EGR Valve Motor Vibration Damping via Elastomer Intermediate Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drive arrangements for internal combustion engines, particularly exhaust gas recirculation valves, face challenges in providing effective axial and radial damping to withstand high vibration and shock loads while being sensitive to tolerances and costly to assemble.

Innovation Solution

A drive arrangement featuring a housing with a fixed receiving part and a cover, an intermediate element made of elastomer material that is radially deformed between the cover and the drive element, and axially deformed between the drive element and the lid, providing vibration-damping decoupling and allowing for easy assembly with large tolerances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an intermediate element is used to provide axial and radial damping for the drive element, then vibration resistance and shock load resistance are improved, but assembly complexity and sensitivity to tolerances increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration resistanceVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines both axial damping and radial damping functions into a single intermediate element made of elastomer material. This element simultaneously provides axial pretensioning between the drive element and housing, and radial damping through its deformation capability, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the elastomeric material's ability to change its deformation parameters under different loading conditions. The material provides different damping characteristics axially and radially through its viscoelastic properties, allowing effective vibration resistance without requiring separate damping components for each direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a two-part intermediate element is used for radial and axial mounting, then damping effect is improved, but manufacturing cost and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping effectVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of multiple intermediate elements into a single monolithic elastomeric component that provides both axial pretensioning and radial damping. This eliminates the need for separate support disks and mounting elements, significantly reducing manufacturing cost and simplifying the production process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single intermediate element performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides axial pretensioning, radial damping, shock absorption, and vibration isolation. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed and simplifies both manufacturing and assembly processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If multiple attachment points are used for radial and axial securing, then mounting stability is improved, but assembly precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting stabilityVSAvoidassembly precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The elastomeric material's ability to deform and adapt to varying dimensions allows the single intermediate element to accommodate tolerance variations in both axial and radial directions. The material's viscoelastic properties enable it to maintain stable mounting while compensating for dimensional variations, reducing assembly precision requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 achieves long-lasting, vibration-damped drive element mounting with reduced sensitivity to tolerances and lower production costs, ensuring secure engagement of the drive gear and increased service life by using an elastomer intermediate element for axial and radial damping.

Implementation Method 1

an intermediate element (64) which is arranged in a pretensioned manner between the drive element (12) and the housing (10), and which is deformed radially between the cover (38) and the drive element (12) and elastically deformed axially between the drive element (12) and the cover (38, 52)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

achieves long-lasting, vibration-damped drive element mounting with reduced sensitivity to tolerances

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP2984741B1Motor for an egr valve
Publication Date: 2023.04.12 PIERBURG GMBH
  • EP2984741B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2984741B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4

AI summary

Drive arrangements for assemblies of an internal combustion engine, in particular for exhaust-gas recirculation valves, having a drive element (12), a housing (10) and an intermediate element (64) that is arranged so as to be preloaded between the drive element (12) and the housing (10), are known. To achieve all-round vibration decoupling of the drive element, it is proposed that the housing (10) have a static receiving part (32) and a cover (38) fastened thereon, which cover bears axially against a stop (60) on the static receiving part (32), wherein the intermediate element (64) is arranged radially between the cover (38) and the drive element (12) and so as to be elastically deformed axially between the drive element (12) and the cover (38), such that, in the case of an exhaust-gas recirculation valve, the electric motor (12) is loaded axially against a drive-side bearing bracket (42), which is formed on the housing (10), by the spring force of an elastically deformed intermediate element (64) and is mounted in the cover (38) radially by means of the intermediate element (64).