Floating Vent Valve Structure to Prevent Oil Spouting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exhaust valves and filtration devices risk oil spouting from air vent holes due to operational states, posing a potential leakage issue.

Innovation Solution

An exhaust valve with a rod-like portion and dual stoppers, where the stoppers and rod form a moving member that floats on oil, allowing the valve to move between positions to close the air vent hole, preventing oil spouting. The first stopper is elastically deformable and the second stopper is designed to easily seal the vent hole, even with inclined oil surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a moving member is provided to be movable between closing and opening positions of the air vent hole, then air venting function is improved, but oil spouting risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair venting functionVSAvoidoil spouting
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust valve is divided into two separate stoppers: a first stopper for closing the air vent hole and a second stopper for preventing oil spouting. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, ensuring reliable air venting while preventing oil leakage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rod-like portion acts as an intermediary component that transmits the closing action from the first stopper to the second stopper. When the first stopper closes the air vent hole, the rod-like portion moves the second stopper to a position where it prevents oil from spouting through the closed hole.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the moving member is designed to float on oil, then ease of operation is improved, but sealing reliability may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve movementVSAvoidsealing performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust valve utilizes buoyancy (anti-weight principle) to float on the oil surface, which automatically positions the valve for operation. The buoyant force counteracts the weight of the valve components, enabling easy movement between opening and closing positions without requiring additional actuation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The second stopper is designed with a spherical shape that allows it to easily seal the circular air vent hole. The spherical geometry enables the stopper to conform to the hole opening and maintain reliable sealing through its curved surface contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If dual stoppers are provided, then oil spouting prevention is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil spouting preventionVSAvoidvalve structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first stopper, second stopper, and rod-like portion are merged into a single integrated exhaust valve assembly. This combining of components achieves oil spouting prevention through the second stopper while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that operates as one unified movable unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Prevents oil from spouting from the air vent hole effectively, ensuring reliable sealing and preventing hydraulic oil from being suctioned into hydraulic pumps.

Implementation Method 1

the moving member is formed to float on oil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

The first stopper is elastically deformable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4670814A1Vent valve and filter device
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 YAMASHIN FILTER CORP
  • EP4670814A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4670814A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4670814A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Object: Air bubbles are removable with the use of an air vent structure having a compact and simple configuration. Resolution: An exhaust valve that is provided to a plate-like portion provided in a vicinity of an upper end of a filtration device installed in a tank for storing oil includes a rod-like portion inserted into an air vent hole formed in the plate-like portion, a first stopper provided at an upper end of the rod-like portion, and a second stopper provided at a lower end of the rod-like portion. The second stopper and the rod-like portion integrally form a moving member, and the moving member is formed to float on the oil. A hollow portion provided with one end of the rod-like portion is formed in the first stopper. The rod-like portion is movable between a position at which the first stopper abuts against the air vent hole to close the air vent hole and a position at which the moving member abuts against the air vent hole.