Engine assembly including fuel system with fuel line connector
View Patent ↗A fuel line may include a hollow elongate body having a first end and a second end. A first sealing member located on the first end of the hollow elongate body may have a monolithic construction and include a base region and a sealing region. The base region may have a first material hardness and the sealing region may have a second material hardness, the second material hardness being less than the first material hardness. A first connector may be coupled with the elongate body and the first connector and the first sealing member may be configured to sealingly connect to a fuel injector.
1. A fuel line comprising:
a hollow elongate body having a first end and a second end;
a sealing member located on the first end of the hollow elongate body, the sealing member including a base region formed from a first material having a first material hardness and a sealing region formed from a second material different from the first material and having a second material hardness less than the first material hardness; and
a connector coupled with the elongate body, the connector and the sealing member being configured to sealingly connect to a fuel injector.
2. The fuel line of claim 1 , wherein the sealing region of the sealing member comprises a semi-spherical member secured to the base region.
3. The fuel line of claim 2 , wherein the sealing member includes a ridge that cooperates with the connector to sealingly connect the connector and sealing member to the fuel injector.
4. The fuel line of claim 1 , wherein the connector includes threads that are engaged with a threaded connector of the fuel injector in a mated condition.
5. An engine assembly comprising:
an engine structure defining a cylinder;
a fuel injector supported by the engine structure and in communication with the cylinder; and
a fuel line sealingly connected to the fuel injector, the fuel line including:
a hollow elongate body having a first end and a second end;
a sealing member located on the first end of the hollow elongate body, the sealing member including a base region formed from a first material having a first material hardness and a sealing region formed from a second material different than the first material and having a second material hardness less than the first material hardness; and
a connector coupled to the elongate body and engaged with the fuel injector, wherein the sealing member is sealingly engaged with the fuel injector to define a sealed connection from the fuel line to the fuel injector.
6. The engine assembly of claim 5 , wherein the sealing region comprises a semi-spherical member secured to the base region.
7. The engine assembly of claim 6 , wherein the sealing member includes a ridge that cooperates with the connector to sealingly connect the connector and sealing member to the fuel injector.
8. The engine assembly of claim 5 , wherein the connector includes threads that are engaged with a threaded connector of the fuel injector in a mated condition.
9. A fuel system comprising:
a fuel rail;
a fuel injector; and
a fuel line sealingly connected to the fuel injector and fuel rail, the fuel line including:
a hollow elongate body having a first end and a second end;
a sealing member located on the first end of the hollow elongate body, the sealing member including a base region formed from a first material having a first material hardness and a sealing region formed from a second material different than the first material and having a second material hardness less than the first material hardness; and
a connector coupled to the elongate body and engaged with the fuel injector, wherein the sealing member is sealingly engaged with the fuel injector to define a sealed connection from the fuel line to the fuel injector.
10. The fuel system of claim 9 , wherein the sealing region of the sealing member comprises a semi-spherical member secured to the base member.
11. The fuel system of claim 10 , wherein the sealing member includes a ridge that cooperates with the connector to sealingly connect the connector and sealing member to the fuel injector.