GB2238918A

GB2238918A - Connecting a temperature sensor to a fuel injector

Info

Publication number: GB2238918A
Application number: GB9025112A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gianni Fargnoli; Maurizio Xella
Original assignee: Weber SRL
Current assignee: Weber SRL
Priority date: 1989-11-21
Filing date: 1990-11-19
Publication date: 1991-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-19
Also published as: IT8953495V0; DE4036665A1; GB9025112D0; FR2654872A1; GB2238918B; IT219137Z2; IT8953495U1

Abstract

A device comprising an electrical connector (10) connectable to an electromagnetic fuel metering and atomizing valve (6) forming part of an internal combustion engine fuel supply device, for supplying control signals to the valve (6). The connector (10) includes a body (11) integral with a temperature sensor (20) for detecting the temperature of the air supplied to the fuel supply device. Wires (28) connect the sensor (20) to an electrical circuit. Wires (26) connect the electrical connector to another circuit. Both sets of wires may be connected at a single location (Figs 5 6, 7 not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

:2 2 3 a -:D -1 j-, ELECTRICAL CONNECTING DEVICE FOR THE INJECTOR OF AN

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE FUEL SUPPLY DEVICE The present invention relates to an electrical connecting device comprising an electrical connector connected to an electromagnetic fuel metering and atomizing valve forming part of an internal combustion engine fuel supply device.

Known fuel supply devices substantially comprise a body designed to fit on to the supply manifold of the engine. and in which is formed an air- fuel mixture duct fitted with a throttle valve. The body is fitted with a cover in which is formed a duct for supplying air to the device, and which is fitted with an electromagnetic fuel metering and atomizing valve for supplying given quantities of fuel along the air duct for forming the air-fuel mixture.

The fuel supply device also comprises an electrical connector connected to the valve and substantially comprising a body having electrical connecting elements wired to an electronic control system and connected to respective electrical connecting elements on the valve cap for supplying current to the valve. The supply device also comprises a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the air supplied to the device, and comprising electrodes wired to the electrical circuit of tSe sensor.

Fuel supply devices of the aforementioned type, featuring an electrical connector and temperature sensor, present numerous drawbacks.

Foremost of these is the amount of time required for electrically connecting the fuel metering and atomizing valve, and connecting the temperature sensor to the electrical circuit. To do this, the electrical connector is first inserted inside the valve cap, after which, the temperature sensor, which is located some distance from the valve on the device cover, is wired to the electrical circuit, normally using a second electrical connector.

Moreover, connection of the temperature sensor to the electrical circuit is seriously hindered by the limited amount of access available, due to the fact that the sensor is usually located close to the vehicle body.

Finally. due to the fact that the temperature sensitive element on the sensor is not exposed to the center of the air stream supplied to the device. the air temperature reading must be correlated with the actual air intake temperature.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an electrical connecting device comprising an electrical 1 connector connected to an electromagnetic fuel metering and atomizing valve forming part of a fuel supply device of the type briefly described above, and designed to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

With this aim in view, according to the present invention, there is provided an electrical connecting device comprising an electrical connector connectable to an.electromagnetic fuel metering and atomizing valve forming part of an internal combustion engine fuel supply device; said connector comprising a body having electrical connecting elements connectable to a first electrical circuit and designed to mate with respective electrical connecting elements on the cap of said valve when said connector is connected to said valve; characterised by the fact that said connector body is integral with a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the air supplied to said fuel supply device; said temperature sensor comprising electrodes connectable to a second electrical circuit to which said sensor is connected.

The electrical connecting device according to the present invention will be described. by way of example. with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.s 1 and 2 show respective side and plan views of the cover of a fuel supply device featuring the electrical connecting device according to the present invention; Fig.3 shows a view in perspective of the main components on the device according to the present invention; Fig.4 shows a further view in perspective of the device, with additional components not shown in Fig.3; Fig.s 5 and 6 show views in perspective of further embodiments of the device according to the present invention; Fig.7 shows a plan view of part of a supply device featuring the Fig.6 device.

With reference to Fig.s 1 and 2. the electrical connecting device according to the present invention is designed for fitment to the fuel supply device of an internal combustion engine shown partially in Fig.s 1 and 2. Said supply device substantially comprises a body 1 designed to fit on to the supply manifold of the engine, and in which is formed a mixture supply duct 2 fitted with a throttle valve 3. Said supply device also comprises a cover 4 secured to body 1 in any convenient manner and in which is formed an air supply duct 5 (Fig.2) communicating with duct 2 in body 1 and fitted with an electromagnetic fuel metering and atomizing valve 6. As shown in Fig.2, valve 6 is fitted substantially in the center of duct 5 and is supported on a supporting element 7.

Fuel metering and atomizing valve 6 is of known type. and substantially comprises a cap 8 having electrical connecting elements (not shown).

The electrical connecting device according to the present invention substantially comprises an electrical connector 10 in turn substantially comprising a body 11 having electrical connecting elements (not shown) connectable to an electrical circuit and designed to mate with said electrical connecting elements on cap 8 when connector 10 is connected to valve 6 as shown in Fig.s 1 and 2 for supplying current to the same. As shown in Fig.s 3 and 4, body 11 of connector 10 is substantially in the form of a parallelepiped block from which project a sleeve 12, housing said electrical connecting elements. and two elastically deformable tabs 13 for securing connector 10 mechanically to cap 8. For this purpose, each tab 13 presents a slot 14 designed to engage a tooth 15 on cap 8, as shown in Fig.s 1 and 2. connector 10 is defined at the top and bottom by surfaces 16 and 17.

According to the present invention, body 11 of connector 10 is integral with a temperature sensor 20 for detecting the temperature of the air supplied to the fuel supply device. As shown in Fig.s 3 and 4, sensor 20 conveniently comprises a rod 21 projecting from a base 22; a temperature sensitive element 23 connected to the end of rod 21; and a C-shaped protecting element 24 also projecting from base 22. Base 22 of sensor 20 forms one piece with body 11. and projects from upper surface 16 of the same.

Temperature sensor 20 comprises electrodes (not shown) connectable to the electric circuit (not shown) of which sensor 20 forms part.

The electrical connecting elements of connector 10 are connected to one end 25 (Fig.3) of a first pair of cables 26 connected to an electrical circuit forming part of an electronic control system. The electrodes of temperature sensor 20 are connected to one end 27 of a second pair of cables 28 connected to said electrical circuit of which sensor 20 forms part. one portion of cables 26 and 28 is inserted inside a supporting element 29 designed to fit on to cover 4 of the supply device fitted with valve 6, as shown in Fig.s 1 and 2. Supporting element 29 is in the form of a block, and presents two substantially parallel grooves 30 for receiving respective projections 33 on cover 4 (Fig.2).

As shown in Fig.4, the other ends 34 of cables 26 are connected directly to said first electrical circuit, while the other ends 35 of said second pair of cables 28 are connected directly to said second electrical circuit of which sensor 20 forms part (arrow A).

According to an alternative solution shown by arrow B in Fig.4, ends 34 and 35 are connected to a second connector 36 having electrical connecting elements 37 connectable to respective electrical connecting elements (not shown) in turn connected directly to said first and second electrical circuits.

According to a further embodiment shown in Fig.s 5 and 6, said first and second connectors 10 and 36 are connected integral with each other. so that the electrical connecting elements of connector 10 (not shown) and electrical connecting elements 37 of C 1 f connector 36 are supported on the same body also numbered 11 in Fig.s 5 and 6. As in the case of the previous embodiments, temperature sensor 20 is connected to body 11. and base 22 of body 11 projects from upper surface 16 of the same. Rod 21 and protecting element 241 both of which project from base 22, may be perpendicular to surface 16 of body 11, as shown in Fig.6, or parallel-to surface 16, as shown in Fig.5.

In the case of the Fig.5 and 6 embodiment, the connecting device according to the present invention also comprises a further connector 38 (Fig.7) having connecting elements (not shown) connectable to elements 37. By means of cables 39 through supporting element 29, the connecting elements of connector 38 are connected to the first and second electric circuit of said electronic control system.

Connector 38, which may be of any known type,. conveniently presents two tabs 40 having slots designed to engage respective teeth 41 on body 11 (Fig.s 5 and 6).

The device according as follows.

Ends 34 and 35 of cables 26 and 28 (Fig.4) are connected to the respective circuits forming part of the electronic control system of the fuel supply devicer which is thus connected to the electronic control system in a single operation by simply inserting connector 10 inside cap 8 of fuel metering and atomizing valve 6.

to the present invention operates This therefore provides for faster. troublefree electrical connection as compared with known connecting devices which. as stated, involved two connections, one on the fuel metering and atomizing valve and the other for the temperature sensor. Moreover, connection is further facilitated by virtue of cap 8 being freely accessible, unlike known connecting devices which afforded very little access to the temperature sensor. Finally. the sensitivity of temperature sensor 20 is considerably improved by virtue of being located substantially in the center of the air stream supplied to the fuel supply device along duct 5 (Fig.2).

The Fig.4 embodiment, which corresponds to the connection shown by arrow B. may be preferable in cases requiring testing of the supply and connecting device assembly prior to fitment on the vehicle. In this case, connector 10 may be connected to valve 6 and tested by connecting connector 36 to appropriate test devices. When fitted to the vehicle. the supply device may be connected electrically to the electronic control system by simply inserting connector 36 inside an appropriate connecting block (not shown).

The same advantages are also afforded by the device shown in Fig.s 5, 6 and 7, which may be preferable to that of Fig.4 for certain applications.

To those skilled in the art it will be clear that changes may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated herein without. however. departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1) - An electrical connecting device comprising an electrical connector (10) connectable to an electromagnetic fuel metering and atomizing valve (6) forming part of an internal combustion engine fuel supply device; said connector (10) comprising a body (11) having electrical connecting elements connectable to a first electrical circuit and designed to mate with respective electrical connecting elements on the cap (8) of said valve (6) when said connector (10) is connected to said valve (6); characterised by the fact that said connector body (11) is integral with a temperature sensor (20) for detecting the temperature of the air supplied to said fuel supply device; said temperature sensor (20) comprising electrodes connectable to a second electrical circuit to which said sensor (20) is connected.

2) - An electrical connecting device as claimed in Claim 1, characterised by the fact that said electrical connecting elements on said connector (10) are connected to one end (25) of a first pair of cables (26) connected to said first electrical circuit, and said electrodes on said temperature sensor (20) are connected to one end (27) of a second pair of cables (28) connected to said second electrical circuit; said cables (26. 28) presenting a portion inserted inside a supporting element (29) designed to fit on to the cover (4) of said Z supply device fitted with said valve (6).

3) - An electrical connecting device as claimed in Claim 2, characterised by the fact that said supporting element (29) is in the form of a block, and presents two parallel grooves (30) for receiving respective projections (33) on said cover (4).

4) - An electrical connecting device as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that the other ends (34) of said first pair of cables (26) are connected to said first electrical circuit, and the other ends (35) of said second pair of cables (28) are connected to said second electrical circuit.

5) - An electrical connecting device as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims from 1 to 3, characterised by the fact that the other ends (34, 35) of said first and second pair of cables (26. 28) are connected to a second electrical connector (36) having electrical connecting elements (37) connectable to respective electrical connecting elements in turn connected electrically to said first and second electrical circuit.

6) - An electrical connecting device as claimed in Claim 1, characterised by the fact that said first (10) and second (36) electrical connector are connected integral with each other. so that said electrical connecting elements on said first connector (10) and said electrical connecting elements (37) on said second connector (36) are supported on the same body (11).

7) - An electrical connecting device as claimed in claim 6, characterised by the fact that it comprises a third electrical connector (38) having electrical connecting elements connectable to said electrical connecting elements (37) on said second connector (36); said electrical connecting elements on said third connector (38) being connected by means of cables (39) to said first and second electrical circuit.

8) - An electrical connecting device as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, wherein said temperature sensor (20) comprises a rod (21) projecting from a base (22); a sensitive element (23) connected to the end of said rod (21); and a C-shaped protecting element (24) also projecting from said base (22); and wherein said first connector (10) is substantially in the form of a parallelepiped block defined by an upper surface (16) and a lower surface (17); characterised by the fact that said base (22) of said sensor (20) projects from said upper surface (16) of said block.

9) - An electrical connecting device as claimed in claim 8, characterised by the fact that said rod (21) and said protecting element (24) are perpendicular to said upper surface (16) of said block.

10) - An electrical connecting device as claimed in Claim 8. characterised by the fact that said rod (21) and said protecting element (24) are parallel to said upper surface (16) of said block.

11) - An electrical connecting device. substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Published 1991 at The Patent. State House. 66171 High Holborn, London WC1R4TP. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit a Wine Mile Point. CwrnfeMfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid. St Mary Cray. Kent-