Pump drive cartridge assembly

Abstract

An anti-rotation sleeve for a high-pressure piston compression pump includes a sleeve having a generally cylindrical elongated shape and extending longitudinally along a central axis from a first end to a second end and features that provide orientation and that limit radial movement integrated in an inner diameter of the sleeve. The first end of the sleeve attaches to a base of the pump and the second end slidably engages a lifter body. The lifter body includes corresponding features that provide orientation and that limit radial movement integrated in an outer diameter of the lifter body. By providing an anti-rotation sleeve a relatively simple pump drive cartridge assembly that integrates all pump drive components into a one integral part is enabled. Hence, lower manufacturing and assembly costs, reduced manufacturing and assembly cycle times, and easier packaging conditions are obtained.

1 . An anti-rotation sleeve for a fuel pump, comprising:
 a sleeve having a generally cylindrical elongated shape and extending longitudinally along a central axis from a first end to a second end; and   at least one feature that provides orientation and that limits radial movement integrated in said sleeve;   wherein said first end of the sleeve attaches to a base of said fuel pump;   wherein said second end of the sleeve slidably engages a lifter body; and   wherein said lifter body includes at least one feature that mates with said at least one sleeve feature to provide orientation and to limit radial movement of said lifter body relative to said sleeve.   
   
   
       2 . The anti-rotation sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sleeve feature includes one of a flat surface or a projection; and wherein said at least one lifter body feature includes the other of said flat surface or said projection, thereby limiting radial movement of said lifter body relative to said sleeve. 
   
   
       3 . The anti-rotation sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve houses a reciprocating plunger and spring assembly of said pump. 
   
   
       4 . The anti-rotation sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said first end is retained to said base of said pump such that radial movement of said sleeve relative to said base is prevented. 
   
   
       5 . The anti-rotation sleeve of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of holes incorporated in said sleeve, wherein said holes enable oil passage into and out of said sleeve. 
   
   
       6 . The anti-rotation sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of said sleeve at said second end receives an outer diameter of said lifter body. 
   
   
       7 . The anti-rotation sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of said sleeve at said second end receives an inner diameter of said lifter body. 
   
   
       8 . The anti-rotation sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein an axial length of said sleeve is adjustable to an engine-mounting requirement. 
   
   
       9 . The anti-rotation sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sleeve feature includes one of a longitudinal groove or a projection; and wherein said at least one lifter body feature includes the other of said longitudinal groove or said projection, thereby limiting radial movement of said lifter body relative to said sleeve. 
   
   
       10 . The anti-rotation sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein a push rod extends between said lifter body and a plunger of said pump to transmit a linear vertical reciprocating motion of said lifter body to said plunger of said pump. 
   
   
       11 . The anti-rotation sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein a plunger of said pump is in contact with said lifter body to transmit a linear vertical reciprocating motion of said lifter body to said pump. 
   
   
       12 . The anti-rotation sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve integrates all pump drive components of said pump into a single integral part. 
   
   
       13 . A pump drive cartridge assembly of a fuel pump, comprising:
 a lifter body including a camshaft follower;   an anti-rotation sleeve connecting said lifter body to a base of said pump, said sleeve slidably receiving said lifter body and said sleeve housing a reciprocation plunger and spring assembly of said pump; and   at least one feature disposed in one of said lifter body or said anti-rotation sleeve that provides orientation and that prevents radial movement of said lifter body relative to said sleeve;   wherein said camshaft follower transmits a rotational motion and lift provided by a camshaft lobe to a linear vertical reciprocating motion of said lifter body, said linear vertical reciprocating motion driving said pump.   
   
   
       14 . The pump drive cartridge assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said plunger is in contact with said lifter body transmitting said linear vertical reciprocating motion. 
   
   
       15 . The pump drive cartridge assembly of  claim 13 , further including a push rod that extends between said lifter body and said plunger of said pump to transmit a linear vertical reciprocating motion of said lifter body to said plunger. 
   
   
       16 . The pump drive cartridge assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said camshaft follower is a roller follower. 
   
   
       17 . The pump drive cartridge assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said lifter body axially slides within said sleeve. 
   
   
       18 . The pump drive cartridge assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one feature disposed in one of said lifter body or said anti-rotation sleeve includes a pair of flat surfaces positioned radially across from each other for providing orientation and preventing radial movement of said lifter body relative to said sleeve. 
   
   
       19 . The pump drive cartridge assembly of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one feature disposed in one of said lifter body or said anti-rotation sleeve includes a projection extending from one of said lifter body or said anti-rotation sleeve and a mating groove formed in the other of said lifter body or said anti-rotation sleeve, wherein said projection axially moves in said groove for providing orientation and preventing radial movement of said lifter body relative to said sleeve. 
   
   
       20 . A pump assembly of a direct injection fuel system, comprising:
 a pump including a reciprocating plunger and spring assembly extending a base of said pump;   a camshaft lobe; and   a pump drive cartridge assembly arranged between said pump and said camshaft lobe to transmit the rotational motion and lift of said camshaft lobe to a linear vertical reciprocating motion required to drive said pump;   wherein said pump drive cartridge assembly defines features that provide orientation and that prevent radial movement of said pump relative to said camshaft lobe.   
   
   
       21 . The pump assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said pump drive cartridge assembly includes:
 a lifter body including a roller follower; and   an anti-rotation sleeve connecting said lifter body to said base of said pump, said sleeve slidably receiving said lifter body opposite from said roller follower and said sleeve housing said reciprocation plunger and spring assembly of said pump;   wherein said features that provide orientation and that prevent radial movement of said pump relative to said camshaft lobe are integrated in said lifter body and said anti-rotation sleeve.   
   
   
       22 . The pump assembly of  claim 20 , wherein said pump drive cartridge assembly includes oil passages that minimize the reciprocating weight of said pump drive cartridge and enable adequate lubrication of interfaces between said pump drive cartridge assembly and said camshaft lobe.