1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an improved fuel injection nozzle for an internal combustion engine and more particularly to such a nozzle having two coaxial nozzle needles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
From German Patent Disclosure DE 40 23 223 A1, a fuel injection nozzle with two nozzle needles disposed coaxially to one another is known. One common nozzle needle seat for both nozzle needles is provided in the valve body surrounding the nozzle needles. Consequently, both when the first nozzle needle is opened and when the second nozzle needle is opened, fuel is injected into the combustion chamber at an angle of 60°, for instance, to the longitudinal axis of the fuel injection nozzle. These injection angles are necessary, in the so-called heterogeneous operating mode of the engine.
In some load states of the engine, however, it is advantageous if the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the fuel injection nozzle (homogeneous mode).
In International Patent Disclosure WO 02/18775, the distinction between the aforementioned homogeneous mode and the heterogeneous mode of an internal combustion engine is explained in detail. This explanation is hereby incorporated by reference.
In a fuel injection nozzle for an internal combustion engine, having a nozzle body protruding into the combustion chamber, having two coaxial spring-loaded nozzle needles, the outer nozzle needle being guided in the nozzle body, having a first nozzle needle seat in the nozzle body for the outer nozzle needle and having a second nozzle needle seat for the inner nozzle needle, the inner nozzle needle is guided in the outer nozzle needle, and the first nozzle needle seat is disposed in the outer nozzle needle, it can be attained that injections can be accomplished both in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the fuel injection nozzle and at a virtually arbitrary angle to this longitudinal axis into the combustion chamber. As a result, the operating performance of the engine can be further optimized, which is advantageous especially in terms of noise and emissions from the engine.
In a variant of the fuel injection nozzle of the invention, it is provided that a first pressure chamber, cooperating with a pressure shoulder of the inner nozzle needle, is embodied in the outer nozzle needle, and that the first pressure chamber is acted upon, at least indirectly, with the pressure of a common rail via a supply bore in the outer nozzle needle.
It can furthermore be provided that the inner nozzle needle, with its end remote from the combustion chamber, defines a first control chamber, present in the outer nozzle needle, and that a closure element cooperating with the outer nozzle needle defines the first control chamber on the other end. In these embodiments, a structure of the fuel injection nozzle of the invention that is simpler in terms of production is made possible.
Alternatively, the diameter of the inner nozzle needle, on its end remote from the combustion chamber, can be greater than the diameter of the first pressure shoulder of the inner nozzle needle, or a closing spring which is braced on one end on the inner nozzle needle and on the other on the closure element can be present in the first control chamber. By means of these alternatives, which can also be combined with one another, the closure of the inner nozzle needle is assured hydraulically in one case and in the other by the prestressing of the closing spring.
Other variants of the fuel injection nozzle of the invention provide that the first control chamber is supplied with fuel from the common rail via a first inlet throttle, that the first control chamber communicates hydraulically with a fuel return via a first outlet throttle and via a first multi-way valve, in particular a 2/2-way valve, and the first inlet throttle can be disposed in the closure element or in the outer nozzle needle, and the first outlet throttle is disposed in the closure element. A common feature of all these variant embodiments is their ease of production, and because of the resultant high precision of production, a favorable operating performance of the fuel injection nozzle.
In a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the outer nozzle needle, with its end remote from the combustion chamber, defines a second control chamber, present in the nozzle body, on one end, and that the closure element defines the second control chamber on the other end. As a result, the number of components required is kept small, and simple production of the fuel injection nozzle of the invention is made possible.
In a further feature of this variant embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the second control chamber is supplied with fuel from the common rail via a second inlet throttle, and that the second control chamber communicates hydraulically with the fuel return via a second outlet throttle and via a second multi-way valve, in particular a 2/2-way valve.
Alternatively, the second control chamber can be supplied with fuel from the common rail via the supply bore, the first control chamber, and the second inlet throttle; in that case the second control chamber communicates hydraulically with the fuel return via a second outlet throttle and a second multi-way valve, in particular a 2/2-way valve, and the first pressure chamber can be acted upon by a pressure which is greater than the pressure in the common rail. This design of the fuel injection nozzle of the invention assures that the pressure required in the common rail need not be as high as the desired maximum injection pressure, and moreover the injection pressure is not applied permanently but instead only during the injection in the fuel injection nozzle.
To raise the pressure in the common rail to the desired injection pressure, between the common rail and the first pressure chamber a hydraulic pressure booster can be provided, whose low-pressure connection communicates hydraulically with the common rail and whose high-pressure connection communicates hydraulically with the first pressure chamber, and whose pressure in a diversion chamber can be made to communicate, via a 3/2-way valve, with either the common rail or the fuel return. By means of this pressure booster, the pressure can be raised in a simple, time-tested way, and the control of both the onset and duration of injection is accomplished by a suitable triggering of the 3/2-way valve.
To supply the high-pressure side of the pressure booster and thus also the fuel injection nozzle of the invention with fuel, between the common rail and the high-pressure chamber of the pressure booster, a hydraulic communication with a check valve can be provided.
A further advantageous feature of the invention provides that the second inlet throttle is disposed in the closure element, so that the adaptation of the inlet throttles and outlet throttles of the fuel injection nozzle of the invention can be done directly in the production of the closure element. Also by this means, the production of the fuel injection nozzle of the invention and its operating performance can be improved in a simple way. The deviations in operating performance of the fuel injection nozzles in large-scale mass production can also be lessened.
According to the invention, the multi-way valves can be actuated by an electromagnet or a piezoelectric actuator.
The invention will be better understood and further objects and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the ensuing detailed description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
a, 4b, 4c and 4d show enlarged views of the injection ports of exemplary embodiments of fuel injection nozzles of the invention; and
In
The fuel injection nozzle 1 is supplied with fuel that is at high pressure by a common rail 114 via a high-pressure fuel line 13. The control and leakage quantities are carried away via a fuel return 15.
As can be seen from
D3≧D2, and D1≦D2.
If D3=D2, a closing spring is required.
On its end toward the combustion chamber, the inner nozzle needle 7 has a first diameter D1, which merges with a pointed tip 19. In the closed state, the tip 19 of the inner nozzle needle 7 rests on a first nozzle needle seat 21, which is present on the end of the stepped center bore 17 of the outer nozzle needle 5.
Between the first diameter D1 and the second diameter D2, a pressure shoulder 23 is embodied on the inner nozzle needle 7. This first pressure shoulder 23 defines a first pressure chamber 25, formed by the stepped center bore 17 of the outer nozzle needle 5. The first pressure chamber 25 is supplied with fuel from the common rail 114 via a supply bore 27 in the outer nozzle needle 5 and the high-pressure line 13.
With its second diameter D2, the inner nozzle needle 7 is guided sealingly in the stepped center bore 17 of the outer nozzle needle 5.
On its end 29 remote from the combustion chamber, the inner nozzle needle 7 has a third diameter D3, which is greater than the second diameter D2, and defines a first control chamber 31. The inner nozzle needle 7 is also guided sealingly with its third diameter D3 in the stepped center bore 17 of the outer nozzle needle 5.
On the end opposite from the end 29 of the inner nozzle needle 7, the first control chamber 31 is defined by the closure element 11. The closure element 11 is placed, likewise sealingly, in the stepped center bore 17 of the outer nozzle needle 5. The inner nozzle needle 7 can move relative to the closure element 11 and to the outer nozzle needle 5.
The first control chamber 31 communicates hydraulically with the common rail 114 via the high-pressure line 13, in which there is a first inlet throttle 33. Via a first outlet throttle 35 and a first 2/2-way valve 37, the first control chamber can be made to communicate hydraulically with the fuel return 15.
The actuation of the inner nozzle needle 7 by triggering of the first 2/2-way valve 37 is accomplished as follows: If the inner nozzle needle 7 is to lift from the first nozzle needle seat 21 in order to trip an injection, the first 2/2-way valve 37 is opened, causing the pressure in the first control chamber 31 to drop, and as a result of the hydraulic force acting essentially on the first pressure shoulder 23, the inner nozzle needle 7 lifts from the first nozzle needle seat 21. As a consequence, fuel is injected into the combustion chamber through the first injection ports 39 disposed in the outer nozzle needle 5. As soon as the first 2/2-way valve 37 is closed again, the pressure in the first control chamber 31 rises again, and the hydraulic force acting on the end 29 of the inner nozzle needle 7 remote from the combustion chamber moves the inner nozzle needle 7 back against the first nozzle needle seat 21, counter to the hydraulic force acting on the pressure shoulder 23.
The outer nozzle needle 5 is guided sealingly with its diameters D4 and D5 in a stepped center bore 41 of the nozzle body 3. The stepped center bore 41, together with a second pressure shoulder 43 of the outer nozzle needle 5, defines a second pressure chamber 45.
With its end 47 remote from the combustion chamber, the outer nozzle needle 5 together with the closure element 11 and the stepped center bore 41 defines a second control chamber 49. Via a second inlet throttle 51, the second control chamber 49 communicates hydraulically with the common rail 114.
Via a second outlet throttle 53 and a second 2/2-way valve 55, the second control chamber 49 can be made to communicate with the fuel return 15. The second inlet throttle 51 and the second outlet throttle 53 are disposed in the closure element 11.
When the outer nozzle needle 5 is to lift from its seat in the nozzle body 3, the second 2/2-way valve 55 is opened, so that the pressure in the second control chamber 49 drops, and the hydraulic force acting on the second pressure shoulder 43 lifts the outer nozzle needle 5 from its seat, not shown, in the nozzle body 3. Once the nozzle needle 5 has lifted from its seat, not shown, in the nozzle body 3, fuel can be injected into the combustion chamber through second injection ports 40 shown in FIG. 4. In a first approximation, the fuel is injected in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the fuel injection nozzle 1.
As soon as the second 2/2-way valve 55 is closed again, a pressure increase occurs in the second control chamber 49, so that the outer nozzle needle 5 is pressed back onto its nozzle needle seat.
In dimensioning the fuel nozzle 1 of the invention, care must be taken to provide that the annular surface area on the end 47 of the outer nozzle needle 5 that is defined by the diameters D5 and D3 is greater than the area of the second pressure shoulder 43, so that for the same pressure in the second pressure chamber 45 and the second control chamber 49, a resultant hydraulic force occurs which presses the outer nozzle needle 5 against its sealing seat in the nozzle body 3.
The second injection ports 40, not shown in
If the fuel is to be injected laterally into the combustion chamber, not shown, the inner nozzle needle 7 is opened. It is also possible to open the inner nozzle needle 7 first and, with the inner nozzle needle 7 open, also to lift the outer nozzle needle 5 from its nozzle needle seat, so that a large fuel quantity is injected into the combustion chamber within a very brief time.
In
Between the high-pressure line 13 and the first pressure chamber 25, in this exemplary embodiment, a hydraulic pressure booster 57 is provided. The pressure booster 57 essentially comprises a stepped piston 59, which on one side defines a low-pressure chamber 61 and on the other a high-pressure chamber 63. The low-pressure chamber 61 communicates hydraulically with the common rail 114 via the high-pressure line 13. Via a line 65, which extends through the closure element 11, the nozzle body 3, and the outer nozzle needle 5, the high-pressure chamber 63 communicates with the first pressure chamber 25. The high-pressure chamber 63 is filled via a check valve 67, which is disposed between the high-pressure line 13 and the high-pressure chamber 63. A diversion chamber 69 of the pressure booster 57 communicates hydraulically with either the common rail 114 or the fuel return 15 via a 3/2-way valve 71. In the diversion chamber 69, a closing spring 74 is provided, which moves the stepped piston 59 upward in the switching position of the 3/2-way valve 71 shown in
In the second exemplary embodiment, shown in
In this exemplary embodiment, the inner nozzle needle 7 has only two diameters (D1 and D2). The closing force is brought to bear, as already noted, by the closing spring 73. This conception can also be employed in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.
In this exemplary embodiment, the second control chamber 49 is supplied with fuel via a second inlet throttle 51, and the second inlet throttle 51 establishes a hydraulic communication between the first control chamber 31 and the second control chamber 49. In this exemplary embodiment, the closure element 11 is embodied in two parts. This is indicated in
The outer nozzle needle 5 is opened by opening the second 2/2-way valve 55, causing a pressure reduction in the second control chamber 49 via the second outlet throttle 53. As soon as the hydraulic force acting on the second pressure shoulder 43 is greater than the hydraulic force exerted on the outer nozzle needle 5 by the second control chamber 49, the outer nozzle needle 5 lifts from its nozzle needle seat in the nozzle body 3 and makes an injection possible.
In the high-pressure line 13, a combined check valve with a parallel-connected throttle, the latter two elements being identified overall by reference numeral 75, is provided in order to reduce pressure fluctuations in the common rail 114 and in the fuel injection nozzle 1.
In
In a distinction from the exemplary embodiment of
The first outlet throttle 35 communicates with the diversion chamber 69 of the pressure booster 57 via a line 77. This means that as soon as the 3/2-way valve 71 establishes a hydraulic communication of the fuel return 15 and the diversion chamber 69, the pressure in the first control chamber 31 also drops, and the inner nozzle needle 7 can thus open. In this exemplary embodiment, the second inlet throttle 51 is disposed in the closure element 11, between the high-pressure line 13 and the second control chamber 49. The second outlet throttle 53 is also disposed in the closure element 11a.
In
In the exemplary embodiment of
In the exemplary embodiment of
In the exemplary embodiment of
In the exemplary embodiment of
Referring now to
The foregoing relates to preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, it being understood that other variants and embodiments thereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, the latter being defined by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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103 00 045 | Jan 2003 | DE | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1834061 | Joachim | Dec 1931 | A |
4202500 | Keiczek | May 1980 | A |
4205790 | Keiczek | Jun 1980 | A |
5458292 | Hapeman | Oct 1995 | A |
5771865 | Ishida | Jun 1998 | A |
6725841 | Boecking | Apr 2004 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
415 417 | Jun 1925 | DE |
1 035 332 | Sep 2000 | EP |
WO 0218775 | Mar 2002 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040134465 A1 | Jul 2004 | US |