Backflow connector and fuel injector having backflow connector
View Patent ↗A fuel injector ( 10 ) for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine has a backflow outlet ( 18 ) for taking away the un-injected fuel from the fuel injector ( 10 ). A backflow connector ( 20 ) is attached to the backflow outlet ( 18 ) using a connection component ( 24 ), where the connection component ( 24 ) is designed so that it can be attached to the backflow nipple ( 20 ) in two assembly positions. In the first assembly position the connection component ( 24 ) can be pre-assembled on the backflow nipple ( 20 ). By moving the connection component ( 24 ) into the second assembly position, the backflow nipple ( 20 ) can be attached to the fuel injector ( 10 ).
1. A backflow connector for attaching to a backflow outlet of a fuel injector, from which un-injected fuel can be taken away from the fuel injector, comprising a connection component for connecting the backflow connector to the fuel injector, wherein the connection component includes:
a first arm including first and second arm portions,
a second arm including first and second arm portions,
a first positioning structure including the first arm portions of the both the first and second arms,
a second positioning structure including the second arm portions of the both the first and second arms, and
a securing element connected to, but spaced apart from both the first and second arms, and
wherein the connection component is designed to be attached to the backflow connector in:
(a) a first assembly position in which the first positioning structure is engaged with the backflow connector to form a pre-assembly of the connection component and the backflow connector that is not secured to the fuel injector, and
(b) a second assembly position in which the second positioning structure is engaged with the backflow connector and the securing element, spaced apart from both the first and second arms of the connection component, is engaged with a corresponding structure of the fuel injector to secure the pre-assembly of the connection component and the backflow connector to the fuel injector.
2. The backflow connector according to claim 1 , wherein the securing element is designed with a pin-like area.
3. The backflow connector according to claim 1 , wherein the backflow connector has a groove into which the connection component engages in the first and second assembly positions.
4. The backflow connector according to claim 3 , wherein:
in the first assembly position, the first positioning structure of the connection component is received in the groove of the backflow connector,
in the second assembly position, the second positioning structure of the connection component is received in the groove of the backflow connector, and
the connection component can be moved along the groove of the backflow connector from the first assembly position to the second assembly position.
5. The backflow connector according to claim 2 , wherein the pin-like area on the connection component is designed so that it engages in a cavity of the fuel injector on attaching the connection part to the backflow connector in its second assembly position.
6. The backflow connector according to claim 1 , wherein the backflow connector is shaped as a backflow nipple.
7. A fuel injector for injecting fuel into an internal combustion engine comprising a high-pressure connector for receiving the fuel under high pressure, and a backflow outlet for taking away un-injected fuel from the fuel injector, wherein a backflow connector is provided on the backflow outlet, and wherein a connection component is provided to connect the backflow connector to the backflow outlet, said connection component including:
a first arm including first and second arm portions,
a second arm including first and second arm portions,
a first positioning structure including the first arm portions of the both the first and second arms,
a second positioning structure including the second arm portions of the both the first and second arms, and
a securing element connected to, but spaced apart from both the first and second arms,
wherein said connection component is designed to be attached to the backflow connector in:
(a) a first assembly position in which the first positioning structure is engaged with the backflow connector to form a pre-assembly of the connection component and the backflow connector that is not secured to the fuel injector, and
(b) a second assembly position in which the second positioning structure is engaged with the backflow connector and the securing element, spaced apart from both the first and second arms of the connection component, is engaged with a corresponding structure of the fuel injector to secure the pre-assembly of the connection component and the backflow connector to the fuel injector.
8. The fuel injector according to claim 7 , wherein the connection component has a pin-like area, which, in the second assembly position, extends into a hole made in the fuel injector.
9. The fuel injector according to claim 7 , wherein the backflow connector is shaped as a backflow nipple.
10. A method for fitting a backflow connector to a fuel injector using a connection component including a first arm including first and second arm portions, a second arm including first and second arm portions, a first positioning structure including the first arm portions of both the first and second arms, a second positioning structure including the second arm portions of both the first and second arms, and a securing element connected to, but spaced apart from both the first and second arms, the method comprising the steps of:
pre-assembling a connection component on a backflow connector in a first assembly position in which the first positioning structure engages with a groove of the backflow connector to form a pre-assembly of the connection component and the backflow connector that is prior to attaching the connection component/backflow connector assembly to a backflow outlet of the fuel injector, and
attaching the pre-assembly of the connection component and the backflow connector to the backflow outlet of the fuel injector and then moving the connection component into a second assembly position in which the second positioning structure engages with the groove of the backflow connector assembly so that the securing element, spaced apart from both the first and second arms of the connection component, engages in a mating part on the fuel injector.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the securing element is designed as a pin-like area of the connection component, and the pin-like area is inserted in a hole in the fuel injector on moving the connection component into the second assembly position.
12. The fuel injector according to claim 7 wherein the securing element is designed with a pin-like area.
13. The fuel injector according to claim 7 , wherein the backflow connector has a groove into which the connection component engages in the first and second assembly positions.
14. The fuel injector according to claim 7 , wherein:
in the first assembly position, the first positioning structure of the connection component is received in the groove of the backflow connector, and
in the second assembly position, the second positioning structure of the connection component is received in the groove of the backflow connector, and
the connection component can be moved along the groove of the backflow connector from the first assembly position to the second assembly position.
15. The fuel injector according to claim 12 , wherein the pin-like area on the connection component engages in a cavity of the fuel injector upon moving the connection component into the second assembly position.
16. The backflow connector according to claim 1 , wherein in the second assembly position in which the securing element is engaged with the corresponding structure of the fuel injector, neither the first positioning structure nor the second positioning structure are engaged with the fuel injector.