Lifting Piston Fuel Pump and Method for Starting and Operating a Motor Vehicle Heating System
The invention relates to a reciprocating piston fuel pump (16), in particular for an automotive heater (10) which is driven electromagnetically and is provided for delivering liquid fuel, having a damping element (34) comprising an elastomer (36) for damping pulsations created by the reciprocating piston fuel pump (16). According to this invention, means (22, 46, 48, 50) for heating the elastomer (36) are provided. The invention also relates to a method for starting and operating an automotive heater (10) that is operated with liquid fuel and has a burner (14) and a reciprocating piston fuel pump (16) with a damping element (34) comprising an elastomer (36) for damping pulsations created by the reciprocating piston fuel pump (16). According to this invention, the elastomer (36) is already heated before ignition of the burner (14).
The present invention relates to a reciprocating piston fuel pump, in particular for an automotive heater that is electromagnetically driven and is provided for pumping liquid fuel, having a damping element comprising an elastomer for damping pulsations generated by the reciprocating piston fuel pump.
The present invention also relates to a method for starting and operating an automotive heater operated with liquid fuel, having a burner and a reciprocating piston fuel pump having a damping element comprising an elastomer for damping pulsations generated by the reciprocating piston fuel pump.
A generic reciprocating piston fuel pump is disclosed, for example, in the publication Fahrzeug- und Verkehrstechnik, Technische Mitteilungen [Automotive and Traffic Engineering, Technical Reports] 97 (2004), No. 1, pp. 9-11 and shown as a schematic sectional view in
The reciprocating piston fuel pump 16′ shown in
However, unwanted pulsations occur in the fuel system due to the back-and-forth movement of the reciprocating piston 24. It is already known that to at least partially suppress these pulsations, a damping element 34 may be provided, comprising a bellows-like elastomer 36. When liquid fuel passes through a borehole 40 and comes in contact with the elastomer 36, the elastomer 36 expands into a neighboring 38, which is provided in a damper housing formed by a molded plastic part 44. The prerequisite for this is a certain backpressure in the fuel system which ensures that the elastomer 36 will be “secured” in place.
One problem with the reciprocating piston fuel pump 16′ shown in
The object of the present invention is to improve upon the generic reciprocating piston fuel pumps and the generic methods so that the problems described above are avoided and pulsation-free pumping of fuel is possible even at temperatures below −20° C., for example.
This object is achieved through the features of the independent claims.
Advantageous embodiments and refinements of the invention are derived from the dependent claims.
The inventive reciprocating piston fuel pump is based on the generic state of the art in that means are provided for heating the elastomer. Heating of the elastomer by Δx° C. until reaching the full-load point corresponds to a direct expansion/reduction of the effective operating range of the damping element and thus in particular the characteristics map of the burner of the automotive heater by the same number Δx° C. into the negative temperature range. Due to this inventive approach, operation of an automotive heater with Arctic diesel at −30° C., for example, is possible. Due to the heated elastomer, which is therefore softer, the pulsation intensity in the fuel system is lower, so that the burner of an automotive heater can be operated under more stable conditions and thus with a more uniform and quieter combustion noise at moderately low temperatures of more than −20° C., for example (pulsations generate a “rough” combustion noise). In conjunction with automotive heaters, for example, the tendency to flame separation when the temperature falls below a certain limit temperature of −25° C., for example, is shifted toward lower temperatures due to the lower pulsations. At “higher” temperatures of 0° C. of −20° C., for example, a reduction in CO emissions can be achieved with automotive heaters using both Arctic diesel and winter diesel due to the lower pulsations.
The inventive reciprocating piston fuel pump has been improved upon advantageously due to the fact that the means for heating the elastomer comprise an electric heater. The electric heater may be operated both directly and indirectly. For example, a heating wire introduced into the elastomer material may be provided, such as that known for heating windshields of vehicles as well as for ski equipment and other equipment. Before the start of the actual pumping of fuel, the heating wire preferably receives an electric current so that the limit temperature for the required minimum elasticity is exceeded at the start of fuel pumping. The actual heating, however, may also include heating elements, e.g., PTC heating elements, which are provided for heating liquid fuel inside the reciprocating piston fuel pump. One or more such heating elements may be connected in parallel with the winding of the electromagnet, for example. Separate triggering is of course also possible. For example, PTC heating elements have a very high resistance-temperature coefficient. Therefore, in a cold start, the small amount of fuel in the pump is rapidly heated to a maximum temperature of 50° C., for example. At such a temperature level, the resistance of the heating conductor is so great that no mentionable heating output is delivered. The heated fuel then heats up the elastomer and consequently increases its elasticity. Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible for corresponding heating elements to be provided in proximity to the elastomer in order to heat it.
In addition, with the inventive reciprocating piston fuel pump, it is possible for the means for heating the elastomer to include a winding of the electromagnetic drive of the reciprocating piston fuel pump. The windings and/or magnetic coils of known reciprocating piston fuel pumps consume up to eight watts of power, for example, at low temperatures. This power is converted primarily to heat, and the heat can advantageously be utilized to heat the elastomer.
In this context, an advantageous embodiment of the inventive reciprocating piston fuel pump provides for a material having a low thermal conductivity to be provided in an area between the elastomer and the environment. In principle, any thermal insulation material with which those skilled in the art are familiar may be used as the material having a low thermal conductivity, e.g., foamed plastic and/or expanded metals. Due to such thermal insulation with respect to the environment, exhaust heat from the reciprocating piston fuel pump can advantageously be utilized to heat the elastomer. It is preferable here that not the entire reciprocating piston fuel pump but instead only the area of the damping element is insulated to avoid overheating other components of the reciprocating piston fuel pump.
Additionally or alternatively, with the inventive reciprocating piston fuel pump, it is possible for a material having a high thermal conductivity to be provided in an area between the winding and the elastomer. Metals in particular, e.g., aluminum, may be considered as the material having a high thermal conductivity. It is possible here for metal ribs or metal housing components in contact with the damping element to form one or more heat bridges.
The inventive method is based on the generic state of the art in that the elastomer is heated even before the burner is ignited. The time horizon of the starting phase of the automotive heater with glow plug support may amount to 2 minutes, for example. This period of time is minimally usable to achieve heating of the elastomer and in many cases is sufficient to achieve heating of the metering pump and then the elastomer due to the uptake of power by the heating elements which are provided. If the waste heat of the reciprocating piston fuel pump is used to heat the elastomer, overheating of the reciprocating piston fuel pump at higher temperatures is avoided because the power uptake is lower at higher temperatures.
In conjunction with the inventive method it is also possible in an advantageous manner for the elastomer to be heated by an electric heating device. The electric heating device may comprise in particular the components which have already been explained in conjunction with the electric heating device for the inventive reciprocating piston fuel pump. Reference is made to the respective discussion in order to avoid repetition here.
The same thing is also logically applicable to the case when in the inventive method the elastomer is heated by a winding of an electromagnetic drive of the reciprocating piston fuel pump.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail below as an example on the basis of drawings.
In the drawings the same or similar reference numerals are used to refer to the same or similar components which are explained only once in some cases to avoid repetition.
The reciprocating piston fuel pump 16 illustrated in
To at least partially suppress the pulsations that occur during operation of the reciprocating piston fuel pump, the damping element 34 mentioned in the introduction is provided, comprising a bellows-like elastomer 36. When liquid fuel passes through a borehole 40 and comes in contact with the elastomer 36, the elastomer 36 expands into a neighboring chamber 38 which is provided in a damper housing formed by a molded plastic part 44. The prerequisite for this is a certain backpressure in the fuel system which ensures that the elastomer 36 will be “secured” in place. To this extent the reciprocating piston fuel pump shown in
However, the embodiment of the inventive reciprocating piston fuel pump 16 shown in
The embodiment of the inventive reciprocating piston fuel pump 16 shown in
The embodiment of the reciprocating piston fuel pump 16 shown in
It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the embodiments of the inventive reciprocating piston fuel pump explained with reference to
It will be also be clear that the inventive method for starting and operating an automotive heater that is operated with liquid fuel, e.g., the automotive heater 10 shown in
Although in many cases it is sufficient to equip the reciprocating piston fuel pump itself with a damping element, the fuel valve 52 shown in
To prevent the elastomer 68 which is made of the material FKN2, for example, from undergoing a glass transition even at the very low temperatures of less than −23° C., for example, the damping element 66 is provided with an electric heater 78. In the case presented here, the electric heater 78 includes a plurality of PTC heating elements 78a which are arranged near the elastomer 68 and at least one heating wire 78b which is integrated into the elastomer 68. It is clear that not all the heating elements 78a and 78b illustrated here need be present but instead optionally only one type of heating element 78a or 78b may be sufficient to suitably heat the elastomer 68. To optimize the effect of the PTC heating elements 78a, it is advantageous if a material having a high thermal conductivity, e.g., a metal is provided between the area to be heated, i.e., the elastomer 36 and the respective PTC heating element. Direct heating of the elastomer 68 is achieved by the heating wires 78b. The PTC heating elements 78a heat up both the material that comes in contact with the elastomer 68 and the material that comes in contact with the liquid fuel. Preheating of fuel serves to provide indirect heating of the elastomer 68 and leads to better combustion. Other heating elements (not shown) may optionally also be provided, serving exclusively to heat the liquid fuel. Some or all of the heating elements 78a and 78b shown here may be connected in parallel to the winding 58 or may be triggered separately. Separate triggering is more complex but it allows reheating independently of the valve setting. 2 TN: abbreviation of unknown expansion (“F” likely stands for “Faser” (fiber) and “K” for “Kunststoff” (plastic)).
The fuel valve 52 shown in
The embodiment of the fuel valve 52 shown in
It will be cleared to those skilled in the art that the embodiment of the fuel valve 52 explained with reference to
The fuel valve 84 shown in
Due to the use of the fuel valve 84 shown in
The features of the present invention disclosed in the preceding description and in the drawings and claims may be essential to the embodiment of the invention either individually or in any combination.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
- 10 Automotive heater
- 12 Fuel tank
- 14 Burner/heat exchanger unit
- 16 Reciprocating piston fuel pump
- 18 Fuel inlet
- 20 Fuel outlet
- 22 Winding
- 24 Reciprocating piston
- 26 Restoring spring
- 28 Nonreturn valve
- 30 Pump chamber
- 32 Intake valve
- 34 Damping element
- 36 Elastomer
- 38 Chamber
- 40 Bore
- 42 Electric terminal
- 44 Molded plastic part
- 46 Heating element
- 48 Material having a high thermal conductivity/metal rib
- 50 Material having a low thermal conductivity/insulator
- 52 Fuel valve
- 54 Fuel inlet
- 56 Fuel outlet
- 58 Winding
- 60 Valve piston
- 62 Restoring spring
- 64 Valve seat
- 66 Damping element
- 68 Elastomer
- 70 Chamber
- 72 Bore
- 74 Electric terminal
- 76 Molded plastic part
- 78 Heating element
- 80 Material having a high thermal conductivity/metal rib
- 82 Material having a low thermal conductivity/insulator
- 84 Fuel valve
- 86 Fuel inlet
- 88 Fuel outlet
- 90 Winding
- 92 Valve piston
- 94 Restoring spring
- 96 Valve seat
- 98 Electric terminal
- 100 Molded plastic part/insulator
Claims
1. Reciprocating piston fuel pump (16), in particular for an automotive heater (10) which is driven electromagnetically and is provided for delivering liquid fuel, having a damping element (34) comprising an elastomer (36) for damping pulsations created by the reciprocating piston fuel pump (16), characterized in that means (22, 46, 48, 50) are provided for heating the elastomer (36).
2. Reciprocating piston fuel pump according to claim 1, characterized in that means (22, 46, 48, 50) for heating the elastomer comprise and electric heater (46).
3. Reciprocating piston fuel pump according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means (22, 46, 48, 50) for heating the elastomer comprise a winding (22) of the electromagnetic drive of the reciprocating piston fuel pump (16).
4. Reciprocating piston fuel pump according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a material (50) having a low thermal conductivity is provided in an area between the elastomer (36) and the environment.
5. Reciprocating piston fuel pump according to claim 3, characterized in that material (48) having a high thermal conductivity is provided in an area between the winding (22) and the elastomer (36).
6. Method for starting and operating an automotive heater (10) that is operated with liquid fuel and has a burner (14) and a reciprocating piston fuel pump (16) with a damping element (34) comprising an elastomer (36) for damping pulsations created by the reciprocating piston fuel pump (16), characterized in that the elastomer (36) is already heated before ignition of the burner (14).
7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the elastomer (36) is heated by an electric heating device (46).
8. Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the elastomer (36) is heated by a winding (22) of an electromagnetic drive of the reciprocating piston fuel pump (16).
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 31, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 4, 2008
Inventors: Vitali Schmidt (Munchen), Michael Keppler (Unterhaching), Dieter Most (Munchen)
Application Number: 11/909,822
International Classification: F04B 35/04 (20060101);