Receiving sleeve for an actuator body

1. A receiving sleeve for an actuator body of a piezo actuator designed to expand and contract along a longitudinal direction to drive an injector of an injection system for an internal combustion engine, the receiving sleeve comprising at least two guide holes for supporting the actuator body and at least one spring element disposed on the at least two guide holes, the at least one spring element configured to apply lateral forces to the actuator body in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the actuator body expansion and contraction to provide at least one of (a) a centering function for centering the actuator body laterally in the receiving sleeve and (b) a tolerance compensating function for compensating for lateral component tolerances of the actuator body in a lateral direction.

2. A receiving sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein one or more spring elements are disposed on opposite sides of the actuator body, the spring elements pressing against the actuator body from outside in order to center the actuator body in the receiving sleeve.

3. A receiving sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the spring element is disposed on one side of the actuator body and presses unilaterally against the actuator body, while on the other side of the actuator body there is disposed a stop.

4. A receiving sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the two guide holes are essentially square and a spring element is disposed on each lateral edge of the two guide holes.

5. A receiving sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the two guide holes are essentially square, each guide hole having a spring element on two of its lateral edges and a stop on its other two lateral edges.

6. A receiving sleeve according to claim 5 , wherein the two spring elements are disposed on the two guide holes on adjacent lateral edges in each case and the two stops are disposed on the two guide holes on adjacent lateral edges in each case.

7. A receiving sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the spring elements are formed of a piece with the receiving sleeve.

8. A receiving sleeve according to claim 7 , wherein the spring elements are elongated, one of their ends being formed of a piece with the receiving sleeve, while the other end is free and presses elastically against the actuator body.

9. A receiving sleeve according to claim 7 , wherein the spring elements are elongated and formed of a piece with the receiving sleeve at both of their ends, the central region of the spring elements pressing elastically against the actuator body.

10. A receiving sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the spring element is beveled to facilitate insertion of the actuator body.

11. A receiving sleeve according to claim 1 , comprising an essentially punctiform or linear contact area between the spring element and the actuator body.

12. A receiving sleeve according to claim 11 , wherein the linear contact area is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the actuator body.

13. A receiving sleeve according to claim 11 , wherein there is formed on the spring element a projecting lug which constitutes the punctiform or linear contact area with the actuator body.

14. A receiving sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the spring element is completely coatable with a potting compound apart from the contact with the actuator body.

15. A receiving sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein there is a gap between the spring elements and the receiving sleeve sufficiently large to allow the penetration of a potting compound during encapsulation of the receiving sleeve.

16. A receiving sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator body comprises a piezo stack.

17. An assembly comprising:

a piezo actuator having an actuator body extending in a longitudinal direction and configured to expand and contract along the longitudinal direction to drive an injector; and

a receiving sleeve for receiving the actuator body, the receiving sleeve including at least two guide holes for supporting the actuator body and at least one spring element disposed on the at least two guide holes, the at least one spring element configured to apply lateral forces to the actuator body in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the actuator body expansion and contraction to provide at least one of (a) a centering function for centering the actuator body laterally in the receiving sleeve and (b) a tolerance compensating function for compensating for lateral component tolerances of the actuator body.

18. An injection system for an internal combustion engine, the injection system comprising:

an injector;

a piezo actuator having an actuator body extending in a longitudinal direction and configured to expand and contract along the longitudinal direction to drive the injector; and

a receiving sleeve for receiving the actuator body, the receiving sleeve including at least two guide holes for supporting the actuator body and at least one spring element disposed on the at least two guide holes, the at least one spring element configured to apply lateral forces to the actuator body in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the actuator body expansion and contraction to provide at least one of (a) a centering function for centering the actuator body laterally in the receiving sleeve and (b) a tolerance compensating function for compensating for lateral component tolerances of the actuator body.