Information
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Patent Grant
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6691381
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Patent Number
6,691,381
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Date Filed
Tuesday, July 17, 200123 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, February 17, 200420 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
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Examiners
- Knight; Anthony
- Jackson; André L.
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CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 024 459
- 024 462
- 248 742
- 248 3167
- 248 3161
- 248 3166
- 248 2292
- 248 22926
- 123 469
- 123 470
- 123 471
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International Classifications
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Abstract
A a clip for mounting an elongated fuel rail with respect to an internal combustion engine. The fuel rail extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a mounting portion at an intermediate positon along the longitudinal axis, and the internal combustion engine includes a recess. The clip comprises a first portion adapted to engage the fuel rail, and a second portion adapted to be slidably received in the recess along a generally transverse axis with respect to the longitudinal axis. The first portion partially surrounds the longitudinal axis and is adapted to engage the mounting portion so as to prevent relative displacement along the longitudinal axis. The second portion is adapted to be releasably retained with respect to the recess.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a mounting clip, and more particularly, to mounting clips that secure a fuel rail with respect to an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A fuel rail assembly can supply fuel to an internal combustion engine. Some fuel rail assemblies may include a fuel rail tube and fuel injectors that are each retained within fuel cups disposed on the fuel rail tube. It is believed that a known arrangement of a fuel rail assembly is mounted with respect to an engine by fuel rail mounting brackets and mounting bolts. It is believed that the fuel rail mounting brackets are secured to the fuel rail tube by a known manufacturing process such as brazing. It is believed that this mounting and brazing process is relatively time-consuming and expensive on a production line.
Thus, it is believed that there is a need to provide a mounting clip for securing a fuel rail with respect to an intake manifold in a single step, i.e., without the need for brazing and mounting bolts or other types of mechanical fasteners.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a clip for mounting an elongated fuel rail with respect to an internal combustion engine. The fuel rail extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a mounting portion at an intermediate positon along the longitudinal axis, and the internal combustion engine includes a recess. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting portion is an enlarged section. The clip comprises a first portion adapted to engage the fuel rail, and a second portion adapted to be slidably received in the recess along a generally transverse axis with respect to the longitudinal axis. The first portion partially surrounds the longitudinal axis and is adapted to engage the enlarged section so as to prevent relative displacement along the longitudinal axis. The second portion is adapted to be releasably retained with respect to the recess.
In a preferred embodiment, a clip is provided for mounting an elongated fuel rail with respect to an internal combustion engine. The fuel rail extends along a longitudinal axis and includes an enlarged section at an intermediate positon along the longitudinal axis, and the internal combustion engine includes a recess. The clip comprises a first portion that is adapted to engage the fuel rail, and a second portion that is adapted to be received in the recess. The first portion partially surrounds the longitudinal axis and is adapted to extend along the longitudinal axis to either side of the enlarged section. The first portion includes a first section defining a first clip end; a second section extending from the first section and adapted to contiguously engage the fuel rail at a first angular location around the longitudinal axis; a third section extending from the second section and adapted to project away from the fuel rail; a fourth section extending from the third section and adapted to be spaced from the enlarged section relative to the longitudinal axis; a fifth section extending from the fourth section and adapted to project toward the fuel rail; a sixth section extending from the fifth section and adapted to contiguously engage the fuel rail at a second angular location around the longitudinal axis; and a seventh section extending from the sixth section and adapted to project away from the fuel rail. The second portion extends from the seventh section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, include one or more embodiments of the invention, and together with a general description given above and a detailed description given below, serve to disclose principles of the invention in accordance with a best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. Like reference numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout the drawings.
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a first embodiment for mounting an elongated fuel rail with respect to an internal combustion engine.
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of a clip according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3
is a side view of the clip according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4
is a front view of the clip according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of a second embodiment for mounting an elongated fuel rail with respect to an internal combustion engine.
FIG. 6
is a perspective view of a clip according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 7
is a side view of the clip according to the second embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a clip
100
according to a first embodiment mounts a fuel rail
10
with respect to a portion
20
of an internal combustion engine. The fuel rail
10
extends along a longitudinal axis
12
and includes a mounting portion
14
, e.g., an enlarged section, at an intermediate position along the longitudinal axis
12
. Preferably, the enlarged section
14
is a continuous bead around an outer surface
16
of the fuel rail
10
, although those skilled in the art will recognize that the enlarged section
14
can be other configurations as well. The portion
20
, which may be a portion of an intake manifold for the internal combustion engine, includes a recess
22
providing a means to for the mounting clip
100
to engage the internal combustion engine. The recess
22
is shown as including a slot
24
and a locking aperture
26
. Those skilled in the art will recognize that a feature of the engine other than the air intake manifold can provide the portion
20
, and that the recess
22
may be alternatively configured.
Referring additionally to
FIGS. 2-4
, the mounting clip
100
is preferably formed from a single unitary sheet of metal. Although those skilled in the art will recognize that the mounting clip
100
can be formed from multiple separate pieces connected together to form a single piece and/or can be constructed from a material other than metal.
The clip
100
can be apportioned along a line
102
into a first portion
104
adapted to engage the fuel rail
10
, and a second portion
106
adapted to be slidably received in the recess
22
along a generally transverse axis with respect to the longitudinal axis
12
. The first portion
104
partially surrounds the longitudinal axis
12
and is adapted to engage the enlarged section
14
so as to prevent relative displacement along the longitudinal axis
14
. The second portion
106
is adapted to be releasably retained with respect to the recess
22
.
The first portion
104
of the mounting clip
100
comprises a plurality of sections that are separated by broken lines in
FIG. 3. A
first section
110
defines a first clip end
112
. A second section
120
extends from the first section
110
and is shaped to contiguously engage the fuel rail
10
within a first angular range
122
around the longitudinal axis
12
. A third section
130
extends from the second section
120
and projects obliquely away from the fuel rail
10
. A fourth section
140
extends from the third section
130
and is spaced from the enlarged section
14
relative to the longitudinal axis
12
. A fifth section
150
extends from the fourth section
140
and projects obliquely toward the fuel rail
10
. A sixth section
160
extends from the fifth section
150
and shaped to contiguously engage the fuel rail
10
within a second angular range
162
around the longitudinal axis
12
. A seventh section
170
extends from the sixth section
160
and projects obliquely away from the fuel rail
10
.
The first section
110
, the second section
120
, the third section
130
, the fifth section
150
, the sixth section
160
, and the seventh section
170
are each bifurcated so as to have parallel branches lying on opposite sides of the enlarged section
14
. In the preferred embodiment of the first portion, there is a void between the branches, and the branches define at least one surface
124
that engage the enlarged section
14
. It is also possible to prevent the fuel rail
10
from being displaced along the axis
12
without having a void between the branches so long as there is a surface defined that engages the enlarged section
14
. In the preferred embodiment, the fourth section
140
longitudinally links the respective parallel branches of the third section
130
and the fifth section
150
. The second portion
106
longitudinally links the parallel branches of the seventh section
170
.
The fifth section
150
and the seventh section
170
generally extend in a common plane. The third section
130
extends parallel to this common plane and the fourth section
140
partially extends orthogonally to this common plane. The first angular range
122
and the second angular range
162
are on generally opposite sides of the longitudinal axis
12
.
According to the first embodiment, the second portion
106
extends the projection of the seventh section
170
and comprises a central section
106
A defined by a U-shaped cutout
106
B. As best seen in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the central section
106
A projects obliquely with respect to the U-shaped cutout
106
B and is releasably retained with respect to the locking aperture
26
of the recess
22
.
According to the second embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 5-7
, the first portion
104
is substantially the same as has been described above with respect to the first embodiment. However, the second portion
106
′ according to the second embodiment differs from the second portion
106
in that the second portion
106
′ comprises a configuration that resiliently expands against and engages opposite sides of a recess
22
′.
According to either embodiment, after fuel rail clip
100
,
100
′ is assembled to the fuel rail
10
, this assembly is connected to the portion
20
of the intake manifold. This is accomplished by aligning the fuel rail
10
with a fuel rail saddle
28
and aligning the second portion
106
,
106
′ with the recess
22
,
22
′. As the fuel rail
10
is pressed into the fuel rail saddle
28
, the second portion
106
,
106
′ engages the recess
22
,
22
′. According to the first embodiment, the central section
106
A resiliently protrudes from the locking aperture
26
, thereby resisting separation of the fuel rail
10
from the saddle
28
until the central section
106
A is deformed so as to disengage the locking aperture
26
. According to the second embodiment, the second portion
106
′ is initially compressed by the recess
22
′ and subsequently resiliently expands to engage opposite sides of the recess
22
′. Like the first embodiment, the second embodiment also resists separation of the fuel rail
10
from the saddle
28
until the second portion
106
′ is recompressed.
Displacement of the fuel rail
10
along the axis
12
is resisted by the cooperative engagement of the enlarged section
14
with the bifurcated branches of the first portion
104
.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A clip for mounting an elongated fuel rail with respect to an internal combustion engine, the fuel rail extending along a longitudinal axis and including an enlarged section at an intermediate position along the longitudinal axis, and the internal combustion engine including a recess, the clip comprising:a first portion adapted to engage the fuel rail, the first portion partially surrounding the longitudinal axis and adapted to extend along the longitudinal axis to either side of the enlarged section, the first portion including: a first section defining a first clip end; a second section extending from the first section and adapted to contiguously engage the fuel rail at a first angular location around the longitudinal axis; a third section extending from the second section and adapted to project away from the fuel rail; a fourth section extending from the third section and adapted to be spaced from the enlarged section relative to the longitudinal axis; a fifth section extending from the fourth section and adapted to project toward the fuel rail; a sixth section extending from the fifth section and adapted to contiguously engage the fuel rail at a second angular location around the longitudinal axis; and a seventh section extending from the sixth section and adapted to project away from the fuel rail; and a second portion adapted to be received in the recess of the internal combustion engine, the second portion having a projection extending from the seventh section into the recess.
- 2. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the first, second, third, fifth, sixth, and seventh sections are each bifurcated so as to be adapted to lie on opposite sides of the enlarged section.
- 3. The clip according to claim 2, wherein the fourth section longitudinally connects the bifurcations of the third and fifth sections.
- 4. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the first section is adapted to project away from the fuel rail.
- 5. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a resilient material adapted to releasably retain the fuel rail.
- 6. The clip according to claim 1, wherein fifth and seventh sections generally extend in a common plane.
- 7. The clip according to claim 6, wherein the third section extends parallel to the common plane.
- 8. The clip according to claim 6, wherein the fourth section partially extends orthogonally to the common plane.
- 9. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the first and second angular locations are on generally opposite sides of the longitudinal axis.
- 10. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the second portion is adapted to be slidingly received in the recess.
- 11. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the projection comprises two projections projecting away from each other so that the projections engage the recess.
- 12. A clip for mounting an elongated fuel rail with respect to an internal combustion engine, the fuel rail extending along a longitudinal axis and including an enlarged section at an intermediate position along the longitudinal axis, and the internal combustion engine including a recess, the clip comprising:a first portion adapted to engage the fuel rail, the first portion partially surrounding the longitudinal axis and adapted to extend along the longitudinal axis to either side of the enlarged section, the first portion including: a first section defining a first clip end; a second section extending from the first section and adapted to contiguously engage the fuel rail at a first angular location around the longitudinal axis; a third section extending from the second section and adapted to project away from the fuel rail; a fourth section extending from the third section and adapted to be spaced from the enlarged section relative to the longitudinal axis; a fifth section extending from the fourth section and adapted to project toward the fuel rail; a sixth section extending from the fifth section and adapted to contiguously engage the fuel rail at a second angular location around the longitudinal axis; and a seventh section extending from the sixth section and adapted to project away from the fuel rail; and a second portion adapted to be received in the recess, the second portion extending from the seventh section, wherein the second portion comprises a central section defined by a U-shaped cutout.
- 13. The clip according to claim 12, wherein the central section projects obliquely with respect to the U-shaped cutout.
- 14. The clip according to claim 12, wherein the central section is adapted to releasably retain the second portion with respect to the recess.
- 15. A clip for mounting an elongated fuel rail with respect to an internal combustion engine, the fuel rail extending along a longitudinal axis and including an enlarged section at an intermediate position along the longitudinal axis, and the internal combustion engine including a recess, the clip comprising:a first portion adapted to engage the fuel rail, the first portion partially surrounding the longitudinal axis and adapted to extend along the longitudinal axis to either side of the enlarged section, the first portion including: a first section defining a first clip end; a second section extending from the first section and adapted to contiguously engage the fuel rail at a first angular location around the longitudinal axis; a third section extending from the second section and adapted to project away from the fuel rail; a fourth section extending from the third section and adapted to be spaced from the enlarged section relative to the longitudinal axis; a fifth section extending from the fourth section and adapted to project toward the fuel rail; a sixth section extending from the fifth section and adapted to contiguously engage the fuel rail at a second angular location around the longitudinal axis; and a seventh section extending from the sixth section and adapted to project away from the fuel rail; and a second portion adapted to be received in the recess, the second portion extending from the seventh section, the first, second, third, fifth, sixth, and seventh sections are each bifurcated so as to be adapted to lie on opposite sides of the enlarged section the fourth section longitudinally connects the bifurcations of the third and fifth sections, and wherein the second portion longitudinally connects the bifurcations of the seventh section.
- 16. A clip for mounting an elongated fuel rail with respect to an internal combustion engine, the fuel rail extending along a longitudinal axis and including a mounting at an intermediate position along the longitudinal axis, and the internal combustion engine including a recess, the clip comprising:a first portion adapted to engage the fuel rail, the first portion partially surrounding the longitudinal axis and having a surface being adapted to engage the mounting portion so as to prevent relative displacement of the fuel rail along the longitudinal axis; and a second portion adapted to be slidably received in the recess of the internal combustion engine along a generally transverse axis with respect to the longitudinal axis, the second portion having a projection being adapted to be releasably retained with respect to the recess.
- 17. The clip according to claim 16, wherein the mounting portion defines an enlarged portion, the first portion comprises at least one bifurcated section and comprises at least one connecting section extending longitudinally with respect to the longitudinal axis, the at least one bifurcated section includes first and second branches adapted to lie on opposite sides of the enlarged section, and the at least one connecting section links the first and second branches of the bifurcated sections.
- 18. The clip according to claim 17, wherein the first portion comprises a plurality of bifurcated sections and one connecting section.
- 19. The clip according to claim 16, wherein the first portion comprises a resilient material adapted to releasably retain the fuel rail.
- 20. The clip according to claim 16, wherein the projection comprises two projections projecting away from each other so that the projections engage the recess.
US Referenced Citations (13)