Claims:We Claim

1. A modified fuel distribution block (10), said modified fuel distribution block (10) comprising:
a housing (12) comprising a first end and an opposite second end;
a fuel inlet supply path (14), an upstream end of the fuel inlet supply path (14) coupled in flow communication with an outlet of a high pressure fuel pump, a downstream end of the fuel inlet supply path (14) coupled in flow communication with the first end of said housing (12) and adapted to supply pressurized fuel to said housing (12);
a first bore (16) defined within said housing (12) and extending from the first end of said housing (12) to the opposite second end of said housing (12), the first bore (16) adapted to be in flow communication with the fuel inlet supply path (14) and adapted to receive pressurized fuel from said fuel inlet supply path (14); and
a second bore (18) defined orthogonally with respect to the first bore (16), a first end of the second bore (18) in flow communication with the first bore (16) and adapted to receive pressurized fuel from the first bore (16), a second end of the second bore (18) in flow communication with a rail pressure sensor (20), said rail pressure sensor (20) adapted to measure a pressure of the fuel flowing through the first bore (16) from the fuel inlet supply path (14).

2. The modified fuel distribution block (10) in accordance with Claim 1 further comprising a fuel injector in flow communication with the opposite second end of the housing (12) and adapted to receive pressurized fuel that is delivered via the opposite second end of the housing (12).
3. The modified fuel distribution block (10) in accordance with Claim 1 further comprising an adapter (23) coupled to the housing (12), said adapter (23) adapted to be secured to the outlet of a high pressure fuel pump and channels pressurized fuel from the outlet of the high pressure fuel pump to the housing (12) of the modified fuel distribution block (10).
, 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 modified fuel distribution block, and more specifically to a modified fuel distribution block that is used in combination with a rail pressure sensor.

Background of the invention
[0002] JP 2012062794 A describes a fuel injection device for an engine equipped with a fuel distribution block structured from a less number of components and easily manufacturable, and favorable for reducing the costs. The fuel distribution block is composed of a block body made of plastic and a block lid to be joined with the same, wherein the block body is furnished by molding with mutually parallel, first and second fitting holes being open at one end face of the same and to admit fitting-in of fuel inlet cylinders of a first and a second fuel injection valve, a first and a second branch passage in a pair being open at the first and second fitting holes, and a main passage having communication with the first and second branch passages in a crossing form and being open at the joining surface of the block body with the block lid.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a modified fuel distribution block in one embodiment of the invention.
[0004] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of the modified fuel distribution block in another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0005] Figure 1 illustrates a modified fuel distribution block 10. The modified fuel distribution block 10 comprises a housing 12 comprising a first end and an opposite second end. A fuel inlet supply path 14, an upstream end of the fuel inlet supply path 14 coupled in flow communication with an outlet of a high pressure fuel pump, a downstream end of the fuel inlet supply path 14 coupled in flow communication with the housing 12 and adapted to supply pressurized fuel to the housing 12. A first bore 16 is defined within the housing 12 and extending from the first end of the housing 12 to the opposite second end of the housing 12, the first bore 16 adapted to be in flow communication with the fuel inlet supply path 14 and adapted to receive pressurized fuel from the fuel inlet supply path 14. A second bore 18 is defined orthogonally with respect to the first bore 16, a first end of the second bore 18 in flow communication with the first bore 16 and adapted to receive pressurized fuel from the first bore 16. A second end of the second bore 18 is in flow communication with a rail pressure sensor 20. The rail pressure sensor 20 is adapted to measure a pressure of the fuel flowing through the first bore 16 from the fuel inlet supply path 14.

[0006] The modified fuel distribution block 10 comprises a housing 12. The housing 12 comprises a cylindrically shaped portion having a first end wall and an opposite second end wall. A fuel inlet supply path 14 is coupled to the housing 12. More specifically, an upstream end of the fuel inlet supply path 14 is in flow communication with an outlet of a high pressure fuel pump and receives fuel that is delivered from a pumping chamber of the high pressure fuel pump. A downstream end of the fuel inlet supply path 14 is coupled in flow communication with the housing 12 and is adapted to supply pressurized fuel to the housing 12. In the exemplary embodiment, the fuel inlet supply path 14 is fitted onto a bore that is defined in the housing 12 and is adapted to supply pressurized fuel within the housing 12 of the fuel distribution block 10. A first bore 16 is defined within the housing 12, and extends from the first end of the housing 12 to the opposite second end of the housing 12. The first bore 16 is adapted to be in flow communication with the fuel inlet supply path 14 and is adapted to receive pressurized fuel that is delivered from the fuel inlet supply path 14. From the first bore 16, the pressurized fuel is delivered to a fuel injector for injecting the pressurized fuel to an engine cylinder via the opposite second end of the housing 12.

[0007] A second bore 18 is defined orthogonally with respect to the first bore 16. More specifically, a first end of the second bore 18 is in flow communication with the first bore 16 and is adapted to receive pressurized fuel from the first bore 16. As the fuel is channeled from the first bore 16 to the fuel injector, a portion of the fuel is channeled from the first bore 16 to the second bore 18 that is defined orthogonally with respect to the first bore 16 via the first end of the second bore 18. A second end of the second bore 18 is in flow communication with a rail pressure sensor 20. The rail pressure sensor 20 is adapted to measure a pressure of the fuel that is flowing through the first bore 16 from the fuel inlet supply path 14. More specifically, the portion of the fuel that is channeled through the second bore 18 from the first bore 16 is channeled to the rail pressure sensor 20 that measures the pressure of the fuel that is flowing through the second bore 18.

[0008] A fuel injector is coupled in flow communication with the opposite second end of the housing 12 and is adapted to receive pressurized fuel that is supplied via the opposite second end of the housing 12. More specifically, the fuel that flows through the first bore 16 via the first end of the housing 12 is supplied to the opposite second end of the housing 12. From the opposite second end of the housing 12, the pressurized fuel is supplied to the fuel injector for injection into an engine cylinder.

[0009] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of the modified fuel distribution block 10 in another embodiment of the invention. The modified fuel distribution block 10 comprises a housing 12. The housing 12 comprises a cylindrically shaped portion having a first end wall and an opposite second end wall. A fuel inlet supply path 14 is coupled to the housing 12. An adapter 23 is coupled to the fuel inlet supply path 14, while the opposite end of the adapter 23 is adapted to be secured to the housing 12. More specifically, an upstream end of the fuel inlet supply path 14 is in flow communication with an outlet of a high pressure fuel pump via the adapter that is secured thereto and receives fuel that is delivered from a pumping chamber of the high pressure fuel pump. More specifically, the adapter 23 is an attachment device that is used to be secured to the fuel inlet supply path 14 of the high pressure fuel pump. A downstream end of the fuel inlet supply path 14 is coupled in flow communication with the housing 12 and is adapted to supply pressurized fuel to the housing 12. In the exemplary embodiment, the fuel inlet supply path 14 is fitted onto a bore 16 that is defined in the housing 12 and is adapted to supply pressurized fuel within the housing 12 of the fuel distribution block 10. The bore 16 is defined within the housing 12, and extends from the first end of the housing 12 to the rail pressure sensor 20. The bore 16 is adapted to be in flow communication with the fuel inlet supply path 14 and is adapted to receive pressurized fuel from the fuel inlet supply path 14. From the bore 16, the pressurized fuel is delivered to the rail pressure sensor 20 that senses the pressure of the fuel that flows from the high pressure fuel pump to the housing 12 of the modified fuel distribution block 10.

[0010] A working of the modified fuel distribution block 10 is described as an example. An upstream end of the fuel inlet supply path 14 is in flow communication with an outlet of a high pressure fuel pump and receives fuel that is delivered from a pumping chamber of the high pressure fuel pump. The downstream end of the fuel inlet supply path 14 is coupled in flow communication with the housing 12 and is adapted to supply pressurized fuel to the housing 12. The first bore 16 that is defined within the housing 12 is adapted to receive pressurized fuel from the fuel inlet supply path 14. From the first bore 16, the pressurized fuel is delivered to the rail pressure sensor 20 for measuring the pressure of fuel within the bore 16. The rail pressure sensor 20 is adapted to measure a pressure of the fuel that is flowing through the bore 16 from the fuel inlet supply path 14. More specifically, the portion of the fuel that is channeled through the bore 16 is supplied to the rail pressure sensor 20 that measures the pressure of the fuel that flows through the bore 16 of the housing 12 of the modified fuel distribution block 10. The advantage of the following invention is that the modified fuel distribution block may be used to sense the pressure in the upstream end of the high pressure fuel pump without the requirement for an expensive independent pressure sensor that may be used to measure the pressure of the fuel. With slight modifications to the existing design of the fuel distribution block, the fuel distribution block may be employed as a rail pressure sensor.

[0011] 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.