Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – Fuel injection system
Patent
1984-07-19
1990-02-20
Argenbright, Tony M.
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
Fuel injection system
F02M 6114, F16B 2110
Patent
active
049017004
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to clamps for fastening fuel injectors to the cylinder heads of internal combustion engines.
Fuel injector clamps are proposed in British Patent No. 1549740 comprising a short length of pipe that is deformed into an oval shape so that the side walls on the minor axis of the clamp enclose flats on opposite sides of the injector body and engage bearing shoulders adjacent these flats. Two fixing bolts are inserted through the oval one at each end so as to engage the respective end portion of the clamp, thereby to fasten the injector in place in the correct orientation as determined by the flats. Further, in order to accommodate uneven tightening of the two bolts, the lower edges of the side walls of the clamp are inclined downwards from the ends towards the minor axis so as to form a point of contact with the bearing shoulders about which the clamp can tilt during tightening.
The manufacture of fuel injector clamps from pipe stock offers a substantial reduction in production costs as compared with the conventional manufacturing techniques involving forging or pressing steel plate. However, the proposed design suffers from potential weaknesses that may lead to loosening of the clamp or spreading apart of the side walls and consequent failure of the fastening. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved design that reduces or overcomes these disadvantages.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect, the invention consists in a fuel injector clamp in the form of a generally oval-shaped ring manufactured from pipe so that the side walls on the minor axis enclose flats on opposite sides of the injector body and the end walls on the major axis each encircle a respective fixing bolt over more than 180 degrees of the circumference of the bolt. Preferably, the side walls adjacent each end are pinched inwards towards one another, but are not fully brought together. Encirclement of the fixing bolts in this way serves to increase the contact area between the bolts and clamp to ensure improved clamping, and also produces an inherent resistance to spreading of the side walls.
According to another aspect, the invention consists in a fuel injector clamp in the form of a generally oval-shaped ring manufactured from pipe so that the side walls on the minor axis enclose flats on opposite sides of the injector body and the end walls on the major axis each surround a respective bolt, the lower edges of the side walls each being formed with a pair of indentations so that the portion therebetween is arcuate and forms a point of contact with a respective bearing shoulder on the injector body. Preferably, these indentations are formed by deformation of the edges of the side wall so as to avoid machining. Thus a tiltable clamp can be provided in a simple manner from a uniform width of pipe without involving any material waste such as would occur in forming inclined edges or projections on the lower edges of the side walls.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an axial section of a clamp according to the invention used to secure a fuel injector in place on the cylinder head of a diesel engine;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the clamp of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the clamp of FIGS. 1 and 2, and
FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternative clamp according to the invention.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The fuel injector shown in FIG. 1 comprises an injector body 1 having an upper end provided with a fuel connector 2 and a lower end to which a fuel nozzle 3 is secured by means of a nut 4. A pair of parallel flats 5 are formed on the side of the body 1 and terminate in bearing shoulders 6 at their lower ends. A clamp 7 engages the flats 5 and bearing shoulders 6 and is secured to the engine cylinder head 8 by a pair of bolts 9 to clamp the injector in place in the cylinder head 8.
The clamp 7 is made from a short length of pipe that is flattened into a
REFERENCES:
patent: 4133321 (1979-01-01), Hofmann et al.
patent: 4246877 (1981-01-01), Kennedy
Knight Michael
Moore Ronald G.
Argenbright Tony M.
Perkins Engines Group Limited
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