# US 9,435,305 B2 · Valve assembly for an injection valve and injection valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,305 B2 - Document ID: US9435305B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/780,850 - Filed: 2014-04-23 - Published: 2016-02-25 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-04-26 - Assignees: Continental Automotive GmbH - Applicants: Continental Automotive GmbH - Inventors: Marco Mechi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435305B2 ## CPC - F02M 51/061: {using electromagnetic operating means} - F02M 51/0671: {the armature having an elongated valve body attached thereto} - F02M 51/0685: {the armature and the valve being allowed to move relatively to each other or not being attached to each other} - F02M 2200/304: using hydraulic means - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF ## Abstract A injection valve assembly includes a valve body having a central longitudinal axis and a cavity with a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet portion, a valve needle axially movable in the cavity between a closing position that prevents a fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion and further position that release the fluid flow, an electro-magnetic actuator unit that actuates the valve needle and includes an armature that is axially movable in the cavity and which includes a main body and a hydraulic damper fixedly coupled to the main body. The hydraulic damper includes an inner surface facing the main body and arranged for contact with the valve needle. The hydraulic damper also has a first opening and second opening (s), wherein the valve needle extends through the first opening, and the second opening (s) provide a fluid passage from the fluid inlet portion to the fluid outlet portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve assembly for an injection valve, the valve assembly comprising: a valve body comprising a central longitudinal axis and a cavity with a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet portion, a valve needle axially movable in the cavity, the valve needle preventing a fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion in a closing position of the valve needle and allowing the fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion in further positions of the valve needle, an electro-magnetic actuator unit configured to actuate the valve needle, the actuator unit comprising an armature that is axially movable in the cavity, wherein the armature comprises: a main body, and a hydraulic damper fixedly coupled to the main body and having an inner surface facing the main body, the inner surface configured to contact the valve needle in certain positions of the valve needle, wherein the hydraulic damper comprises: a first opening and at least one second opening, wherein the valve needle extends through the first opening and the second opening provides a fluid passage from the fluid inlet portion to the fluid outlet portion, and a side surface extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the side surface is completely in contact with the main body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, comprising an armature spring arranged inside the main body axially between the main body and the valve needle, wherein the armature spring is configured to provide a force acting on the valve needle to bring the valve needle in contact with the inner surface of the hydraulic damper. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The valve assembly of claim 2, wherein the main body comprises a hydraulic connection passage extending along the longitudinal axis, the hydraulic connection passage comprising a projecting part, wherein the armature spring is coupled with one end with the projecting part. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the main body of the armature comprises a recess in which the hydraulic damper is arranged. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises an outside guide surface in contact with the valve body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic damper is fixedly coupled to the main body by a welded connection. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve needle is formed as a solid body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein: the valve needle has a projecting part configured to mechanically interact with the hydraulic damper, and an overlapping area of the projecting part of the valve needle and the inner surface of the hydraulic damper is bounded by an inner contour facing the longitudinal axis and an outer contour remote from the longitudinal axis, wherein an area enclosed by the outer contour is at least three times an area enclosed by the inner contour. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The valve assembly of claim 4, wherein the hydraulic damper is completely arranged inside the main body of the armature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The valve assembly of claim 9, wherein the hydraulic damper is welded to the main body at the side surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic damper comprises a part that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and that comprises the inner surface as well as the first opening and the second opening. ### Claim 12 An injection valve for a combustion chamber of a combustion engine, the injection valve comprising: a valve assembly comprising: a valve body comprising a central longitudinal axis and a cavity with a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet portion, a valve needle axially movable in the cavity, the valve needle preventing a fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion in a closing position of the valve needle and allowing the fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion in further positions of the valve needle, an electro-magnetic actuator unit configured to actuate the valve needle, the actuator unit comprising an armature that is axially movable in the cavity, wherein the armature comprises: a main body, and a hydraulic damper fixedly coupled to the main body and having an inner surface facing the main body, the inner surface configured to contact the valve needle in certain positions of the valve needle, wherein the hydraulic damper comprises: a first opening and at least one second opening, wherein the valve needle extends through the first opening and the second opening provides a fluid passage from the fluid inlet portion to the fluid outlet portion, and a side surface extending in a direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the side surface is completely in contact with the main body. ### Claim 13 A valve assembly for an injection valve, comprising: a valve body comprising a central longitudinal axis and a cavity with a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet portion, a valve needle axially movable in the cavity, the valve needle preventing a fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion in a closing position of the valve needle and allowing the fluid flow through the fluid outlet portion in further positions of the valve needle, an electro-magnetic actuator unit configured to actuate the valve needle, the actuator unit comprising an armature that is movable in the cavity, wherein the armature comprises: a main body, and a hydraulic damper fixedly coupled to the main body and having an inner surface facing the main body, the inner surface arranged to be in contact with the valve needle in certain positions of the valve needle, wherein the hydraulic damper comprises a first opening and at least one second opening, wherein the valve needle extends through the first opening and the second opening provides a fluid passage from the fluid inlet portion to the fluid outlet portion, and an armature spring arranged inside the main body axially between the main body and the valve needle, wherein the armature spring is configured to provide a force acting on the valve needle to bring the valve needle in contact with the inner surface of the hydraulic damper. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The valve assembly of claim 13, wherein the main body comprises a hydraulic connection passage along the longitudinal axis, the hydraulic connection passage comprising a projecting part, the armature spring being coupled with one end with the projecting part.