Fluid Reservoir Stop Valve Support to Prevent Brake Fluid Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing brake fluid reservoirs are prone to accidental fluid leakage due to unintentional actuation of check valves, which can be triggered by damage or misalignment, and existing solutions require costly tool modifications or are not suitable for retrofitting existing brake units.

Innovation Solution

A separate check valve is positioned in the receiving seat, with support means such as a conical recess or fastening pin, to prevent unintentional actuation and reduce friction, allowing for easy adaptation of existing brake units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a shaft-like extended valve closing body is used to prevent fluid leakage, then the valve can be actuated by resting on the base of the receiving seat, but the valve closing body may be unintentionally actuated by bending, breaking off or damaging, or unintentional support on other objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of fluid leakageVSAvoidunintentional actuation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support function is segmented from the valve closing body and placed in the receiving seat base, separating the actuation trigger from the valve control mechanism. This prevents the valve closing body from being unintentionally actuated while maintaining the ability to deliberately open the valve by pressing the support means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A support means (ball or pin) is introduced as an intermediary element between the receiving seat base and the valve closing body. This intermediary transmits the intentional actuation force while preventing unintentional contact or damage to the valve closing body itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the valve closing body is shortened to prevent unintentional actuation, then safety against unintentional emptying is improved, but modification or re-production of casting tools is required which is costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety against unintentional emptyingVSAvoidcost of tool modification
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The support function is separated from the valve closing body and placed in the receiving seat base, allowing the valve closing body to remain unchanged in length while still preventing unintentional actuation. This avoids the need for costly casting tool modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support means is pre-installed in the receiving seat base before the fluid container is assembled. This preliminary placement of the support function eliminates the need to modify the valve closing body itself, thereby avoiding costly tool re-production while achieving the safety goal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the support means is rounded on the valve closing body side with a point-like contact point, then friction with the valve closing body is reduced and incorrect actuation is minimized, but the design complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereduction of incorrect actuationVSAvoiddesign complexity of support means
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support means is designed with a rounded, spherical contact surface that provides point-like contact with the valve closing body. This curved geometry minimizes friction and contact area, reducing the risk of incorrect actuation while maintaining simple manufacturing through standard spherical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP3700787B1Fluid reservoir with a stop valve
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
  • EP3700787B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3700787B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a fluid reservoir (1) for supplying a consumer device (2) with a working fluid, comprising at least one connection piece (3) having a stop valve (7) arranged therein in order to prevent undesired leaking of the working fluid from the fluid reservoir (1). To increase the protection against undesired emptying of the fluid reservoir (1), the valve closing body (8) is accommodated in the fluid reservoir (1) completely within a contour formed by an outer edge (9) of the connection piece (3) when the stop valve (7) is closed, and a support means (10) is provided to support the valve closing body (8), which support means engages in the connection channel (5) at least in sections when the connection piece (3) is inserted into the accommodating seat (4) and, as a result, moves the valve closing body (8) in the connection channel (5).