Wear resistant insert element for a baffle body and baffle body for a plunger operated fuel pump

Baffle body for a plunger operated fuel pump, the baffle body comprising:

• a baffle body shaft which has a fuel exposed shaft end with a shaft opening, and
• a wear resistant insert element inserted into the shaft opening, the wear resistant insert element comprising:
• a tapered end portion, which abuts against a rear wall of shaft opening;
• and
• an impact absorbing portion with an impact absorbing surface, the impact absorbing surface being configured to at least partially absorb the energy of a pressure wave generated during pumping operation of the fuel pump.

Fuel pump for an internal combustion engine, the fuel pump comprising

• a pump housing,
• a barrel within the housing,
• a fuel supply gallery defined between the housing and the barrel,
• a pumping chamber defined within the barrel,
• at least one fuel port connecting the pumping chamber with the fuel supply gallery, and
• a plunger configured to move within the barrel,
• wherein at least one baffle body is positioned in the pump housing such that it protrudes into the fuel supply gallery at a position where, during pumping operation of the fuel pump, a pressure wave propagates towards the pump housing, the at least one baffle body comprising:
• a baffle body shaft, which has a fuel exposed shaft end with a shaft opening, and
• a wear resistant insert element in a fixed position with respect to the baffle body shaft and at least partly reaching into the shaft opening, and comprising an impact absorbing portion with an impact absorbing surface, the impact absorbing surface being configured to at least partially absorb the energy of a pressure wave generated during pumping operation of the fuel pump wherein the impact absorbing surface of the baffle body is preferably positioned opposite to the fuel port.

Method for increasing the wear resistance of a plunger operated fuel pump in which a fuel pressure wave is generated during pumping operation, the method comprising:

• providing a baffle body comprising:
• a baffle body shaft, which has a fuel exposed shaft end with a shaft opening, and
• a wear resistant insert element in a fixed position with respect to the baffle body shaft and at least partly reaching into the shaft opening, and comprising an impact absorbing portion with an impact absorbing surface, the impact absorbing surface being configured to at least partially absorb the energy of a pressure wave generated during pumping operation of the fuel pump;
• and
• arranging the baffle body within a pump housing of the fuel pump such that the baffle body protrudes inside of the fuel pump at a position where, during pumping operation of the fuel pump, a pressure wave propagates towards the pump housing.