This invention relates to a fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine, and more particularly, to an integrated carrier having a fuel injector assembly, fuel rail, wiring harness and connector which may be assembled to a motor vehicle intake manifold.
An air intake manifold distributes air to cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The manifold is typically mounted to a cylinder head of the engine. The manifold is in close proximity to various electrical components of the engine such as fuel injectors, electric throttle body, throttle position sensors and air and temperature sensors.
A conventional fuel injection system includes a plurality of fuel injectors mounted to an intake manifold. Fuel is supplied to each fuel injector through a fuel rail. Each fuel injector is selectively actuated to meter a desired amount of fuel into a combustion chamber. Electric signals for controlling the fuel injectors are typically communicated through a conventional wire harness. Such harnesses include a main connector that is attached to a controller and a plurality of wires that are routed to individual fuel injectors. Conventional wire harnesses are expensive to manufacture and assemble onto the vehicle engine. In addition, wire harnesses are bulky and subject to damage due to the hostile environment that exists within the vehicle engine compartment.
Conventional fuel injection systems include many components that must be assembled, which increases the likelihood of fuel permeating or leaking from the system. The fuel injectors may include an O-ring or other seal at opposing ends that are received in the fuel rail and intake manifold. For a six-cylinder engine, up to twelve seals may be needed solely for the fuel injectors.
Currently, there are very strict rules limiting the amount of hydrocarbons that may leak or permeate from a vehicle. Each connection between components presents a potential for leaking or permeation of fuel vapor. Furthermore, fuel injection systems are under relatively high pressures. As a result, there is an increased opportunity for fuel to leak or permeate past the seals. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an integrated assembly that reduces the number of connections that must be sealed and that incorporates several different functions such as sealing, electrical connectivity, and fuel delivery to provide for improved sealing and wiring protection along with decreased cost and assembly time.
A carrier for mounting to an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold port, a fuel injector and a cylinder head port extending from a cylinder head is disclosed. The carrier includes a central portion having an internal passageway for providing fuel to the fuel injector. An attachment portion extends from the central portion which is affixed between the cylinder head and the intake manifold ports. The carrier further includes a sleeve extending from the central portion for receiving the fuel injector, wherein the fuel injector is removably affixed to the cylinder head. In accordance with the present invention, the fuel injector, port seals, injector O-ring, wiring harness, connector and fuel rail are integrated into a single carrier to provide sealing, electrical connectivity, and fuel delivery functions.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an example of the principles of the invention and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of
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In accordance with the present invention, each fuel injector 18, port seals, injector O-ring 36, leadframes 38, connector 40 and channel 26 are integrated into a single carrier to provide a gasket having sealing, electrical connectivity, and fuel delivery functions to improve sealing and wiring protection along with decreasing costs and assembly time. The disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,502,552 and 6,622,700 and that of U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,410 filed May 13, 2003, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to provide further disclosure regarding fabrication of the carrier, fuel injector and wiring harness and other related items.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, permutations and variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/472,860 filed on May 23, 2003 in the name of Ki-Ho Lee and James Kenneth Vanderveen and entitled INTEGRATED GASKET CARRIER which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20040261770 A1 | Dec 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60472860 | May 2003 | US |