Air Valve Housing Labyrinth Passage for Contaminant Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air valve assemblies in commercial vehicle air suspension systems are prone to clogging due to environmental factors like mud, frozen water, and dust, leading to shortened maintenance intervals and reduced longevity.
Innovation Solution
The air valve assembly housing features a fluid passageway with radially extending protrusions, such as screw threads, that partially obstruct the flow between the actuator and exhaust chambers, acting as a barrier to prevent dirt and liquids while allowing air to flow, thus improving the air quality and longevity of connected components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fluid passageway is left open without obstructions, then air flow is maintained, but dirt, dust and liquid can enter and cause clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid passageway is segmented by multiple radially extending protrusions that divide the flow path into multiple segments. This segmentation creates a labyrinthine effect that obstructs the passage of contaminants while allowing air to flow through the segmented channels, effectively filtering the exhaust chamber from environmental contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The radially extending protrusions act as an intermediary barrier between the actuator chamber and exhaust chamber. These protrusions are positioned within the fluid passageway to intercept and block contaminants (dirt, dust, liquid) while permitting air flow, serving as a protective mediator that prevents harmful substances from reaching the exhaust chamber.
2Reliability
If radially extending protrusions are added to obstruct the fluid passageway, then barrier function against contaminants is improved, but air flow path is prolonged and flow velocity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The radially extending protrusions provide partial obstruction rather than complete blockage of the fluid passageway. This partial action is sufficient to create an effective barrier against contaminants while maintaining adequate air flow velocity. The protrusions are sized and positioned to achieve the minimum necessary obstruction to prevent contaminant ingress without excessively restricting air flow.
3Reliability
If multiple radially extending protrusions are disposed in the fluid passageway, then the barrier function against dirt and liquid is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple radially extending protrusions are merged into a single integrated structure within the fluid passageway. Rather than being separate components, the protrusions are combined as part of the housing or passageway structure, creating a unified barrier system that enhances contaminant protection while avoiding the complexity of multiple discrete parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The radially extending protrusions serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as a barrier against contaminants, create a labyrinthine flow path to enhance filtration, and maintain structural integrity of the passageway. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving enhanced protection.
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
The solution effectively decelerates air flow and acts as a deterrent to unwanted matter, prolonging the flow path and enhancing the barrier function against solids and liquids, thereby improving maintenance intervals and longevity without compromising functionality.
Implementation Method 1
the number of protrusions, each causing a partial obstruction inside the fluid passageway, causes a deceleration of air travelling through the fluid passageway
Implementation Method 2
the number of protrusions acts as a determent, that is, a barrier, for dirt, dust and liquid, similar in principle to a labyrinth seal
Implementation Method 3
The screw is in particular configured to force the air into a helical flow path along at least parts of the circumference of the fluid passageway
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to an air valve assembly housing (3), in particular an air valve assembly housing for an air valve assembly (1) of a commercial vehicle air suspension system (100). The air valve assembly housing (3) comprises an air exhaust chamber (9) and an actuator chamber (7a-7d) configured to accommodate a pneumatic actuator (8a-8d). The pneumatic actuator (8a-8d) has a valve body (10) that is configured to move between a closed position and an open position. It is suggested that the air valve assembly housing (3) comprises a fluid passageway (15) that extends from the actuator chamber (7a-7d) to the exhaust chamber (9) such that the actuator chamber (7a-7d) and the exhaust chamber (9) are in fluid communication at least when the valve body (10) is in the open position, wherein a number of radially extending protrusions (17) partially obstructs the fluid passageway (15).