The present disclosure relates to a fuel injector, and more specifically to a mounting point fuel injector clip.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
A typical vehicle combustion engine includes a plurality of fuel injectors, each of which sprays pressurized fuel from a fuel injector rail into a cylinder head of the engine. Each fuel injector is connected to the fuel injector rail with, in part, a fuel cup. A mounting clip engaging both the fuel injector and the fuel cup restricts relative movement between the fuel injector and the fuel cup. While current mounting clips are suitable for their intended use, they are subject to improvement, such as to enhance connection of the mounting clip to the fuel cup.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
The present teachings provide for a fuel injector mounting assembly including a mounting clip. The mounting clip includes a frame, a first leg, a second leg, a first arm, and a second arm. The frame includes a first side, a second side, and a generally planar surface extending between the first side and the second side. The first leg extends from the first side of the frame generally perpendicular to the planar surface. The second leg extends from the second side of the frame generally perpendicular to the planar surface. The first arm extends from the first side of the frame. The first arm includes a fuel cup support portion aligned with the first leg and extending in generally the same direction as the first leg, a raised surface of the fuel cup support portion configured to cooperate with the fuel cup, and a flange at an end of the fuel cup support portion, the flange extending away from the first leg. The second arm extends from the second side of the frame and is at least substantially similar to the first arm.
The present teachings further provide for a fuel injector mounting assembly including a mounting clip and a fuel cup. The mounting clip includes a frame, first and second legs, first and second arms, first and second flanges, and a head. The first leg and the second leg extend from opposite sides of the frame at a base of the frame. The first arm and the second arm extend from opposite sides of the frame, the first arm is generally aligned with the first leg and the second arm is generally aligned with the second leg. The first flange extends from a first end of the first arm and away from the first leg. The second flange extends from a second end of the second arm and away from the second leg. The head is between the first arm and the second arm. The fuel cup includes a column and defines first, second, and third indentations. The first indentation is configured to accommodate the first flange, the second indentation is configured to accommodate the second flange, and the third indentation is configured to accommodate the head.
The present teachings also provide for a fuel injector mounting assembly including a fuel injector, a fuel cup, and a mounting clip. The mounting clip includes a first arm, a second arm, a first leg, a second leg, and a head. The fuel cup is in cooperation with an inlet of the fuel injector. The first leg and the second leg are coupled to the fuel injector. The first arm of the mounting clip includes a first flange extending within a first indentation of the fuel cup. The second arm of the mounting clip includes a second flange extending within a second indentation of the fuel cup. The head of the mounting clip extends within a third indentation of the fuel cup.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
With initial reference to
With additional reference to
With continued reference to
With continued reference to
With renewed reference to
With continued reference to
With additional reference to
The frame 122 is generally planar and includes a first end 130, a second end or base end 132 that is opposite to the first end 130, a first side 134, and a second side 136 that is opposite to the first side 134. The head 124 is connected to the frame 122 with a neck portion 138, which is between the two arms 128A and 128B. The frame 122 and the head 124 each generally extend in parallel, spaced apart planes. The neck portion 138 is angled with respect to the frame 122 and the head 124, and thus extends at an angle not parallel to either the frame 122 or the head 124. The head 124 is therefore offset from the frame 122 at a side of the frame 122 opposite to the legs 126A/126B and the arms 128A/128B.
The first leg 126A extends from the first side 134 of the frame 122 and the second leg 126A extends from the second side 136. The first and the second legs 126A/126B are angled slightly towards each other. The first and the second legs 126A and 126B each include a first curved portion 140A and a second curved portion 140B respectively at ends thereof. The first curved portion 140A defines a first protruding surface 142A and the second curved portion 140B defines a second protruding surface 142B. The first protruding surface 142A and the second protruding surface 142B extend towards one another.
The first arm 128A and the second arm 128B extend from the first end 130 of the frame 122 at opposite sides of the neck portion 138. Both the first arm 128A and the second arm 128B extend upward and away from the first and the second legs 126A and 126B respectively. The first arm 128A is connected to the frame 122 with a first curved base portion 144A and the second arm 128B is connected to the frame 122 with a second curved base portion 144B. A first planar mid portion 146A and a second planar mid portion 146B, which may be curved rather than planar, extend from the first curved base portion 144A and the second curved base portion 144B respectively. Extending from the first planar mid portion 146A is a first hook portion 148A and extending from the second planar mid portion 146B is a second hook portion 148B. Thus, the first planar mid portion 146A is between the first curved base portion 144A and the first hook portion 148A, and the second planar mid portion 146B is between the second curved base portion 144B and the second hook portion 148B.
The first and the second hook portions 148A and 148B include first and second protruding or raised surfaces 150A and 150B respectively. Extending from the first raised surface 150A is a first curved portion 152A. Similarly, extending from the second raised surface 150B is a second curved portion 152B. A first upright flange 154A extends from the first curved portion 152A, and a second upright flange 154B extends from the second curved portion 152B. The first and the second upright flanges 154A and 154B extend upward and away from the first and the second legs 126A and 126B. The first and the second upright flanges 154A and 154B can extend perpendicular to the legs 126A and 126B and parallel to the head 124, or at an angle away from the head 124 as illustrated.
When the fuel injector mounting assembly 26 is assembled, the fuel injector 20 is seated within the injector cradle 30 such that the body portion 94 of the fuel injector 20 is within the cylindrical base 102 of the injector cradle 30, and the nozzle 98 of the fuel injector 20 extends from the cylindrical base 102, as illustrated in
The mounting clip 120 mates with the fuel cup 34, as illustrated in various figures, including FIGS. 3 and 11-13.
With additional reference to
The second arm 128B similarly only contacts the lower surface 64 of the rim 60 at the second raised surface 150B and is substantially similar to, or identical to, the first arm 128A. Cooperation between the second arm 128B and the second indentation 70B is substantially similar to cooperation between the first arm 128A and the first indentation 70A. The first and the second arms 128A and 128B exert upward pressure on the fuel cup 34 and the mounting clip 120 exerts reaction force downward against the ledge 78, which pushes downward on the fuel injector 20 to ensure that the fuel injector 20 is securely seated, particularly when the injector cradle 30 is not used. The forces exerted by the mounting clip 120 provide a tight press fit across the fuel injector mounting assembly 26 and reduce or eliminate undesired movement.
With reference to
The fuel cup 34 can be connected to the fuel injector rail 18 in any suitable manner, such as by brazing or welding, for example. The connective inlet assembly 28 thus provides a conduit for fuel traveling from fuel injector rail 18 to fuel injector 20, and into engine 12.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
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Number | Date | Country |
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1892408 | Oct 2009 | EP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20130192565 A1 | Aug 2013 | US |