Water Distributor for an Internal Combustion Engine

Abstract

A water distributor for water to be injected into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is provided with a housing that has a receiving chamber, wherein the receiving chamber extends in a longitudinal direction of the housing. An insertion element with an insertion section is provided and the insertion section is inserted into the receiving chamber and extends in the longitudinal direction in correspondence to the receiving chamber. A water inlet and at least one water outlet are provided. A distributor channel connects the water inlet in fluid communication to the at least one water outlet. The distributor channel is delimited at least partially by the insertion element. The housing and the insertion element are connected water-tightly to each other at an end face of the housing. The housing and the insertion element are made a plastic material.

Claims

1. A water distributor for water to be injected into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the water distributor comprising: a housing comprising a receiving chamber, wherein the receiving chamber extends in a longitudinal direction of the housing; an insertion element comprising an insertion section, wherein the insertion section is inserted into the receiving chamber and extends in the longitudinal direction in correspondence to the receiving chamber; a water inlet and at least one water outlet; a distributor channel connecting the water inlet in fluid communication to the at least one water outlet, wherein the distributor channel is delimited at least partially by the insertion element; wherein the housing and the insertion element are connected water-tightly to each other at an end face of the housing; wherein the housing and the insertion element each are comprised of a plastic material.

2. The water distributor according to claim 1, wherein the distributor channel is delimited by the insertion element and is further delimited by the housing.

3. The water distributor according to claim 2, wherein the housing comprises a first longitudinal groove and the insertion element comprises a second longitudinal groove, wherein the first and second longitudinal grooves together form the distributor channel.

4. The water distributor according to claim 3, wherein the first and second longitudinal grooves have the same depth.

5. The water distributor according to claim 2, wherein a contact surface between the housing and the insertion element intersects the distributor channel and is planar.

6. The water distributor according to claim 1, wherein the distributor channel is completely delimited by the insertion element.

7. The water distributor according to claim 6, wherein the insertion section of the insertion element comprises a first half shell comprising a first longitudinal groove and further comprises a second half shell comprising a second longitudinal groove, wherein the first and second longitudinal grooves form together the distributor channel.

8. The water distributor according to claim 7, wherein the first and second longitudinal grooves have the same depth.

9. The water distributor according to claim 6, wherein the two half shells, at least in sections thereof, are connected to each other by a film hinge.

10. The water distributor according to claim 1, wherein the housing and the insertion element are welded together at the end face.

11. The water distributor according to claim 10, wherein the housing and the insertion element are welded together at the end face by laser welding.

12. The water distributor according to claim 10, wherein at the end face a continuous, circumferentially extending inner weld seam and an outer weld seam are provided spaced apart from each other.

13. The water distributor according to claim 12, wherein the outer weld seam is a continuous, circumferentially extending weld seam.

14. The water distributor according to claim 1, wherein the distributor channel has a circular cross section with a diameter of at most 4.5 mm.

15. The water distributor according to claim 1, wherein the distributor channel comprises a constant cross section across an entire length thereof.

16. The water distributor according to claim 1, wherein the water inlet is embodied at the insertion element.

17. The water distributor according to claim 1, wherein the insertion element comprises a passage connecting in fluid communication the distributor channel to the at least one water outlet.

18. The water distributor according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a sensor connector configured to receive a pressure sensor and wherein the insertion element comprises an opening connecting the distributor channel to the sensor connector in fluid communication.

19. The water distributor according to claim 1, wherein an inner contour of the receiving chamber of the housing and an outer contour of the insertion section of the insertion element each comprise a shape of a segment of a circle.

20. The water distributor according to claim 19, wherein the shape of the outer contour and of the inner contour is semi-circular.

21. The water distributor according to claim 1, wherein the insertion section and the receiving chamber taper in the longitudinal direction.

22. The water distributor according to claim 21, wherein the receiving chamber and the insertion section taper uniformly in the longitudinal direction.

23. The water distributor according to claim 1, wherein the housing and the insertion element are made of the same plastic material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, from the claims as well as from the Figures of the drawing which show details important to the invention. The different features can be realized each individually or several combined in any combination in variants of the invention. The features illustrated in the drawing are illustrated such that the particularities according to the invention can be shown particularly well.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a water distributor according to the invention in a first embodiment in a perspective view at a slant from above.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a schematic longitudinal section of the water distributor of FIG. 1, wherein the configuration of the water distributor of a housing and of an insertion element received in the housing can be seen.

[0037] FIG. 3a shows the water distributor of FIG. 1 in an exploded illustration in viewing direction at a slant from below, wherein an insertion section of the insertion element is illustrated outside of a receiving chamber of the housing.

[0038] FIG. 3b shows an enlarged perspective illustration of an end face of the housing in a view as in FIG. 3a, but without insertion element.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross section at section line F4 of the water distributor of FIG. 1, sectioned at the level of a sensor connector.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross section at section line F5 of the water distributor of FIG. 1, sectioned at the level of a water outlet.

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a water distributor according to the invention in a second embodiment in a schematic longitudinal section.

[0042] FIG. 7 shows a schematic cross section at section line F7 of the water distributor of FIG. 6, sectioned at the level of a sensor connector.

[0043] FIG. 8 shows a schematic cross section at section line F8 of the water distributor of FIG. 6, sectioned at the level of a water outlet.

[0044] FIG. 9 shows the insertion element of the water distributor of FIG. 6 with folded-apart half shells which are connected to each other by a film hinge.

[0045] FIG. 10 shows an insertion element for a water distributor according to the invention, wherein an insertion section of the insertion element comprises two half shells that can be plugged into each other.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a water distributor 10 according to the invention in a first embodiment in a perspective view at a slant from above. In FIG. 2, the water distributor 10 is illustrated in longitudinal section.

[0047] The water distributor 10 comprises a housing 12 and an insertion element 14. The housing 12 and the insertion element 14 are comprised here of the same plastic material, i.e., a glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene. A receiving chamber 16 is embodied in the housing 10. The receiving chamber 16 tapers in a longitudinal direction 18. Here, the receiving chamber 16 tapers along the longitudinal direction 18 uniformly, i.e., with a constant rate of decrease of its inner diameter. The insertion element 14 comprises an insertion section 20. The insertion section 20 is received in the receiving chamber 16, i.e., is inserted into it. The insertion section 20 tapers in the longitudinal direction in correspondence to the receiving chamber 16, here uniformly.

[0048] A distributor channel 22 is embodied in the water distributor 10. The distributor channel 22 extends here along the longitudinal direction 18. The water distributor 10 comprises a water inlet 24 and four water outlets 26. Moreover, the water distributor 10 comprises a sensor connector 28.

[0049] The water inlet 24 is embodied at the insertion element 14. A connecting channel 30 extends through the water inlet 24 and opens into the distributor channel 22. The water inlet 24 is connectable to a water supply, for example, a water hose (not illustrated).

[0050] The water outlets 26 and the sensor connector 28 are formed as one piece together with the housing 12 of the water distributor 10, here integrally formed thereon. Also, two holders 32 for fastening the water distributor 10 are integrally formed on the housing 12. Reinforcement ribs 34 are extending between the water outlets 26.

[0051] For a detailed explanation of the distributor channel 22 of the connection of the housing 12 to the insertion element 14, reference is additionally being had to FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b as well as FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. FIG. 3a shows an exploded illustration of the water distributor 10 viewed from below at a slant. FIG. 3b shows an enlarged detail of the housing 12 with a view of an end face 36 from where the receiving chamber 16 is extending away. FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the water distributor 10 at the level of the sensor connector 28 in viewing direction opposite to the longitudinal direction 18. In FIG. 5, a cross section of the water distributor 10 at the level of a water outlet 26 is illustrated, also in viewing direction opposite to the longitudinal direction 18.

[0052] At the end face 36, the housing 12 is connected water-tightly to the insertion element 14. The connection comprises here an inner weld seam 37a and an outer weld seam 37b. In FIG. 3b, it is indicated by dashed lines 37a=, 37b= that the weld seams 37a and 37b are arranged continuously in circumferential direction about the receiving chamber 16. Therefore, the weld seams 37a, 37b also surround the distributor channel 22 completely in viewing direction along the longitudinal direction 18. The weld seams 37a and 37b are spaced apart from each other at the end face 36. The inner weld seam 37a ensures that the connection of the housing 12 with insertion element 14 is water-tight. The outer weld seam 37b ensures the required mechanical strength. Both weld seams 37a, 37b have been produced by means of a laser welding method.

[0053] The distributor channel 22 is formed by two longitudinal grooves 38a, 38b. The longitudinal groove 38a extends straight in the housing 12; the longitudinal groove 38b extends straight in the insertion section 20 of the insertion element 14. Across the first half of its circumference, the distributor channel 22 is delimited by the housing 12 by the longitudinal groove 38a. Across the second half of its circumference, the distributor channel 22 is delimited by the insertion element 14 by the longitudinal groove 38b. Therefore, the insertion element 14 partially delimits the distributor channel 22 in circumferential direction.

[0054] The longitudinal grooves 38a, 38b here are embodied semi-circular with a constant mutually identical depth along the longitudinal direction 18. In the mounted state of the water distributor 10, a circular cross section of the distributor channel 22 results in this way; see in particular also FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. A diameter 40 of the distributor channel 22 amounts here to 3.8 mm across its entire length. The connecting channel 30 of the water inlet 24 passes continuously into the longitudinal groove 38b of the insertion element 14.

[0055] Below the sensor connector 28, the insertion section 20 of the insertion element 14 has an opening 42; see FIG. 4. Through the opening 42, the distributor channel 22 is connected in fluid communication with a passage cutout 44 of the sensor connector 28. Via the passage cutout 44 and the opening 42, the sensor connector 28 opens toward the distributor channel 22. The water pressure existing in the distributor channel 22 is thus acting also on a pressure sensor (not illustrated) fastened at the sensor connector 28.

[0056] As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the distributor channel 22 opens by means of an outlet cutout 46 in the housing 12 toward the water outlets 26, respectively. The outlet cutouts 46 connect the distributor channel 22 in fluid communication to the water outlets 26. Water injectors (not illustrated) fastenable in the water outlets 26 can thus be supplied through the distributor channel 22 with water that is supplied to the water distributor 10 through the water inlet 24. By means of the water injectors, the water can be injected from the water distributor 10 into air inlet channels, for example, into intake channels, of an internal combustion engine. From there, the water together with the intake air passes into the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine.

[0057] The receiving chamber 16 of the water distributor 10 comprises in the illustrated embodiment an inner contour 48 in the form of a segment of a circle. An outer contour 50 of the insertion section 20 of the insertion element 14 is embodied in the shape of a corresponding segment of a circle. This shape of the inner contour 48 and of the outer contour 50 is maintained across the length of the receiving chamber 16 or the insertion section 20. In order to realize the tapering, the radius of the inner contour 48 and of the outer contour 50 decreases however along the longitudinal direction 18. In regions adjoining the longitudinal grooves 38a, 38b, the receiving chamber 16 and the insertion section 20 are planar, respectively, so that a planar contact surface 52 is formed which intersects, here centrally, the distributor channel 22.

[0058] FIG. 6 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a water distributor 10 according to the invention in a second embodiment. The water distributor 10 comprises a housing 12 and an insertion element 14. An insertion section 20 of the insertion element 14 is received in the receiving chamber 16 of the housing 12. In this embodiment, the housing 12 is comprised, for example, of fiber-reinforced polyamide; the insertion element 14 can be manufactured, for example, of (unreinforced) polypropylene. At an end face 36, the housing 12 is water-tightly glued to the insertion element 14. The housing 12 and the insertion element 14 can also be comprised of the same plastic material.

[0059] FIG. 7 shows a cross section of the water distributor 10 at the level of the sensor connector 28. FIG. 8 shows a cross section of the water distributor 10 at the level of a water outlet 26. In the following, primarily the differences to the first embodiment of the water distributor, illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, will be described.

[0060] The insertion section 20 tapers conically in longitudinal direction 18. The insertion section 20 comprises here a round outer contour. Correspondingly, the receiving chamber 16 is embodied with a round cross section which decreases constantly in the longitudinal direction 18 so that also the receiving chamber 16 tapers conically in the longitudinal direction 18.

[0061] In this embodiment of the water distributor 10, the insertion section 20 of the insertion element 14 comprises two half shells 54a, 54b. In FIG. 9, the insertion element 14 is illustrated with opened half shells 54a, 54b. The half shells 54a, 54b are connected to each other by a film hinge 56. The film hinge 56 extends here across the entire length of the insertion section 20 but, in an alternative embodiment, can also be embodied only across partial regions. In the receiving chamber 16, a recess (not illustrated here in detail) extending in the longitudinal direction 18 can be formed in order to receive the film hinge 56 of the folded insertion section 20.

[0062] In the two half shells 54a, 54b, two longitudinal grooves 58a, 58b, here of the same depth, are provided which in the folded state of the insertion section 20 form a distributor channel 22. The distributor channel 22 is thus completely delimited, in other words completely about the circumference, by the insertion element 14. In the half shell 54a an opening 42 is formed which connects in fluid communication the distributor channel 22 to a sensor connector 28. In the half shell 58a, four passages 60 are formed, each connecting in fluid communication the distributor channel 22 to a water outlet 26. The water outlets 26 comprise for this purpose an outlet cutout 46 which opens into one of the passages 60, respectively.

[0063] In order to ensure that the passages 60 and the opening 42 each open into the water outlets 26 or the sensor connector 28, in a further embodiment, not illustrated, an outer shape that has no rotational symmetry and enables a visual or tactile control of the alignment of housing 12 and insertion element 14 relative to each other can be provided at the end face at the housing 12 and at the water inlet 24 of the insertion element 14. Alternatively, the insertion section 20 and the receiving chamber 16 can be provided with a non-round, for example, oval or triangle-like contour. As a further alternative, at the open or at the closed end of the housing 12 and in a corresponding region of the insertion element 14, intermeshing elements can be provided which enable a complete insertion of the insertion element 14 into the housing 12 only in the correct alignment.

[0064] FIG. 10 shows an insertion element 14 of a water distributor according to the invention. The insertion element 14 of FIG. 10 is an alternative configuration to the insertion element according to FIG. 9. It can be inserted into a housing 12 shown in FIG. 8. An insertion section 20 of the insertion element 14 comprises two half shells 54a, 54b in which a longitudinal groove 58a, 58b is formed, respectively. In FIG. 10, the insertion element 14 is shown in an open state. In a closed state, the two longitudinal grooves 58a, 58b form a distributor channel. In the insertion element 14 according to FIG. 10, the two half shells 54a, 54b are embodied as two separate components. At the half shell 54b, projections 62 are formed. The half shell 54a comprises recesses 64. When joining the two half shells 54a, 54b, the projections 62 engage the recesses 64. In this way, the half shells 54a, 54b are guided relative to each other so that, upon insertion into a receiving chamber of a housing, they are pressed against each other in the receiving chamber by a wedging action of the tapering insertion section 20. An additional joining, for example, material-fusing, of the half shells 54a, 54b prior to installation in the housing is not required.

[0065] For simple handling of the half shells 54a, 54b and a simple installation in the housing, the recesses 64 and the projections 62 can be designed in the form of a clip connection. Alternatively, the half shells 54a, 54b can be glued together or welded together prior to installation.