Fuel system cover for an internal combustion engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12012913-B2
Application number	US-202218053952-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2022
Priority date	Nov 10, 2021
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

A fuel system cover is provided for an internal combustion engine. The fuel system cover is configured to be mounted on the cylinder head assembly to encapsulate a portion of the fuel system to provide leak prevention, mitigation, and detection capabilities.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An internal combustion engine system, comprising:
an internal combustion engine including a cylinder head assembly, the cylinder head assembly including a valve cover extending between a rearward end and an opposite forward end;
a fuel system including a first portion extending externally along the valve cover of the cylinder head assembly and a second portion within the valve cover; and
a fuel system cover mounted to the cylinder head assembly, the fuel system cover encapsulating the first portion of the fuel system extending externally along the valve cover of the cylinder head assembly, wherein the fuel system cover includes a first side wall forming an opening into an interior chamber that receives the first portion of the fuel system, the first side wall being mounted to a side of the cylinder head assembly of the internal combustion engine.

2. The internal combustion engine system of claim 1 , wherein the rearward end of the cylinder head assembly is oriented toward a flywheel of the internal combustion engine, and the cylinder head assembly includes elongated opposite sides extending between the rearward end and the forward end, and the fuel system cover is mounted along one of the opposite sides of the cylinder head assembly.

3. The internal combustion engine system of claim 2 , wherein the fuel system cover is elongated and extends along an axis that parallels a rotational axis of the flywheel.

4. The internal combustion engine system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor engaged to the fuel system cover, the sensor being configured to detect fuel within the fuel system cover.

5. The internal combustion engine system of claim 4 , wherein the sensor includes a sensor part within the fuel system cover, and wiring extending from the sensor part away from the fuel system cover to a wiring harness.

6. The internal combustion engine system of claim 1 , wherein the fuel system cover includes a second side wall opposite the first sidewall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, wherein the top and bottom walls extend between the first and second side walls.

7. The internal combustion engine system of claim 6 , wherein the fuel system cover includes a first end wall oriented toward the rearward end of the internal combustion engine and a second end wall oriented toward the forward end of the internal combustion engine, and the top and bottom walls and the first and second side walls extend between the first and second end walls.

8. The internal combustion engine system of claim 7 , wherein the top wall is convexly rounded between the first and second side walls and the bottom wall is sloped toward the top wall from the first side wall to the second side wall.

9. The internal combustion engine system of claim 6 , wherein the opening is positioned along the cylinder head assembly.

10. The internal combustion engine system of claim 1 , wherein the second side wall includes a bore for receiving a fuel supply line that connects the portion of the fuel system encapsulated by the fuel system cover to a fuel supply.

11. The internal combustion engine system of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder head assembly includes a cylinder head mounted to the block and the valve cover is mounted to the cylinder head, and the fuel system cover is engaged to at least one of the cylinder head and the valve cover.

12. The internal combustion engine system of claim 11 , wherein the fuel system cover is engaged to each of the cylinder head and the valve cover.

13. The internal combustion engine system of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the fuel system encapsulated by the fuel system cover includes a fuel rail extending along the cylinder head assembly.

14. A fuel system cover for a fuel system of an internal combustion engine, the fuel system cover comprising:
a housing defining an interior chamber configured to house at least part of a fuel system, and the housing includes:
a first side wall forming an opening into the interior chamber, the first side wall being configured to mount to a side of a cylinder head assembly of the internal combustion engine;
a second side wall opposite the first side wall;
a top wall and an opposite bottom wall each extending between the first and second side walls; and
a front end wall and an opposite rear end wall, wherein the first and second side walls and the top and bottom walls each extend between the front and rear end walls.

15. The fuel system cover of claim 14 , wherein the second side wall includes:
a first inset portion with a first bore for receiving a fuel supply line therethrough; and
a second inset portion with a second bore for receiving a fuel leak sensor therethrough.

16. The fuel system cover of claim 14 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of tabs along a junction between the top wall and the first side wall, and the plurality of tabs each include a hole for a fastener, the fasteners engaging the fuel system cover to a valve cover of the cylinder head assembly.

17. The fuel system cover of claim 16 , wherein the second side wall includes a plurality of holes for fasteners, the fasteners engaging the fuel system cover to a cylinder head of the cylinder head assembly.

18. The fuel system cover of claim 14 , further comprising a fuel leak sensor mounted in the interior chamber of the housing.

19. The fuel system cover of claim 14 , wherein:
the top wall is convexly rounded between the first and second side walls; and
the bottom wall is sloped toward the top wall from the first side wall to the second side wall.

Assignees

• Cummins Inc

Inventors

• Koeberlein Edward D
• Barnes David M
• Stanley Michael T

Classifications

• F02M37/0017

  related to fuel pipes or their connections, e.g. joints or sealings (F02M55/004 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02M2200/857

  characterised by mounting fuel or common rail to engine · CPC title

• F02M61/14

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

• F02M2200/16

  Sealing of fuel injection apparatus not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• F02M37/0047

  Layout or arrangement of systems for feeding fuel (fuel injection apparatus characterised by their conduits and venting means F02M55/00; fuel injection apparatus having a common rail F02M63/0225; arrangement of fuel conduits of low pressure fuel injection apparatus F02M69/462) · CPC title