System having a fuel distributor and a mounting support

Abstract

A system, which may be embodied particularly as a fuel injection system for high pressure injection in internal combustion engines, includes a fuel distributor and a mounting support, which is used for fastening the fuel distributor to an externally-mounted structure, particularly a cylinder head, of an internal combustion engine. In this case, a damping composite element is provided, which is connected to the mounting support and/or the fuel distributor. The damping composite element includes at least one metal layer, which is formed at least essentially of a metallic material, and at least one elastically deformable damping layer.

Claims

1. A system, comprising: a fuel distributor; a first attachment structure; a second attachment structure; a mounting support by which the fuel distributor is simultaneously and independently fastened to a first attachment structure by an attachment of the first attachment structure to the mounting support at a first attachment point and to a second attachment structure by an attachment of the second attachment structure to the mounting support at a second attachment point, the attachments of the first and second attachment structures at the first and second attachment points, respectively, being independent of each other; and a damping composite element connected to the mounting support and the fuel distributor; wherein: the damping composite element includes: at least one metal layer formed of a metallic layer; and at least one elastically deformable damping layer; and the mounting support is arranged relative to the fuel distributor so that: the fuel distributor and the first and second attachment structures are positioned at a same first side of the mounting support; no part of the fuel distributor and no part of the first and second attachment structures are at respective second sides of the mounting support that are respectively opposite the respective first sides; in each of at least one plane, positions of the fuel distributor and the first and second attachment structures (a) are offset from each other with respect to a first axis so that, in the each of the at least one plane, no coordinate of the first axis is shared by both the fuel distributor and the first and second attachment structures and (b) overlap each other with respect to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis so that, in the each of the at least one plane, a first coordinate of the second axis is shared by both the fuel distributor and the first attachment structure and a second coordinate of the second axis is shared by both the fuel distributor and the second attachment structure; and the damping composite element (a) circumferentially wraps around at least a portion of an outer surface of the fuel distributor and (b) extends axially in a direction parallel to the second axis from (i) the first attachment point, which is at the first coordinate of the second axis shared by the fuel distributor and the first attachment structure to (ii) the second attachment point, which is at the second coordinate of the second axis shared by the fuel distributor and the second attachment structure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, in the each of the at least one plane, no coordinate of the second axis is shared by both of the first and second attachment structures.

3. A system, comprising: a fuel distributor; at least one mounting support for simultaneously fastening the fuel distributor to a first attachment structure and a second attachment structure; and a damping composite element connected to the at least one mounting support and the fuel distributor; wherein: the damping composite element includes: at least one metal layer formed of a metallic layer; and at least one elastically deformable damping layer; and the at least one mounting support is arranged relative to the fuel distributor for positioning of the fuel distributor and the first and second attachment structures at a same first side of the at least one mounting support when the fuel distributor and the first and second attachment structures are fastened to each other by the at least one mounting support, so that, when the fuel distributor and the first and second attachment structures are fastened to each other by the at least one mounting support: no part of the fuel distributor and no part of the first and second attachment structures are at respective second sides of the at least one mounting support that are respectively opposite the respective first sides; in at least one plane, positions of the fuel distributor and the first and second attachment structure (a) are offset from each other with respect to a first axis so that, in the at least one plane, no coordinate of the first axis is shared by both the fuel distributor and the first and second attachment structures and (b) overlap each other with respect to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis so that, in the at least one plane, at least one coordinate of the second axis is shared by both the fuel distributor and the first and second attachment structures; and the damping composite element (a) circumferentially wraps around at least a portion of an outer surface of the fuel distributor and (b) extends axially in a direction parallel to the second axis from (i) a first coordinate of the second axis shared by the fuel distributor and the first attachment structure and at which the first attachment structure is attached to the at least one mounting support to (ii) a second coordinate of the second axis shared by the fuel distributor and the second attachment structure and at which the second attachment structure is attached to the at least one mounting support; the circumferential wrapping is about a longitudinal axis that is or is parallel to the second axis, in the at least one plane; no coordinate of the second axis occupied by the first attachment structure is occupied by the second attachment structure; and at least a portion of the fuel distributor, at least a portion of the first attachment structure, and at least a portion of the second attachment structure are present in each of the at least one plane.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein, in the at least one plane, the positions of the first and second attachment structure overlap each other with respect to the first axis, so that at least one coordinate of the first axis is shared by both of the first and second attachment structures.

5. A system, comprising: a fuel distributor; a mounted structure; a layered structure that includes a mounting support layer and layers forming a damping composite element; wherein: the layers forming the damping composite element include a metal layer and an elastically deformable damping layer; the mounting support layer and the damping composite element layers all extend laterally, in a first direction, from (a) a first lateral coordinate at which a upper side of an outer surface of the fuel distributor is attached to a bottom side of the mounting support layer or a bottom side of the damping composite element to (b) a second lateral coordinate at which an upper side of the mounted structure is attached to the bottom side of the mounting support layer or the bottom side of the damping composite element, the fuel distributor and the mounted structure thereby being fastened to each other via the layered structure; at the first lateral coordinate, a longitudinal axis of the fuel distributor extends in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction; and at the first and second lateral coordinates, respectively, the fuel distributor and the mounted structure are, in a third direction that is perpendicular to the first and second directions, below an underside of the layered structure, and no part of the fuel distributor and no part of the mounted structure is over an upper side of the layered structure in the third direction.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein no part of the fuel distributor is above any part of the layered structure and no part of the mounted structure is above any part of the layered structure.

7. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the metal layer and the damping layer are connected to each other as a continuous material.

8. The system as recited in claim 5, further comprising: an adhesive layer, wherein the metal layer of the damping composite element is connected to at least one of the mounting support layer and the fuel distributor via the adhesive layer.

9. The system as recited in claim 5, further comprising: an adhesive layer, wherein the damping layer of the damping composite element is connected to at least one of the mounting support layer and the fuel distributor via the adhesive layer.

10. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the damping layer of the damping composite element is connected to at least one of the mounting support layer and the fuel distributor by vulcanizing.

11. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the damping layer includes a material based on rubber.

12. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein at least one of: the mounting support layer is connected to the fuel distributor as a continuous material, and the mounting support is soldered to the fuel distributor.

13. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the damping composite element at least one of: includes at least one further metal layer that includes a metallic material of the metal layer, and includes at least one further damping layer that is elastically deformable and formed of a material based on one of a rubber and a polymer.

14. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein: the mounting support layer includes a sheet metal, and the damping composite element is connected at least approximately over a full surface thereof to an upper side of the mounting support layer.

15. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein: the fuel distributor includes a fuel manifold, and the damping composite element extends along the longitudinal axis of the fuel distributor and is connected to the outer surface of the fuel distributor.

16. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the system is a fuel injection system for a high-pressure injection in an internal combustion engine.

17. The system of claim 5, wherein the mounting support layer is formed of sheet metal and the damping composite element is connected approximately over its full surface to an upper side of the mounting support layer.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the system is a fuel injection system for a high-pressure injection in an internal combustion engine.

19. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein a portion of the mounting support layer is arranged between the damping composite element and the mounted structure.

20. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein respective portions of the mounting support layer are arranged between the damping composite element and each of the fuel distributor and the mounted structure.

21. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein a bottom surface of the damping composite element is flat.

22. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the mounting support layer is arranged between at least a portion of the damping composite element and at least a portion of the fuel distributor, so that the at least the portion of the damping composite element, the at least the portion of the mounting support layer, and the at least the portion of the fuel distributor are all positioned at at least one same coordinate of an axis that is parallel to the first direction.

23. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the mounted structure is an internal combustion engine cylinder head.

24. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the mounting support layer and the damping composite element are arranged so that: in at least one plane, the mounted structure and the fuel distributor are laterally offset from each other in the first direction; at the second lateral coordinate, the damping composite element is, in the third direction, over at least a portion of the mounted structure in the at least one plane and not over any portion of the fuel distributor in the at least one plane; and at the first lateral coordinate, the damping composite element is, in the third direction, over at least a portion of the fuel distributor in the at least one plane and not over any portion of the mounted structure in the at least one plane.

25. The system as recited in claim 24, wherein at least one of the damping composite element and the mounting support layer extends in the second direction from (a) a first axial position at which the mounted structure is fastened to the fuel distributor by the layered structure to (b) a second axial position at which a second mounted structure is simultaneously fastened to the fuel distributor by the layered structure.

26. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the mounting support layer and the damping composite element are arranged so that: the mounted structure and the fuel distributor are laterally offset from each other in the first direction; at the second lateral coordinate, the damping composite element is, in the third direction, over the mounted structure and not over the fuel distributor; and at the first lateral coordinate, the damping composite element is, in the third direction, over the fuel distributor and not over the mounted structure.

27. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the metal layer and at least a portion of the elastically deformable damping layer of the damping composite element are positioned, in the third direction, over at least the portion of the mounted structure, and at least a portion of the metal layer and at least a portion of the elastically deformable damping layer of the damping composite element are positioned, in the third direction, over at least the portion of the fuel distributor.

28. A method for producing a system that including (a) a layered structure that includes a mounting support layer and layers forming a damping composite element, (b) a fuel distributor, and (c) a mounted structure, the method comprising: integrally connecting the mounting support layer to the fuel distributor by soldering or welding; connecting the damping composite element at least approximately over its full surface to an upper side of the mounting support; and connecting the mounted structure to the mounting support layer; wherein: the layers forming the damping composite element include a metal layer and an elastically deformable damping layer; and the connecting steps are performed such that: the mounting support layer and the damping composite element layers all extend laterally, in a first direction, from (a) a first lateral coordinate at which a upper side of an outer surface of the fuel distributor is attached to a bottom side of the mounting support layer to (b) a second lateral coordinate at which an upper side of the mounted structure is attached to the bottom side of the mounting support layer, the fuel distributor and the mounted structure thereby being fastened to each other via the layered structure; at the first lateral coordinate, a longitudinal axis of the fuel distributor extends in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction; and at the first and second lateral coordinates, respectively, the fuel distributor and the mounted structure are, in a third direction that is perpendicular to the first and second directions, below an underside of the layered structure, and no part of the fuel distributor and no part of the mounted structure is over an upper side of the layered structure in the third direction.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the system is a fuel injection system for a high-pressure injection in an internal combustion engine.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the damping layer is connected to the metal layer by lamination or vulcanization.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein an adhesive layer is provided between the damping composite element and the mounting support layer.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein an adhesive layer is provided between the damping composite element and the mounting support layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a system having a fuel distributor and a mounting support, which is used to fasten the fuel distributor on an externally-mounted structure, in an excerpted, schematic sectional representation corresponding to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a damping composite element and a mounting support of the system shown in FIG. 1, in excerpted, schematic sectional view, corresponding to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 shows the damping composite element and the mounting support shown in FIG. 2, in excerpted, schematic sectional view, corresponding to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 shows the system shown in FIG. 1, in excerpted, schematic sectional view, corresponding to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 shows the system shown in FIG. 1, as seen from a direction of view designated by V, in a schematic view corresponding to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 6 shows the system shown in FIG. 5, in a schematic view, corresponding to a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention and

(7) FIG. 7 shows the system shown in FIG. 5, in a schematic view, corresponding to a seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 8 shows a damping composite element circumferentially wrapped around a portion of an outer surface of a fuel distributor, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a system 1 having a fuel distributor 2 and a mounting support 3, which is used to fasten the fuel distributor 2 on an externally-mounted structure 4, in an excerpted, schematic sectional representation corresponding to a first exemplary embodiment. System 1 may be particularly designed as a fuel-injection system for high-pressure injection in internal combustion engines. Externally-mounted structure 4 may be an internal combustion engine, in particular. The externally-mounted structure 4 may especially be a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine 4. System 1 is particularly suitable for mixture-compressing, externally supplied ignition internal combustion engines.

(10) In this exemplary embodiment, fuel distributor 2 has a pipe-shaped base body 5. In this case, fuel distributor 2 is designed as a common injection rail 2, which stores a fuel quantity under high pressure and leads to a plurality of fuel injectors that are not shown. Mounting support 3 is connected to fuel distributor 2 in a suitable manner. In this exemplary embodiment, mounting support 3 is soldered to fuel distributor 2, soldering points 6, 7 being shown for illustration. The soldering together may take place in a conveyor furnace, in this instance.

(11) System 1 also has a damping composite element 8. Damping composite element 8 is connected to mounting support 3. The connection of damping composite element 8 to mounting support 3 preferably takes place after the producing of the connection between mounting support 3 and fuel distributor 2. This prevents a thermal impairment of damping composite element 8.

(12) Damping composite element 8, in this exemplary embodiment, has a metal layer 9, which is formed at least essentially of a metallic material, an elastically deformable damping layer 10 and an additional metal layer 11, which is formed at least essentially of a metallic material. In this exemplary embodiment, damping layer 10 is situated between metal layers 9, 11. Damping layer 10 is connected on one side to metal layer 9, and on the other side to metal layer 11. The connection of damping layer 10 to metal layers 9, 11 may be made by lamination or vulcanization.

(13) In addition, an adhesive layer 12 is provided between damping composite element 8 and mounting support 3. Adhesive layer 12 may first be mounted on damping composite element 8, in this case. Then, damping composite element 8 may first be cut to size using adhesive layer 12, for instance by a stamping process, and then connected to the upper side 13 of mounting support 3.

(14) Mounting support 3 is preferably formed of sheet metal. Damping composite element 8 is preferably connected over the whole surface to upper side 13 of mounting support 3. In this exemplary embodiment, accordingly, adhesive layer 12 is also designed over as full a surface as possible between damping composite element 8 and mounting support 3.

(15) The fastening of fuel distributor 2 to externally-mounted structure 4 may take place via one or more fastening elements 14. Fastening element 14 may particularly be designed as a screw 14.

(16) Consequently, damping layer 10 and metal layers 9, 11 may be connected to one another as one material. In addition, a connection of damping composite element to upper side 13 of mounting support 3 may be achieved via adhesive layer 12. In this exemplary embodiment, metal layer 9 of damping composite element 8 is connected to upper side 13 of mounting support 3 via adhesive layer 12.

(17) In a corresponding manner, a damping composite element 8 may also be connected to fuel distributor 2. A damping composite element 8 may especially also be applied to outer side of pipe-shaped base body 5. An application onto mounting support 3 and onto fuel distributor 2 are also possible. In this case, damping composite element 8 is then partly connected to outer side 15 of fuel distributor 2 and partly to upper side 13 of mounting support 3. Furthermore, a damping composite element 8 may also be applied to an under side 16 of mounting support 3. Moreover, a plurality of damping composite elements 8 may be connected to fuel distributor 2 and/or mounting support 3.

(18) FIG. 2 shows a damping composite element 8 and a mounting support of system 1 shown in FIG. 1 according to a second exemplary embodiment in an excerpted schematic representation. In this exemplary embodiment, damping composite element 8 is made up of metal layer 9 and elastically deformable damping layer 10. In this exemplary embodiment, elastically deformable damping layer 10 is connected to upper side 13 of mounting support 3 via adhesive layer 12. Thereby the embodiment using exactly one metal layer 9 and exactly one damping layer 10 is possible. Elastically deformable damping layer 10 is thereby protected by metal layer 9 from the environment.

(19) FIG. 3 shows damping composite element 8 shown in FIG. 2 and mounting support 3 corresponding to a third exemplary embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, damping composite element 8 has metal layer 9, additional metal layer 11, elastically deformable damping layer 10 and an additional elastically deformable damping layer 17. In this case, additional elastically deformable damping layer 17 is situated between metal layers 9, 11. Elastically deformable damping layer 10 is connected to metal layer 9 on one side and on the other side it faces mounting support 3. In this exemplary embodiment, damping layer 10 is connected to upper side 13 of mounting support 3 via adhesive layer 12. Thereby damping composite element 8, which is formed from metallic layers 9, 11 and damping layers 10, 17, is connected to mounting support 3.

(20) In a corresponding manner, a damping composite element 8 may be embodied to have a plurality of metal layers 9, 11 and a plurality of damping layers 10, 17. This makes possible an adaptation to the respective application case. Metal layers 9, 11 may perhaps also be formed of different metallic materials, in this instance. Damping composite elements 8, 17 may particularly be formed of a material based on rubber or a polymer. In this context, damping layers 10, 17 may also be formed of different materials.

(21) FIG. 4 shows system 1 shown in FIG. 1, in excerpted, schematic sectional view, corresponding to a fourth exemplary embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, damping composite element 8 has metal layer 9 and elastically deformable damping layer 10. In this instance, elastically deformable damping layer 10 is directly connected to upper side 13 of mounting support 3. This may be achieved by a subsequent vulcanization of damping layer 10.

(22) For instance, mounting support 3 that is connected to fuel distributor 2 may be fixed together with metal layer 9 via a suitable device. In this connection, a specified gap is set between the two joining partners, that is, on one side metal layer 9 and on the other side mounting support 3. This gap is then filled using the material for embodying damping layer 10. In this instance, one may particularly use an elastomer raw material. After hardening, damping composite element 8 is then formed from metal layer 9 and damping layer 10. Furthermore, damping layer 10 is then connected on one side to metal layer 9, and on the other side to mounting support 3.

(23) Consequently, the damping layer of the damping composite element is able to be combined with the mounting support and/or the fuel distributor by vulcanization.

(24) FIG. 5 shows system 1 shown in FIG. 1 in a schematic representation from the direction of view designated by V, corresponding to a fifth exemplary embodiment. Mounting support 3 is preferably formed of strip-shaped sheet metal. In this connection, a suitable through hole is embodied in mounting support 3, through which fastening element 14 extends. In this exemplary embodiment, upper side 13 is connected, approximately over the full surface, to damping composite element 8.

(25) In addition, further mounting supports 3A, 3B are provided. The upper sides 13A, 13B of additional mounting supports 3A, 3B are provided approximately over the full surface with additional damping composite elements 8A, 8B. Thus, a vibration damping is ensured at each mounting support 3, 3A, 3B. Mounting supports 3A, 3B are screwed to externally-mounted structure 4, via additional fastening elements 14A, 14B.

(26) Mounting supports 3, 3A, 3B are situated distributed along a longitudinal axis 18 on pipe-shaped base body 5 and soldered to pipe-shaped base body 5.

(27) FIG. 6 shows system 1 shown in FIG. 5, in a schematic representation, corresponding to a sixth exemplary embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, mounting support 3 is formed from a large-surface sheet metal blank, which extends at least essentially over the entire length of pipe-shaped base body 5 of fuel distributor 2. Tabs 20, 21, 22 are embodied on mounting support 3. On each tab 20 to 22 one is able to fasten mounting support 3 to externally-mounted structure 4, using fastening elements 14, 14a, 14B Damping composite element 8 is connected over approximately the whole surface to upper side 13 of mounting support 3. Because of that, damping composite element 8 also extends along axis 18, over nearly the entire length of pipe-shaped base body 5 of fuel distributor 2 embodied as fuel manifold 2. Hereby continual vibrating forms, such as bending vibrations of pipe-shaped base body 5, may also be damped.

(28) FIG. 7 shows system 1 shown in FIG. 5, in a schematic representation, corresponding to a seventh exemplary embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, fuel distributor 2 is also embodied as a fuel manifold 2, which extends along longitudinal axis 18. Damping composite element 8 extends along longitudinal axis 18 of fuel distributor 2 and is connected to outer side 15 of pipe-shaped base body 5 of fuel distributor 2. Besides that, in this exemplary embodiment a still further damping composite element 8A is provided, which also extends along longitudinal axis 18 of fuel distributor 2, and is connected to outer side 15 of pipe-shaped base body 5 of fuel distributor 2. In this case, the embodiment of damping composite element 8 may also be a bending shape, which at least extensively encloses the pipe-shaped base body 5 of fuel distributor 2 circumferentially, as shown in FIG. 8. The function of the two damping composite element 8, 8A may then be achieved by a single damping composite element 8. In this case, however, suitable recesses for rail bucket tappets or for connecting lines leading to the fuel injectors are required.

(29) The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described.