Self-damping fuel rail
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorsDavid West, Michael T. Streb, William M. Warner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel rail for a fuel-injected internal combustion engine includes an elongated tube having a longitudinal axis, an overall length and a cross-sectional shape along a substantial portion of the length of the tube. The cross-sectional shape is a closed curve, wherein all portions of the cross-sectional shape curve outwardly from the longitudinal axis, and the shape has a non-constant radius. The fuel rail also includes at least one fuel outlet for communicating with a fuel injector.
Claims35
A self-damping fuel rail for a fuel-injected internal combustion engine, the fuel rail comprising:
- an elongated tube including a longitudinal axis, an overall length and a cross-sectional shape along a substantial portion of the length of the tube, the cross-sectional shape being a closed curve, wherein all portions of the cross-sectional shape curve outwardly from the longitudinal axis, and the shape having a non-constant radius, the tube having a major diameter, a minor diameter and a thickness, wherein a ratio between the major diameter and the thickness is greater than about 25:1;
- and
- at least one fuel outlet for communicating with a fuel injector.
A fuel supply system for a fuel-injected internal combustion engine, the fuel supply system comprising:
- a self-damping fuel rail including a longitudinal axis and having a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape, the fuel rail further including a thin-walled sidewall defining a chamber and first and seconds ends;
- and
- at least one fuel outlet formed in the sidewall for communicating with a fuel injector.
A method for fabricating a self-damping fuel rail for a fuel-injected internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
- providing an elongated tube;
- and
- forming the tube to have a non-constant radius such that a cross-sectional shape of the tube is a closed curve, wherein all portions of the cross-sectional shape curve outwardly, the cross-sectional shape has a major diameter and a minor diameter and the formed tube has a thickness, and further wherein a ratio between the major diameter and the thickness is at least about 25:1.
A self-damping fuel rail for a fuel-injected internal combustion engine, the fuel rail comprising:
- an elongated, thin-walled tube including a longitudinal axis, an overall length and a cross-sectional shape along a substantial portion of the length of the tube, the cross-sectional shape being a closed curve, wherein all portions of the cross-sectional shape curve outwardly from the longitudinal axis, and the shape having a non-constant radius;
- and
- at least one fuel outlet for communicating with a fuel injector.
A fuel rail for a fuel-injected internal combustion engine, the fuel rail comprising:
- an elongated tube including a longitudinal axis, an overall length and a cross-sectional shape along a substantial portion of the length of the tube, the cross-sectional shape being a closed curve, wherein all portions of the cross-sectional shape curve outwardly from the longitudinal axis, and the shape having a non-constant radius, wherein the tube is comprised of stainless steel;
- and
- at least one fuel outlet for communicating with a fuel injector.
A fuel rail for a fuel-injected internal combustion engine, the fuel rail comprising:
- an elongated tube including a longitudinal axis, an overall length and a cross-sectional shape along a substantial portion of the length of the tube, the cross-sectional shape being a closed curve, wherein all portions of the cross-sectional shape curve outwardly from the longitudinal axis, and the shape having a non-constant radius, wherein the tube has a sidewall and a substantial portion of the sidewall has a thickness between about 0.8 mm and about 1.5 mm;
- and
- at least one fuel outlet for communicating with a fuel injector.
A method for fabricating a fuel rail for a fuel-injected internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
- providing an elongated tube;
- and
- rolling the tube to have a non-constant radius such that a cross-sectional shape of the tube is a closed curve, wherein all portions of the cross-sectional shape curve outwardly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.