Balancing Valve Elastic Packing for Tractor Braking Pressure

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing balancing valves in farm tractor braking systems are prone to damage due to excessive pressure increases caused by thermal expansion of braking liquid in closed spaces, particularly during static operations with insufficient cooling, leading to unbalanced braking.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a containment space with elastic properties for at least one of the balancing valve's packings, allowing for displacement and increasing the volume to absorb pressure increases, thereby preventing damage from excessive pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the transfer channel is confined in a closed space with fixed volume, then the braking system maintains structural simplicity, but thermal expansion of the braking liquid causes excessive pressure increase that may damage the balancing valves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidexcessive pressure increase
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the containment space volume variable rather than fixed. The elastic packing element allows the containment space to dynamically expand when thermal expansion of the braking liquid causes pressure increase, thereby absorbing the excess pressure without damaging the balancing valves. This resolves the contradiction by introducing dynamic adaptability to the previously static closed space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameter of the containment space volume from constant to variable. By incorporating an elastic packing element that can deform under pressure, the volume of the containment space increases in response to thermal expansion of the braking liquid. This parameter change allows the system to accommodate temperature variations without excessive pressure buildup.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the containment space volume is increased to absorb thermal expansion, then pressure increase is moderated, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure moderationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible packing element (such as an O-ring or elastomeric seal) that can elastically deform to increase the containment space volume. This flexible component absorbs thermal expansion pressure through its elastic deformation, moderating pressure increases without requiring complex mechanical structures. The simplicity of using a flexible sealing element minimizes the increase in device complexity while achieving the desired pressure moderation effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic packing element acts as an intermediary between the braking liquid and the rigid components of the braking system. It mediates the thermal expansion effects by deforming elastically to accommodate volume changes, thereby protecting the balancing valves from excessive pressure. This intermediary approach allows pressure moderation without directly modifying the main structural components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If a rigid containment space is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but the balancing valves are vulnerable to thermal expansion damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidvalve reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces part of the rigid containment space with a flexible packing element that can elastically deform. This flexible component is relatively simple to manufacture and install, requiring only basic machining for the containment space cavity and the packing element itself. The flexible packing provides the necessary compliance to protect balancing valves from thermal expansion damage while maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The containment space becomes a composite structure combining rigid housing (for structural support and ease of manufacture) and flexible packing material (for pressure absorption and valve protection). This composite approach allows the rigid portions to be manufactured using conventional methods while the flexible element provides the necessary reliability protection against thermal expansion effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 moderates pressure increases due to thermal expansion, preventing damage to the balancing valves and maintaining balanced braking performance without increasing production costs.

Implementation Method 1

when the transfer channel undergoes a temperature increase, the contained liquid is thermally dilated, and its volume increase causes in the closed space a pressure increase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

a displacement of this packing that increases in noticeable manner the volume of the space which is located on the packing side communicating with the transfer channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2234854B1A valve for the braking balancement, for a farm tractor or a similar vehicle
Publication Date: 2011.08.10 VHIT SPA
  • EP2234854B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

A valve (V) for balancing the braking system of a vehicle equipped with two separated master cylinders (1) for the independent braking of the wheels situated at the two sides of the vehicle, this balancing valve (V) comprising two ring packings (9-10, 11) which cooperate with the intake (8) of a transfer channel (7) connecting both master cylinders (1), wherein at least one (11) of the packings of the balancing valve (V) is housed within a containment space (12-13) suitable for allowing, in elastic conditions, a displacement of this packing (11) that increases in noticeable manner the volume of the space which is located on the packing side communicating with the transfer channel (7). This packing (11) may per se have a substantially usual shape, and the possibility of its displacement as a consequence of an elastic deformation of the packing (11) may be entrusted entirely to the shape of the space (12-13) wherein the packing is housed, or even, the possibility of an elastic displacement of the packing (11) as a consequence of its deformation can be entirely entrusted to a special shape of the packing (11) itself. An elastic means (M) brings again the packing (11) to its normal configuration when ceases the cause of its displacement.