Control Valve Integrated Check Valve Pressure Peak Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic camshaft adjusters in internal combustion engines experience pressure peaks due to alternating moments on the camshaft, which can damage additional components in the pressure medium circuit, and existing solutions like ball check valves are not economical or efficient.
Innovation Solution
A control valve with an integrated elastically deformable check valve, where the closing part is made of a spirally wound spring steel sheet, allowing for a simple and economical realization, and is designed to prevent pressure peaks from being transmitted upstream by opening completely, thus protecting downstream components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ball check valves are used in the pressure medium circuit, then pressure peaks can be blocked, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve is integrated directly into the control valve housing as a unified component. The closing part is formed as a single piece with the housing, eliminating the need for separate check valve assemblies and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing part is made from elastically deformable material that can flex under pressure differential. This flexible closing part simplifies the valve mechanism by using elastic deformation instead of complex mechanical actuation, reducing manufacturing complexity while ensuring reliable sealing.
2Reliability
If traditional check valves are used, then pressure peaks are blocked, but manufacturing cost and production time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve closing part is manufactured as an integral component with the control valve housing using injection molding or similar processes. This merging of components eliminates assembly steps and reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining effective pressure peak blocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing part is designed with specific elastic properties and geometric parameters that allow it to function effectively as a check valve while being easily manufacturable. The elastic deformability and dimensional characteristics are optimized for both performance and cost-effective production.
3Reliability
If the check valve closes tightly to prevent pressure peaks, then component protection improves, but pressure drop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastically deformable closing part provides a flexible sealing mechanism that can adapt to pressure variations. This flexibility allows for effective sealing to protect components while minimizing rigid contact that would cause excessive pressure drop, optimizing the balance between protection and flow efficiency.
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 control valve effectively prevents pressure peaks from being transmitted, enhancing the torsional rigidity and positional stability of the rotary piston adjuster, while being economically producible and offering fast responsiveness with minimal pressure drop and adjustable opening characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
the closing part is elastically deformable, and its sealing surface is movable, through elastic deformation of the closing part, into a closed position in which it lies tightly against the valve opening, and into an open position in which the valve opening is completely open
Implementation Method 2
the closing part is mounted in elastically resilient fashion by at least one spring tongue
Data Source
AI summary
A control valve for controlling pressure medium flows, including: a valve housing having a hollow construction and having at least one feed connection, at least two working connections, and at least one discharge connection; a control piston held displaceably inside the valve housing, through which, dependent on position, the feed connection can be connected via at least one pressure medium line to the one or to the other working connection, while the respectively other working connection is connected via at least one second pressure medium line to the discharge connection. The control piston has a piston cavity and the first pressure medium line includes a feed opening allocated to the feed connection and a discharge opening allocated to the working connections, with each of these openings opening into the piston cavity. At least one check valve that can be hydraulically opened and that releases the first pressure medium line in the feed direction is provided, having a closing part that has a sealing surface, by which part a valve opening can be closed. The control valve has an elastically deformable closing part, such that the sealing surface thereof is movable, through elastic deformation of the closing part, into a closed position in which it lies against the valve opening in sealing fashion and an open position in which the valve opening is completely open, one of the openings of the control piston acting as valve opening. Alternatively, the closing part is mounted resiliently via at least one spring tongue.