Valves and valve actuation – Mechanical movement actuator – Plural dissimilar mechanical movements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-23
2001-02-13
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Valves and valve actuation
Mechanical movement actuator
Plural dissimilar mechanical movements
C251S129200, C251S251000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186474
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to an injection valve for an internal combustion engine. The injection valve has a housing in which an actuator is disposed and guided in a given direction of movement. The actuator is operatively connected to the controlling element.
Injection valves with piezoelectric actuators are used, for example, in motor vehicle technology. The actuator thereby bears directly on a controlling element. As a result, however, tilting of the actuator is transmitted directly to the transmission element. Moreover, any unevenness of the plane surfaces of the controlling element and of the actuator which rest against one another causes the actuator and the controlling element to be subjected to load on one side, with the result that the transmission of the deflection is impaired and the uneven point is subject to increased wear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an injection valve with a compensating surface, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which is subject to improved force transmission between the actuator and the controlling element and which compensates for maladjustment or unevenness between the actuator and the controlling element.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an injection valve of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a housing;
an actuator disposed in the housing and movably guided in the housing along a given direction of movement; and
a controlling element moveably guided along a given direction of movement and being operatively connected to the actuator via at least one curved surface.
In other words, the objects of the invention are satisfied in that the actuator and the controlling element are operatively connected to one another via a curved compensating surface which compensates for any maladjustment of the actuator or of the controlling element.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, a compensating element is moveably disposed in the housing between the controlling element and the actuator, the actuator and the controlling element bearing against the compensating element and the compensating element being formed with the at least one curved surface;
the compensating element, in a region bearing against one of the actuator and the controlling element, having a curvature inclined to the respective actuator or controlling element, such that a bearing point at which the compensating element bears against the one of the actuator and the controlling element is fixed exactly and is scarcely displaced upon a tilting of the one of the actuator and the controlling element.
The compensating element between the actuator and the controlling element provides for an advantageous development of the invention. The compensating element, in the region in which the actuator bears on the compensating element, has a positive curvature which is curved toward the actuator. The positive curvature of the compensating element ensures that the predetermined bearing point is maintained even when the actuator is offset and/or inclined relative to the predetermined position. The optimum transmission direction is therefore maintained even when the actuator is maladjusted. Increased wear is also avoided.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, a transmission element is disposed between the compensating element and the controlling element;
the transmission element bearing against the housing at a first bearing point, against the controlling element at a second bearing point, and against the compensating element at a third bearing point; and
the compensating element having a substantially plane surface at the third bearing point and the curved surface facing towards the actuator.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, there are provided two substantially identical transmission elements (a first transmission element and a second transmission element). The second transmission element is disposed between the compensating element and the controlling element and, together with the first transmission element, symmetrically to a center axis of symmetry of the assembly.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the first transmission element bears against the controlling element at the first bearing point and the second transmission element bears against the controlling element at the second bearing point, and wherein the first and second bearing points are equidistant from the center axis of symmetry.
In accordance with again an added feature of the invention, the compensating element is guided laterally in the direction of movement of the actuator by the housing.
In accordance with again an additional feature of the invention, the compensating element is formed as a part-sphere.
In accordance with again another feature of the invention, the first bearing point and the second bearing point are disposed approximately on a common plane, and the third bearing point is located between the first and second bearing points, as seen projected onto the common plane.
In accordance with again a further feature of the invention, the compensating element is guided in the housing in the direction of movement of the actuator, the compensating element is a cylindrical body having a top side defining a part-spherical surface and a substantially planar underside, the actuator has a substantially planar surface bearing against the part-spherical surface, and the controlling element bears against the substantially planar underside of the compensating element.
In accordance with yet again a further feature of the invention, the actuator is formed with a curved surface towards the controlling element, or the controlling element is formed with a curved surface towards the actuator.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the compensating element is moveably disposed in the housing between the controlling element and the actuator; the actuator and the controlling element bear against the compensating element; and the compensating element, at least in a region wherein the actuator or the controlling element bears against the compensating element, is formed with a curved surface inclined towards the actuator or the controlling element, so that a respective bearing point is fixed exactly and is scarcely displaced upon a tilting of the actuator or the controlling element.
The transmission element between the compensating element and the controlling element leads to several advantageous effects. For example, the deflection of the actuator is preferably increased by means of the transmission element. If a plurality of transmission elements are used, different overall heights of the transmission elements are compensated for in an advantageous way by the compensating element. Consequently, in spite of the different overall height of the transmission elements, low-wear operation becomes possible, since both transmission elements are loaded with an identical force.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an injection valve with a compensating surface, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2563868 (1951-08-01), Reichard
patent: 4071047 (1978-01-01), Greene
patent: 4101076 (1978-07-01), Bart
patent: 4352483 (1982-10-01), Iacoponi
patent: 4508142 (1985-04-01), Eburn, Jr. et
Fitzner Johannes
Rink Jurgen
Greenberg Laurence A.
Keasel Eric
Lerner Herbert L.
Shaver Kevin
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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