Fuel injection valve

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6811104
  • Patent Number
    6,811,104
  • Date Filed
    Monday, July 15, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 2, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A fuel injection valve has: a tubular body, a valve seat member, a valve body, a core tube, a bias spring, and an electromagnetic actuator. The core tube is press fitted into the tubular body. The core tube has a first end side opposing an absorption section of the valve body in such a manner as to form an axial gap interposed between the first end side of the core tube and the absorption section. The core tube has a second end side axially extending in the tubular body to a certain position on a way to the second end side of the tubular body. The axially extending second end side of the core tube has an outer periphery which is formed with a reduced diameter section for increasing an accuracy in positioning the core tube when the core tube is press fitted into the tubular body.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a fuel injection valve used for injecting fuel to an automotive engine and the like.




2. Description of the Related Art




Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. P2000-8990A (2000008990) describes a fuel injection valve which is used for an automotive engine and the like. Generally, a valve casing of the fuel injection valve is made of magnetic metal material and the like, and is shaped substantially into a tube. A valve body of the fuel injection valve is displaceably inserted in an inner periphery of the valve casing. In an operation period of the fuel injection valve, a magnetic field generated by an electromagnetic coil may act on the valve body by way of the valve casing, thereby opening the valve body magnetically.




BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel injection valve with accuracy in fuel injection amount improved by stabilizing stroke of a valve body, wherein stabilization of the stroke is effected by a general mechanical machining on a core tube.




According to the present invention, there is provided a fuel injection valve, comprising: a tubular body, a valve seat member, a valve body, a core tube, a bias spring, and an electromagnetic actuator. The tubular body is made of a magnetic material and formed substantially into a tube. The tubular body has a first end side and a second end side opposite to the first end side. The valve seat member is disposed on the first end side of the tubular body. The valve seat member is formed with a fuel injection port and a valve seat surrounding the fuel injection port. The valve body is displaceably disposed in the tubular body. The valve body has a first end side defining a valve section which is detachably seated on the valve seat of the valve seat member. The valve body has a second end side, which is opposite to the first end side thereof, defining an absorption section. The core tube is press fitted into the tubular body. The core tube has a first end side opposing the absorption section of the valve body in such a manner as to form an axial gap interposed between the first end side of the core tube and the absorption section of the valve body. The core tube has a second end side axially extending in the tubular body to a certain position on a way to the second end side of the tubular body. The axially extending second end side of the core tube has an outer periphery which is formed with a reduced diameter section for increasing an accuracy in positioning the core tube when the core tube is press fitted into the tubular body. The bias spring is disposed in the tubular body, and biases the valve body in a direction for closing the valve body. The electromagnetic actuator is disposed at the tubular body. The electromagnetic actuator forms a magnetic field between the absorption section of the valve body and the core tube so as to allow the valve body to open opposing the bias spring.




The other objects and features of the present invention will become understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a longitudinal cross section of a fuel injection valve, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is an enlarged cross section of the fuel injection valve, taken along lines II—II in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is an enlarged cross section of the fuel injection valve, taken along lines III—III in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 4

is an enlarged cross section of an essential part of the fuel injection valve in

FIG. 1

, showing especially a valve body


8


's side of the fuel injection valve.





FIG. 5

is an enlarged cross section of the essential part of the fuel injection valve in

FIG. 1

, showing especially a core tube


9


's side of the fuel injection valve.





FIG. 6

is an enlarged cross section of a part in the vicinity of a depth cut


10


in FIG.


5


.





FIG. 7

is a longitudinal cross section showing a state before assembling a tubular body


2


, a valve seat member


5


, the valve body


8


, the core tube


9


, an electromagnetic coil


13


, a magnetic cover


14


, and a couple core


16


.





FIG. 8

shows a view similar to

FIG. 5

, but showing a core tube


31


and the like of the fuel injection valve, according to a second embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 9

shows a view similar to

FIG. 5

, but showing a core tube


41


and the like of the fuel injection valve, according to a third embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS




In the following, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.




For ease of understanding, the following description will contain various directional terms, such as, upper, lower and the like. However, such terms are to be understood with respect to only a drawing or drawings on which the corresponding part of element is illustrated.




As is seen in

FIG. 1

to

FIG. 7

, there is provided a fuel injection valve applied to an automotive engine, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.




There is provided a valve casing


1


constituting an outer casing of the fuel injection valve. Valve casing


1


is constituted of a tubular body


2


(to be described afterward), a magnetic cover


14


, a resin cover


17


, and the like.




Tubular body


2


constitutes a body section of valve casing


1


. Tubular body


2


is formed of a metal pipe and the like which is made of magnetic metal material such as electromagnetic stainless steel. As is seen in

FIG. 1

to

FIG. 7

, tubular body


2


is formed substantially into a stepped tube.




Tubular body


2


is constituted of a valve body receiver


2


A, a core tube mating section


2


B, and a fuel passage section


2


C. Valve body receiver


2


A is disposed on a first end side (lower in

FIG. 1

) of tubular body


2


. A valve body


8


(to be described afterward) can be displaceably received in valve body receiver


8


. Core tube mating section


2


B is unitedly disposed on a second end side (upper in

FIG. 1

) of tubular body


2


A. A core tube


9


(to be described afterward) can be inserted in core tube mating section


2


B. Fuel passage section


2


C is disposed on a second end side (upper in

FIG. 1

) of core tube mating section


2


B, and is shaped substantially into a tube having a diameter larger than that of core tube mating section


2


B. Fuel passage section


2


C has an inner periphery which forms a fuel passage


3


extending axially up to valve body receiver


2


A and core tube mating section


2


B. Valve body receiver


2


A, core tube mating section


2


B, and fuel passage section


2


C are arranged substantially coaxial.




As is seen in

FIG. 4

, each of valve body receiver


2


A and core tube mating section


2


B of tubular body


2


may have a predetermined radial thickness t in a range from 0.2 mm to 10.0 mm, more preferably, 0.2 mm to 3.0 mm. Moreover, valve body receiver


2


A and core tube mating section


2


B are tubular bodies having substantially the same diameter each other. Moreover, as is seen in

FIG. 1

, there is provided a fuel filter


4


in fuel passage section


2


C of tubular body


2


. Fuel filter


4


can filter fuel which is fed to fuel passage


3


from outside.




There is provided a valve seat member


5


which is substantially tubular, and is inserted in an inner periphery on a first end side (lower in

FIG. 4

) of valve body receiver


2


A. As is seen in

FIG. 4

, valve seat member


5


has a fuel injection port


5


A and an annular valve seat


5


B. Fuel in fuel passage


3


can be injected outward through fuel injection port


5


A. Valve seat


5


B is formed substantially conical, and surrounds fuel injection port


5


A. Moreover, a valve section


8


B of a valve body


8


(to be described afterward) makes a movement such that valve section


8


B can be seated on valve seat


5


B and spaced apart from valve seat


5


B.




Moreover, valve seat member


5


can be inserted in the inner periphery on the first end side (lower in

FIG. 4

) of valve body receiver


2


A of tubular body


2


. Entire part of an outer periphery of valve seat member


5


is welded to the inner periphery of valve body receiver


2


A via a weldment


6


. Moreover, there is provided a nozzle plate


7


on a periphery on a first end side (lower in

FIG. 4

) of valve seat member


5


. Nozzle plate


7


is fixed in such a position as to cover fuel injection port


5


A. Nozzle plate


7


is formed with a plurality of nozzle holes


7


A.




There is provided a valve body


8


which is displaceably received in valve body receiver


2


A of tubular body


2


. Valve body


8


is constituted of a valve shaft


8


C, a valve section


8


B, and an absorption section


8


C. Valve shaft


8


A is tubular, and extends axially in valve body receiver


2


A. Valve section


8


B is substantially spherical and is fixed to a first end side (lower in

FIG. 4

) of valve shaft


8


A. Moreover, valve section


8


B can be seated on valve seat


5


B valve seat member


5


and spaced apart from valve seat


5


B. Absorption section


8


C is made of magnetic metal material and the like, and is integrated with a second end side (upper in

FIG. 4

) of valve shaft


8


A. Moreover, absorption section


8


C is substantially tubular, and can be slidably inserted in valve body receiver


2


A.




In a period when valve body


8


is closed, valve section


8


B can be kept seated on valve seat


5


B of valve seat member


5


with a bias force applied by a bias spring


11


(to be described afterward). In this period, periphery on a second end side (upper in

FIG. 4

) of absorption section


8


C and core tube


9


oppose each other, defining therebetween an axial gap S having a predetermined dimension, as is seen in FIG.


4


.




On the other hand, energizing an electromagnetic coil


13


(to be described afterward) can generate a magnetic field H as depicted by dashed lines in

FIG. 4

, to thereby allow absorption section


8


C of valve body


8


to be magnetically absorbed to core tube


9


. With this, valve body


8


can be axially displaced by a distance equivalent to axial gap S against the bias force by bias spring


11


. Thus, valve body


8


can be opened in a direction A as is seen in FIG.


4


.




There is provided core tube


9


as a core member which is made of magnetic metal material and the like and is shaped substantially into a tube. Machining operations such as cutting, polishing and the like carried out on the inner periphery and the outer periphery of core tube


9


can form a stepped tubular body, as is seen in

FIG. 7. A

first axial side (lower in

FIG. 7

) of core tube


9


is a small diameter section


9


A, while a second axial side (upper in

FIG. 7

) of core tube


9


is a large diameter section


9


B. Moreover, core tube


9


has a gravity center G which is disposed on large diameter section


9


B for ease of centerless polishing and the like (to be described afterward).




Core tube


9


can be inserted in core tube mating section


2


B of tubular body


2


with a press fitting means. As is seen in

FIG. 4

, core tube


9


can be fixed in core tube mating section


2


B in such a position that a first end face (lower in

FIG. 4

) of small diameter section


9


A opposes the second end face (upper in

FIG. 4

) of absorption section


8


C, defining therebetween axial gap S. In this case, press fitting core tube


9


into core tube mating section


2


B of tubular body


2


causes the outer periphery of large diameter section


9


B of core tube


9


to abrasively abut on the inner periphery of core tube mating section


2


B.




Large diameter section


9


B of core tube


9


extends axially up to a certain position on a way to the second end of tubular body


2


. More specifically, as is seen in FIG.


1


. and

FIG. 5

, the second end (upper) of large diameter section


9


B protrude axially from core tube mating section


2


B toward inside fuel passage section


2


C. In addition, the second end of large diameter section


9


B has an outer periphery which is formed with a depth cut


10


(to be described afterward).




There is provided depth cut


10


which is a reduced diameter section defined on the outer periphery on the second end side of large diameter section


9


B of core tube


9


. Depth cut


10


can be formed through operations such as cutting, polishing and the like. More specifically, as is seen in FIG.


1


and

FIG. 5

, depth cut


10


has a depth for example 100 μm around entire circumference of the second end of large diameter section


9


B. Depth cut


10


can increase frictional resistance (to be described afterward) of core tube


9


against core tube mating section


2


B, which frictional resistance may be caused when core tube


9


is press fitted into tubular body


2


. With the increase in the frictional resistance, accuracy in positioning core tube


9


press fitted into tubular body


2


can be increased.




Therefore, depth cut


10


extends axially from an end face of large diameter section


9


B of core tube


9


by a predetermined distance. Depth cut


10


defines a depth cut end


10


A which is disposed in such a position that large diameter section


9


B of core tube


9


can define a length L1 (L1>0) relative to the second end (upper in

FIG. 5

) of core tube mating section


2


B into which large diameter section


9


B of core tube


9


is press fitted.




There is provided bias spring


11


disposed in tubular body


2


. There is provided a spring bearing


12


which is substantially tubular, and is fixed inside core tube


9


through press fitting and the like. Moreover, bias spring


11


can be compressedly disposed between spring bearing


12


and valve body


8


inside core tube


9


, to thereby bias constantly valve body


8


in a direction of closing valve body


8


.




There is provided electromagnetic coil


13


fitting over the outer periphery of core tube mating section


2


B of tubular body


2


. Electromagnetic coil


13


can act as an actuator. Energizing electromagnetic coil


13


by means of a connector


18


(to be described afterward) can generate magnetic field H which is depicted by the dashed lines, as is seen in FIG.


4


. In addition, magnetic field H can allow absorption section


8


C of valve body


8


to be absorbed on the first end face (lower in

FIG. 4

) of small diameter section


9


A of core tube


9


, to thereby open valve


8


opposing the bias force by bias spring


11


.




There is provided magnetic cover


14


which is made of magnetic metal material and the like, and is shaped substantially into a stepped tube. As is seen in

FIG. 4

, magnetic cover


14


is constituted of a small diameter tube


14


A and a large diameter tube


14


B. Small diameter tube


14


A is welded to the outer periphery of valve body receiver


2


A of tubular body


2


via an annular weldment


15


. Large diameter tube


14


B is larger in diameter than small diameter tube


14


A, and is united with a second end (upper in

FIG. 4

) of small diameter tube


14


A. Moreover, large diameter tube


14


B can cover electromagnetic coil


13


radially outside.




As is seen in

FIG. 2

, there is provided a couple core


16


fitting over the outer periphery of core tube mating section


2


B of tubular body


2


. Couple core


16


is made of magnetic metal material and the like, and is shaped substantially into an alphabetical C. Couple core


16


can magnetically couple large diameter tube


14


B of magnetic cover


14


with core tube mating section


2


B of tubular body


2


. In cooperation with magnetic cover


14


, couple core


16


can form a magnetic path on the outer periphery of electromagnetic coil


13


.




Magnetizing electromagnetic coil


13


can generate magnetic field H, as depicted by the dashed lines in

FIG. 4

, along a closed magnetic path which is constituted of valve body receiver


2


A (of tubular body


2


), core tube mating section


2


B (of tubular body


2


), absorption section


8


C (of valve body


8


), core tube


9


, magnetic cover


14


, and couple core


16


. With magnetic field H thus generated, absorption section


8


C of valve body


8


can be absorbed to the first end (lower in

FIG. 4

) of small diameter section


9


A of core tube


9


.




On the other hand, there is provided resin cover


17


which is so disposed, through resin molding and the like, as to cover tubular body


2


and the second end (upper in

FIG. 4

) of magnetic cover


14


. As is seen in

FIG. 1

, resin cover


17


is fitted with connector


18


for energizing electromagnetic coil


13


. Moreover, there is provided an O-ring


19


on the outer periphery on the second end side (upper in

FIG. 1

) of tubular body


2


protruding from resin cover


17


. O-ring


19


can act as a seal member for sealing a space defined between the fuel injection valve and a fuel piping (not shown) or the like.




As is seen in FIG.


1


and

FIG. 4

, there is provided an annular protector


20


disposed at valve body receiver


2


A of tubular body


2


. Annular protector


20


is made of resin material and the like, and protrudes radially outward from valve body receiver


2


A.




Moreover, there is provided an O-ring


21


fitting over the first end (lower in

FIG. 1

) of tubular body


2


. O-ring


21


is disposed between magnetic cover


14


and annular protector


20


in a retained state. O-ring


21


can be used for example in the following case:




When the first end of tubular body


2


mates with a boss section (not shown) and the like disposed at an intake pipe of an engine, O-ring


21


can seal an area defined between the first end of tubular body


2


and the boss section.




Described hereinafter is operation of the fuel injection valve, according to the first embodiment of the present invention.




Before assembling the fuel injection valve, the inner periphery and the outer periphery of core tube


9


are subjected to machining operations such as cutting, polishing and the like. For example, as is seen in

FIG. 7

, small diameter section


9


A and large diameter section


9


B are formed at core tube


9


, while entire circumference of the outer periphery on the second end side of large diameter section


9


B is formed with depth cut


10


as reduced diameter section.




Then, thus formed core tube


9


is press fitted into core tube mating section


2


B of tubular body


2


, while electromagnetic coil


13


and magnetic cover


14


are allowed to fit over tubular body


2


. Then, resin cover


17


is allowed to fit over electromagnetic coil


13


and magnetic cover


14


by means of resin molding and the like. Moreover, valve body


8


, bias spring


11


and the like are mounted in valve body receiver


2


A of tubular body


2


. Thereafter, valve seat member


5


is inserted in body receiver


2


A of tubular body


2


, and then welded. With the steps described above, the fuel injection valve can be assembled.




When the fuel injection valve is mounted on the automotive engine and the like, the fuel can be supplied in fuel passage


3


of tubular body


2


, from the fuel piping and the like which is connected to the second end (upper in

FIG. 1

) of tubular body


2


by way of O-ring


19


and the like. Allowing connector


18


to energize electromagnetic coil


13


can generate magnetic field H, as is seen in FIG.


4


. Thus generated magnetic field H can pass between absorption section


8


C (of valve body


8


) and core tube


9


.




Thus, valve body


8


can be magnetically absorbed by core tube


9


, and therefore is displaced axially opposing the bias force by bias spring


11


. As a result, valve section


8


B of valve body


8


can be spaced apart from valve seat


5


B of valve seat member


5


, to thereby open valve body


8


. With this, the fuel in fuel passage


3


can be injected from fuel injection port


5


A toward the intake pipe and the like of the engine.




The fuel injection valve to be assembled in the manner described above may have the following constitution:




Axial gap S between valve body


8


and core tube


9


is secured larger than its predetermined set value, in view of welding error and the like which may be caused when valve seat member


5


is welded in valve body receiver


2


A of tubular body


2


.




After the fuel injection valve is assembled, axial gap S is subjected to adjustment to its predetermined set value by axially press fitting again core tube


9


into core tube mating section


2


B of tubular body


2


.




In the above adjustment of axial gap S, core tube


9


, as the case may be, makes a return movement with an error for example about several tens of μm in core tube mating section


2


B of tubular body


2


. The above error (return movement) is attributable to residual stress and the like which may be caused when core tube


9


is press fitted axially with the press fitting means. The above error (return movement) may increase axial gap S between absorption section


8


C (of valve body


8


) and core tube


9


. Even if such increase in axial gap S is minor, stroke of valve body


8


will vary, thereby deteriorating accuracy in controlling fuel injection amount.




According to the first embodiment, accuracy in positioning the core tube


9


in tubular body


2


can be improved by allowing depth cut


10


to increase frictional resistance which may be caused when core tube


9


is press fitted into core tube mating section


2


B of tubular body


2


. Hereinabove, depth cut


10


is the one that is formed around the entire circumference of the outer periphery on the second end side (upper in FIG.


1


and

FIG. 5

) of large diameter section


9


B of core tube


9


.




More specifically described as follows: High-accuracy polishing is carried out on the outer periphery of large diameter section


9


B, so that press fitting large diameter section


9


B (of core tube


9


) into core tube mating section


2


B (of tubular body


2


) can cause frictional abutment between the outer periphery of large diameter section


9


B and the inner periphery of core tube mating section


2


B. Press fitting large diameter section


9


B (of core tube


9


) into core tube mating section


2


B (of tubular body


2


) may cause a force in a direction B toward tubular body


2


, as is seen in

FIG. 6

, in other words, the force in direction B is for increasing diameter. On the other hand, press fitting large diameter section


9


B may cause a force in a direction C toward large diameter section


9


B, in other words, the force in direction C is for decreasing diameter.




The thus caused force in direction B for increasing diameter and the force in direction C for decreasing diameter can be in balance with each other on the outer periphery of large diameter section


9


B of core tube


9


. In core tube mating section


2


B's position corresponding to depth cut


10


, however, only the force in direction C may be caused, in other words, the force for decreasing diameter. Thereby, in the vicinity of depth cut end


10


A of depth cut


10


, core tube mating section


2


B of tubular body


2


may partly cause an elastic deformation depicted with imaginary lines, as is seen in

FIG. 6

, thereby causing a wedge force in a direction D.




As a result, at depth cut end


10


A of depth cut


10


, the above wedge force in direction D can cause an anchor effect (wedge action) on large diameter section


9


B of core tube


9


, to thereby increase the frictional resistance between tubular body


2


and core tube


9


. In addition, the wedge force in direction D may cause the elastic deformation of core tube mating section


2


B such that part of core tube mating section


2


B can slightly engage with depth cut end


10


A of depth cut


10


. In sum, the anchor effect can control the return movement (attributable to the residual stress and the like) of core tube


9


in direction E as is seen in FIG.


6


.




In sum, accuracy in positioning core tube


9


in tubular body


2


can be thus improved, to thereby allow axial gap S between valve body


8


and core tube


9


to be adjustable to the predetermined set value. In addition, magnetic field H generated by electromagnetic coil


13


can pass between valve body


8


and core tube


9


, to thereby allow valve body


8


to be opened at an adjusted stroke (equivalent to axial gap S). In sum, stable fuel injection amount can be controlled.




According to the first embodiment, forming depth cut


10


around the entire circumference on the second end side of large diameter section


9


B of core tube


9


by means of general machining operations can set a constant stroke of valve body


8


, thereby improving accuracy in the fuel injection amount.




Gravity center G of core tube


9


disposed on large diameter section


9


B as is seen in

FIG. 7

can allow polishing of the outer periphery of large diameter section


9


B of core tube


9


without the need for preparing special jigs and the like for sustaining core tube


9


. Thus, centerless polishing known as easy machining can be adopted, to thereby allow efficient finishing and the like.




As is seen in

FIG. 8

, there is provided a fuel injection valve applied to the automotive engine, according to a second embodiment of the present invention.




In the second embodiment, parts and sections substantially the same as those according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted. The feature of the second embodiment is a chamfer section


32


as a reduced diameter section around an outer periphery on a second end side (upper in

FIG. 8

) of a core tube


31


.




Like core tube


9


according to the first embodiment, there is provided core tube


31


which is constituted of a small diameter section


31


A and a large diameter section


31


B. Chamfer section


32


as the reduced diameter section can be formed by tapering an outer periphery on a second end side (upper in

FIG. 8

) of large diameter section


31


B. Chamfer section


32


is so formed as to extend to a position defining a length L2 (L2>0) relative to the second end of core tube mating section


2


B of tubular body


2


.




In sum, according to the second embodiment operations and effects substantially the same as those according to the first embodiment can be caused. Especially, according to the second embodiment, chamfer section


32


can be formed with ease by simply tapering the outer periphery on the second end side of core tube


31


, thereby further facilitating machining operation.




As is seen in

FIG. 9

, there is provided a fuel injection valve applied to the automotive engine, according to a third embodiment of the present invention.




In the third embodiment, parts and sections substantially the same as those according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted. The feature of the third embodiment is an annular groove


42


as a reduced diameter section around an outer periphery on a second side (upper in

FIG. 9

) of a core tube


41


.




Like core tube


9


according to the first embodiment, there is provided core tube


41


which is constituted of a small diameter section


41


A and a large diameter section


41


B. A plurality of annular grooves


42


as the reduced diameter section can be formed in such a manner as to be spaced apart axially from each other in positions for frictional abutment between an outer periphery (of large diameter section


41


B) and core tube mating section


2


B. In addition, each of annular grooves


42


has a cross section shaped substantially into a Japanese katakana character (rectangular character), for example, with groove width of about 100 μm and groove depth of about 100 μm.




In sum, according to the third embodiment operations and effects substantially the same as those according to the first embodiment can be caused. Especially, according to the third embodiment, the plurality of annular grooves


42


are formed on the outer periphery of large diameter section


41


B, thereby effecting the anchor effect (wedge operation) and further improving accuracy in positioning core tube


41


in tubular body


2


.




Although the present invention has been described above by reference to three embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the three embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiments described above will occur to those skilled in the art, in light of the above teachings.




More specifically, according to the third embodiment, annular groove


42


formed on the outer periphery of large diameter section


41


B of core tube


41


is plural in number. The present invention is, however, not limited to this. For example, annular groove


42


can be singular in number. In addition, the cross section of annular groove


42


may not necessarily be shaped substantially into the Japanese katakana character (rectangular character). Instead, the cross section of annular groove


42


can be a semicircle, an alphabetical U, an alphabetical V, and the like.




The entire contents of basic Japanese Patent Application No. P2001-395543 (filed on Dec. 27, 2001 in Japan) of which priority is claimed is incorporated herein by reference, in order to take some protection against mis-translation or omitted portions.




The scope of the present invention is defined with reference to the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A fuel injection valve, comprising:a tubular body made of a magnetic material and formed substantially into a tube, the tubular body having a first end side and a second end side opposite to the first end side; a valve seat member disposed on the first end side of the tubular body, the valve seat member being formed with a fuel injection port and a valve seat surrounding the fuel injection port; a valve body displaceably disposed in the tubular body, the valve body having a first end side defining a valve section which is detachably seated on the valve seat of the valve seat member, the valve body having a second end side, which is opposite to the first end side thereof, defining an absorption section; a core tube press fitted into the tubular body, the core tube having a first end side opposing the absorption section of the valve body in such a manner as to form an axial gap interposed between the first end side of the core tube and the absorption section of the valve body, the core tube having a second end side axially extending in the tubular body to a certain position on a way to the second end side of the tubular body, the axially extending second end side of the core tube having an outer periphery which is formed with a reduced diameter section; a bias spring disposed in the tubular body, and biasing the valve body in a direction for closing the valve body; and an electromagnetic actuator disposed at the tubular body, the electromagnetic actuator forming a magnetic field between the absorption section of the valve body and the core tube so as to allow the valve body to open opposing the bias spring.
  • 2. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reduced diameter section is formed in such a manner that a depth cut is defined around an entire circumference of the outer periphery on the second end side of the core tube.
  • 3. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe core tube is shaped substantially into a stepped tube having a small diameter section disposed on the first end side of the core tube opposing the absorption section of the valve body, and a large diameter section larger in diameter than the small diameter section and disposed on the second end side of the core tube formed with the depth cut, and a gravity center of the core tube is disposed on the large diameter section.
  • 4. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe depth cut is substantially 100 μm in depth, the depth cut extends axially from an end face of the large diameter section of the core tube by a predetermined distance, and the depth cut defines a depth cut end which is disposed in such a position that the end face of the large diameter section of the core tube defines a length greater than zero relative to an end of a core tube mating section of the tubular body into which the large diameter section of the core tube is press fitted.
  • 5. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reduced diameter section is formed in such a manner that a tapered chamfer section is defined around an entire circumference of the outer periphery on the second end side of the core tube.
  • 6. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 5, whereinthe core tube is shaped substantially into a stepped tube having a small diameter section disposed on the first end side of the core tube opposing the absorption section of the valve body, and a large diameter section larger in diameter than the small diameter section and disposed on the second end side of the core tube formed with the reduced diameter section, and a gravity center of the core tube is disposed on the large diameter section.
  • 7. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 6, whereinthe chamfer section is so formed as to extend to a position defining a length greater than zero relative to an end of a core tube mating section of the tubular body into which the large diameter section of the core tube is press fitted.
  • 8. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reduced diameter section is formed in such a manner that an annular groove is defined around an entire circumference of the outer periphery on the second end side of the core tube.
  • 9. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 8, whereinthe annular groove defining the reduced diameter section is plural in number, and the plurality of the annular grooves are axially spaced apart from each other.
  • 10. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 8, whereinthe core tube is shaped substantially into a stepped tube having a small diameter section disposed on the first end side of the core tube opposing the absorption section of the valve body, and a large diameter section larger in diameter than the small diameter section and disposed on the second end side of the core tube formed with the reduced diameter section, and a gravity center of the core tube is disposed on the large diameter section.
  • 11. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 10, whereinthe annular groove is disposed in a position for a frictional abutment between an outer periphery of the large diameter section and a core tube mating section, and the annular groove has a cross section shaped substantially into a rectangular groove having a groove width of about 100 μm and a groove depth of about 100 μm.
  • 12. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 11, wherein the annular groove has the cross section shaped substantially into a semicircle.
  • 13. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 11, wherein the annular groove has the cross section shaped substantially into an alphabetical U.
  • 14. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 11, wherein the annular groove has the cross section shaped substantially into an alphabetical V.
  • 15. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic actuator is an electromagnetic coil.
  • 16. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular body has a radial thickness in a range from 0.2 mm to 10.0 mm.
  • 17. The fuel injection valve as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tubular body has a radial thickness in a range from 0.2 mm to 3.0 mm.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
2001-395543 Dec 2001 JP
US Referenced Citations (6)
Number Name Date Kind
4509693 Nakai Apr 1985 A
4946107 Hunt Aug 1990 A
5033716 Mesenich Jul 1991 A
5150842 Hickey Sep 1992 A
5275341 Romann et al. Jan 1994 A
5692723 Baxter et al. Dec 1997 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
2000-8990 Jan 2000 JP