Electric Recirculation Valve for Engine Oil Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recirculation valves in oil pumps can only regulate engine oil pressure at a single predetermined feedback pressure, leading to excessive oil flow during certain operating conditions, which increases engine work and parasitic drag, reducing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An electric recirculation valve with a regulator spool and electromagnetic solenoid valve that allows varying the force required to move the spool, enabling adjustable recirculation flow based on engine needs, using either an on/off or proportional solenoid to control the solenoid's pre-load between minimum and maximum forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a recirculation valve with a spring-biased spool is used to prevent excess oil flow, then oil pressure regulation is achieved, but the ability to adapt to varying operating conditions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the static, fixed-pressure recirculation valve into a dynamic system by introducing an electromagnetic solenoid that can actively adjust the spool position. The solenoid allows the valve to adapt its opening pressure dynamically based on real-time operating conditions, enabling the system to transition from a fixed mechanical state to a controllable dynamic state that responds to varying engine demands.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the purely mechanical spring-biased spool system with an electromechanical system. The electromagnetic solenoid substitutes for part of the mechanical spring biasing mechanism, allowing electrical control signals to modify the mechanical forces acting on the spool. This substitution enables remote control and adaptation capabilities that pure mechanical systems cannot provide.
2Device complexity
If a single predetermined feedback pressure is used for recirculation, then simple valve design is maintained, but pump output optimization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an intermediary electromagnetic solenoid between the control signal and the spool mechanism. This solenoid acts as a mediator that translates electrical control signals into mechanical force adjustments on the spool, enabling precise control of the recirculation opening pressure without requiring complex direct mechanical adjustment mechanisms. The solenoid intermediary maintains relative design simplicity while enabling sophisticated control functionality.
3Ease of manufacture
If recirculation valve opens at predetermined pressure, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but engine efficiency is reduced due to excessive oil flow
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables dynamic change of the critical parameter - the recirculation opening pressure - by using the electromagnetic solenoid to adjust the force balance on the spool. Instead of being fixed during manufacturing, the opening pressure can be varied during operation by changing the solenoid's electromagnetic force, allowing optimization of pump output and reduction of parasitic drag according to actual engine conditions.
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 solution allows for optimized pump output and reduced parasitic drag by adjusting recirculation flow according to engine requirements, enhancing engine efficiency by varying the feedback pressures at which recirculation occurs.
Implementation Method 1
the control valve may be an electromagnetic solenoid valve, for example an electromagnetic solenoid valve having an on/off solenoid or a proportional solenoid
Implementation Method 2
a first resilient biasing means and a control valve, wherein the first resilient biasing means biases the regulator spool in a first position
Data Source
AI summary
A recirculation valve for a pump having a regulator spool, a first resilient biasing member and a control valve. The first resilient biasing member biases the regulator spool in a first position in which flow of a liquid from a first port of the pump to a second port of the pump is prevented. The control valve controls the force required to move the regulator spool against the first resilient biasing member to a second position in which flow of the liquid from the first port to the second port is enabled.