This application claims priority to United Kingdom Patent Application No. GB1600984.7, filed Jan. 19, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.
The present disclosure relates to an injector clamp. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an injector clamp that can be used to mount injectors onto engine heads of different configurations.
Manufacturers of engine components have been known to typically produce clamps that can be used for mounting one or more injectors onto an engine head. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,334,572 (hereinafter referred to as “the '572 patent”) discloses a system for securing a fuel injector in an internal combustion engine. The system includes a clamp for securing adjacent injectors to a cylinder head. The clamp includes a central portion with a hole for receiving a fastener to secure the clamp to the cylinder head, and a pair of symmetrical crescent-shaped clamping forks forming a U-shaped opening to facilitate lateral sliding engagement with diametrically opposed flatted portions of corresponding fuel injectors. Each arm includes an arcuate pad that engages a corresponding shoulder of the fuel injector to provide an axial clamping force to the fuel injector. The distance between the distal ends of one fork and the semicircular portion of the opposite fork can be selected to allow lateral sliding disengagement of the clamp from one of the adjacent injectors without rotation or removal of the other injector to facilitate servicing of individual injectors.
However, when multiple configurations of engine heads are produced, specifications pertaining to one configuration of engine head may differ from another configuration of engine head. For example, a cylinder spacing, used to define distance between adjacent cylinders, in one type of engine head may be different from a cylinder spacing in another type of engine head. Accordingly, a position of the fuel injectors may also vary to correspond with the cylinder spacing present on such multiple configurations of engine heads. In such cases, previously known systems such as, but not limited to, the system of '572 patent cannot be used to accomplish a mounting of the fuel injectors across different configurations of engine heads. As a result, manufacturers of previously known clamping systems may be required to produce unique clamps for mounting injectors on engine heads with different configurations, and may thus incur increased manufacturing costs.
Therefore, with multiple configurations of engine heads being produced by engine component manufacturers, there exists a need for a single system that can be used to accomplish mounting of the injectors on at least two different configurations of engine heads.
In an aspect of the present disclosure, an injector clamp for clamping at least two injectors to an engine head includes a body having at least a first arm and a second arm. Each arm having a first clamping surface and a second clamping surface on opposing sides of the body. A distance between the first clamping surfaces of the first arm and the second arm is different from a distance between the second clamping surfaces of the first arm and the second arm. The body is configurable, for use, in one of: a first position in which the first clamping surfaces from each of the first and second arms can abut with an injector; and a second position in which the second clamping surfaces from each of the first and second arms can abut with an injector.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, an injector clamp for clamping at least two injectors to an engine head includes a body having at least a first arm and a second arm. Each arm has a first clamping surface and a second clamping surface on opposing sides of the body. The body further defines a first bolting area disposed between the second clamping surfaces of the first arm and the second arm; and a second bolting area disposed between the first clamping surfaces of the first arm and the second arm. A height of the body measured between the first bolting area and the pair of second clamping surfaces is different from a height of the body measured between the second bolting area and the pair of first clamping surfaces.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a reversible injector clamp assembly for mounting at least a pair of injectors on one of two different configurations of engine heads is provided. The reversible injector clamp assembly includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a pair of arms. Each arm carries a pair of appendages that are laterally spaced apart in relation to one another. Each appendage includes an upper portion and a lower portion respectively. The body defines a first clamping surface in the lower portion of each appendage. The first clamping surfaces from the pair of arms are spaced apart from one another at a first distance. The body further defines a second clamping surface defined in the upper portion of each appendage. The second clamping surfaces from the pair of arms are spaced apart from one another at a second distance that is lesser than the first distance.
Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to same or like parts. Moreover, references to various elements described herein are made collectively or individually when there may be more than one element of the same type. However, such references are merely exemplary in nature. It may be noted that any reference to elements in the singular may also be construed to relate to the plural and vice-versa without limiting the scope of the disclosure to the exact number or type of such elements unless set forth explicitly in the appended claims.
In an embodiment as shown in
Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment of
Although in an embodiment herein, the first and second clamping surfaces 108, 110 are located in the upper and lower portions 128, 130 of the appendages 116, 118, 120, 122, it may be noted that in other embodiments of this disclosure, the appendages 116, 118, 120, 122 may altogether be omitted, while the first and second clamping surfaces 108, 110 may be located directly on the arms, Therefore, specific configurations of the arms and a location of the first and second clamping surfaces 108, 110 may be contemplated by persons skilled in the art depending on specific requirements of an application without deviating from the spirit of the present disclosure.
Referring to
With such difference between distances D1 and D2, the body 102 of the injector clamp assembly 100 is configurable, for use, in one of: a first position P1 and a second position P2. Referring to
The second position P2 disclosed herein can be obtained by rotating the body 102, clockwise or counter-clockwise (viewing from L.H.S or R.H.S of the body 102), about longitudinal axis AA′ such that one of the opposing sides 112/114 is disposed above another of the opposing sides 112/114, in this case—upon rotation about axis AA′, side 114 would be disposed above side 112. When positioned in the second position P2, the body 102 can facilitate the second clamping surfaces 110 from each of the first and second arm 104, 106 to abut with an injector 126, as shown in
In another embodiment of this disclosure, the body 102 further includes a first bolting area 132, and a second bolting area 134 as shown in
Moreover, as shown in
As shown in
Additionally or optionally, as shown in
Additionally or optionally, in embodiments of the present disclosure, the injector clamp assembly 100 may beneficially include at least a pair of indelible markings 148, 150 formed on the opposing sides 112, 114 of the body 102 as best shown in
Each of the indelible markings 148, 150 is visually indicative of the body 102 being positioned in one of the first position P1 and the second position P2. For example, as shown in
Although it is disclosed herein that the indelible markings 148, 480 are implemented on opposing sides 112, 114 of the body 102 using protrusions, in alternative embodiments, the indelible markings 148, 150 can be implemented by way of, for e.g., indelible paint of two different colors; or can be characterized with for e.g., unique sets of names/part numbers/product codes of engine heads 600/800 to which the injectors 126 may be mounted. Such characterizations can be embossed or inscribed on the opposing sides 112, 114 of the body 102 to visually indicate the position of the body 102 relative to the given engine head 600/800.
It is hereby envisioned that the reversibility feature of the body 102 disclosed herein could be beneficially implemented with one or more “poky yoke” features. For purposes of the present disclosure, “poka-yoke” features disclosed herein can be regarded as being inclusive of features such as, but not limited to, the distances D1 and D2 being different from one another, the heights H1 and H2 of the body 102 being different. Such “poka-yoke” features when incorporated on the body 102 can help prevent assembly personnel and technicians from incorrectly positioning the body 102 when installing the fuel injectors 126 to a given engine head. Additionally, the unique sets of indelible markings 148, 150 formed on opposing sides 112, 114 of the body 102 can further assist assembly personnel or technicians in quickly and easily ascertaining the correct positioning of the body 102 i.e., first position P1 or second position P2 depending on the configuration of a given engine head for e.g., engine head 600 with the first configuration as shown in
With implementation of embodiments disclosed herein, it is seen that the fuel injectors 126 from
Also, with implementation of another embodiment as shown in
It is hereby contemplated that if the body 102 is incorrectly positioned in relation to a given engine head, for e.g., a second position P2 of the body 102 in place of first position P1 for the engine head 600 with first configuration as shown in
In another example of incorrect positioning of the body 102 as shown in
This way, the different distances D1 and D2 and/or the different heights H1 and H2 disclosed herein can beneficially account for different cylinder spacing and/or the equal or unequal lengths L1, L2 of the threaded receptacles 602, 802 on the pair of respective engine heads 600, 800 and therefore, implement the “poky yoke” feature in components of the injector clamp assembly 100. Thus, the “poka-yoke” features can help prevent assembly personnel or technicians from inadvertently positioning the body 102 into an incorrect position i.e., first position P1 in place of second position P2 and vice-versa when installing fuel injectors 126 onto an engine head 600/800 with a given configuration.
It should be noted that in various embodiments disclosed herein, dimensions of the injector clamp assembly 100 can be enlarged, diminished, or modified relative to one another to suit specific requirements of an application. Such requirements may include for e.g., increased stiffness to provide added down-force when clamping the injectors to the engine head 600/800, adherence of the injector clamp assembly 100 to limitations of space-constraint, but is not limited thereto. In another example, a length of the elongated stud 138 may be made longer or shorter depending on the length L1/L2 of the threaded receptacles 602/802. Persons skilled in the art will acknowledge that various design modifications may be contemplated and implemented on the injector clamp assembly 100 to meet various requirements of an application without deviating from the spirit of the present disclosure.
Various embodiments disclosed herein are to be taken in the illustrative and explanatory sense, and should in no way be construed as limiting of the present disclosure. All joinder references (e.g., attached, affixed, associated, coupled, engaged, connected, locked, and the like) are only used to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and may not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the systems and/or methods disclosed herein. Therefore, joinder references, if any, are to be construed broadly. Moreover, such joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected to each other.
Additionally, all numerical terms, such as, but not limited to, “first”, “second”, “third”, “primary”, “secondary” or any other ordinary and/or numerical terms, should also be taken only as identifiers, to assist the reader's understanding of the various elements, embodiments, variations and/or modifications of the present disclosure, and may not create any limitations, particularly as to the order, or preference, of any element, embodiment, variation and/or modification relative to, or over, another element, embodiment, variation and/or modification.
It is to be understood that individual features shown or described for one embodiment may be combined with individual features shown or described for another embodiment. The above described implementation does not in any way limit the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, it is to be understood although some features are shown or described to illustrate the use of the present disclosure in the context of functional segments, such features may be omitted from the scope of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.
Embodiments of the present disclosure have applicability for use and implementation in manufacturing injector 126 clamp assemblies that can be used to mount fuel injectors onto different configurations of engine heads.
With implementation of the present disclosure, manufacturers of engine components can beneficially produce a single injector clamp assembly for a pair of engine heads, each of the engine heads having a different configuration from the other. Therefore, with use of embodiments disclosed herein, manufacturers can reduce time and effort required to produce unique injector clamps for different engine head configurations. Moreover, manufacturers could use a single production line to produce the injector clamp assembly 100 disclosed herein for mounting injectors 126 onto one of two different engine head configurations 600/800. Therefore, manufacturers of engine components can also significantly offset costs for e.g., tooling and/or equipment costs, labor costs, and the like typically associated with producing unique injector clamps for different engine head configurations.
While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems, methods and processes without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1600984.7 | Jan 2016 | GB | national |