# US 2013/0153675 A1 · Method and Device for Setting an Idle Stroke of an Actuating Drive of an Injection Valve, and Injector Assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153675 A1 - Document ID: US20130153675A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/820,725 - Filed: 2011-08-18 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-03 - Assignees: Continental Automotive GmbH - Inventors: Maximilian Kronberger; Hellmut Freudenberg; Robert Schäpers; Matthias Wicke; Stefan Mindl; Wolfgang Wechler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153675A1 ## CPC - F02M 61/16: Details not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the apparatus of groups F02M61/02 - F02M61/14 - F02M 61/168: {Assembling; Disassembling; Manufacturing; Adjusting} - F02M 63/0026: {using piezoelectric or magnetostrictive actuators} - F02M 51/0603: {using piezoelectric or magnetostrictive operating means} - F02M 2200/701: mechanical - F02M 2200/702: with actuator and actuated element moving in different directions, e.g. in opposite directions - F02M 2200/8053: involving mechanical deformation of the apparatus or parts thereof - F02M 2200/8092: adjusting or calibration - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF ## Abstract A method and a device are disclosed for setting an idle stroke of an actuating drive of an injection valve with respect to an actuating element actuated by the actuating drive. The actuating drive is arranged in an injector body and the actuating element is arranged in an actuating-element housing such that it is movable in an axial. An axial stressing force is applied to the injector body and the actuating-element housing such that part of the injector body or actuating-element housing arranged in a force flow path defined the axial stressing force is deformed permanently, until a value of a representative electric variable determined directly or indirectly for the idle stroke of the actuating drive lies in a predefined value range. Further, an injector assembly for an injection valve may include an injector body and/or an actuating-element housing having a contact section elevated in the axial direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for setting an idle stroke of an actuating drive of an injection valve in relation to a control element actuated by the actuating drive, wherein the actuating drive is arranged in an injector body and the control element is arranged in a control-element housing such that the control element is moveable in an axial direction, and the injector body and the control-element housing are arranged in the axial direction with respect to one another, the method comprising: applying an axial clamping force to the injector body and the control-element housing, such that a part of the injector body or a part of the control-element housing arranged in a force flow path defined by the axial clamping force is permanently deformed, and continuing to apply the axial clamping force to the injector body and the control-element housing until it is determined that a value of a representative electric variable that is determined directly or indirectly for the idle stroke of the actuating drive is within a predetermined range of values. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive is representative of a closing time of the injection valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the axial clamping force on the injector body and the control-element housing is applied at least in part by a clamping device separate from the injection valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, comprising: applying an axial clamping force with a predetermined first value to the injector body and the control-element housing by the clamping device separate from the injection valve, applying a further axial clamping force with a predetermined value to the injector body and to the control-element housing by a clamping element of the injection valve, determining a base value of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive, determining a second value of the axial clamping force of the clamping device based on the determined base value, applying the axial clamping force of the clamping device with the determined second value to the injector body and the control-element housing, and varying the axial clamping force of the clamping element on the injector body and the control-element housing until the value of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive is within the predetermined range of values. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method as of claim 4, comprising: after applying the axial clamping force of the clamping device with the determined second value to the injector body and the control-element housing: varying the axial clamping force of the clamping element on the injector body and the control-element housing until the value of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive is within a predetermined limiting range outside the predetermined range of values, and applying the axial clamping force of the clamping device with the determined second value to the injector body and the control-element housing until the value of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive is within the predetermined range of values, and relieving the injector body and the control-element housing of the axial clamping force of the clamping device separate from the injection valve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, comprising: pre-calibrating the actuating drive by determining a dependence of a stroke of the actuating drive on a characteristic electric signal of the actuating drive, and determining the range of values of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive as a function of the stroke of the actuating drive. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, comprising: applying a radial supporting force with a predetermined value to at least one of the injector body and the control element housing together with the axial clamping force of the clamping device separate from the injection valve, determining a first value of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive, relieving at least one of the injector body and the control-element housing of the axial clamping force and the radial supporting force, determining a second value of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive, determining the range of values of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive as a function of the first value and of the second value, applying the axial clamping force of the clamping device separate from the injection valve and the radial supporting force with the value to at least one of the injector body and the control-element housing, and varying the axial clamping force of the clamping element on the injector body and the control-element housing until the value of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive is within the predetermined range of values. ### Claim 8 A device for setting an idle stroke of an actuating drive of an injection valve in relation to a control element actuated by the actuating drive, wherein the actuating drive is arranged in an injector body and the control element is arranged in a control-element housing such a way that it is moveable in an axial direction, and the injector body and the control-element housing are arranged in the axial direction with respect to one another, wherein the device is configured to: apply an axial clamping force to the injector body and the control-element housing, such that a part of the injector body or a part of the control-element housing which is arranged in a force flow path formed by the axial clamping force is permanently deformed, and continue to apply the axial clamping force to the injector body and the control-element housing until a value of a representative electric variable that is determined directly or indirectly for the idle stroke of the actuating drive is within a predetermined range of values. ### Claim 9 An injector assembly for an injection valve, comprising: an injector body having an injector-body recess in which an actuating drive is arranged, a control-element housing having a recess in which a control element is arranged such that it is moveable in an axial direction, such that a fluid flow through at least one injection opening is prevented in a closed position of the control element and, otherwise, a fluid flow through the at least one injection opening is allowed, wherein the injector body and the control-element housing are arranged in the axial direction with respect to one another, and wherein at least one of the injector body and the control-element housing has a contact section that is elevated in the axial direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The injector assembly of claim 9, wherein the contact section comprises at least one biting edge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The injector assembly of claim 9, wherein the contact section has an annular shape. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive is representative of a closing time of the injection valve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the axial clamping force on the injector body and the control-element housing is applied at least in part by a clamping device separate from the injection valve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, further configured to: apply an axial clamping force with a predetermined first value to the injector body and the control-element housing by the clamping device separate from the injection valve, apply a further axial clamping force with a predetermined value to the injector body and to the control-element housing by a clamping element of the injection valve, determine a base value of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive, determine a second value of the axial clamping force of the clamping device based on the determined base value, apply the axial clamping force of the clamping device with the determined second value to the injector body and the control-element housing, and vary the axial clamping force of the clamping element on the injector body and the control-element housing until the value of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive is within the predetermined range of values. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, further configured to: after applying the axial clamping force of the clamping device with the determined second value to the injector body and the control-element housing: vary the axial clamping force of the clamping element on the injector body and the control-element housing until the value of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive is within a predetermined limiting range outside the predetermined range of values, and apply the axial clamping force of the clamping device with the determined second value to the injector body and the control-element housing until the value of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive is within the predetermined range of values, and relieve the injector body and the control-element housing of the axial clamping force of the clamping device separate from the injection valve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, further configured to: pre-calibrate the actuating drive by determining a dependence of a stroke of the actuating drive on a characteristic electric signal of the actuating drive, and determine the range of values of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive as a function of the stroke of the actuating drive. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, further configured to: apply a radial supporting force with a predetermined value to at least one of the injector body and the control-element housing together with the axial clamping force of the clamping device separate from the injection valve, determine a first value of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive, relieve at least one of the injector body and the control-element housing of the axial clamping force and the radial supporting force, determine a second value of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive, determine the range of values of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive as a function of the first value and of the second value, apply the axial clamping force of the clamping device separate from the injection valve and the radial supporting force with the value to at least one of the injector body and the control-element housing, and vary the axial clamping force of the clamping element on the injector body and the control-element housing until the value of the electric variable representative of the idle stroke of the actuating drive is within the predetermined range of values.