Mounting and connection arrangement for a fuel injection pump

Abstract: A mounting and connection arrangement for a fuel injection pump in a reciprocating internal combustion engine, (especially in a large diesel engine) with several cylinders, which includes a separate injection pump (1) for each cylinder and in which the injection pump (1) is supported to a console support (3) or to a corresponding element forming an integral part of or fixed to the engine block. The injection pump (1) is arranged to be fixed on the console support (3) by making use of a support unit (2), which is also provided with guiding members (4, 7, 8,, 9) for one or more control or pressure medium systems in association with the operation of the engine. These guiding members can include channels (7, 8) for feeding fuel into the pump, guiding members (4) for valve lifting means (5) and/or lubrication channels (9).

Description: The invention relates to a mounting and connection arrangement for a fuel injection pump in a reciprocating internal combustion (IC) engine, especially in a large diesel engine, with several cylinders, which includes a separate injection pump for each separate cylinder and in which the injection pumps are supported to a console support or to a corresponding element forming an integral part of or fixed to the engine block. In large IC engines injection pumps are generally located on a special pump console support extending along the engine block. The console support can be an integral part of the engine block but can be a separate element fixed thereto. It can also, with advantage, be covered so as to form a box-like member for protecting the pumps, pipes and possible other devices arranged on it. The term "large diesel engine" as used herein refers to a diesel engine that is applicable for use, for example, as a main propulsion engine or auxiliary engine for a ship or in a heating power plant. In known arrangements fuel is led to the injection pipes and surplus fuel is returned for recirculation through separate pipes included in the fuel feed system of the engine. Pressure peaks from the fuel pump operating under high pressure, cause strain, cracks and wear in the fuel pipes and especially in the sealing members thereof. This has resulted in the use of thick walled pipes which are allowed to move supported by the sealing members of a distribution housing included in the fuel feed system of the engine. Alternatively the pumps are connected to the distribution pipes with thinner pipes by making use of flanged joints. The sealing members of the distribution housing wear out rather quickly causing leakage problems. On the other hand the thinner pipes connected to the distribution pipes can break at the welded areas due to pressure shocks and stresses, which are at their highest level in the immediate vicinity of the pump. On the other hand, in large IC engines the pump console support is also used for supporting guiding means and devices of other systems relating to the operation of the engine which need fixing positions and fixing means of their own. This requires space and the provision of various separate components causes extra work and incurs additional costs for the production and installation thereof. US-A-4,543,045 discloses a fuel pump mounting arrangement for a four-cylinder in-line Diesel engine. A separate fuel pump is provided for each cylinder, and the fuel pumps are mounted to the engine block by means of a unitary pump housing. The pump housing comprises an inlet conduit supplying fuel to the pumps, and a return-flow conduit for removal of excess fuel. One aim of this invention is to create an improved mounting and connection arrangement for a fuel injection pump for an IC engine, by means of which the drawbacks appearing in the known techniques, as referred to above, can essentially be eliminated. The present invention provides a mounting and connection arrangement for a fuel injection pump in a reciprocating internal combustion engine, with several cylinders in an engine block, which includes a separate injection pump for each cylinder and in which each injection pump is mounted to a console support or to a corresponding element forming an integral part of or fixed to the engine block, characterised in that each injection pump is associated with a respective support unit by means of which the injection pump is arranged to be fixed on the console support and which is detachable independently of the other support units; in that each support unit is provided with guiding means for one or more control or pressure medium systems in association with the operation of the engine, said guiding means of each support unit including at least one pressure medium channel arrangement connected to a body member of the respective pump; and in that connecting means (15) are provided for connecting the channel arrangements (7, 8) of the support units (2) for the injection pumps (1) of at least two successive cylinders to each other to form a continuous fuel flow channel, which is further arranged to be connected to pipes of a fuel feed system for the engine. This kind of support unit, either separate or partly integrated with the pump, makes it possible to connect together different kinds of devices and means on the pump console support of the engine, which is of advantage from the viewpoint of simpler production, maintenance and reduced space requirements. The support unit itself can, with advantage, be provided with channels and connecting means, by means of which each injection pump is connected to the pipes of the fuel feed system for the engine, because a stationary and uniform support unit can withstand pressure shocks and vibrations caused by the injection pump much better than various separate pipes, which, hence, can be avoided in the immediate vicinity of the injection pumps themselves. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention each support unit includes two separate channel arrangements preferably positioned on opposite sides of each injection pump relative to the longitudinal axis thereof, each of said channel arrangements being separately connected to the cylinder of the respective injection pump for feeding fuel into the pump and for leading surplus fuel away from the pump back into the pipes of the fuel feed system. Two or more support units for the injection pumps of adjoining cylinders in the engine can be arranged to be connected together so that each of the fuel channel arrangements for supply and return of the support units, respectively, forms a unified fuel flow unit which can be connected to the pipes of the fuel feed system at a position remote from the pumps. A specially advantageous solution from the viewpoint of the aim of the invention is accomplished, when the support unit together with the fuel channel arrangements is arranged to form an integral part of the body member of the injection pump. From the viewpoint of production techniques and space requirements the solution can further be improved by providing the support unit additionally with guiding members for lifting means for one or more valves in association with the cylinders of the engine so that said valve lifting means is arranged to be led through the pump console support by making use of said guiding means. In addition the support unit can include channels for feeding lubricant so as to provide lubrication for the piston member of the injection pump and/or for the valve lifting means. The support unit constitutes with advantage a substantially one piece casting, in which at least a majority of said channels and connecting means can be provided. Hereby it is possible to fit together several different devices and parts of different systems and at the same time to simplify the production and installation on the pump console support. The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of one arrangement according to the invention, in which two support units for injection pumps are attached to each other, Figure 2 shows the arrangement of Figure 1 viewed from above, Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view on the line III-III of the arrangement of Figure 1, Figure 4 shows an alterative solution for attaching two support units for injection pumps to each other, Figure 5 shows another simplified arrangement according to the invention as a side view and partly in section, Figure 6 shows the arrangement of Figure 5 viewed from above, and Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view on the line VII-VII of the arrangement of Figure 5. In the drawings 1 indicates a fuel injection pump, which comprises a cover member 1a and a body member 1b. The body member 1b includes a cylinder 12 and inside it a reciprocatingly movable piston member 6 arranged, through its movement, to feed fuel under high pressure into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, which is well known as such and therefore is not shown in detail in the drawings. The injection pump 1 is, by means of a support unit 2, fixed to a pump console support 3, which can be an integral part of the engine block or a separate part fixed thereto. Fixing of unit 2 to support 3 can be accomplished by means of bolts, for which purpose the support units 2 are provided with holes 16. In the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 3 the body member 1b of the injection pump and the respective support unit 2 form one integral body. The support unit 2 includes a first channel arrangement 7 which is connectable to the pipes of the fuel feed system of the engine for feeding fuel via channels 7a and 7b into the pump cylinder 12. In addition, the support unit 2 includes a second channel arrangement 8, with channels 8a and 8b for leading surplus fuel away from the pump 1 back into the fuel feed system for recirculation. The channel arrangements 7 and 8 of the support unit are connected to the fuel feed system by making use of flange arrangements 15, fuel being fed into channel arrangement 7 from above as shown by the arrow F in Figure 1. The support unit 2 includes further as an integral part thereof, guiding means 4 arranged to accommodate push rods for suction and/or discharge valves of an engine cylinder. In accordance with the embodiments shown in the drawings said guiding means 4 comprise guiding cylinders, through which the push rods 5 are led through the pump console 5 support 3 and by means of which, at the same time, the push rods 5 are movably supported to the pump console support 3. The support units 2 can also, with advantage, be provided with channels 9 for feeding lubricant so as to provide lubrication for the piston member 6 of the injection pump and for the valve lifting means contacting the push rods 5. Figures 1 to 3 also show how two adjoining support units 2 can, with advantage, be connected to each other. For this purpose the channels 7a of the successive support units are connected to each other by means of a flange arrangement 10, and a corresponding arrangement 10′ is provided for the channels 8a. Figure 4 shows an alternative way of connecting the adjacent ends of respective channels 7a and 8a, of successive support units 2 to each other. In this case connection is made using sleeve elements 11a and 11b, which are sealed in enlarged end regions of the respective channels 7a, 8a located in attachment members 14a and 14b arranged in the support units 2, by means of packings 13a and 13b. With the support unit arrangements shown in Figures 1 to 4 feeding of fuel and leading-away of surplus fuel in the vicinity of the injection pumps is accomplished through the channel arrangements 7 and 8, which are produced during casting of the support unit so as to form an integral part thereof, whereby the drawbacks relating to separate pipes can effectively be eliminated. The arrangement is also advantageous from the point of view of production techniques and space requirements. Figures 5 to 7 show a simplified support unit arrangement, in which the support unit 2 still includes the guiding means 4 for push rods 5 for suction and/or discharge valves of an engine cylinder as well as the channels 9 for providing lubrication. In this case, however, the support unit 2 and the body member 1b of the injection pump do not form a single uniform body, but the support unit 2 is merely used for supporting and fixing the pump 1 to the pump console support 3. Thus, in this version, the pump 1 must be attached to the fuel feed system of the engine in a conventional way by attachment means 17 and by using separate pipes (not shown). An advantage over previously known solutions, however, is accomplished through combining the support means for the pump with the valve guiding means, which brings advantages in view of production techniques and requires less space. One possibility for implementing this invention is to combine the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3 and Figures 5 to 7. Then the arrangement comprises a support unit 2, which is provided with channel arrangements 7 and 8. The body member 1b, however, is not cast to form an integral part of the support unit 2, but the entire injection pump 1 is fixed separately to the support unit 2 or together with it directly to the pump console support 3. In this case the channels 7a and 8a can be formed as an integral part of the body member 1b of the injection pump and sealed separately to the support unit 2, because, in this way, sealing can be more easily carried out, for instance by making use of O-rings. Thus, the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, since several modifications are feasible within the scope of the following claims.

Claims: A mounting and connection arrangement for a fuel injection pump in a reciprocating internal combustion engine, with several cylinders in an engine block, which includes a separate injection pump (1) for each cylinder and in which each injection pump (1) is mounted to a console support (3) or to a corresponding element forming an integral part of or fixed to the engine block, characterised in that each injection pump (1) is associated with a respective support unit (2) by means of which the injection pump (1) is arranged to be fixed on the console support (3) and which is detachable independently of the other support units (2); in that each support unit (2) is provided with guiding means (4,7,8,9) for one or more control or pressure medium systems in association with the operation of the engine, said guiding means of each support unit including at least one pressure medium channel arrangement (7,8,9) connected to a body member (1b) of the respective pump (1); and in that connecting means (15) are provided for connecting the channel arrangements (7,8) of the support units (2) for the injection pumps (1) of at least two successive cylinders to each other to form a continuous fuel flow channel which is further arranged to be connected to pipes of a fuel feed system for the engine. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that each support unit (2) includes two separate channel arrangements (7, 8), each of said channel arrangements (7, 8) being separately connected to a cylinder (12) of the respective injection pump for feeding fuel into the pump (1) and for leading surplus fuel away from the pump (1) back into the pipes of the fuel feed system. An arrangement according to claim 2, characterised in that the channel arrangement (7) for the feeding of fuel to the pump (1) and the channel arrangement (8) for leading fuel away from the pump (1) are located on opposite sides of the pump (1) relative to the longitudinal axis thereof. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support unit (2) together with the channel arrangements (7, 8) for fuel is arranged to form an integral part of the body member (1b) of the injection pump. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each support unit (2) is provided with guiding means (4) for lifting means (5) for one or more valves in association with the cylinders of the engine so that said valve lifting means (5) is arranged to be led through the console support (3) by making use of said guiding means (4). An arrangement according to claim 5, characterised in that each support unit (2) includes channels (9) for feeding lubricant so as to provide lubrication for the piston member (6) of the injection pump and/or for the valve lifting means (5) . An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each support unit (2) constitutes a substantially one-piece casting. An arrangement according to any one preceding claim, characterised in that the engine is a large diesel engine, suitable for use as a main propulsion or auxiliary engine for a ship, or in a heating power plant, or for a similar application.

Inventors: MESIMAEKI OLAVI, MESIMAEKI, OLAVI, Mesimäki, Olavi
Applicants: WAERTSILAE DIESEL INT, OY WARTSILA DIESEL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: F02M59
IPC codes: F02M63, F02M55, F02M39, F02B3, F02M59