Compressor Discharge Valve Inspection Hole for Missing-Part Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compressor technologies cannot reliably detect the presence or absence of a discharge valve without additional inspection processes, such as cameras or recognition systems, which complicates the assembly and increases processing steps.

Innovation Solution

A discharge valve structure with an inspection hole for a simple inspection member, where the presence or absence of the discharge valve is determined by the insertion depth of the inspection member, and positioning holes for accurate assembly, using either an assembly jig or positioning pin to ensure correct positioning and detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional inspection processes such as cameras or recognition systems are added to detect the presence or absence of the discharge valve, then the detection capability is improved, but the device complexity and processing steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidinspection process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the inspection function from complex external systems (cameras, recognition systems) and integrates it into a simple hole structure within the valve retainer. The inspection hole directly exposes the discharge valve's presence or absence without requiring additional detection devices, thereby maintaining high reliability while dramatically reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The discharge valve structure itself provides the inspection capability through the inspection hole. The presence or absence of the discharge valve automatically creates a visible difference (hole filled vs. hole empty) that can be detected without external assistance, making the system self-inspecting and eliminating the need for separate inspection processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If measurement of the height of the valve retainer is performed to confirm the missing of the discharge valve, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the inspection time and processing steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidinspection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the inspection process into a simple visual check through the inspection hole rather than requiring full-height measurement. By focusing inspection on a specific localized feature (the inspection hole appearance), it achieves sufficient detection accuracy without the time cost of complete dimensional measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing complete height measurement, the patent uses partial action by inspecting only the inspection hole region. This partial inspection provides adequate information to detect missing discharge valves without the excessive time investment of full measurement, achieving the right balance between accuracy and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If positioning holes and assembly jigs are used to ensure correct positioning of the discharge valve and valve retainer, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly positioning accuracyVSAvoidassembly tool complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces positioning pins as simple intermediary elements that mediate between the positioning holes in the components and the final assembled position. These pins provide precise positioning guidance during assembly without requiring complex assembly jigs or fixtures, thereby improving manufacturing precision while keeping the added complexity minimal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning holes in the discharge valve and valve retainer are designed as copies or replicas of the positioning features in the compression chamber. This copying approach ensures consistent positioning accuracy across different assembly operations without requiring custom or complex positioning tools for each component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3502478B1Method for inspecting erroneous/missing part of discharge valve structure, and discharge valve structure
Publication Date: 2022.11.16 VALEO JAPAN CO LTD
  • EP3502478B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3502478B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3502478B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method for inspecting an erroneous/missing part of a discharge valve structure according to the present invention is a method for inspecting the erroneous/missing part of the discharge valve structure of a compressor. The discharge valve structure has an assembly structure including a partition wall, a discharge valve, a valve retainer and a fixing bolt, and an inspection structure in which the valve retainer has an inspection hole for inserting an inspection member and at least a part or the whole of the discharge valve enters a region of the discharge valve corresponding to the inspection hole. The presence or absence of the discharge valve is inspected by inserting the inspection member into the inspection hole and by an insertion depth of the inspection member.