Corrugated internal fuel rail damper

A damper element for use in a fuel rail, the damper element comprising:

• an elongated member having a longitudinal damper element axis generally parallel to the longitudinal rail axis, the elongated member having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including a continuous surface having a series of undulations extending along the longitudinal damper element axis, and the second portion having a smooth surface extending along the longitudinal damper element axis so that the first and second portions are spaced from the longitudinal damper element axis.

A damper element for use in a fuel rail damper element comprising:

• an elongated member having a longitudinal damper element axis generally parallel to the longitudinal rail axis, the elongated member having a first portion and a second portion having a smooth surface,
• the first portion including at least three points defining, a virtual plane and a continuous surface that intersects the virtual plane at three or more locations, the continuous surface comprising a series of undulations and obliquely stacked surfaces that form a corrugated surface across the virtual plane.

A damper element for use in a fuel rail damper element comprising:

• an elongated member having a longitudinal damper element axis generally parallel to the longitudinal rail axis, the elongated member having a first portion and a second portion having a smooth surface,
• the first portion including at least three points defining a virtual plane and a continuous surface that intersects the virtual plane at three or more locations, the continuous surface comprising a series of undulations and a plurality of planar surfaces oblique to the virtual plane.

A method of damping pressure pulsations in a fuel injection system having a pressurized fuel source coupled to at least one fuel injector with a fuel rail establishing fluid communication between the pressurized fuel source and the at least one fuel injector, the fuel rail extending along rail axis, the method comprising:

• providing a fuel rail having a predetermined internal volume;
• changing the predetermined internal volume of the fuel rail with placement of at least one damper element having a longitudinal damper element axis generally parallel to the rail axis, a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including a continuous surface having a series of undulations extending along the longitudinal damper element axis, and the second portion having a smooth surface extending along the longitudinal damper element axis so that the first and second portions are spaced from the longitudinal damper element axis.

A method of damping pressure pulsations in a fuel injection system having a pressurized fuel source coupled to at least one fuel injector with a fuel rail establishing fluid communication between the pressurized fuel source and the at least one fuel injector, the fuel rail extending along a rail axis, the method comprising:

• providing a fuel rail having a predetermined internal volume;
• changing the predetermined internal volume of the fuel rail with placement of at least one damper element having a longitudinal damper element axis generally parallel to the rail axis, a first portion and a second portion, the first portion includes a continuous surface having a series of undulations, and the second portion having a smooth surface, the changing further comprising changing a first internal volume of the at least one damper element in a first configuration including an elongated tubular member to a second internal volume of the at least one damper element in a second configuration prior to placement of the at least one damper in the fuel rail,
• the second configuration including a member having a curvilinear surface of constant radius contiguous to a planar member whose surface is corrugated.