CLIAMS:We Claim:
1. A inlet connector 102 for a fuel injection pump (100),
i. said inlet connector 102 in flow communication with a fuel tank and an inlet of said fuel injection pump 100 , said inlet connector 102 characterized in having
ii. a damping element with a filter, said damping element 104 having cross-section that is at least equal to the internal diameter of said inlet connector 102 , said damping element 104 is provided at the interface of said inlet connector 102 and said inlet of said fuel injection pump 100.

2. The inlet connector (102) of claim 1, wherein said damping element 104 has a divergent cross-section.

3. The inlet connector (102) of claim 2, wherein said divergent cross-section of said damping element 104 is along the direction of flow of fuel from said inlet connector 102 to said inlet of said fuel injection pump 100.

4. The inlet connector 102 of claim 1, wherein said damping element 104 is in the form of a frustum of a cone.

5. The inlet connector 102 of claim 1, wherein said damping element 104 dampens pressure waves generated during flow of fuel into said inlet of said fuel injection pump 100.

6. The inlet connector 102 of claim 1, wherein said damping element 104 dampens pressure waves generated during closing of inlet of the said fuel injection pump 100.
7. The inlet connector 102 of claim 1, wherein said filter is of the form comprising a mesh like structure. ,TagSPECI:Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to the field of inlet connectors for a fuel injection pump.
Background of the invention
[0002] A fuel injection pump delivers pressurized fuel to the common rail for injection into the engine cylinder. The fuel is pressurized in the fuel injection pump due to the reciprocating motion of the plunger. It is observed that the pressure waves generated during the upward movement of the plunger interact with the pressure waves generated during movement of fuel from the feed pump to the fuel injection pump. This leads to a decrease in filling efficiency of the fuel in the fuel injection pump. Hence there is a need to reduce the effect of pressure waves generated during pressurization of fuel, for improving the filling efficiency of fuel in the fuel injection pump.
[0003] Prior art patent application EP2385241 discloses a pulsation damper for high pressure fuel pump of motor vehicle, having several flexible bent stainless steel damping elements formed as hollow capsule having internal volume. The pulsation damper for a high-pressure fuel pump of a motor vehicle comprises a damper housing, at least one first flexible bended damping element being formed as a hollow capsule having an internal volume. The pulsation damper allows handling a bigger throughput by a compact size and furthermore has a wide application range.
Brief description of the accompanying drawing
[0004] Different modes of the invention are disclosed in detail in the description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing:
[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates an inlet connector for a fuel injection pump.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates an inlet connector 102 for a fuel injection pump 100. The fuel injection pump 100 disclosed herein is used to pressurize fuel received from a fuel tank via a feed pump and direct the pressurized fuel to a common rail for injection into the engine cylinders. The fuel injection pump 100 receives fuel from a fuel tank with the help of an inlet connector 102. The inlet connector 102 is in flow communication with a fuel tank and an inlet of the fuel injection pump 100. The inlet connector 102 is characterized in having a damping element 104 with a filter. The damping element 104 has a cross-section that is at least equal to the internal diameter of the inlet connector 102 and the damping element 104 is provided at the interface of the inlet connector 102 and the inlet of the fuel injection pump 100. The damping element 104 dampens pressure waves generated during flow of fuel into the inlet of the fuel injection pump 100 herein referred as a first set of pressure wave. The damping element 104 also dampens pressure waves generated during closing of inlet of the fuel injection pump 100 herein referred as a second set of pressure wave.
[0007] Before the fuel reaches the fuel injection pump 100, the fuel may flow through a fuel filter and a metering unit. It is observed that during the flow of fuel from the feed pump to the fuel injection pump 100, a first set pressure waves are generated. Also, during pressurization of fuel in the fuel injection pump 100, a second set pressure wave of different magnitude and opposite to the direction of the first set of pressure waves is generated. The first set of pressure waves overlap with the second set of pressure waves. This overlap results in decrease in filling efficiency of fuel in the fuel injection pump 100. The pressure waves so developed need to be dampened. This is achieved with the help of the damping element 104. The damping element 104 may have varying cross section. In an embodiment the damping element 104 may have a divergent cross-section. The divergent cross-section of the damping element 104 is along the direction of flow of fuel from the inlet connector 102 to the inlet of the fuel injection pump 100. The divergent cross-section of the damping element 104 may also be opposite (not shown) to the direction of flow of fuel from the inlet connector 102 to the inlet of the fuel injection pump 100.The damping element 104 may be in the form of a frustum of a cone. Due to varying cross section of the damping element 104, the damping element 104 functions as a throttle for the first set of pressure waves and the second set of pressure waves.
[0008] During working fuel from the fuel tank flows through the inlet connector 102 to reach the inlet of the fuel injection pump 100. The flow of fuel is accompanied by a first set of pressure wave along the direction of flow of fuel. During pressurization of fuel, the inlet of the fuel injection pump 100 is closed with the help of a valve, the closing of the inlet results in giving rise to a second set of pressure wave. The second set of pressure wave will act in a direction that is opposite to the first set of pressure wave leading to super imposition of the first set of pressure wave and the second set of pressure wave. For every subsequent flow of fuel into the fuel injection pump 100 and opening and closing of the inlet, the magnitude of first set of pressure wave and the second set of pressure wave will only increase, leading to a decrease in filling efficiency of fuel in the fuel injection pump 100. With the help of the proposed damping element 104 that is provided at the interface of the inlet connector 102 and the inlet of the fuel injection pump 100, the first set and the second set of pressure waves get dampened. The dampening happens due to a difference in cross-sectional area of the dampening element as can be seen in FIG.1. The dampening element now behaves like a throttle, the throttle acts like an obstruction for propagation of pressure waves. In addition, the dampening element also has a filter. The filter is of the form comprising a mesh like structure. The function of the filter is to remove any impurities that might have been deposited in the inlet connector 102 during maintenance and repair.
[0009] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention in terms cross-section of the damping element 104 and the material used in the damping element. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.