Injector, and device for detecting the condition of such an injector

Abstract

The present invention relates to an injector for injecting fuel, comprising an injector housing, a movable nozzle needle which is arranged in the injector housing and has a nozzle needle tip, a nozzle needle seat for receiving the nozzle needle tip, and a mechanical switch which upon contact of the nozzle needle tip with the nozzle needle seat assumes a closed state and upon interruption of the contact assumes an open state, wherein the injector is provided with an input line and an output line for actuating a movement of the nozzle needle, and the switch includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The injector is characterized in that the first terminal of the switch is connected to the input line and the second terminal of the switch is connected to the injector housing.

Claims

1. An injector (1) for injecting fuel, comprising: an injector housing (2), a movable nozzle needle which is arranged in the injector housing (2) and has a nozzle needle tip, and a nozzle needle seat for receiving the nozzle needle tip and arranged within the injector housing (2), wherein a switch (3) is defined within the injector housing (2) by contact pairing of the nozzle needle and the nozzle needle seat, on contact of the nozzle needle tip with the nozzle needle seat, said switch (3) assumes a closed state and upon interruption of the contact, said switch (3) assumes an open state, the injector (1) is provided with an input line (4) and an output line (5) extending into the injector housing (2) for actuating movement of the nozzle needle, the switch (3) formed by said nozzle needle and seat includes a first terminal (6) and a second terminal (7), the first terminal (6) of the switch (3) is electrically connected to the input line (4), the second terminal (7) of the switch (3) is electrically connected to the injector housing (2), and a plug on the injector housing (2) has only two poles and only includes the input line (4) and the output line (5), and includes no further lines for detecting opened or closed state of the injector (1), wherein the injector is provided with the input line and the output line for actuating a movement of the nozzle needle, the switch includes a first terminal and a second terminal, and the injector is configured and positioned to apply a diagnostic voltage and a diagnostic current to the input line leading into the injector housing, to detect a voltage profile at the input line and to detect a differential current between the input line and the output line.

2. The injector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the injector housing (2) is made of an electrically conducting material.

3. The combination of an injector (1) for injecting fuel, comprising: an injector housing (2), a movable nozzle needle which is arranged in the injector housing (2) and has a nozzle needle tip, and a nozzle needle seat for receiving the nozzle needle tip and arranged within the injector housing (2), and a device (10) configured and arranged for detecting the state of the injector (1), wherein a switch (3) is defined within the injector housing (2) by contact pairing of the nozzle needle and the nozzle needle seat, on contact of the nozzle needle tip with the nozzle needle seat, said switch (3) assumes a closed state and upon interruption of the contact, said switch (3) assumes an open state, the injector (1) is provided with an input line (4) and an output line (5) extending into the injector housing (2) for actuating movement of the nozzle needle, the switch (3) formed by said nozzle needle and seat includes a first terminal (6) and a second terminal (7), the first terminal (6) of the switch (3) is electrically connected to the input line (4), the second terminal (7) of the switch (3) is electrically connected to the injector housing (2), a plug on the injector housing (2) has only two poles and only includes the input line (4) and the output line (5), and includes no further lines for detecting opened or closed state of the injector (1), the device (1) is configured and positioned to apply a diagnostic voltage and a diagnostic current (I.sub.diag) to the input line (4) leading into the injector housing (2), to detect a voltage profile at the input line (4) and to detect a differential current between the input line (4) and the output line (5).

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein an application of the voltage is effected via at least one of a voltage source and a current source.

5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein the application of the voltage is effected via the connection of a resistor (R1) between the input line (4) and a supply voltage.

6. The combination according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the current (I.sub.diag) and the current (I.sub.diag) resulting from the application of the voltage is very small as compared to the current (I.sub.inj) which is required to actuate a movement of the nozzle needle.

7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the current (I.sub.diag) and the current (I.sub.diag) resulting from the application of the voltage is less than or equal to one tenth of the current (I.sub.inj) for actuation.

8. The combination according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the current (I.sub.diag) and the current (I.sub.diag) resulting from the application of the voltage is less than or equal to one hundredth of the current (I.sub.inj) for actuation.

9. The combination according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the current (I.sub.diag) and the current (I.sub.diag) resulting from the application of the voltage is less than or equal to one thousandth of the current (I.sub.inj) for actuation.

10. The combination according to claim 3, further comprising a means (μC) for voltage detection to detect the diagnostic voltage at the input line (4) of the injector (1).

11. The combination according to claim 3, further comprising means for differential current determination to detect a differential current flowing between the input line (4) and the output line (5).

12. The combination according to claim 3, wherein the device (10) is configured to detect at least one of a beginning and an end of the nozzle needle being lifted from its nozzle needle seat with reference to the detected voltage profile or the detected differential current.

13. The combination according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the voltage and the current (I.sub.diag) is applied independently of at least one of an actuation current and an actuation voltage for the injector (1).

14. The injector (1) according to claim 1, wherein the injector housing (2) is connected to ground potential (9).

15. The injector (1) according to claim 1, wherein between the second terminal (7) and the injector housing (2), a resistor (R2) is connected.

16. The injector (1) according to claim 15, wherein between the first terminal (6) of the switch (3) and the input line (4), a resistor (R2) is also connected.

17. An injector (1) for injecting fuel, comprising: an injector housing (2), a movable nozzle needle which is arranged in the injector housing (2) and has a nozzle needle tip, and a nozzle needle seat for receiving the nozzle needle tip and arranged within the injector housing (2), wherein a switch (3) is defined within the injector housing (2) by contact pairing of the nozzle needle and the nozzle needle seat, on contact of the nozzle needle tip with the nozzle needle seat, said switch (3) assumes a closed state and upon interruption of the contact, said switch (3) assumes an open state, the injector (1) is provided with an input line (4) and an output line (5) extending into the injector housing (2) for actuating movement of the nozzle needle, the switch (3) formed by said nozzle needle and seat includes a first terminal (6) and a second terminal (7), the first terminal (6) of the switch (3) is electrically connected to the input line (4), the second terminal (7) of the switch (3) is electrically connected to the injector housing (2), a plug on the injector housing (2) has only two poles and only includes the input line (4) and the output line (5), and includes no further lines for detecting opened or closed state of the injector (1), and between the first terminal (6) of the switch (3) and the input line (4), a resistor (R2) is connected), wherein the injector is provided with the input line and the output line for actuating a movement of the nozzle needle, the switch includes a first terminal and a second terminal, and the injector is configured and positioned to apply a diagnostic voltage and a diagnostic current to the input line leading into the injector housing, to detect a voltage profile at the input line and to detect a differential current between the input line and the output line.

18. An injector (1) for injecting fuel, comprising: an injector housing (2), a movable nozzle needle which is arranged in the injector housing (2) and has a nozzle needle tip, and a nozzle needle seat for receiving the nozzle needle tip and arranged within the injector housing (2), wherein a switch (3) is defined within the injector housing (2) by contact pairing of the nozzle needle and the nozzle needle seat, on contact of the nozzle needle tip with the nozzle needle seat, said switch (3) assumes a closed state and upon interruption of the contact, said switch (3) assumes an open state, the injector (1) is provided with an input line (4) and an output line (5) extending into the injector housing (2) for actuating movement of the nozzle needle, the switch (3) formed by said nozzle needle and seat includes a first terminal (6) and a second terminal (7), the first terminal (6) of the switch (3) is electrically connected to the input line (4), the second terminal (7) of the switch (3) is electrically connected to the injector housing (2), a plug on the injector housing (2) has only two poles and only includes the input line (4) and the output line (5), and includes no further lines for detecting opened or closed state of the injector (1), and an actuator (8) is connected to both the input line (4) and the output line (5) and configured to cause the nozzle needle tip to be lifted from the nozzle needle seat upon application of a current guided over the input line (4) and the output line (5)), wherein the injector is provided with the input line and the output line for actuating a movement of the nozzle needle, the switch includes a first terminal and a second terminal, and the injector is configured and positioned to apply a diagnostic voltage and a diagnostic current to the input line leading into the injector housing, to detect a voltage profile at the input line and to detect a differential current between the input line and the output line.

19. The injector (1) according to claim 18, wherein the actuator (8) is an electromagnet.

20. The injector (1) according to claim 18, wherein the actuator (8) is a piezo element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages, details and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of Figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1: shows an injector with a switch from the prior art,

(3) FIG. 2: shows an injector according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 3: shows a diagram for the temporal representation of injector voltage, needle movement and needle stroke switch,

(5) FIG. 4: shows a first embodiment of a device for detecting a state of the injector,

(6) FIG. 5: shows a second embodiment of the device for detecting a state of the injector, and

(7) FIG. 6: shows a third embodiment for detecting a state of the injector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an injector as it is known from the prior art. The injector 100 has a housing 102 in which there is a means 108 for moving a nozzle needle out of its associated nozzle needle seat. In addition, there is arranged a mechanical switch 103 which on contact of the nozzle needle with the nozzle needle seat assumes a closed state and upon interruption of this contact assumes an open state. For actuation, an input line 104 and an output line 105, which are connected to the means 108 for moving the nozzle needle, lead into the injector housing 102. In addition, the two contacts 106, 107 of the switch 103 also are lead out from the injector housing 102. In general, this results in an injector which is provided with more than two lines protruding out of the injector housing 102 so that a new plug is to be provided for such an injector 102.

(9) Previously used, conventional injectors 100 use a two-pole plug which merely is necessary for the power supply of the actuator 108. For detecting the position of the switch (also: needle stroke switch) at least one further plug contact 106, 107 is necessary, which requires a novel mechanical design and no longer leaves the injector plug compatible with previous systems.

(10) FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the injector 1 according to the invention, which is provided with an injector housing 2, an input line 4 leading into the injector housing 2, and an output line 5 leading out of the injector housing 2. In addition, there is provided an actuator 8 for actuating a nozzle needle, which for example can be an electromagnet or a piezo element. Furthermore, a mechanical switch 3 also is disposed in the injector 1, which operates in conjunction with the movement of the nozzle needle of the injector 1. When the nozzle needle is lifted from its seat and the nozzle is cleared for injection, the integrated switch 3 opens its contact. On closing of the needle, by contrast, the contact likewise is closed. A first terminal 6 of the switch 3 is connected to the input line 4 via a resistor R2. The second terminal 7 of the switch 3 is electrically connected to the injector housing 2, which in operation typically is to be equated with ground potential 9.

(11) The information whether the needle stroke switch 3 is closed or open, and thus, whether or not the injection is made, is indicated by an additional power consumption in the injector. In contrast to the prior art configuration, no contact of the switch is directly accessible in the present application. Furthermore, the resistor R2 serves to limit the current to a minimum required measure by means of the contact.

(12) Upon activation of the injector a voltage is applied to the input line 4 and the input line 5, which leads to the fact that the nozzle needle is indirectly put into movement via the actuator 8, which can be designed as an electromagnet or as a piezo element. The needle is lifted from its seat and thus opens the contact. As a result, fuel is injected into the combustion space.

(13) When using such an injector, the differential current method (=fault current detection) is employed for detection purposes. In the process, the current flowing into the injector is compared with the current flowing out. When the switch 3 is closed, slightly more current flows into the injector 1 at one of the terminals as compared to current flowing out via the second terminal. This is due to the fact that a part of the current flows directly to ground 9 via the switch 3. In this way, it can be detected quite well whether or not the switch is closed.

(14) On the other hand, when the current flowing into the injector is identical with the current flowing out from the injector, the switch 3 is open. When both currents are different, a closed switch 3 can be inferred therefrom. This kind of detection, however, only works when a voltage is applied to the injector 1, as a current flow is required for the detection.

(15) FIG. 3 shows the temporal relationship between an application of an injector voltage (diagram D3), a needle movement (diagram D2), and the state of the switch (diagram D1). On activation of the injector, a voltage is applied to the same. This leads to the fact that the nozzle needle starts to move, indirectly driven by an electromagnet or a piezo element. The needle is lifted from its seat and thus opens the contact. As a result, fuel is injected into the combustion space. When the voltage at the injector is removed again, the movements are made in the reverse direction. The needle returns to its seat, the fuel flow is interrupted and the contact is closed again. Due to the inertia of the system to be recognized in FIG. 3, it is a logical consequence that the switching times of the switch 3 (cf. diagram D1) do not coincide exactly with the time points of the application and the removal of the voltage of the injector (cf. diagram D3). Rather, the same are delayed significantly. This can lead to situations in which the injector is no longer energized at all and the needle still has not returned to its seat. In such a case, a started injection still takes place. Only after a delay, the needle and thus the switch 3 as well will be closed. These cases are highlighted in FIG. 3 with dotted areas. As the injector 1 shown in FIG. 2 no longer is energized at these time points, it is not easily possible to detect a possibly present additional current by the needle stroke switch 3.

(16) Previous approaches use the switch in the injector in such a way that the switch contacts are lead out at separate terminals. Then, the same require a four-pole or also three-pole plug. The detection of the switching operation then turns out to be quite simple, in that the switch is detected via a resistance measurement. A low resistance indicates a closed switch, whereas a high resistance represents an open switch.

(17) In terms of circuitry, a switch can be detected more easily by connecting one pole of the switch to a common ground and the other pole to the supply voltage via a resistor. When the switch is open, a high voltage is obtained at the pole connected to the resistor, which in the ideal case corresponds to the supply voltage, and when the switch is closed, a low voltage is obtained, which in the ideal case amounts to about zero Volt. It makes no difference whether the switching contact is lead out from the injector via four contacts or three contacts. FIG. 4 shows an interaction of the device 10 of the invention with the injector 1.

(18) The opening and closing of the nozzle needle is detected via the voltage potential at the actuator 8 (solenoid valve coil or the like) after the energization or during an ongoing energization. To detect the change in potential also after energizing the injector, an auxiliary voltage is applied to the injector. It is required to connect this voltage to the pin of the injector 1 to which the internal resistor R2 also is connected. In the present case, this is the input line 4. The desired function can only be achieved in this way.

(19) This voltage can be generated either from an active current source I1 or simply by a resistor R1 (cf. FIG. 5). It is decisive that the current I.sub.diag is very low as compared to the actual current for the injector drive, so as not to impair the function of the injector 1.

(20) As shown in FIG. 5, the injector has only two terminals 4, 5, one of which (namely the input line 4) is connected to the needle stroke switch 3 via a resistor R2. The second terminal 7 of the switch 3 in turn is connected to the ground-leading housing 2 of the injector 1.

(21) For detecting the switch function, a specifically modified controller is required. As already described above, the function of the switch 3 advantageously can be detected by means of an additional voltage which is realized by a resistor R1 in the controller 10.

(22) While the injector 1 is actuated, a detection of the switch state is not possible. The drive current I.sub.inj is higher than the measurement current through the switch 3 by some orders of magnitude, whereby a detection becomes impossible. Upon actuation of the switch 3, the voltage at the input line 4 of the injector 1 changes by less than one thousandth. Detecting this change in a simple way and securely distinguishing the same from a malfunction is not possible without excessive expenditure.

(23) On the other hand, when the injector 1 is “switched off”, i.e. the injection is terminated, the needle does not immediately fall back into its seat, but only does so with some delay, as can be taken from FIG. 3 (cf. diagram D2). The needle stroke switch 3 initially remains open, and the resistor R2 thus does not exert any influence on the circuitry in the controller 10. In this time window, the full diagnostic voltage can be measured at the input line 4 of the injector 1 via the resistor R1.

(24) At the end of the delay, the needle falls back into its seat and closes the switch. The resistor R1 in the controller 10 now forms a voltage divider together with the resistor R2 in the injector 1. The voltage at the part of the input line 4 of the injector 1 which is lead out from the injector housing 2 is divided in the ratio (R2/R1+R2) and hence is lower than the applied voltage at R1.

(25) This voltage jump from a higher to a lower voltage can be detected by a microcontroller μC in the controller 10 and can be obtained as information for signaling the end of an injection.

(26) In the case of long injection durations, the beginning of an injection cannot be detected via this auxiliary voltage, but this plays a subordinate role, as the same can be detected at short injection durations and thus can also be transferred to longer injection durations. What is more decisive is the closing time of the injection valve, as this time has a very much larger temporal variance. In other words, this point in time spreads more. To each measure this closing time is made possible by the present invention in conjunction with the especially configured injector, which has merely two connection poles. As is shown in FIG. 3 with reference to the second injection, the detection of the beginning and end of the injection is possible with very short actuation times, i.e. in the so-called ballistic mode. In such a case, the movement of the needle takes place with such a delay that the current flow in the injector 1 already has abated and the detection of the switch state is possible undisturbed.

(27) The particular advantage of this invention is an injector 1 remaining compatible. It still requires only two connection pins and can also be used in applications in which the detection function is not utilized or needed. The integrated switch 3 and the resistor R2 do not impair the function of the injector 1 due to the minimum currents of a few milliamperes.

(28) Consequently, there is not needed a special plug with three or four connection pins, and tools used so far can be employed in the manufacture.

(29) On the other hand, the evaluation of the signal on the part of the controller is very simple. To generate the diagnostic signal, only a single resistor R1 is needed, which generates the required diagnostic voltage. An additional line is not required either in order to apply this voltage to the injector 1. For detecting the voltage jump, no complex circuitry is necessary in the controller 10, as in the simplest case and with an appropriate design a digital input of a controller μC or a threshold switch is sufficient, which reacts to the two different voltage states. Circuit modules which are influenced in the decisive properties by temperature drift and tolerances and thus have a low signal-to-noise ratio are not required. Pure voltage levels with a large voltage difference can be detected very easily and very securely even with high temperature fluctuations and component tolerances.

(30) The invention allows the detection of the injection only after the energization of the injector 1 has been terminated, which, as described above, is not too great a disadvantage, as the end of an injection is much more relevant and the injection start learned at small injection quantities can be transferred to longer injections. When the opening time nevertheless is to be detected also during the energization of the injector, the method can be combined with the differential current method.

(31) For the differential current method, as shown in FIG. 6, a further resistor is added in the controller so that even in the non-actuated state of the injector an auxiliary voltage is applied to the injector.