Fuel Gas Manifold Assembly with Intermediate Gas Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel gas manifold assemblies for internal combustion engines suffer from inefficiencies in fuel delivery and leakage, leading to suboptimal performance compared to prior art solutions.
Innovation Solution
A fuel gas manifold assembly with a gas-tight inner manifold and an outer enclosure forming an intermediate gas space, featuring a planar face wall with main and auxiliary openings for secure fuel outlet connections, and a converging section design for enhanced sealing and support, minimizing welding and maintaining high dimensional accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a double-walled structure with inner and outer channels is used for fuel gas supply, then fuel delivery efficiency is improved and leakage is reduced, but device complexity increases due to multiple components and assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the inner fuel gas manifold and outer enclosure into a single integrated component with unified walls that serve dual purposes: containing fuel gas internally and providing external structural support. This merging eliminates the need for separate inner and outer manifolds, reducing assembly steps while maintaining the double-walled leakage prevention functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified manifold structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: the walls provide both internal fuel containment and external structural support, the planar face wall serves as both a structural element and a mounting surface for fuel outlets, and the converging section provides both flow guidance and sealing support. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed.
2Reliability
If multiple welding operations are performed to ensure gas-tight seals, then reliability improves, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to heat load and dimensional changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealing functions into distinct locations: the planar face wall provides a precise mounting surface for fuel outlets with minimal welding, while the converging section provides a separate sealing zone. This segmentation allows each welding operation to be optimized for its specific function, reducing cumulative heat load and dimensional changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The planar face wall is designed with pre-formed mounting surfaces and opening locations that allow fuel outlets to be positioned and sealed with minimal welding. This preliminary preparation of sealing surfaces reduces the amount of welding required during final assembly, thereby preserving dimensional accuracy.
3Manufacturing precision
If a converging section design is used for sealing and support, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but device complexity increases due to additional geometric features
Solution Approach 1:
The converging section is implemented only in specific locations where sealing and support are critical, rather than throughout the entire manifold. This localized application maintains manufacturing precision where needed while minimizing the overall geometric complexity and material usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The converging section uses smooth curved transitions instead of sharp angles or complex geometries. This curved design maintains dimensional accuracy by distributing stress evenly and is easier to manufacture with standard forming processes, balancing geometric complexity with manufacturing precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
Invention relates to a fuel gas manifold assembly (14) configured to be used in an internal combustion piston engine, the fuel gas manifold assembly (14) comprising a gas tight fuel gas manifold (20) defining a longitudinal passage for fuel gas, a fuel gas inlet and a number of fuel gas outlets (24) along the longitudinal passage, the fuel gas manifold assembly (14) further comprising an outer enclosure (28) surrounding the fuel gas manifold (20) so as to provide a gas tight cover for the fuel gas manifold (20), and wherein an intermediate gas space is arranged between the inner fuel gas manifold (20) and the outer enclosure (28). The outer enclosure (28) is provided with a planar face wall (36) and that the planar face wall (36) is provided with a number of main openings (38) arranged at the fuel gas outlets of the manifold (20) in the enclosure and that there is arranged at least one auxiliary opening (48) next to each one of the main openings in the planar wall communicating with the intermediate gas space (30).