Injector for Injecting Fluid

Abstract

An injector for injecting fluid with a valve assembly including a valve body and a valve needle, the needle including an armature retainer and being operable to prevent and to enable injection of fluid, and with an electromagnetic actuator assembly, operable to exert a force for influencing a position of the valve needle, including a pole piece and an armature. The pole piece is positionally fixed with the valve body. The armature is operable to be axially displaced relative to the pole piece and to take along the armature retainer when being displaced towards the pole piece. A fluid channel is defined by the armature retainer constriction surface and the pole piece constriction surface. A hydraulic diameter of the fluid channel is at least twice at large when the valve needle is in a closing position compared to the hydraulic diameter at a maximum displacement away from the closing position.

Claims

1. An injector for injecting fluid, comprising: a valve assembly comprising a valve body and a valve needle, the valve body having a longitudinal axis and comprising a cavity with a valve seat, the valve needle comprising an armature retainer, being coupled in a fixed way to the valve needle and comprising an armature retainer constriction surface, the cavity being operable to take in the valve needle, the cavity and the valve needle being operable to prevent in a closing position of the valve needle, in which the valve needle is seated on the valve seat, an injection of fluid from the cavity to external to the injector, and to enable the injection of fluid when the valve needle is apart from the closing position; and an electromagnetic actuator assembly, which is operable to exert a force for influencing a position of the valve needle, comprising a pole piece and an armature, the pole piece being received in the cavity, being positionally fixed within the valve body and comprising a pole piece constriction surface facing towards the armature, the armature being received in the cavity, operable to be axially displaced relative to the pole piece and to take along the armature retainer when being displaced towards the pole piece, wherein a fluid channel through which fluid which enters the cavity at a fluid inlet end of the valve body and flows to a fluid outlet end of the valve body where the valve seat is positioned is defined by the armature retainer constriction surface and the pole piece constriction surface, and a hydraulic diameter of said fluid channel is at least twice at large when the valve needle is in the closing position compared to the hydraulic diameter when the valve needle is at a maximum displacement away from the closing position.

2. The injector according to claim 1, wherein the armature retainer constriction surface has a first sloped shape.

3. The injector according to claim 1, wherein the pole piece constriction surface has a second sloped shape.

4. The injector according to claim 1, wherein the armature retainer constriction surface has a first curvature.

5. The injector according to claim 4, wherein the pole piece constriction surface has a second curvature.

6. The injector according to claim 5, wherein the second curvature is less than or equal to the first curvature.

7. The injector according to claim 1, wherein a first damping force exerted on the valve needle is dependent on the position of the valve needle.

8. The injector according to claim 1, wherein the armature retainer comprises an armature retainer guiding surface and the pole piece comprises a pole piece guiding surface, wherein the armature retainer is operable for axially guiding the valve needle with the armature retainer guiding surface gliding along the pole piece guiding surface when the valve needle is axially displaced.

9. The injector according to claim 8, wherein the armature retainer guiding surface is convexly curved with respect to the valve needle.

10. The injector according to claim 8, wherein the armature retainer guiding surface is substantially spherically shaped.

11. The injector according to claim 8, wherein the armature retainer guiding surface comprises at least one channel for enabling a fluid flow axially through the cavity.

12. The injector according to claim 1, wherein the armature is axially movable relative to the valve needle.

13. The injector according to claim 1, wherein the armature retainer comprises an armature retainer limiting surface for limiting an axial displacement of the armature relative to the valve needle, facing towards the armature and laterally extending away from the valve needle.

14. The injector according to claim 13, wherein the armature comprises an armature impact area facing towards the armature retainer limiting surface, the armature retainer limiting surface being operable to engage with the armature impact area, wherein a lateral extension of the armature retainer limiting surface away from the valve needle is constructed such that a relative movement between the armature and the armature retainer is damped.

15. The injector according to claim 1, wherein the armature comprises a return spring, which is operable to bias the armature in an axial direction away from the armature retainer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in the following with the aid of schematic drawings and reference numbers. Identical reference numbers designate elements or components with identical functions. In the drawings:

[0040] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view of a first embodiment of an injector,

[0041] FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section view of the injector according to FIG. 1,

[0042] FIG. 3a is a first graph of an amount of injected fluid over time, by the injector of FIG. 1, and

[0043] FIG. 3b is a second graph and a third graph of amounts of injected fluid over time by conventional injectors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an injector 1 with a valve assembly 3 and an electromagnetic actuator assembly 19. The valve assembly 3 comprises a valve body 5 and a valve needle 7. The valve body 5 has a longitudinal axis 9 and comprises a cavity 11 with a valve seat 13.

[0045] The valve needle 7 is received in the cavity 11 and is axially movable relative to the valve body 5. The valve needle 7 comprises an armature retainer 15 that is coupled in a fixed way to the valve needle 7. The valve needle 7 may further comprise a disc element 41 being axially displaced to the armature retainer 15 and coupled in a fixed way to the valve needle 7.

[0046] The valve needle 7 is operable to prevent an injection of fluid in a closing position, in which the valve needle 7 is seated on the valve seat 13, from the cavity 11 external to the injector 1, for example into a combustion chamber. The valve needle 7 is further operable to enable the injection of fluid when it is apart from the closing position. The injector 1 may comprise a valve spring 43 for biasing the valve needle 7 towards the closing position, for example in order to contribute to a leak tightness of the injector 1.

[0047] The electromagnetic actuator assembly 19 comprises a pole piece 21, an armature 23 and a magnetic coil 45, in particular solenoid, positioned in a housing which laterally surrounds at least a portion of the valve body 5. The magnetic coil 45, together with the armature 23 and the pole piece 21 forms a magnetic circuit of the electromagnetic actuator assembly 19 when the magnetic coil 45 is energized. In this context, the electromagnetic actuator assembly 19 may further comprise a yoke 47 for shaping the magnetic circuit of the electromagnetic actuator assembly 19.

[0048] The electromagnetic actuator assembly 19 is thus operable to exert a force for influencing a position of the valve needle 7. Particularly, the valve needle 7 may be axially displaced by the electromagnetic actuator assembly 19 relative to the valve body 5, for example in reciprocating fashion.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged longitudinal section view of the injector according to FIG. 1, particularly of the electromagnetic actuator assembly 19. The pole piece 21 is received in the cavity 11 and positionally fixed with the valve body 5. In other embodiments, the pole piece 21 may be comprised by the valve body 5. The armature 23 is received in the cavity 11 and operable to be axially displaced relative to the pole piece 21. The armature 23 is further operable to take along the armature retainer 15 when being displaced towards the pole piece 21.

[0050] In this embodiment, the armature 23 is axially movable relative to the valve needle 7, particularly between the armature retainer 15 and the disc element 41, which both limit an axial displacement of the armature 23 relative to the valve needle 7. The armature 23 may comprise a return spring 39 in this context in order to enable a large impulse transfer to the valve needle 7 when the armature 23 comes into contact with the armature retainer 15. The return spring may further enable an opening of the valve needle 7 against large hydraulic loads with limited actuator power, for example 350 bar. In other embodiments, the armature 23 may be arranged to be positionally fixed to the valve needle 7. The armature 23 may further comprise at least one bore in order to allow an axial fluid flow through the cavity 11.

[0051] In this embodiment, the pole piece 21 comprises a pole piece guiding surface 33. Furthermore, the armature retainer 15 may comprise an armature retainer guiding surface 31. In this context, the pole piece 21 may comprise a recess with the pole piece guiding surface 33 in order to receive the armature retainer 15 with its armature retainer guiding surface 31. An axial guiding of the valve needle 7 is thereby provided, with the armature retainer guiding surface 31 gliding along the pole piece guiding surface 33 when the valve needle 7 is axially displaced.

[0052] Particularly, the armature retainer guiding surface 31 is convexly curved with respect to the valve needle 7. In particular, it is, for example, substantially spherically shaped in order to avoid jamming of the armature retainer 15 when the valve needle 7 is tilted.

[0053] Particularly, the armature retainer guiding surface 31 comprises at least one channel for enabling a fluid flow axially through the cavity 11. The at least one channel may be an axial recess of the armature retainer 15. In the representation of FIG.

[0054] 2, the channels are visible on the left and right sides of the armature retainer 15 so that the spherical basic shape is not visible in FIG. 2.

[0055] The armature retainer guiding surface 31 defines a guiding portion of the armature retainer 15. The guiding portion merges with a stopper portion of the armature retainer 15 at a downstream axial end of the guiding portion. In the interface region between the guiding portion and the stopper portion, the armature guide 15 has a circumferential constriction. In the present embodiment, the stopper portion is in the basic shape of a disc having a rounded outer contour. In another embodiment, it has a wedged shape in a longitudinal section view, i.e., it tapers in the radial outward direction.

[0056] The stopper portion of the armature retainer 15 comprises an armature retainer limiting surface 35 of the armature retainer 15 for limiting the axial displacement of the armature 23 relative to the valve needle 7. The armature retainer limiting surface 35 enables, for example, an engagement with an armature impact area 37 of the armature 23 in order to allow the valve needle 7 to be taken along with the armature 23 when the armature 23 is axially displaced towards the pole piece 21.

[0057] In particular, the armature retainer limiting surface 35 laterally extends away from the valve needle 7, particularly projecting away from the armature retainer guiding surface 31. A lateral extension of the armature retainer limiting surface 35 is constructed such that a relative movement between the armature 23 and the armature retainer 15 is hydraulically damped. In the present embodiment this is achieved by the radial extension of the armature retainer limiting surface 35—which is also the radial extension of the stopper portion of the armature retainer 15—being at least twice as large as the radial extension of the guiding portion of the armature retainer 15.

[0058] The pole piece 21 further comprises a pole piece constriction surface 25 that is facing towards the armature 23. Moreover, the armature retainer 15 comprises an armature retainer constriction surface 17, towards which the pole piece constriction surface 25 is facing. The armature retainer constriction surface 17 is arranged at an axial side of the stopper portion opposite of that axial side on which the armature retainer limiting surface 35 is arranged.

[0059] Particularly, at least when the valve needle 7 is axially displaced in a range from a maximum displacement away from the closing position to a restriction displacement, the armature retainer constriction surface 17 and the pole piece constriction surface 25 comprise a smallest distance between the pole piece 21 and the armature retainer 23 in the axial region of the stopper portion, forming a hydraulically effective restriction between the armature retainer constriction surface 17 and the pole piece constriction surface 25.

[0060] In other words, a gap between the pole piece 21 and the armature retainer 15, through which fluid may flow, changes depending on the axial displacement of the armature retainer 15. In particular, an axial distance between the pole piece constriction surface 25 and the armature retainer constriction surface 17 decreases when the armature retainer 15 is axially displaced towards the pole piece 21. A hydraulic diameter of the hydraulically effective restriction is dependent on the axial displacement of the valve needle 7 from the closing position and is at least twice at large when the valve needle 7 is in the closing position compared to the hydraulic diameter when the valve needle 7 is at the maximum displacement away from the closing position.

[0061] In particular, the maximum displacement of the valve needle 7 away from the closing position may be reached when the valve needle 7 is in an opening position, in which, for example, the armature 23 abuts the pole piece 21.

[0062] Moreover, the restriction displacement of the valve needle 7 away from the closing position may particularly be greater than zero. In particular, the restriction displacement, respectively the range is dimensioned as to allow a formation of the hydraulically effective restriction between the armature retainer constriction surface 17 and the pole piece constriction surface 25, while still enabling fluid to flow through the cavity 11 such that a pressure difference in the axial direction is small enough to allow for a reliable and efficient injection of the injector 1.

[0063] The valve needle 7 is solid so that the fluid has to flow axially along the valve needle 7 on the outside of the valve needle from a fluid inlet end of the valve body 5 through the cavity 11—and thus through the hydraulically effective restriction—to a fluid outlet end of the valve body 5 to the valve seat 13. Due to the hydraulically effective restriction between the armature retainer constriction surface 17 and the pole piece constriction surface 25, a first damping force is exerted on the valve needle 7 when the armature retainer 15 is axially displaced towards the pole piece 21. Advantageously, a velocity of the valve needle 7 is thereby decreased such that a controllability of the injection, particularly in a ballistic phase 63 (see FIG. 3a) of an opening phase of the injector is contributed to. Particularly, a variation of an amount of injected fluid within a given time window 61 (see FIG. 3a) is kept low.

[0064] Particularly, the restriction displacement, respectively the range is dimensioned as to enable an exertion of a desired damping force on the valve needle 7. Particularly, it is further dimensioned such that the velocity of the valve needle 7 is substantially uninfluenced in a first instant of the opening phase of the injector 1

[0065] In one embodiment, the armature retainer constriction surface 17 has a first sloped shape. Particularly, the pole piece constriction surface 25 may have a second sloped shape. This enables the effective hydraulic restriction to be formed by merely a small section of the armature retainer 15, allowing the first damping force to be reliably provided, particularly in the case when the valve needle 7 is tilted. The second sloped shape may be equally sloped to the first sloped shape.

[0066] In one embodiment, the armature retainer constriction surface 17 has a first curvature. Particularly, the pole piece constriction surface 25 has a second curvature. The second curvature may be less than or equal to the first curvature. This enables the effective hydraulic restriction to be formed by merely a small section of the armature retainer 15, allowing the first damping force to be reliably provided, particularly in the case when the valve needle 7 is tilted. Moreover, this contributes to a prevention of jamming of the valve needle 7.

[0067] FIG. 3a shows a first graph 49 of an amount of injected fluid per activation over time of the injector 1 according to FIG. 1. Compared to a second graph 51 (FIG. 3b) of a fast opening injector and a third graph 53 of a slow opening injector, wherein no hydraulically effective restriction is formed between a respective armature retainer and a respective pole piece, it can be seen that a respective variability 55, 57, 59 of the amount of injected fluid within the given time window 61 of the first graph 49 is minimized, similar to the slow opening injector depicted in graph 53. Thus, it is contributed to the controllability of the injection, particularly in the ballistic phase 63. The given time window 61 is particularly given by an electrical pulse width. Moreover, the velocity of the valve needle 7 in the first instant of the opening phase is maintained, similar to the fast opening injector depicted in graph 51, thus contributing to a spray stability of the injector 1.