Pressure regulator for regulating the pressure inside the fuel supply manifold of an internal combustion engine fuel supply device

Abstract

 A device comprising a cup-shaped body (1) defining a fuel chamber (4) communicating with a fuel inlet hole (5) and with a fuel outlet hole (6), which outlet hole (6) is controlled by a plunger (7) connected to a deformable diaphragm (8) subjected to the action of a spring (9) designed to normally maintain the plunger (7) against a seat (10) and so close the outlet hole (6). The fuel inlet hole (5) communicates with an inlet fitting (12) projecting from the bottom wall (3) of the body (1) and connectable in fluidtight manner inside a seat (13) on the manifold. The fuel outlet hole (6) communicates with an outlet fitting (15) projecting from the lateral surface (16) of the body (1) and having its axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a pressure regulator for regulating the fuel pressure inside a supply manifold forming part of an internal combustion engine fuel supply device.

[0002] Known regulators of the aforementioned type substantially comprise a cup-shaped body having a side and bottom wall, and defining a fuel chamber communicating with a fuel inlet and outlet hole. The outlet hole is controlled by a plunger connected to a deformable diaphragm forming a wall inside the fuel chamber and which is subjected to the action of a spring designed to normally maintain the plunger against a corresponding seat and so close the outlet hole. The fuel inlet hole is usually formed inside a fitting secured to the side wall of the body, or inside the bottom wall of the body. The outlet hole is usually formed inside a fitting projecting from the bottom wall of the body and usually forming part of a coupling in which a seat is also formed for the plunger.

[0003] Known pressure regulators of the type briefly described above present numerous drawbacks.

[0004] First of all, for connecting the regulator to the fuel supply circuit of the supply device, certain parts of the device must be specially designed, or provision made for appropriate pipe sections and fittings. If, in fact, the fuel inlet hole on the pressure regulator is formed inside a fitting projecting from the side wall of the regulator body, provision must be made for a duct to connect the fitting to a corresponding fitting on the fuel manifold. If, on the other hand, the fuel inlet hole is formed in the bottom wall of the regulator body, and the outlet hole inside a fitting projecting from the same wall, the fuel manifold must be designed so as to present two separate internal ducts, one for supply and the other for drainage. Moreover, regulators of the aforementioned type fail to provide for accurate pressure regulation, mainly on account of the flow resistance encountered by the fuel through the various holes and ducts formed inside the regulator.

[0005] What is more, in some cases, the regulator presents a fairly complex structure.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is to provide a pressure regulator of the aforementioned type, designed to overcome the above drawbacks typically associated with known regulators.

[0007] With this aim in view, according to the present invention, there is provided a pressure regulator for regulating the fuel pressure inside a fuel supply manifold forming part of an internal combustion engine fuel supply device, said device comprising a cup-shaped body consisting substantially of a side wall and a bottom wall, and defining a fuel chamber communicating with a fuel inlet hole and a with fuel outlet hole controlled by a plunger connected to a deformable diaphragm forming a wall of said chamber and subjected to the action of a spring designed to normally maintain said plunger against a corresponding seat and so close said outlet hole; characterised by the fact that said fuel inlet hole communicates with an inlet fitting projecting from said bottom wall of said body and connectable in fluidtight manner inside a seat on said manifold, and by the fact that said fuel outlet hole communicates with an outlet fitting projecting from the lateral surface of said body and having its axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body. One embodiment of the pressure regulator according to the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.1 shows a longitudinal section of the regulator according to the present invention, connected to the fuel manifold forming part of the supply device;

Fig.2 shows a partially-sectioned side view of the Fig.1 regulator mounted on a different type of fuel manifold.

[0008] The pressure regulator according to the present invention substantially comprises a cup-shaped body 1 having a side wall 2 and a bottom wall 3 defining a fuel chamber 4 communicating with a fuel inlet hole 5 and a fuel outlet hole 6. Said outlet hole 6 is controlled by a plunger 7 connected to a deformable diaphragm 8 forming one wall of chamber 4 and subjected to the action of a spring 9 designed to normallu maintain plunger 7 against a corresponding seat 10 and so close outlet hole 6.

[0009] Inlet hole 5 communicates with an inlet fitting 12 projecting from bottom wall 3 and connectable in fluidtight manner inside a seat 13 on a manifold 14 forming part of the supply device. Outlet hole 6 communicates with an outlet fitting 15 projecting from the lateral surface 16 of body 1 and having its axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of body 1.

[0010] Outlet hole 6 comprises a first hole portion 6a having its axis parallel to said longitudinal axis, and a second portion 6b perpendicular to said first portion 6a and formed inside outlet fitting 15.

[0011] Said first portion 6a houses a coupling 17, one end of which presents seat 10 for plunger 7.

[0012] Inlet hole 5 comprises at least a first portion 5a formed inside inlet fitting 12, and a second portion 5b formed inside bottom wall 3.

[0013] Inlet fitting 12 presents an annular groove 18 housing a seal 19 for sealing seat 13 on manifold 14, as shown clearly in Fig.1.

[0014] Body 1 is formed, e.g. die-cast, in one piece with inlet and outlet fittings 12 and 15, or may be formed from a drawn sheet metal element, in which case, fitting 15 may be welded in a radial hole on the body, and coupling 17 secured to the inside end.

[0015] The pressure regulator according to the present invention also comprises a cover 22, the edge of which is turned about a corresponding edge 21 of body 1, as shown clearly in Fig.1. In addition to locking the edge of deformable diaphragm 8, cover 22 also acts a support for one end of spring 9, the other end of which conveniently rests, in known manner, on a ring 23 connected to a disc 24 in turn resting on plunger 7.

[0016] The pressure regulator described above is designed to maintain the fuel pressure inside manifold 14 substantially constant: the fuel in manifold 14 communicates with chamber 4 on the regulator via hole 5; when the pressure inside chamber 4 exceeds a predetermined value, the force exerted on deformable diaphragm 8 overcomes the elastic reaction of spring 9, thus detaching plunger 7 from seat 10, enabling communication between chamber 4 and outlet hole 6, and draining off sufficient fuel for restoring the pressure inside chamber 4 to the required value.

[0017] The pressure regulator described above may be fitted to a highly straightforward manifold 14 substantially comprising a single central duct with a substantially cup-shaped end housing 25. To fit the regulator inside housing 25, provision need simply be made for a slot 26 in the side wall of the housing, as shown clearly in Fig.1.

[0018] In the case of a manifold 14 designed as shown in Fig.2 and featuring a regulator housing 27 arranged radially in relation to the longitudinal axis of the manifold (as opposed to axially as in Fig.1), the regulator is connectable to the manifold in exactly the same way as already described.

[0019] The regulator according to the present invention provides for accurately regulating the pressure inside manifold 14 by virtue of the rapid response afforded by the pressure inside the manifold being transmitted with practically no load loss to chamber 4 on the regulator. This is due to the design, arrangement and size of fuel inlet holes 5, which, in addition to being arranged substantially axially, may present a large diameter occupying substantially the entire section of inlet fitting 12 and most of the section of bottom wall 3 of body 1.

[0020] The design of the regulator is extremely straightforward, by virtue of consisting of a small number of easy-to-make components. Body 1, in particular, may be formed in one piece using any appropriate technique enabling low-cost production.

[0021] To those skilled in the art it will be clear that changes may be made to both the design and arrangement of the component parts of the embodiment described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1) - a pressure regulator for regulating the fuel pressure inside a fuel supply manifold (14) forming part of an internal combustion engine fuel supply device, said device comprising a cup-shaped body (1) consisting substantially of a side wall (2) and a bottom wall (3), and defining a fuel chamber (4) communicating with a fuel inlet hole (5) and a with fuel outlet hole (6) controlled by a plunger (7) connected to a deformable diaphragm (8) forming a wall of said chamber (4) and subjected to the action of a spring (9) designed to normally maintain said plunger (7) against a corresponding seat (10) and so close said outlet hole (6); characterised by the fact that said fuel inlet hole (5) comunicates with an inlet fitting (12) projecting from said bottom wall (3) of said body (1) and connectable in fluidtight manner inside a seat (13) on said manifold (14), and by the fact that said fuel outlet hole (6) communicates with an outlet fitting (15) projecting from the lateral surface (16) of said body (1) and having its axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said body (1).

2) - A pressure regulator as claimed in Claim 1, characterised by the fact that said outlet hole (6) comprises a first portion (6a) having its axis parallel to said longitudinal axis of said body (1), and a second portion (6b) perpendicular to said first portion (6a) and formed inside said outlet fitting (15).

3) - A pressure regulator as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that it comprises a coupling (17) in which said seat (10) for said plunger (7) is formed, and which is housed in said first portion (6a) of said outlet hole (6).

4) - A pressure regulator as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that said fuel inlet hole (5) comprises at least a first portion (5a) formed inside said inlet fitting (12), and a second portion (5b) formed inside said bottom wall (3) of said body (1).

5) - A pressure regulator as claimed in Claim 4, characterised by the fact that said inlet fitting (12) presents an annular groove (18) and a seal (19) housed in said groove (18) and designed to seal said seat (13) on said manifold (14).

6) - A pressure regulator as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that said body (1) and said fittings (12, 15) are formed in one piece.

Drawing