Detecting leaks in a feedthrough device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9429120-B2
Application number	US-201213663020-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2012
Priority date	Oct 29, 2012
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

A feedthrough device includes first and second opposing outer end faces. The feedthrough device includes an opening, between the first and second opposing outer end faces, that allows fluid communication between an interior and an exterior of the feedthrough device. A conductor extends through the feedthrough device from the first end face, through the interior, to the second end face.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fuel injector system comprising:
a partition between a high pressure zone, a low pressure zone, and a leak detection port of the fuel injector system; and
a feedthrough device disposed in the partition between the high pressure zone, the low pressure zone, and the leak detection port, the feedthrough device comprising a continuous feedthrough body and one or more conductors extending through the feedthrough body, the continuous feedthrough body having a first outer end face at the high pressure zone, a second outer end face opposite the first end at the low pressure zone, an outer surface extending between the first outer end face and the second outer end face, and an internal cavity defined therewithin, the conductors passing between and exposed to both the high pressure zone and the low pressure zone within the internal cavity, and one or more fluid passages through the outer surface of the continuous feedthrough body allowing fluid communication between the internal cavity and the leak detection port.

2. The fuel injector system of claim 1 , comprising a sensor in communication with the internal cavity.

3. The fuel injector system of claim 2 , the sensor comprising a fluid-detection sensor for detecting fuel in the cavity.

4. The fuel injector system of claim 2 , the sensor comprising a pressure sensor for detecting pressure within the cavity.

5. The fuel injector system of claim 1 , the continuous feedthrough body comprising a cylindrical shape, wherein the first outer end face and the second outer end face are cylindrical faces, the outer surface is a cylindrical face, and the continuous feedthrough body further comprises seals between the cylindrical faces.

6. The fuel injector system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid passages open to the cylindrical face of the continuous feedthrough body.

7. The fuel injector system of claim 6 , wherein at least one seal is arranged on a first axial side of the cylindrical face, and at least one further seal is arranged on a second, opposite axial side of the cylindrical face.

8. The fuel injector system of claim 7 , wherein the seals comprise O-rings.

9. The fuel injector system of claim 1 , wherein the continuous feedthrough body is made of a non-conductive material.

10. The fuel injector system of claim 1 , wherein the feedthrough device is arranged within a passage having a shape that corresponds to the shape of the feedthrough device, and the feedthrough device seals between ends of the passage while allowing the one or more conductors to provide electrical conductivity through the first end face, the internal cavity and the second end face of feedthrough device.

11. The fuel injector system of claim 10 , wherein the continuous feedthrough body comprises a first end portion proximal the first outer end face, and a second end portion proximal the second outer end face opposite the first end portion, wherein the second end portion is adapted to be accommodated within the passage, and the first end portion is larger than the second end portion and is adapted to be larger than at least a transverse portion of the passage.

12. The fuel injector system of claim 1 , further comprising a solenoid assembly in the high pressure zone, wherein the conductor is configured to communicate a control signal to the solenoid assembly in the high pressure zone from a control system in an external environment.

13. The fuel injector system of claim 1 , wherein the continuous feedthrough body is formed as a continuous structure between the first outer end face in fluid communication with the high pressure zone and the second outer end face opposite the first outer end face and in fluid communication with the low pressure zone, wherein the internal cavity is defined by an interior surface within the continuous feedthrough body between the first outer end face and the second outer end face.

14. A feedthrough device comprising:
a continuous feedthrough body having a first outer end face at a high pressure zone of a fuel injector system, a second outer end face opposite the first end at the low pressure zone of the fuel injector system, an outer surface extending between the first outer end face and the second outer end face, and defining an internal cavity,
one or more fluid passages through the outer surface of the continuous feedthrough body allowing fluid communication between the internal cavity and the outer surface of the continuous feedthrough body; and
one or more conductors extending through the continuous feedthrough body between and exposed to both the high pressure zone and the low pressure zone, the conductors passing within the internal cavity.

15. The feedthrough device of claim 14 , wherein the continuous feedthrough body comprises a cylindrical shape, wherein the first outer end face and the second outer end face are cylindrical faces, the outer surface is a cylindrical face, and the continuous feedthrough body further comprises seals between the cylindrical faces.

16. The feedthrough device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more fluid passages open to the cylindrical face of the continuous feedthrough body.

17. The feedthrough device of claim 16 , comprising at least one seal arranged on a first axial side of the cylindrical face of the housing at least one further seal arranged on a second, opposite axial side of the cylindrical face of the continuous feedthrough body.

18. The feedthrough device claim 17 , wherein the seals comprise O-rings.

19. The feedthrough device of claim 14 , wherein the continuous feedthrough body is made of a non-conductive material.

20. The feedthrough device of claim 14 , wherein the feedthrough device being adapted to seal between ends of a passage in the fuel injector system while allowing the one or more conductors to provide electrical conductivity across the feedthrough device.

21. The feedthrough device of claim 20 , wherein the continuous structure comprises a first end portion proximal the first outer end face, and a second end portion proximal the second outer end face opposite the first end portion, wherein the second end portion is adapted to be accommodated within the passage, and the first end portion is larger than the second end portion and is adapted to be larger than at least a transverse portion of the passage.

22. The feedthrough device of claim 14 , wherein the continuous feedthrough body is formed as a continuous structure between the first outer end face in fluid communication with the high pressure zone and the second outer end face opposite the first outer end face and in fluid communication with the low pressure zone, wherein the internal cavity is defined by an interior surface within the continuous feedthrough body between the first outer end face and the second outer end face.

Assignees

• Woodward Inc

Inventors

• Kifer Roger M
• Deherrera Steven A
• Brodsack Gregory J
• Farrow Timothy J

Classifications

• F02M51/005 Primary

  Arrangement of electrical wires and connections, e.g. wire harness, sockets, plugs; Arrangement of electronic control circuits in or on fuel injection apparatus · CPC title

• F02M55/002

  Arrangement of leakage or drain conduits in or from injectors · CPC title

• F02M2200/16

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