Compressor Vacuum Supply with Segmented Propellant Housing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compressor assemblies for internal combustion engines lack a simple and cost-effective method for vacuum deployment and reliable diagnostics, which are essential for efficient operation and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A compressor assembly with a separate propellant channel housing featuring a plug-in connection for the propellant outlet and a contact surface connection for the propellant inlet, allowing for efficient vacuum deployment and easy diagnostic capabilities through pressure sensors, ensuring high tightness and operational safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the propellant channel is integrated into the compressor housing, then the structure is more compact, but the vacuum deployment becomes more complex and less diagnosable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure compactnessVSAvoidvacuum deployment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The propellant channel is separated from the compressor housing and placed in a separate housing. This segmentation allows the vacuum supply device to be independently assembled, tested, and diagnosed, reducing deployment complexity while maintaining structural compactness through separate mounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A separate housing acts as an intermediary component between the compressor housing and the vacuum supply device. This intermediary structure simplifies the integration process by providing dedicated mounting interfaces and allowing independent optimization of each subsystem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the propellant channel is integrated into the compressor housing, then manufacturing is simpler, but diagnostic capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoiddiagnostic capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the propellant channel into its own housing, the system enables independent diagnostics of the vacuum supply device without disassembling the entire compressor assembly. This segmentation maintains manufacturing simplicity through modular production while significantly improving diagnostic capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The separate housing design allows the vacuum supply device to be self-diagnosed and self-tested independently. Pressure sensors and other diagnostic tools can be applied to the separate housing without affecting the compressor housing, enabling self-service maintenance and troubleshooting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the propellant outlet connection is designed as a plug connection, then assembly is easier, but connection tightness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidconnection tightness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The plug connection is combined with a sealing element (O-ring or similar) to merge the ease of plug-in assembly with the reliability of sealed connections. This hybrid approach maintains the simplicity of plug connections while ensuring adequate sealing performance through the integrated sealing component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 provides a cost-effective and reliable vacuum deployment system with enhanced diagnosticability, ensuring efficient operation and maintenance by allowing easy installation and leak detection, thus improving the overall performance and safety of the compressor assembly.

Implementation Method 1

a propellant channel with a nozzle, which is connected on the one hand via a propellant inlet port to the high-pressure side of the compressor and on the other hand via a propellant outlet port to the low-pressure side of the compressor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a vacuum channel which fluidically opens into the propellant channel between the propellant inlet connection and the propellant outlet connection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum generation: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentEP3759328B1Compressor arrangement for an internal combustion engine and method of operating an compressor arrangement
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 AUDI AG
  • EP3759328B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3759328B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3759328B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a compressor arrangement (1) for an internal combustion engine (2), comprising a compressor (5) which is located in a compressor housing (19) and has a low-pressure side (6) and a high-pressure-side (7), and comprising a vacuum supply device (9) which has: a propellant channel (35) which has a nozzle (37) and is fluidically connected on one side via a propellant inlet connection (25) to the high-pressure side (7) of the compressor (5) and on the other side via a propellant outlet connection (26) to the low-pressure side (6) of the compressor (5); and a vacuum channel (39) opening into the propellant channel (35) fluidically between the propellant inlet connection (25) and the propellant outlet connection (26). According to the invention, the propellant channel (35) is designed in a housing (27) which is separate from the compressor housing (19) and on which the propellant inlet connection (25) and/or the propellant outlet connection (26) are/is designed as a plug connection. The invention also relates to a method for operating a compressor arrangement (1) for an internal combustion engine (2).