Crankcase Ventilation Valve With Conical Spring Force Centering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crankcase ventilation valves lack simplicity and reliability in force transmission and risk lateral deformation, leading to inefficiencies in pressure equalization and sealing.
Innovation Solution
A crankcase ventilation valve design featuring a metal support washer integrated into a flexible membrane element, supported by a conical spring with a larger diameter end, ensuring uniform force transmission and reduced lateral deformation risk, along with a guide element for centering the conical spring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional spring and membrane design is used, then the valve can perform pressure equalization, but the force transmission is asymmetrical leading to tilting and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
A support washer is introduced as an intermediary component between the conical spring and the membrane element. The support washer has a conical underside that matches the conical spring's pressing surface, ensuring symmetrical and uniform force distribution across the membrane element. This intermediary component prevents tilting and asymmetrical force transmission, thereby improving valve sealing reliability without compromising operational ease.
2Stability of the object's composition
If additional fastening measures are implemented to secure the support washer, then the structural stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support washer is integrated directly into the membrane element by being molded as a single piece. The support washer becomes an intrinsic part of the membrane element structure, eliminating the need for separate fastening measures. This merging of components maintains structural stability while significantly reducing device complexity and the number of assembly steps.
3Ease of manufacture
If a coil spring is used instead of a conical spring, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the lateral stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A conical spring with an asymmetric geometry (larger diameter at one end, smaller at the other) is employed instead of a symmetric coil spring. The conical shape provides inherent lateral stability and resistance to deformation while maintaining manufacturability. The asymmetric geometry allows the spring to better distribute loads and resist lateral forces, improving overall structural stability without excessive manufacturing complexity.
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 design achieves reliable and efficient pressure equalization by uniformly distributing spring force, preventing tilting and lateral deformation, and eliminating the need for additional fastening measures, while maintaining the conical spring's stability and sealing effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a conical spring (6) whose front face with larger diameter (6.1) acts on the valve element (4, 5). The end face of the conical spring (6) with its larger diameter (6.1) is supported by the support washer (5)
Implementation Method 2
The membrane element (4), which forms the valve element, is flexible and can deform under pressure. If the gas pressure exceeds the spring force of the conical spring (6), the membrane element (4) lifts off from the ventilation aperture (3)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~11
AI summary
A crankcase ventilation valve comprises a membrane element with a metal support washer and a conical spring, the end face of which acts on the support washer.