Abstract:
A housing (30) for use in high pressure fluid applications comprising a first drilling (32a, 32b), defining a first axis, and having a region of enlarged diameter (32b) bounded by an upper boundary (36) in a first plane and a lower boundary (38) in a second plane; and a second drilling (42), defining a second axis, and intersecting with the first drilling (32a, 32b) via an intersection region (44). The intersection region (44) includes a first substantially flat surface (54) which defines a ceiling of the intersection region (44) and which intersects the upper boundary (36) of the region of enlarged diameter (32b), and a second substantially flat surface (56) which is opposed to the first substantially flat surface (56) and which defines a floor of the intersection region (44) and intersects the lower boundary (38) of the region of enlarged diameter (32b). As the flat surfaces are in alignment with a region of maximum hoop stress (i.e. at the upper and lower boundaries of the enlarged diameter region of the first drilling) they do not act as a significant stress raiser at the intersection (44). In another aspect of the invention the first drilling need not have a region of enlarged diameter, with the intersection region having tangential surfaces to the circumference of the first drilling so that the intersection region does not intersect with a region of hoop stress.
Abstract:
A fluid pump assembly comprising a driven cam (18) and a reciprocating member (26, 28; 126, 226, 326; 32, 34) reciprocal within a bore provided in a pump housing (12, 30) as the cam (18) is driven, in use, to cause pressurisation of fluid within a pump chamber (33, 35). The pump assembly further comprises interface means (26a, 18c) between the cam (18) and the reciprocating member, preferably in the form of bevelled surfaces (18c, 26a, 28a; 32a, 34a) of the cam and the reciprocating member, which serve to drive the reciprocating member (26, 28) (i) to translate in a first, axial direction within the bore and (ii) to rotate within the bore in a second, rotational direction. A preferred feature of the fluid pump assembly is that the pump housing (12, 30) defines a bearing (22) for the cam (18) which is provided with a region of weakness (50) to allow the bearing (22) to deflect, in use, thereby to provide an increased lubrication volume between the cam and the bearing (22). The reciprocating member may take the form of a tappet (26, 28) which cooperates with a pumping plunger to pressurise fluid within the pump chamber (33, 35).
Abstract:
A pumping plunger (14) for a fluid pump (2), wherein the plunger (14) carries sealing means (60, 64, 70). In a particular embodiment, the sealing means takes the form of a discontinuous annular member received over a relatively narrow end portion of the plunger, the annular member serving to maintain an effective high pressure seal against a suitable bore within which it is slidable, in use. Accordingly, the invention extends to a pump incorporating such a plunger.
Abstract:
A pump assembly (30) for use in an internal combustion engine comprises a pump housing (32a, 32b) provided with a bore (34) within which a pumping plunger (36) is reciprocal along a plunger axis; and a pump chamber (38) defined at one end of the bore (34) within which fuel is pressurised to a relatively high level as the pumping plunger (36) reciprocates within the bore (34), in use. A clamp member (46) applies a clamping load to the pump housing (32a, 32b), having at least a component that is aligned with the plunger axis, through a surface of the pump housing located approximately axially above the bore (34). This has the effect of generating a compressive stress in the pump housing in close proximity to the plunger bore (34) to counter tensile stress within the pump housing due to pressurised fuel within the pump chamber (38).