Elastic Support Ring for High-Pressure Fluid Valve Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-pressure fuel injection valves experience sealing ring damage due to radial gaps between the support ring and connection components, leading to impaired sealing functionality and reduced service life.

Innovation Solution

An elastically deformable support ring is designed to eliminate radial gaps by deforming under fluid pressure, ensuring a gap-free seal between the inlet connector, support ring, and connection cup, with a peripheral depression on the support ring end face to facilitate contact with the sealing ring even at low pressures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a support ring made of plastic is used in the sealing assembly, then assembly is facilitated and initial sealing is achieved, but radial gaps remain between the support ring and connection components, causing sealing ring extrusion and damage over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly facilitationVSAvoidsealing ring service life
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support ring is designed with elastic deformability, changing its mechanical parameter from rigid to flexible. Under fluid pressure, the support ring deforms elastically to close the radial gaps between itself and the connection components (inlet nozzle and connection cup), preventing sealing ring extrusion while maintaining assembly ease

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The support ring transitions from a static, rigid component to a dynamic, deformable one. It actively adapts its shape under pressure to eliminate gaps, transforming the sealing mechanism from passive contact to active gap-closing behavior that prevents sealing ring damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If radial gaps are maintained between support ring and connection components, then assembly is easier, but sealing ring extrusion occurs under pressure leading to sealing failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidsealing ring extrusion and damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic support ring is pre-designed to exert a counteracting force against potential sealing ring extrusion. When fluid pressure applies force on the sealing ring, the support ring's elastic deformation creates an opposing action that prevents the sealing ring from being extruded into the radial gaps, neutralizing the harmful effect before it occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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

This design prevents sealing ring extrusion and damage, significantly extending the service life of the fluid seal and ensuring reliable sealing performance under high-pressure conditions.

Implementation Method 1

due to the elastic deformation of the support ring, which is caused by the sealing ring subjected to fluid pressure, all radial gaps between inlet nozzle, support ring and connection cup are eliminated upon commissioning of the injection valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3066332B1Valve for the metering of highly pressurized fluid
Publication Date: 2020.11.11 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3066332B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3066332B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3066332B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A valve for the metering of highly pressurized fluid is specified, which valve has an inlet connector (14), which can be inserted into a connection socket (18) of a fluid supply line (17), and a seal assembly (20) which is arranged on the inlet connector (14) and which has an elastically deformable seal ring (21) and a support ring (22) composed of plastic, which seal assembly is supported on a radial support shoulder (16) provided on the inlet connector (14) and seals against the connection socket (18). To eliminate radial gaps between the support ring (22) on the one hand and the inlet connector (14) and/or the connection socket (18) on the other hand, into which radial gaps the seal ring (21) extrudes, and is damaged, under the action of high pressure, the support ring (22) arranged between the seal ring (21) and support shoulder (16) is composed of an elastically deformable plastics material and is configured such that, under the fluid pressure acting on the seal ring (21), said support ring undergoes an elastic deformation which effects gap-free radial abutment against inlet connector (14) and connection socket (18).