Patent Application
20150345448
The present disclosure relates generally to fuel systems for engines, and more particularly to a flow limiter and filter assembly associated with each fuel injector of the fuel system.
Common rail fuel systems typically employ multiple fuel injectors to inject highly pressurized fuel into combustion chambers of an engine. The high pressure fuel is supplied to the individual fuel injectors by individual supply lines or quills connected between the common rail and each of the fuel injectors. In some configurations, fuel flow limiters can be employed in the quill to limit the quantity of fuel injected by an individual fuel injector, and limit fuel leakage during potential catastrophic injector failure or to dampen pressure oscillations caused by normal operation of the fuel injectors. Many fuel system also employ edge filters in the quill to prevent small metallic shavings and particles that are produced when an engine is first put into service from reaching and undermining performance in the individual fuel injectors. Co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 8,622,046 shows an example fuel system having both a flow limiter and a separate edge filter positioned in the quill associated with each fuel injector. In some instances, edge filters may let debris pass that is primarily two dimensional in shape. In addition, filters and quills can sometimes migrate to undesirable locations in the quill under certain circumstances.
The present disclosure is directed toward one or more of the problems set forth above.
In one aspect, a flow limiter and filter assembly for a fuel system includes a flow limiting valve attached to a filter element at an attachment along a centerline. The filter element defines a large area inlet at the attachment and a screen of small area outlets that extend between an inner surface and an outer surface. The flow limiting valve includes an external quill contact surface and a valve body with an inlet separated from an outlet by an internal valve seat. The flow limiting valve also includes a valve member movable in the valve body along the centerline between an open position out of contact with the valve seat and a closed position in contact with the valve seat. The flow limiting valve also includes a spring operably positioned to bias the valve member toward the open position.
In another aspect, a quill for a fuel system includes a quill body that defines a centerline positioned inside a passage that extends from a first end to a second end. The quill body includes an external surface that includes a spherical seating surface at the second end. The passage includes a step reduction in diameter in a direction from the first end to the second end. The quill body includes a conical seat at the step reduction. A flow limiter and filter assembly is positioned in the passage in contact with the conical seat, and includes a filter element out of contact with the quill body.
In still another aspect, a fuel system for an engine includes a plurality of fuel injectors that are each fluidly connected to a common rail by one quill of a plurality of quills. Each of the quills includes a flow limiter and filter assembly positioned in a quill passage in contact with a conical seat of a quill body. The flow limiter and filter assembly includes a filter element out of contact with the quill body.
Referring initially to
Each of the quills 14 includes a flow limiter and filter assembly 40 positioned in quill passage 23 in contact with a limiter seat 27 of quill body 20 that may be any suitable shape such as conical or a shoulder. The flow limiter and filter assembly 40 includes a filter element 42 that is out of contact with the quill body 20. Quill passage 23 includes a step reduction in diameter 26 in a direction from first end 21 to second end 22. The seat 27 may be located at the step reduction 26.
Referring in addition to
The flow limiting valve 41 includes an external quill contact surface 50, a valve body 51 with an inlet 52 separated from an outlet 53 by an internal valve seat 54. Flow limiting valve 41 also includes a valve member 55 movable in the valve body 51 along centerline 44 between an open position out of contact with the valve seat 54, as shown, and a closed position in contact with the valve seat 54. A reset orifice 59 through valve body 51 allows fuel to flow into flow limiting valve 41 between injection events to that valve member 55 can return to the position shown.
A spring 56 is operably positioned to bias the valve member 55 toward the open position. Although not necessary, the valve body 51 may include the external quill contact surface 50, but other constructions could also fall within the scope of the disclosure. In addition, although not necessary, the screen 46 of small area inlets 47 may have a combined flow area greater than an area of the large area inlet 45 so that some accumulation of debris can occur without creating a substantial flow restriction in passage 23. In the illustrated embodiment, the flow limiter and filter assembly 40 may include a nut 57 threadably attached to valve body 51 to trap valve member 55 between the valve seat 54 and the nut 57. As best shown in
The present disclosure finds potential application to any fuel system that utilizes a flow limiter and a filter to prevent debris carried by fuel from reaching the individual fuel injectors. The present disclosure finds specific applicability to common rail fuel systems that utilize individual quills to fluidly connect the common rail to each fuel injector.
Although not necessary, the filter element 42 of the present disclosure may be press fit attached to the valve body 51 as best shown in
The design of the present disclosure, among other things, helps to insure that the filter element 42 does not migrate or move inside of quill body 20 in the direction of fuel injector 13, which could cause problems. By securely press fitting filter element 42 into valve body 51, and then trapping the flow limiter and filter assembly 40 by the step reduction in diameter 26 within passage 23. Migration of the filter element 40 and/or flow limiter valve 41 is prevented.
It should be understood that the above description is intended for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other aspects of the disclosure can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.
