FUEL CONNECTION

Abstract: A fuel line receiver (l6) has a fuel passage (l8) terminating in an enlarged region (20). A retainer ring (28) secures an O-ring (22) in the enlarged region. The tip (30) of a fuel line (32) is curled to facilitate insertion through the retainer ring and the O-ring into the fuel passage. The O-ring sealingly engages the fuel line and a peripheral wall (24) of the enlarged region, and the tip of the fuel line is supported by the fuel passage and the retainer ring. A flange (38) on the fuel line is engaged by a nut (40) or a clip to hold the tip of the fuel line in the fuel passage.

Description: This invention relates to a fuel connection particularly suitable for connecting a fuel line to a fuel line receiver. In most automotive engine fuel systems, the fuel line terminates in a flare that is captured between a flared seat in a fuel line receiver and a flared nut that threads into the fuel line receiver. The flared nut forces the flare of the fuel line to engage and seal against the flared seat, thereby securing the fuel connection against loss of fuel. A possible alternative arrangement is shown in US Patent No 4,423,982, in which an end of a conduit is retained in a bore in a housing. A bushing retains an O-ring between the housing and the conduit. In this arrangement, it is possible for the longitudinal axis of the conduit to become misaligned from (at an acute angle to) the longitudinal axis of the bore, thereby increasing the risk of a breakdown of the sealing engagement between the conduit and the housing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel connection which overcomes the disadvantages of the above known arrangements. A fuel connection in accordance with the present invention comprises a fuel line receiver having a fuel passage and an enlarged region at one end of the fuel passage, the enlarged region having a peripheral wall; a fuel line having a tip received in the fuel passage, a flange received in the enlarged region, and a sealing surface disposed in the enlarged region between the flange and an end of the tip; an O-ring sealingly engaging the peripheral wall and the sealing surface; and a retainer ring surrounding the fuel line between the O-ring and the flange, the retainer ring being secured to the fuel line receiver to retain the O-ring in the enlarged region, and the tip of the fuel line being supported by the fuel passage and the retainer ring. This invention provides a fuel connection with an alternative construction for securing against the loss of fuel. In the fuel connection provided by this invention, a fuel line receiver has a fuel passage terminating in an enlarged region, an O-ring is disposed in the enlarged region and retained by a retainer ring, and the tip of a fuel line is inserted through the retainer ring and the O-ring into the fuel passage. The O-ring sealingly engages both the fuel line and the peripheral wall of the enlarged region to secure against the loss of fuel. This fuel connection does not rely on the torque applied to a fuel line nut to secure the connection against the loss of fuel. In addition, this fuel connection requires less space than the flared fuel line-seat-nut connection described above, and also allows rotation of the fuel line after it is connected to the receiver. Moreover, the O-ring that provides the seal in this fuel connection is located internally and thus protected against damage during manufacture and servicing of the fuel apparatus. Further, in the arrangement of the present invention, once in position, the tip of the fuel line cannot move transversely relative to the fuel line receiver, thereby preventing misalignment of the longitudinal axes of the fuel line and the fuel passage and substantially reducing the risk of leakage. This invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure l is an enlarged sectional view showing the details of construction of one embodiment of a fuel connection provided by this invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the details of construction of a second embodiment of a fuel connection provided by this invention; Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the details of construction of a third embodiment of a fuel connection provided by this invention; and Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing the details of construction of a fourth embodiment of a fuel connection provided by this invention. Referring first to Figure l, a body l0 of a fuel rail in a multi-point fuel injection apparatus for an automotive internal combustion engine (not shown) has a fuel passage l2 terminating in a cylindrical bore l4. A fuel line fitting or receiver l6 projects from the cylindrical bore l4 and is staked to the body l0. Fuel line receiver l6 has a fuel passage l8 extending from fuel passage l2 and terminating in an enlarged region 20 which is counter-bored. An O-ring 22 is disposed in sealing engagement with a peripheral wall 24 of the enlarged region 20, and an annular groove 26 is formed in the peripheral wall 24 outwardly of the O-ring 22. A retainer ring 28 is received in the annular groove 26. Retainer ring 28 is formed of a material, such as a DuPont Zytel plastic, that compresses as the retainer ring 28 is inserted into the open end of the enlarged region 20 and then expands into the annular groove 26. Retainer ring 28 is thereby secured in the open end of the enlarged region 20 to retain and protect the O-ring 22. A tip 30 of a tubular fuel line 32 is inserted through the retainer ring 28 and the O-ring 22 into the fuel passage l8 and is supported by the fuel passage l8 and by the retainer ring 28. The tip 30 has a cylindrical sealing surface 34 that is engaged by the O-ring 22 to secure against loss of fuel from the connection between the fuel line 32 and the fuel line receiver l6. An end 36 of the tip 30 is curled inwardly as shown to ensure that no sharp edges will contact the O-ring 22 as the tip is inserted through the O-ring. A flange 38 on the fuel line 32 is received in the enlarged region 20 outwardly of the retainer ring 28. The flange 38 engages a nut 40 threaded on the fuel line receiver l6 to hold the fuel line 32 in place. It will be appreciated that snap rings and other kinds of retainer rings could be employed in place of the retainer ring 28. However, the retainer ring 28 is particularly suitable because of the support it provides for the fuel line 32 and the protection it provides for the O-ring 22. Referring now to Figure 2, a body ll0 of a fuel rail in a multi-point fuel injection apparatus for an automotive internal combustion engine (not shown) has a fuel passage ll2 terminating in a threaded bore ll4. A fuel line fitting or receiver ll6 is threaded into the threaded bore ll4. Fuel line receiver ll6 has a fuel passage ll8 extending from the fuel passage ll2 and terminating in an enlarged region l20 which is counter-bored. An O-ring l22 is disposed in sealing engagement with a peripheral wall l24a of an inner portion l25 of enlarged portion l20, and a peripheral groove l26 is formed in a peripheral wall l24b of an outer portion l27 of the enlarged region l20. A retainer ring l28 is received in an annular groove l26. The retainer ring l28 is formed of a material, such as a DuPont Zytel plastic, that compresses as the retainer ring l28 is inserted into the outer portion l27 of the enlarged region l20 and then expands into the annular groove l26. The retainer ring l28 is thereby secured in the outer portion l27 of the enlarged region l20 to retain and protect the O-ring l22. A tip l30 of a tubular fuel line l32 is inserted through the retainer ring l28 and the O-ring l22 into the fuel passage ll8 and is supported by the fuel passage ll8 and by the retainer ring l28. The tip l30 has a cylindrical sealing surface l34 that is engaged by the O-ring l22 to secure against loss of fuel from the connection between the fuel line l32 and the fuel line receiver ll6. An end l36 of the tip l30 is curled inwardly as shown to ensure that no sharp edges will contact the O-ring l22 as the tip is inserted through the O-ring. A flange l38 on the fuel line l32 is received in the outer portion l27 of the enlarged region l20 outwardly of the retainer ring l28. The flange l38 engages a nut l40 threaded on the fuel line receiver ll6 to hold the fuel line l32 in place. Referring now to Figure 3, a body 2l0 of a fuel rail in a multi-point fuel injection apparatus for an automotive internal combustion engine (not shown) has an axial fuel passage 2l2 intersected by a transverse fuel passage 2l8 and forms a fuel line receiver. The transverse fuel passage 2l8 terminates in an enlarged region 220 which is counter-bored. An O-ring 222 is disposed in sealing engagement with a peripheral wall 224 of an inner portion 225 of the enlarged region 220, and a retainer ring 228 is received in an outer portion 227 of the enlarged region 220. The retainer ring 228 abuts a shoulder 229 between the inner and outer portions 225 and 227 of the enlarged region 220, and a lip 226 on the body 2l0 is staked or deformed over the peripheral portion of an outer surface 228a of the retainer ring 228. The retainer ring 228 is thereby secured in the outer portion 227 of the enlarged region 220 to retain and protect the O-ring 222. A tip 230 of a tubular fuel line 232 is inserted through the retainer ring 228 and the O-ring 222 into the transverse fuel passage 2l8 and is supported by the transverse fuel passage 2l8 and by the retainer ring 228. The tip 230 has a cylindrical sealing surface 234 that is engaged by the O-ring 222 to secure against loss of fuel from the connection between the fuel line 232 and the body 2l0. An end 236 of the tip 230 is curled inwardly as shown to ensure that no sharp edges will contact the O-ring 222 as the tip is inserted through the O-ring. A flange 238 on the fuel line 232 is received in the outer portion 227 of the enlarged region 220 outwardly of the retainer ring 228. The flange 238 engages a clip 240 secured to the body 2l0 to hold the fuel line 232 in place. Referring now to Figure 4, a body 3l0 of a fuel rail in a multi-point fuel injection apparatus for an automotive internal combustion engine (not shown) has an axial fuel passage 3l2 intersected by a transverse fuel passage 3l8 and forms a fuel line receiver. The transverse fuel passage 3l8 terminates in an enlarged region 320 which is counter-bored. An O-ring 322 is disposed in sealing engagement with a peripheral wall 324 of an inner portion 325 of the enlarged region 320, and a retainer ring 328 is received in an outer portion 327 of the enlarged region 320. The retainer ring 328 abuts a shoulder 329 between the inner and outer portions 325 and 327 of the enlarged region 320, and a lip 326 on the body 3l0 is staked or deformed over the peripheral portion of the outer surface 328a of the retainer ring 328. The retainer ring 328 is thereby secured in the outer portion 327 of the enlarged region 320 to retain and protect the O-ring 322. A tip 330 of a tubular fuel line 332 is inserted through retainer ring 328 and the O-ring 322 into the transverse fuel passage 3l8 and is supported by the transverse fuel passage 3l8 and by the retainer ring 328. The tip 330 has a cylindrical sealing surface 334 that is engaged by the O-ring 322 to secure against loss of fuel from the connection between the fuel line 332 and the body 3l0. An end 336 of the tip 330 is curled inwardly as shown to ensure that no sharp edges will contact the O-ring 322 as the tip is inserted through the O-ring. A flange 338 on the fuel line 332 is received in the outer portion 327 of the enlarged region 320 outwardly of the retainer ring 332. The flange 338 engages a spring clip 340. The spring clip 340 has a hook 342 secured over a projection 344 on the body 3l0. A bend 346 in the spring clip 340 forms an acute angle when the spring clip is not installed on the body 3l0, but when installed on the body 3l0, the bend 346 is stretched to approximately a right angle. The spring clip 340 has a pair of arms 348 embracing the fuel line 332 and engaging the flange 338, and each arm includes a tang 350 received in a notch 352 formed in the body 3l0. The tangs 350 and the hook 342 secure the spring clip 340 to the body 3l0, and the spring clip 340 thereby holds the fuel line 332 in place. A finger 354 may be provided on each arm 348 to allow disengagement of the spring clip 340 from the body 3l0. It will be noted that, in each embodiment, the fuel line may be rotated after it is inserted and secured in the fuel line receiver. Accordingly, the fuel line may be assembled with the body of the fuel rail before the body is installed on the engine, and the fuel line may then be rotated to properly align its other end. It also will be noted that this fuel line connection allows the fuel line to have a bend, such as 256 in Figure 3, very close to the body if such should be required by the particular application.

Claims: 1. A fuel connection comprising a fuel line receiver (l6) having a fuel passage (l8) and an enlarged region (20) at one end of the fuel passage, the enlarged region having a peripheral wall (24); a fuel line (32) having a tip (30) received in the fuel passage, a flange (38) received in the enlarged region, and a sealing surface (34) disposed in the enlarged region between the flange and an end (36) of the tip; an O-ring (22) sealingly engaging the peripheral wall and the sealing surface; and a retainer ring (28) surrounding the fuel line between the O-ring and the flange, the retainer ring being secured to the fuel line receiver to retain the O-ring in the enlarged region; characterised in that the tip (30) of the fuel line (32) is supported by the fuel passage (l8) and the retainer ring (28). 2. A fuel connection as claimed in Claim l, characterised in that the fuel line (32) is tubular and the end (36) of the tip (30) is curled inwardly to facilitate insertion through the O-ring (22). 3. A fuel connection as claimed in Claim l or Claim 2, characterised in that the peripheral wall (24) has an annular groove (26) between the O-ring (22) and the flange (38), the retainer ring (28) being received in the annular groove. 4. A fuel connection as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the retainer ring (28) is formed of a material that compresses as the retainer ring is inserted into the enlarged region (20) and then expands into the annular groove (26). 5. A method of assembling a fuel connection comprising a fuel line receiver (l6) having a fuel passage (l8) and an enlarged region (20) at one end of the fuel passage and further comprising a fuel line (32) having a tip (30), the method comprising the steps of: inserting an O-ring (22) in the enlarged region in sealing engagement with a peripheral wall (24) of the enlarged region; thereafter inserting and securing a retainer ring (28) in the enlarged region to retain the O-ring in the enlarged region; and thereafter inserting the tip of the fuel line through the retainer ring and the O-ring into the fuel passage while causing the O-ring to sealingly engage a cylindrical sealing surface (34) of tip, and the fuel passage and the retainer ring to support the tip.

Inventors: FIELD, MARTIN JOHN
Applicants: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
Application year: 1987
Main classification: F02M55
IPC codes: F16L41, F16L19, F16L37, F02M69, B60K15, F02M55