VIBRATION DAMPING SYSTEM FOR INJECTION SYSTEMS OF MOTOR VEHICLES, IN PARTICULAR FOR FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMS, AND INJECTION SYSTEM INCLUDING SUCH A VIBRATION DAMPING SYSTEM

Abstract

A vibration damping system for injection systems of motor vehicles includes an actively controllable actuator element, which is situated at a component of the injection system. The actuator element is situated at the component in such a way that, during operation of the injection system a vibration reduction of the injection system is achieved with the aid of an active control of the actuator element.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A vibration damping system for an injection system of a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one actively controllable actuator element which is situated at a component of the injection system, the actuator element being situated at the component in such a way that, during operation of the injection system, a vibration reduction of the injection system is achieved using an active control of the actuator element.

12. The vibration damping system as recited in claim 11, further comprising: a control unit configured to, during operation of the injection system, actively control the actuator element, the control unit configured in such a way that, during operation of the injection system, the vibration reduction of the injection system is achieved using the active control of the actuator element, which enables a damping of a sound emission of the injection system and/or a reduction of at least one vibration load of the injection system.

13. The vibration damping system as recited in claim 12, further comprising: an injection control unit for the injection system, the injection control unit configured to control at least one metering valve of the injection system and/or to detect at least one operating variable of the injection system, the control unit being integrated into the injection control unit, and is configured to controls the actuator element as a function of the control of the metering valve and/or the operating variable of the injection system.

14. The vibration damping system as recited in claim 11, wherein the actively controllable actuator element is situated between a connecting piece of a fluid-conducting component of the fuel injection system and a connector of a metering valve.

15. The vibration damping system as recited in claim 14, wherein the connector of the metering valve is suspended on the connecting piece of the fluid-conducting component using the actively controllable actuator element.

16. The vibration damping system as recited in claim 11, wherein the actively controllable actuator element is situated freely at an outer side of a fluid-conducting component of the fuel injection system.

17. The vibration damping system as recited in claim 11, wherein the actively controllable actuator element is supported at an outer side of a fluid-conducting component of the fuel injection system and/or at or in a holder of the injection system.

18. The vibration damping system as recited in claim 17, wherein the actively controllable actuator element is supported at the holder which is connected to a fixed bearing, or at a fixed bearing.

19. The vibration damping system as recited in claim 14, wherein the fluid-conducting component is a fluid distributor which is configured to store and/or distribute fluid among multiple metering valves.

20. An injection system for mixture-compressing, spark ignition internal combustion engines, the system comprising: at least one fluid-conducting component; at least one component configured as a metering valve; and a vibration damping system including at least one actively controllable actuator element which is situated at a component of the injection system, the actuator element being situated at the component in such a way that, during operation of the injection system, a vibration reduction of the injection system is achieved using an active control of the actuator element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in greater detail in the description below with reference to the figures, in which corresponding elements are provided with concurrent reference numerals.

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a vibration damping system corresponding to a first possible embodiment in a schematic representation, an actively controllable actuator element being integrated in parallel into a spring-mass damping system.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a vibration damping system corresponding to a second possible embodiment in a schematic representation, an actively controllable actuator element being serially integrated into a spring-mass damping system.

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a vibration damping system corresponding to a third possible embodiment in a schematic representation, an actively controllable actuator element being integrated in an absolute manner into a spring-mass damping system.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of an injection system in an excerpted, schematic representation according to the first possible embodiment of the vibration damping system.

[0018] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of an injection system in an excerpted, schematic representation according to the second possible embodiment of the vibration damping system.

[0019] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of an injection system in an excerpted, schematic representation according to the third possible embodiment of the vibration damping system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a vibration damping system 1 for an injection system 2 (FIG. 4) of a motor vehicle corresponding to a first possible embodiment in a schematic representation. In this embodiment, an actively controllable actuator element 3 of vibration damping system 1 is integrated in parallel into a spring-mass damping system 4.

[0021] Spring-mass damping system 4 includes a component 5 having a mass m, a spring 6 having a spring constant k, and a damper 7 having damping d. In the first embodiment, actuator element 3 is situated in parallel to spring 6 and damper 7, between component 5 and a fixed bearing 8. Vibration damping system 1 additionally includes a control unit 9, which is used to control actuator element 3.

[0022] Actuator element 3 may be designed as a piezoelectric element 3. An inductive or capacitive design or a design functioning based on other mechanisms of action, which allows an active force or path change when an external signal is applied, is also possible. For example, a force FA may be introduced into spring-mass damping system 4 by actuator element 3. An active regulation may be implemented with respect to operating variables, such as a pressure p (FIG. 4). In this way, an active vibration reduction is made possible.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a vibration damping system 1 corresponding to a second possible embodiment in a schematic representation, actively controllable actuator element 3 being serially integrated into spring-mass damping system 4. In this embodiment, a component 5 having mass mi and a component 5 having mass m2 are provided, between which actively controllable actuator element 3 is provided, which may introduce force FA into spring-mass damping system 4. Component 5 is connected to fixed bearing 8 with the aid of spring 6 and damper 7 situated in parallel to spring 6.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a vibration damping system 1 corresponding to a third possible embodiment in a schematic representation, actively controllable actuator element 3 being integrated into spring-mass damping system 4 in an absolute manner. Actuator element 3 is divided into a force component 3A and a mass component 3B having mass m2 here. In the schematic representation, mass component 3B illustrates permanent mass m2 of actuator element 3. In the schematic representation, force component 3A illustrates force FA applied by actuator element 3. Force component 3A of actuator element 3 is situated between mass component 3B and component 5 having mass ml. Component 5 is connected to fixed bearing 8 with the aid of spring 6 and damper 7 connected in parallel to spring 6.

[0025] It shall be understood that spring-mass damping systems 4 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 shall be understood as simplified models. In particular, it may be useful in the particular application case to integrate multiple actively controllable actuator elements 3 into a spring-mass damping system 4. A further division of masses m, m.sub.l, m.sub.2 and accordingly a further division of spring 6 and of damper 7 may be useful.

[0026] The assignment of the exemplary embodiments described based on FIGS. 4 through 6 to spring-mass damping systems 4 described based on FIGS. 1 to 3 shall accordingly be understood as a model-related simplification.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of an injection system 2 in an excerpted, schematic representation according to the first possible embodiment of vibration damping system 1 described based on FIG. 1. In this exemplary embodiment, injection system 2 is mounted at a cylinder head 10 of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, which represents fixed bearing 8 here. Injection system 2 includes a fluid-conducting component 11, which is configured as a fuel distributor 11. A feed line 12, with the aid of which fuel is conducted into an interior space 11 (FIG. 6) of fuel distributor 11, is connected at fuel distributor 11. Connecting pieces 13, 14 are provided at fuel distributor 11. A connector 15 of a fuel injector 16 is inserted into connecting piece 13. Furthermore, a connector 17 of a fuel injector 18 is inserted into connecting piece 14. Fuel injectors 16, 18 are additionally inserted into suitable boreholes 19, 20 of cylinder head 10.

[0028] In this exemplary embodiment, component 5 having mass m is essentially implemented by fuel distributor 11, connecting pieces 13, 14 and fuel injectors 16, 18. Mass m is connected with the aid of holders 21, 22 to cylinder head 10. Injection system 2 is furthermore described in a simplified manner with the aid of spring 6 having spring constant k and damper 7 having damping d. Actively controllable actuator element 3 is situated between mass m and holder 22. For example, actuator element 3 may be connected in a suitable manner to fuel distributor 11.

[0029] Actuator element 3 may also be integrated into holder 22 or be situated between holder 22 and cylinder head 10.

[0030] Control unit 9 may be integrated into an injection control unit 25 of injection system 2. For example, injection control unit 25 may detect pressure p inside fuel distributor 11 with the aid of a pressure sensor 26 attached at fuel distributor 11. Injection control unit 25 is furthermore connected to fuel injectors 16, 18 to control fuel injectors 16, 18 for injecting fuel. An electrical line 27, with the aid of which actuator element 3 is connected to injection control unit 25, may be integrated into a wiring harness 28, with the aid of which also the electrical supply of fuel injectors 16, 18 and pressure sensor 26 designed as a high pressure sensor takes place. Algorithms for regulation and their application to the instantaneous systems states may be resumed by suitable and present processor capacities, which are available on injection control unit 25, for example.

[0031] In this exemplary embodiment, injection control unit 25 is preferably designed as an engine control unit 25, in which numerous functions are combined. Preferably, all corresponding pieces of information which may be used for the active regulation converge in engine control unit 25. These include, for example, pressure p in fuel distributor 11, a rotational speed of a crankshaft of the engine, and pieces of information about the injection processes of injectors 16, 18. In this way, one or multiple operating variable(s), in particular, pressure p, the rotational speed of a crankshaft of the engine and pieces of information about the injection processes of injectors 16, 18, may be detected and utilized by control unit 9 for controlling at least one actuator element 3.

[0032] Actuator element 3 has a suitable shape. For example, actuator element 3 may be configured with a rectangular profile. In particular, actuator element 3 may be configured in the form of a cuboid. Actuator element 3 may also be configured in another manner, in particular, also cylindrically.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of an injection system 2 in an excerpted, schematic representation according to the second possible embodiment of vibration damping system 1 described based on FIG. 2. In this exemplary embodiment, fuel is delivered from a tank 30 into fuel distributor 11 with the aid of a pump system 31. A connector 15 of fuel injector 16 is situated in connecting piece 13 of fuel distributor 11. A seal is implemented between connector 15 and connecting piece 13 with the aid of a sealing ring 32. Sealing ring 32 is supported on a collar 33 of connector 17. Furthermore, a collar 34 on which a projection 35 is formed is provided at connecting piece 13. Actuator element 3 is situated between projection 35 and an end face 36 of connecting piece 13 facing projection 35. Actuator element 3 may be configured, for example, as an annular actuator element 3 having a rectangular profile.

[0034] In this exemplary embodiment, component 5 of spring-mass damping system 4, which is illustrated in FIG. 2, is formed by fuel injector 16 including connector 15. Component 5 is formed by fuel distributor 11 and connecting piece 13. It shall be understood that this division into components 5, 5 shall be understood within the meaning of a simplified, specific representation since injection system 2 is modeled in a simplified manner here by two masses, m.sub.1, m.sub.2, a spring constant k, a damping d and actuator element 3 integrated therein. For example, it may be assumed that no direct contact exists between fuel injector 16 and cylinder head 10. Fuel injector 16 is then held with the aid of a holder 37 and with the aid of pressure p of the fuel, for example. Fuel distributor 11 is connected in a suitable manner to cylinder head 10 (FIG. 4), which may represent fixed bearing 8.

[0035] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of an injection system 2 in an excerpted, schematic representation according to the third possible embodiment of vibration damping system 1 described based on FIG. 3. In this exemplary embodiment, actuator element 3 is attached at an outer side 38 of fuel distributor 11. Mass component 3B is implemented here by permanent mass m2 of actuator element 3. However, it is also possible for the permanent mass of actuator element 3 to be increased in a suitable manner, for example by a housing part or an additional mass of actuator element 3.

[0036] Furthermore, it may be advantageous that multiple actuator elements 3 are situated at fuel distributor 11, which are situated, for example, along a longitudinal axis 11 (FIG. 4) of a tubular base body 39 of fuel distributor 11. Fuel distributor 11 may be connected in a suitable manner to cylinder head 10, which represents fixed bearing 8.

[0037] One or more of the described options for arranging actuator elements 3 may be implemented on an injection system 2. The different principles for influencing spring-mass damping systems 4 may be combined in a suitable manner with actuator elements 3 in the process. In principle, spring-mass damping system 4 may be influenced with the aid of at least one actuator element 3 at multiple or all coupling interfaces of an injection system 2 on which structural vibrations are transmitted. An actuator element 3 may also be situated between a holder 22 and cylinder head 10, for example. Furthermore, an actuator element 3 may be situated directly on sound-emitting surfaces, as is described based on outer side 38 of tubular base body 39.

[0038] The present invention is not restricted to the described embodiments.