IP Library Granted Patent US 12,247,538
Granted Patent B2
US 12,247,538 · App. 18/310,181 · Granted Mar 11, 2025

Adaptable barrels for fuel injection

Inventors: Eric A. Benham (Columbus, IN); Karthik Sethuraman (Columbus, IN); Richard E. Duncan (Greenwood, IN)
Assignee: Cummins Inc.
F02M55/005F02M55/025F02M59/466F04B7/0076
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,247,538
App. No.
18/310,181
Granted
Mar 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

High-pressure fuel pumps and systems incorporating the same are disclosed. The fuel pump includes a housing with at least one fluid feed port, a barrel with at least one fluid receiving port, and a clamp to secure the barrel to the housing. The barrel has a first surface configured to contact a second surface of the housing to form a groove. The groove provides fluid communication between the at least one fluid feed port of the housing and the at least one fluid receiving port of the barrel.

Claims (22)

1. A high-pressure fuel pump comprising: a housing including at least one fluid feed port and an opening, the housing including a groove around the opening, the groove having an outer groove and a deeper inner groove, and the fluid feed port is located along the inner groove; a barrel including at least one fluid receiving port, the barrel having a first surface configured to rotatably contact a second surface of the housing, the first surface of the barrel making direct planar contact with the second surface of the housing around the groove with the barrel inserted into the opening, the groove providing fluid communication between the at least one fluid feed port of the housing and the at least one fluid receiving port of the barrel; and a clamp configured to secure the barrel to the housing.

2. The high-pressure fuel pump of claim 1 , the barrel being configured to be secured to the housing in any of a plurality of positions and the groove providing fluid communication between the at least one fluid feed port and the at least one fluid receiving port in each of the plurality of positions.

3. The high-pressure fuel pump of claim 2 , further comprising an outlet from which fluid in the fuel pump exits, wherein a position of the outlet is adjustable with respect to the housing.

4. The high-pressure fuel pump of claim 1 , the first surface of the barrel being a smooth surface and the second surface of the housing having an indentation which defines the groove.

5. The high-pressure fuel pump of claim 1 , the first surface of the barrel and the second surface of the housing each having an indentation which together define the groove.

6. The high-pressure fuel pump of claim 1 , the inner groove extending farther away from the second surface of the housing than the outer groove.

7. The high-pressure fuel pump of claim 1 , the groove having a circular configuration.

8. The high-pressure fuel pump of claim 1 , the groove providing fluid communication between the at least one fluid feed port and the at least one fluid receiving port when the at least one fluid feed port and the at least one fluid receiving port are unaligned with respect to each other.

9. A common rail fuel injection system comprising:

a housing including a plurality of fluid feed ports configured to deliver fuel and a plurality of openings, the housing including a groove around each of the plurality of openings, each of the grooves having an outer groove and a deeper inner groove, and each of the plurality fluid feed ports is located along the inner groove of a respective one of the grooves;

a plurality of barrels, each including a fluid receiving port, the plurality of barrels each having a first surface configured to contact a second surface of the housing, the first surface of each of the plurality of barrels making direct planar contact with the second surface of the housing around respective ones of the grooves with the plurality of barrels inserted into corresponding ones of the plurality of openings, each of the plurality of grooves providing fluid communication between at least one of the fluid feed ports of the housing and at least one of the fluid receiving ports of the barrels in each of the positions; and

a plurality of clamps configured to secure the barrels to the housing.

10. The common rail fuel injection system of claim 9 , each of the first surfaces being a smooth surface and the second surface of the housing having a plurality of indentations which define the plurality of grooves.

11. The common rail fuel injection system of claim 9 , the first surface of the barrel and the second surface of the housing each having an indentation which together define the groove.

12. A method of assembling a high-pressure fuel injection system comprising:

preparing a housing which includes a plurality of fluid feed ports configured to deliver fuel and a plurality of openings, the housing including a groove around each of the plurality of openings, each of the grooves having an outer groove and a deeper inner groove, and each of the plurality fluid feed ports is located along the inner groove of a respective one of the grooves;

preparing a plurality of barrels, each including a plurality of fluid receiving ports;

inserting the plurality of barrels in respective ones of the plurality of openings;

contacting first surfaces of the barrels with a second surface of the housing around respective ones of the grooves in any of a plurality of positions, the first surfaces of the barrels make direct planar contact with the second surface of the housing around respective ones of the grooves with the plurality of barrels inserted into corresponding ones of the plurality of openings, each of the grooves providing fluid communication between at least one of the fluid feed ports of the housing and at least one of the fluid receiving ports of the barrels in each of the positions; and

securing the barrels to the housing using a plurality of clamps.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein securing the barrels includes, for each of the barrel, drilling at least one bolt through the clamp and the barrel such that an end of the at least one bolt is positioned in the housing.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising rotating at least one of the barrels with respect to the housing while maintaining the fluid communication between the at least one of the fluid feed ports and the at least one of the fluid receiving ports.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2025
From: CUMMINS INC.
To: CUMMINS SCANIA HPCR SYSTEM, LLC
Reel/Frame 073461/0836 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2023
From: BENHAM, ERIC A.; SETHURAMAN, KARTHIK; DUNCAN, RICHARD E.
To: CUMMINS INC.
Reel/Frame 063515/0732 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTUS2020059314 · Nov 6, 2020
Related Publication 20230265817A1 · Aug 24, 2023
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