Holder and system having a fuel rail and multiple holders

Abstract

A holder is used for fastening a fuel distributor to an internal combustion engine. The holder has a base element which is connected to the fuel distributor. A slotted sleeve is provided, which is connected to the base element, and the base element is braced on the internal combustion engine via the slotted sleeve. Furthermore, a system having the fuel distributor and a plurality of holders of this type is provided.

Claims

1. A holder for fastening a component to an internal combustion engine, comprising: a base element configured to connect to the component; and a slotted sleeve that is connected to the base element, wherein the base element is supported on the internal combustion engine at least via the slotted sleeve, wherein: the base element includes at least one first holder part, at least one further holder part, and a further sleeve; the slotted sleeve is connected to the first holder part; the first holder part is connected to the further holder part via the further sleeve; a through hole extends along a fastening axis through the further holder part, the further sleeve, the first holder part, and the slotted sleeve; a fastening element is configured to be guided through the through hole along the fastening axis in order to connect the base element indirectly to the internal combustion engine; the slotted sleeve has a connection surface that is spot connected to the first holder part; the slotted sleeve has an annular contact face that is interrupted by at least one slot that is opposite to the connection surface; and the slotted sleeve is configured to rest on a surface of the internal combustion engine via the slot when the base element is indirectly connected to the internal combustion engine, wherein the at least one slot extends parallel to the fastening axis of the slotted sleeve from the contact face of the slotted sleeve to a surface of the slotted sleeve that is opposite to the connection surface of the slotted sleeve.

2. The holder as recited in claim 1, wherein the component includes a fuel rail.

3. The holder as recited in claim 1, wherein the slotted sleeve rests against the surface of the internal combustion engine via the annular contact face when the base element is indirectly connected to the internal combustion engine.

4. The holder as recited in claim 1, wherein: the base element is developed in such a way that an orientation of a longitudinal axis of the component is predefined when connecting the base element to the component, and a slot of the slotted sleeve faces the longitudinal axis or faces away from the longitudinal axis.

5. A system, comprising: a component; and a plurality of holders that fasten the component to an internal combustion engine, wherein at least one of the holders includes: a base element configured to connect to the component, and a slotted sleeve that is at least indirectly connected to the base element, wherein the base element is braced on the internal combustion engine at least via the slotted sleeve, wherein: the base element includes at least one first holder part, at least one further holder part, and a further sleeve; the slotted sleeve is connected to the first holder part; the first holder part is connected to the further holder part via the further sleeve: a through hole extends along a fastening axis through the further holder part, the further sleeve, the first holder part, and the slotted sleeve; a fastening element is configured to be guided through the through hole along the fastening axis in order to connect the base element indirectly to the internal combustion engine; the slotted sleeve has a connection surface that is spot connected to the first holder part; the slotted sleeve has an annular contact face that is interrupted by at least one slot that is opposite to the connection surface; and wherein the at least one slot extends parallel to the fastening axis of the slotted sleeve from the contact face of the slotted sleeve to a surface of the slotted sleeve that is opposite to the connection surface of the slotted sleeve, wherein the contact face of the slotted sleeve is configured to: rest against a surface of the internal combustion engine in a planar manner; and frictionally engage the surface of the internal combustion engine, wherein the slotted sleeve is connected to the base element via multiple welding spot connections.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein: the component has a tubular body, and a slot of the slotted sleeve faces a longitudinal axis of the tubular body or faces away from the longitudinal axis of the tubular body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The FIGURE shows a system, which includes a component and a holder, as well as an internal combustion engine, in an excerpted, schematic three-dimensional representation that corresponds to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(2) The FIGURE shows a system 1 which includes a component 2 and a holder 3, as well as an internal combustion engine 4 in an excerpted, schematic three-dimensional representation that corresponds to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. System 1, in particular, may be a fuel injection system 1 or part of a fuel injection system 1, in particular a fuel rail (fuel distributor). Component 2 may then be developed as a fuel rail, in particular a fuel distributor rail. Component 2 has a tubular body 5, which extends along a longitudinal axis 6.

(3) In this exemplary embodiment, a cup 7 is installed on holder 3, which accommodates an inlet connection 8 of a fuel injector 9. Cup 7 is suitably connected to tubular base element 5 in order to convey fuel from tubular base element 5 via inlet connection 8 to fuel injector 9.

(4) In the assembled state, fuel injector 9 extends inside a bore 10 of internal combustion engine 4, in particular a cylinder head 4 of internal combustion engine 4. In addition, a fastening bore 11, in particular a threaded bore 11, may be developed in such a cylinder head 4.

(5) System 1 also has a fastening means 12, which is developed as a fastening screw 12 in this exemplary embodiment. During the assembly, fastening screw 12 is guided through a through hole 14 of holder 3 along a fastening axis and screwed into threaded bore 11. Component 2 then is fastened to internal combustion engine 4 via holder 3. At the same time, fuel injector 9 is fixed in place in bore 10 of internal combustion engine 4 via cup 7.

(6) Holder 3 has a base element 20, which is developed in multiple parts in this exemplary embodiment. Base element 20 includes a holder part 21 and a further holder part 22. Holder parts 21, 22 may be developed in the form of sheet metal holders 21, 22. Furthermore, base element 20 has a sleeve 23 which is situated between holder parts 21, 22. The various parts of base element 20, in particular holder parts 21, 22 and sleeve 23, are interconnected in a suitable manner, especially by surface solder connections.

(7) In addition, holder 3 has a slotted sleeve 24, which is connected to base element 20. In this exemplary embodiment slotted sleeve 24 is connected to holder part 21. The connection between slotted sleeve 24 and holder part 21 is realized by a few welding spots. Slotted sleeve 24 has a contact face 25 and a connection surface 26 which faces away from contact face 25. Slotted sleeve 24 is joined to holder part 21 at its connection surface 26 by way of the welding spots. As a result, slotted sleeve 24 is joined to holder part 21 not across its surface at its connection surface 26 but exclusively in a pointwise manner. Since slotted sleeve 24 is connected to base element 20 by way of multiple connection points, relative displacements between slotted sleeve 24 and holder part 21 are partially enabled, so that micro movements, in particular, are possible.

(8) In this exemplary embodiment, through opening 14 extends consecutively through further holder part 22, sleeve 23, holder part 21, and slotted sleeve 24 along fastening axis 13. In the fastened state, in which fastening screw 12 is screwed into threaded bore 11 of internal combustion engine 4, slotted sleeve 24 is pressed against a topside 27 of internal combustion engine 4 at its contact face 25. Contact face 25 of slotted sleeve 24 is developed in such a way that it rests against top surface 27 of internal combustion engine 4 in a planar manner. As a result, contact surface 25 is developed as a continuous annular contact face 25, which is interrupted because of a slot 28 provided in slotted sleeve 24.

(9) Different expansions of tubular element 5 and internal combustion engine 5 occur in the course of an operation as a result of temperature changes, in particular when internal combustion engine 4, especially cylinder head 4, is heated to the operating temperature. Tubular element 5 is connected to internal combustion engine 4 via at least one further holder, which may be developed according to holder 3. This difference in the changes in length basically leads to constraints or forces that, inter alia, result in mechanical stressing that occurs on holder 3.

(10) A certain frictionally engaged connection is developed between contact face 25 of slotted sleeve 24 and top surface 27 of internal combustion engine 4. Because of the generated coercive forces, micro movements may occur due to the slotted design of slotted sleeve 24, slight relative displacements being possible at slotted sleeve 24, This makes it possible to absorb a portion of the coercive forces.

(11) Slotted sleeve 24 therefore assumes the task of partially compensating for the different displacements of component 2 and cylinder head 4. The forced displacements at the fuel rail are reduced as a result, since a portion of the displacements is already absorbed by slotted sleeve 24. Less pronounced displacements thus arise at the remaining structure of system 1, in particular at component 2 and holder 3. This specifically reduces also the stresses at the soldered connections within holder 3 and between holder 3 and component 2. This applies accordingly also to differently developed connections. The operational stresses at system 1 are reduced as a result.

(12) In this exemplary embodiment, slot 28 of slotted sleeve 24 is placed at slotted sleeve 24 in such a way that slot 28 faces away from longitudinal axis 6. Furthermore, slot 28 extends parallel to fastening axis 13. Such a directional assembly or placement of slotted sleeve 24 makes it possible to reduce the stresses in an especially effective manner. The reduction of the stresses at potentially critical locations is especially significant as a result. In a modified development, slot 28 may also face longitudinal axis 6, which likewise makes it possible to achieve a relatively effective reduction of the stresses. However, in principle other placements of slot 28 are conceivable as well.

(13) As a result, coercive forces or mechanical stresses in the region of holder 3, in particular those produced due to temperature changes, are at least partially able to be absorbed in an effective manner. However, this advantageous effect may also be utilized for coercive forces or mechanical stresses that are not or only partially created by heat-related changes in length.

(14) System 1 preferably has a multiplicity of holders, of which at least one holder is developed according to holder 3. However, multiple holders or even all holders of system 1 may be designed in accordance with holder 3.

(15) The present invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments described.