Air Spring Valve Biasing System with Pre-Start Pressurization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air springs used to bias valves in internal combustion engines face issues such as air leakage leading to reduced spring force, potential valve damage, and the need for frequent refilling or replacement, as well as resonance at high engine speeds which affects engine efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An air compressor system driven by a motor before engine start-up and then by the engine's rotating shaft to maintain air pressure in air springs, ensuring valves are properly closed and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air springs are used to bias valves, then resonance at high engine speeds is eliminated and weight is reduced, but air leakage occurs leading to reduced spring force and potential valve damage
Solution Approach 1:
A reservoir is introduced as an intermediary component between the air supply and the air spring. The reservoir stores excess air at high pressure and supplies it to the air spring when needed, acting as a buffer that compensates for air leakage without requiring frequent external refilling.
Solution Approach 2:
Air is compressed and stored in the reservoir in advance before it is needed by the air spring. This preliminary storage of pressurized air ensures that the air spring can be quickly replenished after leakage, maintaining reliable valve operation without delay.
2Reliability
If a reservoir of pressurized air is provided to replenish air in air springs, then air leakage is compensated, but the reservoir needs frequent refilling or replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically replenishing the air spring from the reservoir when pressure drops due to leakage. The air compressor continuously or periodically refills the reservoir, creating a self-sustaining system that requires minimal external intervention and no frequent manual refilling.
Solution Approach 2:
The air compressor operates continuously or in periodic cycles to maintain pressurized air in the reservoir, ensuring uninterrupted supply to the air spring. This continuous action eliminates gaps in pressure maintenance that would otherwise require manual intervention.
3Reliability
If metallic coil springs are added to provide backup biasing force, then valve closure is ensured when air pressure is insufficient, but weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The problematic metallic coil spring is extracted and replaced with an air spring system. By removing the metallic spring entirely and using only air springs with a reservoir-backed-up pressure system, the design maintains reliability while avoiding the weight and complexity of a dual-spring configuration.
4Reliability
If air compressor is driven by motor before engine start-up, then air springs are pressurized for engine starting, but energy is consumed before engine is running
Solution Approach 1:
The air compressor is operated in advance by the motor to pre-pressurize the air springs and reservoir before engine start-up. This preliminary action ensures that sufficient air pressure is available to bias the valves correctly from the moment the engine starts, preventing valve damage during the critical transition period.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution maintains consistent air pressure in air springs, preventing valve damage and improving engine efficiency by ensuring valves return to their closed position effectively, reducing the need for frequent refilling and minimizing resonance issues.
Implementation Method 1
An air compressor selectively supplies air to the air spring
Implementation Method 2
When the cam moves the valve to its opened position, the piston of the air spring moves with the valve, thus reducing the volume of the air chamber and as a result increasing the air pressure therein
Data Source
AI summary
A method of supplying air to an air spring biasing one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine to a closed position is disclosed. The method includes: driving an air compressor with a motor prior to starting of the internal combustion engine, the air compressor fluidly communicating with the air spring to supply air to the air spring; determining that a predetermined condition has been reached; starting the engine once the predetermined condition has been reached; and driving the air compressor with a rotating shaft of the engine once the engine has started.