Claims:CLAIMS

We Claim

1. A high pressure fuel pump (10), said high pressure fuel pump (10) comprising:
a housing (12);
a plurality of plungers (14) positioned within a plurality of barrels defined in said housing (12), each of said plurality of plungers (14) adapted to reciprocate within each of said plurality of barrels defined in said housing (12);
a plurality of delivery valves (18), each delivery valve (18) positioned at a top of each of said plurality of plungers (14) and in flow communication with each pumping chamber defined within each of said plurality of barrels, each delivery valve (18) adapted to open to facilitate channeling pressurized fuel from within each pumping chamber to each fuel injector of a plurality of fuel injectors that are in flow communication with each delivery valve (18);
a plurality of delivery valve holders (20), each delivery valve holder 20 (20) secured to each delivery valve (18) to prevent each delivery valve (18) from being displaced about its axis; characterized in that
a bracing device (22) positioned on the plurality of delivery valve holders (20), the bracing device (22) adapted to secure each of the plurality of delivery valve holders (20) within said bracing device (22) to prevent a misalignment of each of the plurality of delivery valve holders (20) with reference to an axis of the high pressure fuel pump (10).

2. The high pressure fuel pump (10) in accordance with Claim 1, wherein said bracing device (22) comprises a first solid portion (24) defined at its first end and a second solid portion (26) defined at its opposite second end.
3. The high pressure fuel pump (10) in accordance with Claim 2, wherein said bracing device (22) comprises a plurality of circular shaped portions (28) defined between the first solid portion (24) and the second solid portion (26), wherein each of the plurality of circular shaped portions (28) are spaced apart from its adjacent circular shaped portion by a displacement which is equal to a spacing between each of the plurality of delivery valve holders (20), and wherein each of the plurality of circular shaped portions (28) are inserted through each of the plurality of delivery valve holders (20) to facilitate clamping said bracing device (22) to the plurality of delivery valve holders (20).

4. The high pressure fuel pump (10) in accordance with Claim 3, wherein the spacing between each of the plurality of circular shaped portions (28) and its adjacent circular shaped portion is filled by a solid portion (30) that secures each of the plurality of circular shaped portions (28) to its adjacent circular shaped portion.

5. The high pressure fuel pump (10) in accordance with Claim 4, wherein each solid portion (30) between each of the plurality of circular shaped portions (28) and its adjacent circular shaped portion comprises a through hole (32) defined there through from a first end portion to its opposite second end portion, the through hole (32) adapted to receive a locknut (34) that extends from the first end portion to its opposite second end portion such that an end of the locknut (34) is flush against the first end portion of each solid portion 30.

6. The high pressure fuel pump (10) in accordance with Claim 5, wherein a screw (36) is inserted through the opposite second end of said locknut (34) and rotated therein to facilitate clamping said bracing device (22) to each delivery valve holder 20 of the plurality of delivery valve holders (20).

7. A bracing device (22) for securing a plurality of delivery valve holders (20) of a high pressure fuel pump (10), said bracing device (22) positioned on the plurality of delivery valve holders (20), the bracing device (22) adapted to secure each of the plurality of delivery valve holders (20) within the bracing device (22) to prevent a misalignment of each of the plurality of delivery valve holders (20) with reference to an axis of the high pressure fuel pump (10).

8. The bracing device (22) for securing a plurality of delivery valve holders (20) of a high pressure fuel pump (10) in accordance with Claim 7, wherein said bracing device (22) comprises:
a first solid portion (24) defined at its first end and a second solid portion (26) defined at its opposite second end;
a plurality of circular shaped portions (28) defined between the first solid portion (24) and the second solid portion (26), wherein each of the plurality of circular shaped portions (28) are spaced apart from its adjacent circular shaped portion by a displacement which is equal to a spacing between each of the plurality of delivery valve holders (20), and wherein each of the plurality of circular shaped portions (28) are inserted through each of the plurality of delivery valve holders (20) to facilitate clamping said bracing device (22) to the plurality of delivery valve holders (20), the spacing between each of the plurality of circular shaped portions (28) and its adjacent circular shaped portion is filled by a solid portion (30) that secures each of the plurality of circular shaped portions (28) to its adjacent circular shaped portion, wherein each solid portion (30) between each of the plurality of circular shaped portions (28) and its adjacent circular shaped portion comprises a through hole (32) defined there through from a first end portion to its opposite second end portion, the through hole (32) adapted to receive a locknut (34) that extends from the first end portion to its opposite second end portion such that an end of the locknut (34) is flush against the first end portion, and wherein a screw (36) is inserted through the opposite second end of said locknut (34) and rotated therein to facilitate clamping said bracing device (22) to each delivery valve holder 20 of the plurality of delivery valve holders (20).

9. The bracing device (22) for securing a plurality of delivery valve holders (20) of a high pressure fuel pump (10) in accordance with Claim 8, wherein said bracing device (22) comprises:
a first solid portion (25) and a second solid portion (27) defined at its first end, and a third solid portion (29) and a fourth solid portion (31) defined at its opposite second end, said first solid portion (25) and said third solid portion (29) spaced apart from said second solid portion (27) and said fourth solid portion (31) respectively;
a plurality of first semi-circular shaped portions (33) defined between the first solid portion (25) and the third solid portion (29), wherein each of the plurality of first semi-circular shaped portions (33) are spaced apart from its adjacent semi-circular shaped portion by a displacement which is equal to a spacing between each of the plurality of delivery valve holders (20);
a plurality of second semi-circular shaped portions (35) defined between the second solid portion (27) and the fourth solid portion (31), wherein each of the plurality of second semi-circular shaped portions (35) are spaced apart from its adjacent semi-circular shaped portion by a displacement which is equal to a spacing between each of the plurality of delivery valve holders (20); and
wherein each of the plurality of first semi-circular shaped portions (33) and plurality of second semi-circular shaped portions (35) are inserted through each of the plurality of delivery valve holders (20) to facilitate clamping said bracing device (22) to the plurality of delivery valve holders (20).

10. The bracing device (22) for securing a plurality of delivery valve holders (20) of a high pressure fuel pump (10) in accordance with Claim 9, wherein the spacing between each of the plurality of first semi-circular shaped portions (33) and its adjacent semi-circular shaped portion and between each of the plurality of second semi-circular shaped portions (35) and its adjacent semi-circular shaped portion is filled by a solid portion (30) that secures each of the plurality of first semi-circular shaped portions (33) and its adjacent semi-circular shaped portion and each of the plurality of second semi-circular shaped portions (35) and its adjacent semi-circular shaped portion, wherein each solid portion (30) comprises a through hole (32) defined there through from a first end portion to its opposite second end portion, the through hole (32) adapted to receive a locknut (34) that extends from the first end portion to its opposite second end portion such that an end of the locknut (34) is flush against the first end portion, and wherein a screw (36) is inserted through the opposite second end of said locknut (34) and rotated therein to facilitate clamping said bracing device (22) to the plurality of delivery valve holders (20).
, Description:Complete Specification:

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a clamping device, and more specifically to a clamping device that is secured to a delivery valve holder assembly of a high pressure fuel pump.

Background of the invention
[0002] CN 109681359 A describes a constant-pressure delivery valve assembly. The constant-pressure delivery valve assembly comprises a delivery valve holder 20, a constant-pressure valve and a constant-pressure valve seat, wherein the constant-pressure valve seat is clamped at an outlet of the bottom of the delivery valve holder 20. A high-pressure chamber is left in the inner side of the upper end of the delivery valve holder 20, an adjusting shim is clamped in a delivery end opening of the high-pressure chamber. A capacity reduction body is inserted into the bottom of the adjusting shim, a delivery valve spring vertically sleeves the capacity reduction body and an end opening of the top of the constant-pressure valve, and the bottom valve body of the constant-pressure valve is inserted into the constant-pressure valve seat. According to the constant-pressure delivery valve assembly, a structure of a constant-pressure delivery valve coupler as a high-pressure reinforced fuel injection pump of a single cylinder diesel is adopted, so that secondary injection of a fuel system is solved, the fuel injection law is optimized, and the stability of the fuel injection pump is improved.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a top view of a high pressure fuel pump depicting a bracing device that is secured to a delivery valve holder assembly in one embodiment of the invention.
[0004] Figure 2 illustrates a bracing device that is secured to a delivery valve holder assembly in one embodiment of the invention.
[0005] Figure 3 illustrates a bracing device that is secured to a delivery valve holder assembly in another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0006] Figure 1 illustrates a high pressure fuel pump 10. The high pressure fuel pump 10 comprises a housing 12, and a plurality of plungers 14 positioned within a plurality of barrels defined in the housing 12, each of the plurality of plungers 14 adapted to reciprocate within each of the plurality of barrels defined in the housing 12. A plurality of delivery valves 18, each delivery valve 18 positioned at a top of each of the plurality of plungers 14 and in flow communication with each pumping chamber defined within each of the plurality of barrels. Each delivery valve 18 is adapted to open to facilitate channeling pressurized fuel from within each pumping chamber to each fuel injector of a plurality of fuel injectors. A plurality of delivery valve holders 20, each delivery valve holder 20 secured to each delivery valve 18 to prevent each delivery valve 18 from being displaced about its axis. A bracing device 22 is positioned on the plurality of delivery valve holders 20, the bracing device 22 adapted to secure each of the plurality of delivery valve holders 20 within the bracing device 22 to prevent a misalignment of each of the delivery valve holders 20 with reference to an axis of the high pressure fuel pump 10.

[0007] Figure 1 illustrates a top view of a high pressure fuel pump 10 depicting a bracing device 22 that is secured to a delivery valve holder assembly in one embodiment of the invention. The high pressure fuel pump 10 comprises a housing 12, and a plurality of plungers 14 positioned within the housing 12. More specifically, each of the plurality of plungers 14 is positioned within each barrel of a plurality of barrels that are defined in the housing 12. More specifically, each of the plurality of plungers 14 is adapted to reciprocate within each of the plurality of barrels defined in the housing 12. The reciprocatory motion of the plurality of plungers 14 in tandem facilitates delivering pressurized fuel from the high pressure fuel pump 10 to a plurality of fuel injectors.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of delivery valves 18 are positioned within the housing 12. More specifically, each delivery valve 18 of the plurality of delivery valves 18 is positioned at a top of each of the plurality of plungers 14 and is in flow communication with each pumping chamber defined within each of the plurality of barrels. In an exemplary embodiment, each delivery valve 18 is adapted to open to facilitate channeling pressurized fuel from within each pumping chamber to each fuel injector of a plurality of fuel injectors (not shown). A plurality of delivery valve holders 20 are secured to the plurality of delivery valves 18. More specifically, each delivery valve holder 20 of the plurality of delivery valve holders 20 is secured to each delivery valve 18 of the plurality of delivery valves 18 to prevent each delivery valve 18 from being displaced about its axis. Therefore, each delivery valve holder 20 facilitates maintaining an alignment of each delivery valve 18 of the high pressure fuel pump 10 with reference to a longitudinal axis of the high pressure fuel pump 10.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, a bracing device 22 is positioned on the plurality of delivery valve holders 20. More specifically, the bracing device 22 is adapted to secure each of the plurality of delivery valve holders 20 within the bracing device 22. As each of the plurality of delivery valve holders 20 are secured within the bracing device 22, a misalignment of each of the delivery valve holders 20 with reference to an axis of the high pressure fuel pump 10 is prevented. Therefore, the bracing device 22 facilitates securing the delivery valve holders 20 within the bracing device 22 such that the delivery valve holders 20 are prevented from rotating within the bracing device 22, thereby preventing a misalignment of each of the delivery valve holders 20 with reference to the longitudinal axis of the high pressure fuel pump 10.

[0010] Figure 2 illustrates a bracing device 22 that is secured to a delivery valve holder assembly in one embodiment of the invention. In an exemplary embodiment, the bracing device 22 comprises a first solid portion 24 defined at its first end, and a second solid portion 26 defined at its opposite second end. A plurality of circular shaped portions 28 are defined between the first solid portion 24 and the second solid portion 26. Each of the plurality of circular shaped portions 28 are spaced apart from its adjacent circular shaped portion by a displacement which is equal to a spacing between each of the plurality of delivery valve holders 20. As the spacing between each of the plurality of circular shaped portions 28 from its adjacent circular shaped portion is equal to the spacing between each of the plurality of delivery valve holders 20, each of the plurality of circular shaped portions 28 are inserted through each of the plurality of delivery valve holders 20 to facilitate clamping the bracing device 22 to the plurality of delivery valve holders 20.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the spacing between each of the plurality of circular shaped portions 28 and its adjacent circular shaped portion is filled by a solid portion 30. The solid portion 30 between each of the plurality of circular shaped portions 28 and its adjacent circular shaped portion secures each of the plurality of circular shaped portions 28 to its adjacent circular shaped portion together to constitute a unitary assembly. Moreover, each solid portion 30 between each of the plurality of circular shaped portions 28 and its adjacent circular shaped portion comprises a through hole 32 defined there through. Each through hole 32 extends from a first end of each solid portion 30 to its opposite second end. Each through hole 32 is adapted to receive a corresponding locknut 34 therein that extends from the first end of each solid portion 30 between each of the plurality of circular shaped portions 28 to its opposite second end such that the first end of the locknut 34 is flush against the first end of each solid portion 30. Once the locknut 34 is inserted through each through hole 32, a screw 36 is inserted through the opposite second end of the locknut 34 and rotated therein to facilitate clamping the bracing device 22 to each delivery valve holder 20. More specifically, when the screw 36 is tightened against the opposite second end of the locknut 34, the bracing device 28 clamps against the plurality of delivery valve holders 20. As all the screws 36 are inserted through the opposite second ends of the plurality of locknuts 34 and rotated therein, the bracing device 22 is completely clamped against the delivery valve holder assembly that comprises all the corresponding delivery valve holders 20.

[0012] Figure 3 illustrates a bracing device 22 that is secured to a delivery valve holder assembly in another embodiment of the invention. In an exemplary embodiment, the bracing device 22 comprises a first solid portion 25 and a second solid portion 27 defined at its first end, and a third solid portion 29 and a fourth solid portion 31 defined at its opposite second end. The first solid portion 25 and the third solid portion 29 are spaced apart from the second solid portion 27 and the fourth solid portion 31 respectively. A plurality of first semi-circular shaped portions 33 are defined between the first solid portion 25 and the third solid portion 29. Each of the plurality of first semi-circular shaped portions 33 are spaced apart from its adjacent semi-circular shaped portion by a displacement which is equal to a spacing between each of the plurality of delivery valve holders 20. A plurality of second semi-circular shaped portions 35 are defined between the second solid portion 27 and the fourth solid portion 31. Each of the plurality of second semi-circular shaped portions 35 are spaced apart from its adjacent semi-circular shaped portion by a displacement which is equal to a spacing between each of the plurality of delivery valve holders 20. As the spacing between each of the plurality of first semi-circular shaped portions 33 and second semi-circular shaped portions 35 from its adjacent first semi-circular shaped portions and second semi-circular shaped portions respectively is equal to the spacing between each delivery valve holder 20, each of the plurality of first semi-circular shaped portions 33 and second semi-circular shaped portions 35 are inserted through each of the plurality of delivery valve holders 20 to facilitate clamping the bracing device 22 to the plurality of delivery valve holders 20.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the spacing between each of the plurality of first semi-circular shaped portions 33 and second semi-circular shaped portions 35 and its adjacent first semi-circular shaped portions and second semi-circular shaped portions is filled by a solid portion 30. The solid portion 30 between each of the plurality of first semi-circular shaped portions 33 and second semi-circular shaped portions 35 and its adjacent first semi-circular shaped portions and second semi-circular shaped portions secures each of the plurality of first semi-circular shaped portions 33 and second semi-circular shaped portions 35 and its adjacent first semi-circular shaped portions and second semi-circular shaped portions together to constitute a unitary assembly. Moreover, each solid portion 30 between each of the plurality of first semi-circular shaped portions 33 and second semi-circular shaped portions 35 and its adjacent first semi-circular shaped portions and second semi-circular shaped portions comprises a through hole 32 defined there through. Each through hole 32 extends from a first end of each solid portion 30 to its opposite second end. Each through hole 32 is adapted to receive a corresponding locknut 34 therein that extends from the first end of each solid portion 30 between each of the plurality of first semi-circular shaped portions 33 and second semi-circular shaped portions 35 to its opposite second end such that an end of the locknut 34 is flush against the first end of each solid portion 30. Once the locknut 34 is inserted through each through hole 32, a screw 36 is inserted through the opposite second end of the locknut 34 and rotated therein to facilitate clamping the bracing device 22 to each delivery valve holder 20 of the plurality of delivery valve holders 20. More specifically, when the screw 36 is tightened against opposite second end of the locknut 34, the bracing device 22 clamps against the plurality of delivery valve holders 20. As all the screws 36 are inserted through the opposite second ends of the plurality of locknuts 34 and rotated therein, the bracing device 22 is completely clamped against the delivery valve holder assembly that comprises all the corresponding plurality of delivery valve holders 20. The clamping of the bracing device 22 against the delivery valve holder assembly prevents a misalignment of each of the delivery valve holder 20s of the plurality of delivery valve holders 20 with reference to the longitudinal axis of the high pressure fuel pump 10.

[0014] It must be understood that the embodiments explained above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Many modifications in the embodiments with regard to dimensions of various components are envisaged and form a part of this invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.