# US 10,480,469 B2 · Coupling device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,469 B2 - Document ID: US10480469B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/965,604 - Filed: 2013-08-13 - Published: 2014-02-13 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-13 - Assignees: Continental Automotive GmbH - Applicants: Continental Automotive GmbH - Inventors: Gisella Di Domizio; Massimo Giovannetti; Andrea Puccini; Giandomenico Serra - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480469B2 ## CPC - F02M 61/14: Arrangements of injectors with respect to engines; Mounting of injectors - F02M 55/005: {for high pressure conduits, e.g. connected to pump outlet or to injector inlet} - F02M 55/025: {Common rails} - F02M 2200/8061: involving press-fit, i.e. interference or friction fit - F02M 2200/8084: involving welding or soldering - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF ## Abstract A coupling device is provided for hydraulically and mechanically coupling a fuel injector to a fuel rail of a combustion engine, the coupling device including a fuel injector cup configured to be coupled to the fuel rail and to engage a fuel inlet portion of the fuel injector, the fuel injector cup including a first part including a recess and a second part configured to be received in the recess of the first part and configured to engage the fuel inlet portion of the fuel injector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel injector cup for hydraulically and mechanically coupling a fuel injector to a fuel rail of a combustion engine, the fuel injector cup comprising: a first part having a top end and a bottom end, the top end comprising a fuel inlet of the injector cup, the bottom end comprising a first recess, the first part further comprising two first bores for connecting a connector plate of the fuel injector to the fuel injector cup, and a second part including (a) a body portion received in the first recess of the first part and defining a second recess and (b) a flange portion extending outwardly from the second part body and comprising two second bores aligning with the two first bores of the first part when the second part is received in the recess of the first part, the second part configured to receive the fuel inlet portion of the fuel injector, wherein the second recess of the second part is located in the first recess of the first part such that the fuel inlet portion of the fuel injector received in the second recess of the second part is also located in the first recess of the first part, wherein the first part is a cast metal part, the second part is a machined, stamped, or deep-drawn metal part, and a press-fit or shrink-fit connection and/or a brazed connection between the first and second parts, and two threaded connectors, each extending through one of the first bores in the first part, one of the second bores in the second part, and an opening in the connector plate of the fuel injector to both (a) secure the second part to the first part and (b) secure the fuel injector to the first and second parts of the fuel injector cup. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A fuel injector cup according to claim 1, wherein the first part and the second part each comprise stainless steel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A fuel injector cup according to claim 1, wherein the second part is configured to seemingly interact with a sealing of a fuel injector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A fuel injector cup according to claim 1, wherein the second part provides a surface configured to interact with the fuel injector. ### Claim 5 A system comprising: a fuel injector cup configured to be coupled to a fuel rail and comprising: a first part having a top end and a bottom end, the top end comprising a fuel inlet of the injector cup, the bottom end comprising a recess, and a second part received in the recess of the first part, and when received in the first part, lining at least an entire wall of the recess and fitting flush into the recess, wherein the second part comprises a second material with a second porosity and the first part comprises a first material with a first porosity, wherein the first porosity defines void spaces having a size of about 80-120 μm and the second porosity is lower than the first porosity and defines void spaces having a size of about 5-10 μm and wherein the lower second porosity of the second part defines a smooth surface of the second part, and a fuel injector comprising a fuel inlet portion and a sealing portion, wherein the sealing portion engages the smooth surface of the second part of the fuel injector cup to provide a secure sealing between the fuel injector and the second part to hydraulically couple the fuel inlet portion of the fuel injector to the fuel injector cup. ### Claim 6 A method for assembling a coupling device for hydraulically and mechanically coupling a fuel injector to a fuel rail of a combustion engine, the method comprising: providing a first part having a top end and a bottom end, the top end comprising a fuel inlet of the injector cup, the bottom end having a recess, the first part further comprising two first bores for connecting a connector plate of the fuel injector to the fuel injector cup, providing a second part including (a) a body portion configured to be received in the recess of the bottom end of the first part, and (b) a flange portion extending outwardly from the second part body and defining a planar bottom surface configured for flush engagement with a planar surface of a connector plate for securing the fuel injector to the coupling device, wherein two second bores are formed in the planar bottom surface, the two second bores aligning with the two first bores of the first part when the second part is received in the recess of the first part, and inserting the second part in the recess of the first part so that the second part lines at least walls of the recess, wherein a porosity of the second part is lower than a porosity of the first part. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method according to claim 6, comprising forming each of the first and second parts from a metal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7, further comprising casting the first part and machining, stamping, or deep drawing the second part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A method according to claim 6, further comprising at least one circumferential groove on the first part at a contact interface between the first part and the second part. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) A method according to claim 6, further comprising through-holes in the first part. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, comprising heating the first part and the second part to join the first part and the second part. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10, comprising heating the first part and the second part to join the first part and the second part. ### Claim 13 A fuel injector cup for hydraulically and mechanically coupling a fuel injector to a fuel rail of a combustion engine, the fuel injector cup comprising: a first part having a top end and a bottom end, the top end comprising a fuel inlet of the injector cup, the bottom end comprising a recess, and a second part received in and lining at least walls of the recess, the second part configured to receive the fuel inlet portion of the fuel injector, wherein the first part comprises cast stainless steel, the second part comprises a machined, stamped, or deep-drawn stainless steel having a tubular shape with a flange, and a press-fit or shrink-fit connection and/or a brazed connection between the first and second parts, wherein the stainless steel of the second part has a second porosity and the cast stainless steel first part comprises a first material with a first porosity, and the first porosity is higher than the second porosity, wherein the first porosity defines void spaces having a size of about 80-120 μm and the second porosity defines void spaces having a size of about 5-10 μm, wherein the lower second porosity of the stainless steel second part defines a smooth surface of the second part for providing a secure sealing when engaged with a respective surface of the fuel injector received in the second part. ### Claim 14 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein: the first part further comprises two bores for connecting a connector plate of the fuel injector to the fuel injector cup, and the second part further comprises two bores aligning with the two bores of the first part when the second part is received in the recess of the first part. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The fuel injector cup of claim 13, wherein: the first part further comprises two bores for connecting a connector plate of the fuel injector to the fuel injector cup, and the second part further comprises two bores aligning with the two bores of the first part when the second part is received in the recess of the first part.