Granted Patent B2

US 9,453,485 · App. 14/096,465 · Granted Sep 27, 2016

Abstract

Claims (44)

1. A fuel rail assembly for supplying pressurized fuel to at least one fuel injector of a fuel consuming device, said fuel rail assembly comprising:

a hollow fuel rail extending along a fuel rail axis, said fuel rail having an inlet for introducing said pressurized fuel into said fuel rail and at least one outlet for dispensing said pressurized fuel from said fuel rail; and

a bracket for attaching said fuel rail assembly to said fuel consuming device wherein said bracket comprises:

a fuel rail portion defining a first passage extending therethrough in the same direction as said fuel rail axis for receiving said fuel rail therewithin; and

a mounting portion adjacent to said fuel rail portion and defining a second passage extending therethrough in the same direction as said fuel rail axis, said mounting portion being configured to receive a fastener for securing said fuel rail assembly to said fuel consuming device.

2. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 1 wherein said pressurized fuel acts to urge said fuel rail assembly away from said fuel consuming device in a direction defining a pressure axis and said fuel rail portion of said bracket comprises:

a first sidewall laterally spaced from said pressure axis;

a second sidewall laterally spaced from said pressure axis and said first sidewall such that said fuel rail is between said first sidewall and said second sidewall;

a first top wall joining a top end of said first sidewall to a top end of said second sidewall; and

a bottom wall joining a bottom end of said first sidewall to a bottom end of said second sidewall.

3. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 2 wherein said first top wall is contoured to match a portion of the outer periphery of said fuel rail.

4. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 2 wherein said bracket further comprises a support arm extending from said first top wall in the same direction as said fuel rail axis.

5. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 4 wherein said support arm is aligned with said at least one outlet along said fuel rail axis.

6. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 5 wherein said support arm is opposing said at least one outlet.

7. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 4 wherein a smooth contoured transition is formed between said support arm and at least one of said first sidewall and said second sidewall.

8. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 2 wherein said fuel rail assembly is metallurgically bonded to said first top wall.

9. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 2 wherein said bottom end of said second sidewall is metallurgically bonded to said bottom wall.

10. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 2 wherein said first sidewall is substantially parallel to said second sidewall.

11. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 2 wherein said bottom wall is spaced apart from said fuel rail.

12. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 2 wherein said mounting portion of said bracket comprises:

said second sidewall;

a third sidewall laterally spaced from said pressure axis and said second sidewall such that said second sidewall is between said first sidewall and said third sidewall.

13. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 12 wherein said mounting portion of said bracket further comprises said bottom wall, and wherein said bottom wall joins a bottom end of said third sidewall to said bottom end of said second sidewall.

14. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 13 wherein said mounting portion of said bracket further comprises a second top wall joining a top end of said third sidewall to said fuel rail portion of said bracket.

15. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 14 wherein said second top wall is metallurgically bonded to said first top wall.

16. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 14 wherein said second top wall is metallurgically bonded to said second sidewall.

17. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 14 wherein said second top wall includes a first aperture therethrough and said bottom wall includes a second aperture therethrough such that said fastener extends through said first aperture and said second aperture, thereby clamping said mounting portion of said bracket to said fuel consuming device.

18. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 17 further comprising an isolation arrangement, said isolation arrangement comprising:

an upper isolator between said first aperture and said fastener; and

a lower isolator between said second aperture and said fastener;

wherein said upper isolator and said lower isolator are made of a vibration damping and resilient material.

19. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 18 wherein said upper isolator comprises:

a larger diameter portion;

a smaller diameter portion; and

an isolator shoulder defined by said larger diameter portion and the smaller diameter portion of said upper isolator;

wherein said smaller diameter portion of said upper isolator extends into said first aperture and said isolator shoulder of said upper isolator mates with said second top wall.

20. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 19 wherein said fastener is a bolt having a bolt head and said larger diameter portion of said upper isolator is captured between said bolt head and said second top wall.

21. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 18 wherein said lower isolator comprises:

a larger diameter portion;

a smaller diameter portion; and

an isolator shoulder defined by the larger diameter portion and the smaller diameter portion of said lower isolator;

wherein said smaller diameter portion of said lower isolator extends into said second aperture and said isolator shoulder of said lower isolator mates with said bottom wall.

22. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 21 wherein said fastener is a bolt having a bolt head and said larger diameter portion of said lower isolator is captured between said fuel consuming device and said bottom wall.

23. A fuel rail assembly as in claim 21 wherein said fastener is a bolt having a bolt head and said fuel rail assembly further comprises a compression limiter captured between said bolt head and said fuel consuming device for limiting the compression of said upper isolator and said lower isolator.

Assignments (6)