Injector clamp with integrated fuel supply and return passages
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsAndrew O. Marrack, Eric Schroeder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An injector clamp is constructed to retain the position thereof against fuel pressure of a fuel system. The injector clamp includes an outer shell and a chamber interior to the outer shell. An inlet port is formed on the outer shell and in fluid communication with an injector source port formed on the outer shell. An outlet port is formed on the outer shell and in fluid communication with an injector return port formed on the outer shell. A dividing structure is constructed to divide the chamber into a source flow conduit in fluid communication with both the inlet port and the injector source port, and a return flow conduit in fluid communication with both the outlet port and the injector return port.
Claims21
An injector clamp constructed to retain the position thereof against fuel pressure of a fuel system, the injector clamp comprising:
- an outer shell;
- an inlet port formed on the outer shell and in fluid communication with an injector source port formed on the outer shell;
- an outlet port formed on the outer shell and in fluid communication with an injector return port formed on the outer shell;
- a chamber interior to the outer shell;
- a dividing structure constructed to divide the chamber into a source flow conduit in fluid communication with both the inlet port and the injector source port, and a return flow conduit in fluid communication with both the outlet port and the injector return port;
- and
- standoffs formed on the outer shell, one of the standoffs having an interior passage in fluid communication with the source flow conduit and another one of the standoffs having an interior passage in fluid communication with the return flow conduit.
A fuel system constructed to supply fuel to cylinders of an internal combustion engine, the fuel system comprising:
- fuel injectors constructed to deliver fuel to the cylinders;
- and
- injector clamps to retain the fuel injectors against pressure of the fuel delivery, each injector clamp including:
- an outer shell;
- an inlet port formed on the outer shell and in fluid communication with an injector source port formed on the outer shell;
- an outlet port formed on the outer shell and in fluid communication with an injector return port formed on the outer shell;
- a chamber interior to the outer shell;
- and
- a dividing structure constructed to divide the chamber into a source flow conduit in fluid communication with both the inlet port and the injector source port, and a return flow conduit in fluid communication with both the outlet port and the injector return port,
- wherein the outer shell has an inclined surface having both the inlet port and the outlet port facing a same direction,
- wherein the source flow conduit is in fluid communication with the inlet port and the injector source port via a first opening in the dividing structure,
- wherein the return flow conduit is in fluid communication with the outlet port and the injector return port via a second opening in the dividing structure, and
- wherein the source flow conduit and the return flow conduit are fully distinct and segregated from each other by the dividing structure.
An injection clamp of an internal combustion engine comprising:
- an outer shell;
- an inlet port formed on the outer shell and in fluid communication with an injector source port formed on the outer shell;
- an outlet port formed on the outer shell and in fluid communication with an injector return port formed on the outer shell;
- a fuel source conduit between the inlet port and the injector source port;
- and
- a fuel return conduit between the outlet port and the injector return port;
- and
- a dividing wall defining an interior chamber of the outer shell into a source flow conduit in fluid communication with both the inlet port and the injector source port, and a return flow conduit in fluid communication with both the outlet port and the injector return port,
- wherein the source flow conduit and the return flow conduit are fully distinct and segregated from each other by the dividing wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.