a) and (b) are views each showing a structure of a fuel injection valve according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
a) and (b) are views each showing a structure of a fuel injection valve according to a second embodiment.
a) and (b) are views each showing a structure of a fuel injection valve according to a third embodiment.
a) and (b) are views each showing a structure of a fuel injection vale according to a fourth embodiment.
Now referring to the drawings, several preferred embodiments according to the present invention are hereinafter described.
Additionally, throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or like parts.
In the drawings, reference numeral 1 designates a fuel injection valve, and the fuel injection valve 1 comprises a solenoid unit 2 and a valve unit 9.
The solenoid unit 2 comprises a housing 3, a holder 4, a core 5 being a fixed iron core, a coil 6, a terminal 7, and an armature being a moving iron core.
In addition, the core 5, the coil 6, and the armature 8 form a magnetic circuit of the solenoid unit 2.
The valve unit 9 is constructed such that the armature 8 and a needle (valve element) 10 including a bearing and a seat portion are fixed together by welding, and is slidably mounted on a body (valve body) 13 including a bearing 11 and a valve seat (seat) 12 toward the core 5.
Further, the end of the needle 10 is spherical, and this spherical end is seated on a taper portion of the valve seat 12, thereby sealing fuel.
In addition, the seat portion of the needle 10 is a spherical portion at the end to be in contact with the taper portion of the valve seat 12.
Furthermore, the holder 4 of the solenoid unit 2 and the body 13 of the valve unit 9 are fixed together by welding via a stopper 14 serving to regulate a lift amount of the needle 10.
In addition, the armature 8 and the needle 10 are pressed onto the valve seat 12 through a spring 15. Further, the spring force thereof is adjusted by means of a rod 16.
In the drawing, numeral 18 designates a seat of an O-ring 19 for sealing. Numeral 20 designates a filter for removing, e.g., dust in fuel to be fed from a fuel supply pipe.
Now, operations are described.
In response to a valve opening operation signal from a control controller, not shown, the coil 6 of the fuel injection valve 1 is excited to generate a magnetic flux at the magnetic circuit of the solenoid unit 2.
Thus, attraction is generated between the opposed faces of the core (fixed iron core) 5 and the armature (moving iron core) 8. At the time point of the attraction thereof being not less than a spring force of the spring 15, the core 5 attracts the armature 8. This attraction operation continues until the needle 10 comes in contact with the stopper 14.
At this time, a gap is formed between the needle 10 and the valve seat 12, and then fuel will be injected.
Next, in response to the valve closing operation signal from the control controller (not shown), there will be no magnetic flux that is generated at the magnetic circuit of the solenoid unit 2.
Spontaneously, the attraction having been generated at the armature 8 is eliminated, there will be no gap between the needle 10 and the valve seat 12 by the spring force provided by the spring 15 to be in valve-closed position, and then the fuel injection will be stopped.
Further, the amount of travel of the needle 10 is regulated by means of the stopper 14 at the time of valve opening, and by means of the valve seat 12 at the time of valve closing.
The fuel injection valve is required to have a high responsiveness at valve opening/closing operation in order to improve flow characteristics. Therefore, the attraction and spring force are set to be large.
Thus, the needle 10 runs against the stopper 14 or the valve seat 12 at high speed, and thus bounce (rebounding) of the needle 10 will occur at the time of valve opening/closing operation.
Collision energy to be composed of mass and collision speed of the armature 8 and the needle 10 and generated at this time comes to be higher. This collision energy comes to be a rebounding force to generate bounce of the needle 10.
Additionally, the armature 8 and the needle 10 are in fuel of the fuel injection valve, and are much affected by fuel pressure to be applied at the time of operation.
Armature 8 of a large outside diameter is especially susceptible to a fuel pressure.
In particular, it is a recent trend that devices suitable for high fuel pressure are required in order to improve performance, and thus it becomes necessary to take further measures against bounce.
In addition, a gap (generally referred to as an air gap) that is formed at the portion where the core 5 and the armature 8 are opposed, a space that is formed between the armature 8 and the stopper 14, and a fuel passage providing the communication between the mentioned gap and space are filled with fuel at all times even if the valve unit 9 are in valve opening/closing operation.
Now, the principle of bounce suppression is described.
It is assumed herein that there is no tubular cavity acting as a resonator according to the invention shown in
First, in the case of a normal fuel injection valve in which there is provided no resonator, pressure change that occurs at the front and back of the armature 8 by the valve opening/closing operation of the needle 10 will be discussed below.
When letting a volume of the gap formed at the portion where the core 5 and the armature 8 are opposed V1, a volume of the space formed between the armature 8 and the stopper 14 V2, the change in volume due to the lift (travel) of the needle 10 ΔV, pressure changes ΔP1 and ΔP2 respectively, and a volume elastic modulus of fuel K, then the instantaneous pressure changes that occur by the valve opening/closing operation of the needle 10 are respectively as follows:
ΔP1=(ΔV/V1)*K
ΔP2=(ΔV/V2)*K
where: “*” is a product.
However, in view of the structure of the fuel injection valve, V1≦V2, so that P1≧P2. This means that P1 (that is, pressure at the gap formed at the portion where the core 5 and the armature 8 are opposed) comes to have larger pressure change.
At the time of valve opening, since V1 is decreased only by ΔV, the pressure of the air gap that is formed at the portion where the core 5 and the armature 8 are opposed is increased only by ΔP1.
Further, since V2 is increased only by ΔV, the pressure at the space that is formed at the portion where the armature 8 and the stopper 14 are opposed is decreased only by ΔP2.
That is, the pressure at the gap (v1) above the armature 8 is increased, while the pressure at the space (v2) below the armature 8 being decreased, a force is exerted on the armature 8 in the valve closing direction. As a result, the bounce at the time of valve opening is made larger.
Likewise, at the time of valve closing, since V1 is increased only by ΔV, the pressure is decreased only by ΔP1.
Further, since V2 is decreased only by ΔV, the pressure is increased only by ΔP2.
That is, since the pressure at the gap (v1) above the armature 8 is decreased, while the pressure at the space (v2) below the armature 8 being increased, a force is exerted on the armature 8 in the valve opening direction. Thus, the bounce at the time of valve closing is made larger.
In addition, this state is an instantaneous state that takes place immediately after valve opening/valve closing, and the differential pressure will be eliminated in a short time.
The forces generated due to the pressure change that takes place shortly after valve opening/valve closing are found from, e.g., tests to make the bounce of the needle 10 larger. This tendency will be marked as a fuel pressure becomes higher.
On the contrary, by reducing the differential pressure that is generated due to this pressure change, it becomes possible to suppress the bounce of the needle 10.
The invention is characterized in that a cavity (for example, the below-described tubular cavity, being a drilled hole) acting as resonator is provided at the end faces of the core 5 or the armature 8 that form the gap therebetween (i.e., the faces of the core 5 and the armature 8 in opposition).
In general, a fuel injection valve is required to have a high responsiveness. Pressure pulsation to generate is a surge pressure change, and frequency thereof is high.
Therefore, according to the invention, there is not provided any “Helmholtz resonator of complicated structure that is formed of a volume chamber and an annular gap, being a passage that communicates with this volume chamber” as disclosed in the Japanese Patent No. 3723800, but a branch-type resonator of the simple structure, thereby suppressing the occurrence of differential pressure between the air gap and the resonator.
Thus, according to the invention, it is unnecessary to increase the number of parts or to have a complicated structure; as well as due to the positional effect of a resonator being formed, it is possible to achieve a higher responsiveness, to be provided for improvement in operation speed of the fuel injection valve and the high fuel pressure, and to obtain the advantage of bounce suppression.
Now, the feature and operation of the fuel injection valve according to the first embodiment are further described.
With reference to
Additionally, with reference to
This tubular cavity 5a is open only on the end face side of the core 5, and there is no opening or passage from which fuel comes out other than the foregoing opening (that is, it is not a through hole, but a bottomed hole) . Thus, this tubular cavity 5a is referred to as “drilled hole” as well.
As mentioned above, the resonator shown in the Japanese Patent No. 3723800 has a complicated structure in which a passage is formed in the space (that is, a gap) where pressure pulsation is desired to be absorbed, and a pressure chamber is disposed in the inner recess of this passage.
On the other hand, the tubular cavity 5a acting as a resonator, according to this first embodiment, is merely a straight hole, forming a so-called “branch type” resonator.
As shown in
According to the first embodiment, as shown in
With reference to
In the case of no resonator, as described above, bounce is made larger due to the occurrence of ΔP1 and ΔP2.
However, according to this first embodiment, ΔP1 can be made smaller by the provision of a resonator (for example, a tubular cavity 5a), so that the bounce of the needle 10 is relieved, resulting in reduction of bounce amount.
Due to the nature of the product (i.e., a fuel injection valve), there is a relationship of V1≦v2, so that ΔP1≧ΔP2.
Furthermore, a resonance frequency “f” of a general branch-type resonator is obtained with the following expression:
f=[(2n−1)/4L]*C
where: f is a resonance frequency Hz,
As shown in the above expression, a resonance frequency “f” is set only with a depth of a branch tube (tubular cavity), so that a simple drilled hole can be sufficient as the branch tube.
Thus, it is possible to suppress the increase in cost.
Furthermore, although hole diameter (bore) of the branch tube is of any size, it is possible to obtain larger bounce suppression effect, as hole diameter is made larger.
As is understood from the chart, in contrast to the conventional valve, bounce when using the valve according to the invention (fuel injection valve according to the first embodiment) is found suppressed at the time of both vale opening and valve closing.
In particular, the fuel injection valve according to this first embodiment has a large bounce suppression effect at the time of valve closing.
Additionally, although the case of a tubular cavity 5a is taken as an example in the above description, configuration of a cavity 5a is not limited to the tube-shape.
Further, although a tubular cavity 5a is machined in the internal part of the core 5 orthogonally to the end face of the core 5 at the end face of the core 5 opposite to the armature 8, it is preferable to be a tubular cavity 5a that is not orthogonal to the end face of the core 5, but is inclined to some extent.
As described above, a fuel injection valve according to this first embodiment comprises: a solenoid unit 2 that includes a core 5, an armature 8 and a coil 6; and a valve unit 9 that includes a valve element 10 connected to the armature 8 to travel therewith, and a valve seat 12 that regulates a movement in valve closing direction of the valve element 10, as well as is open and closed by the valve element 10 separating from or coming in contact with, and a stopper 14 for regulating a movement in valve opening direction of the valve element 10; and that is connected to the solenoid unit 2; and in which there is provided a cavity that communicates with a gap 30 formed between the core 5 and the armature 8 in opposition, and this cavity forms a resonator for suppressing bounce of the valve element 10.
According to this first embodiment, there is not formed any conventional “resonator of the complicated structure in which a passage is formed in the space (gap) where desirably pressure pulsation is absorbed, and a volume chamber is disposed in the inner recess of this passage”, but there is formed a resonator for suppressing the bounce of the needle in which a cavity (for example, a tubular cavity) that communicates with the gap formed between a core and an armature in opposition is provided. As a result, the number of parts is not increased, as well as the structure is simple, resulting in superior productivity.
Further, the resonator is positioned in the vicinity of the gap where desirably pressure pulsation is absorbed, so that it is possible to achieve a high responsiveness to the valve opening/closing operation, to be provided for improvement in operation speed of the fuel injection valve and high fuel pressure, as well as to obtain the advantage of bounce suppression.
Furthermore, in the fuel injection vale according to the first embodiment, there is formed a space 31 between the armature 8 and the stopper 14; and this space 31 and the gap 30 communicate with a fuel passage, and are filled with fuel at all times even if the valve unit 9 is in valve opening/closing operation.
As a result, even if the valve unit 9 makes the valve opening/closing operation, it is possible to effectively suppress bounce of the valve element 10 at all times.
Moreover, the cavity of the fuel injection valve according to the first embodiment is formed in an internal part of the core 5 orthogonally to the face of the core 5 opposite to the armature 8.
As the volume of the core 5 is larger than the volume of the armature 8, it is possible to make the volume of a cavity larger to enhance pulsation suppression effect.
Furthermore, the cavity of the fuel injection valve according to the first embodiment is a tubular cavity 5a of simple structure being a drilled hole (that is, bottomed hole).
Consequently, it is possible to form a cavity easily with high workability.
a) shows the entire structure of the fuel injection valve according to the second embodiment, and
With reference to
The fuel injection valve according to this second embodiment is characterized in that a tubular cavity acting as a resonator for suppressing bounce of the needle 10 is formed on the armature side.
According to the second embodiment, due to such construction, in the same manner as in the case of the foregoing first embodiment, it is possible to suppress the bounce of the needle 10.
Further, due to the fact that a tubular cavity acting as a resonator is formed in the armature 8, being a moving part, the weight of the armature 8 is reduced, so that a higher responsiveness of the needle 10 (that is, higher responsiveness of the fuel injection valve) is achieved.
The armature 8 is smaller than a core 5, however, the depth of the tubular cavity 8a is limited as compared with the foregoing first embodiment, and the volume thereof may be smaller.
Accordingly, the fuel injection valve according to the second embodiment is preferably applied to the case where pressure pulsation in high frequency region is desired to be absorbed.
As described above, the cavity of the fuel injection valve according to this second embodiment is formed in the internal part of the armature 8 orthogonally to the face of the armature 8 opposite to the core 5.
As a result, since the tubular cavity acting as a resonator is formed in the internal part of the armature 8, the weight of the armature 8 is reduced, so that higher responsiveness of the fuel injection valve is achieved.
a) shows the entire structure of the fuel injection valve according to the third embodiment, and
According to the foregoing first embodiment, one tubular cavity is formed in the internal part of the core 5 orthogonally to the end face of the core 5 at the end face of the core 5 opposite to the armature 8.
On the other hand, the fuel injection valve according to this third embodiment is characterized in that a plurality of tubular cavities are formed in the internal part of the core 5 orthogonally to the end face of the core 5 at the end face of the core 5 opposite to the armature 8.
With reference to
In the case of one tubular cavity as in the foregoing first embodiment, since, at the end face of the armature 8, there are unevenly formed points at which pressure pulsation is suppressed and points at which pressure pulsation is not suppressed, the pressure to exert on the armature 8 comes to be uneven. Thus, the movement of a needle 10 at the time of valve opening/closing becomes unstable.
To cope with this, by forming a plurality of tubular cavities with equally spaced at the end face of the armature 8, the pressure to exert on the end face of the armature 8 comes to be even, resulting in stable movement of the needle 10.
Furthermore, the total cross sectional area of the cavities becomes larger, and the volume of the cavities becomes larger as well, so that larger pulsation suppression effect is achieved.
In addition, an example in which six tubular cavities are formed on the core 5 side is shown in
Further, as shown in
By causing the depths of tubular cavities to be different, it is possible to extend the frequency band of pressure pulsation to be absorbed.
Moreover, as shown in
In addition, with reference to
As described above, in the fuel injection valve according to this third embodiment, there are provided a plurality of cavities to be formed in an internal part of the core 5.
As a result, the pressure to exert on the end face of the armature 8 comes to be substantially even. Thus, the movement of the needle 10 at the time of valve opening/closing becomes stable, as well as pulsation suppression effect come to be larger.
Further, the plurality of cavities to be formed in an internal part of the core 5 is tubular cavities 5a, 5b . . . with different diameters and depths respectively. As a result, the movement of a needle 10 at the time of valve opening/closing domes to be stable, as well as it is possible to manufacture with high workability a fuel injection valve having large pulsation suppression effect.
Furthermore, the plurality of tubular cavities is disposed at regular intervals substantially at the central portion of the annular end face where the core and the armature are opposed. As a result, the pressure to exert on the end face of the armature 8 becomes further even, and thus the movement of the needle at the time of valve opening/closing comes to be stable all the more.
Furthermore,
According to the foregoing second embodiment, there is formed one tubular cavity in the internal part of the armature 8 orthogonally to the end face of the armature 8 at the end face of the armature 8 opposite to the core 5.
The fuel injection valve according to this fourth embodiment is characterized in that, at the end face of an armature 8 opposite to a core 5, a plurality of tubular cavities are formed in the internal part of the armature 8 orthogonally to the end face of the armature 8.
With reference to
As described in the foregoing third embodiment, in the case of one tubular cavity, since, at the end face of the armature 8, there are unevenly formed points at which pressure pulsation is suppressed and points at which pressure pulsation it not suppressed, the pressure to exert on the armature 8 comes to be uneven. Thus, the movement of a needle 10 becomes unstable.
To cope with this, by forming a plurality of tubular cavities with equally spaced at the end face of the armature 8, the pressure to exert on the end face of the armature 8 comes to be even, resulting in stable movement of the needle 10.
Further, the total cross sectional area of the cavities becomes larger, and the volume of the cavities becomes larger as well, so that larger pulsation suppression effect is achieved.
In addition, an example in which six tubular cavities are formed on the core 5 side is shown in
Further, as shown in
By causing the depths of the tubular cavities to be different, it is possible to extend the frequency band of pressure pulsation to be absorbed.
Moreover, as shown in
In addition, with reference to
As described above, in the fuel injection valve according to this third embodiment, there are provided a plurality of cavities to be formed in an internal part of the core 5.
As a result, the pressure to exert on the end face of the armature 8 comes to be substantially even. Thus, the movement of the needle 10 at the time of valve opening/closing becomes stable, as well as pulsation suppression effect come to be larger.
Further, the plurality of cavities to be formed in an internal part of the armature 8 is tubular cavities 8a, 8b . . . with different diameters and depths respectively. As a result, the movement of a needle 10 at the time of valve opening/closing comes to be stable, as well as it is possible to manufacture with high workability a fuel injection valve having large pulsation suppression effect.
Furthermore, the plurality of tubular cavities is disposed at regular intervals substantially at the central portion of the annular end face where the core and the armature are opposed. As a result, the pressure to exert on the end face of the armature 8 becomes further even, and thus the movement of the needle at the time of valve opening/closing comes to be stable all the more.
While the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that these disclosures are for the purpose of illustration and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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JP2006-109786 | Apr 2006 | JP | national |