cylinder of the cylinder block;
a fuel injector mounted in the recess by an assembly comprising:
an elongate tubular sleeve received in the recess and configured to receive and sheathe at least a nozzle portion of the fuel injector in the recess;
the elongate tubular sleeve comprising a first end and a second end, the first end defining an opening for insertably receiving the nozzle portion and comprising first threads on a sleeve exterior surface portion at the first end, the second end configured to position a nozzle of the nozzle portion in the recess and comprising second threads on a sleeve exterior surface portion at the second end;
clamping means for clamping the fuel injector to the cylinder block; and,
a spanner nut threadedly engaging the first threads and positioned on the cylinder block to resist a clamping force exerted on the elongate tubular sleeve by the clamping means;
in which the second threads threadedly engage interior threads of the recess.

6. The opposed-piston engine of claim 5 , wherein the cylinder block comprises a parent bore cylinder block.

7. The opposed-piston engine of claim 5 , wherein the cylinder block comprises a cylinder liner received in a cylinder tunnel of the cylinder block.

8. The opposed-piston engine of claim 5 , the elongate tubular sleeve comprising a shape in which:
an upper substantially cylindrical portion comprising the first threads tapers through a first generally frusto-conical shoulder portion to a substantially cylindrical midsection;
an exterior circumferential groove is formed in the substantially cylindrical midsection; and,
the substantially cylindrical midsection tapers through a second generally frusta-conical shoulder portion to a first substantially cylindrical end portion, which steps down to a second, narrower substantially cylindrical end portion comprising the second threads; wherein,
the shape enables the elongate tubular sleeve to receive and sheathe a nozzle end of the fuel injector, with a nozzle of the fuel injector disposed in the second substantially cylindrical end portion.

9. The opposed-piston engine of claim 8 , further comprising a coolant passage in the cylinder block and an O-ring received in the exterior circumferential groove to seal against leakage of fluid from the coolant passage.

10. The opposed-piston engine of claim 8 , further comprising a coolant passage in the cylinder block and a first washer received on the substantially cylindrical end portion and seated in the recess, and clamped between a floor of the coolant passage and the first substantially cylindrical end portion to prevent leakage of gas from the bore to the coolant passage.

11. The opposed-piston engine of claim 8 , further comprising a coolant passage in the cylinder block and a second washer disposed within the elongate tubular sleeve, girding the nozzle of the fuel injector, and clamped between the fuel injector and an interior end wall of the substantially cylindrical midsection to prevent leakage of gas from the bore to the atmosphere.

12. A combination, comprising:
an opposed-piston engine cylinder block;
at least one cylinder in the cylinder block, the cylinder being adapted to support two oppositely-moving pistons in a bore thereof;
a pair of fuel injectors positioned on opposite sides of the cylinder for injection of fuel into a bore of the cylinder; and,
each fuel injector of the pair of fuel injectors being mounted to the cylinder block by a fuel injector mounting assembly comprising:
an elongate tubular sleeve with a first end and a second end, the first end defining an opening for insertably receiving the nozzle portion and comprising first threads on a sleeve exterior surface portion at the first end, the second end configured to position a nozzle of the nozzle portion in the recess and comprising second threads on a sleeve exterior surface portion at the second end,
clamping means for clamping the fuel injector to the cylinder block; and,
a spanner nut threadedly engaging the first threads and positioned on the cylinder block to resist a clamping force exerted on the elongate tubular sleeve by the clamping means;
in which the second threads threadedly engage interior threads of the recess.

13. The combination of claim 12 , the elongate tubular sleeve comprising a shape in which:
an upper substantially cylindrical portion comprising the first threads tapers through a first generally frusta-conical shoulder portion to a substantially cylindrical midsection;
an exterior circumferential groove is formed in the substantially cylindrical midsection; and,
the substantially cylindrical midsection tapers through a second generally frusta-conical shoulder portion to a first substantially cylindrical end portion, which steps down to a second, narrower substantially cylindrical end portion comprising the second threads; wherein,
the shape enables the elongate tubular sleeve to receive and sheathe a nozzle end of the fuel injector, with a nozzle of the fuel injector disposed in the second substantially cylindrical end portion.

14. The combination of claim 13 , further comprising a coolant passage in the cylinder block and an O-ring received in the exterior circumferential groove to seal against leakage of fluid from the coolant passage.

15. The combination of claim 13 , further comprising a coolant passage in the cylinder block and a first washer received on the substantially cylindrical end portion and seated in the recess, and clamped between a floor of the coolant passage and the first substantially cylindrical end portion to prevent leakage of gas from the bore to the coolant passage.

16. The combination of claim 13 , further comprising a second washer disposed within the el

Assignees

• Achates Power Inc

Inventors

• Perr Andrew P

Classifications

• F02F1/186 Primary

  for use in engines with two or more pistons reciprocating within same cylinder · CPC title

• F02F11/005

  involving cylinder liners · CPC title

• F02F7/0068

  Adaptations for other accessories · CPC title

• F02B75/28

  Engines with two or more pistons reciprocating within same cylinder or within essentially coaxial cylinders (arranged oppositely relative to main shaft F02B75/24) · CPC title

• F02M2200/858

  sealing arrangements between injector and engine · CPC title