Dual-Casing Fuel Pulsation Damping for High-Pressure Injection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pulsation damping devices for vehicle components, particularly for fuel supply to powertrains, face issues such as mechanical stress, bulk, and limited effectiveness in damping noise and vibrations due to simple compression-decompression of gas pockets and inadequate design for high-pressure injection systems.

Innovation Solution

A pulsation damping device comprising two distinct casings with a first casing for damping liquid pulsations through a gas pocket formation and a second casing for liquid recovery, featuring specific inlet and outlet orientations, attachment means, and laser-welded polyamide shells to enhance structural integrity and noise reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a single chamber with bottom-directed fluid lines is used, then damping is achieved through simple gas pocket compression, but mechanical stress and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping mechanism simplicityVSAvoidmechanical stress resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into two separate chambers: a first chamber for receiving pulsating fluid and a second chamber for recovering fluid. This segmentation allows each chamber to be optimized independently, reducing mechanical stress on any single component while maintaining effective damping through the gas pocket compression mechanism in the first chamber.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If a single chamber design is used, then the structure is compact, but the device cannot support high-pressure injection systems requiring separate pump installation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidcompatibility with high-pressure injection systems
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the damping function (first chamber) from the recovery function (second chamber), the device can be integrated into high-pressure injection systems with separate pumps. The first chamber maintains compact damping while the second chamber provides dedicated recovery, enabling versatility without sacrificing compactness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second chamber acts as an intermediary between the high-pressure injection system and the fuel tank, providing a dedicated recovery path that allows the first chamber to focus on damping pulsations from the injection system without being compromised by recovery operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If fluid lines are directed to the bottom of the chamber, then the chamber structure is simplified, but the 180° fluid direction change causes mechanical stress and space issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechamber structure simplicityVSAvoidspace requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Dividing the device into two chambers with separate inlet/outlet configurations allows optimization of fluid flow paths in each chamber independently, reducing the need for sharp 180° direction changes while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second chamber is positioned separately from the first chamber, allowing fluid recovery to occur in a different spatial dimension rather than requiring 180° direction changes within the same chamber. This reduces mechanical stress and space requirements while maintaining effective fluid management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

The device effectively dampens pulsations and noise by utilizing a gas pocket in the first casing and a separate recovery system in the second casing, reducing mechanical stress and allowing for high-pressure fuel injection, while being compact and suitable for engine installation.

Implementation Method 1

the first casing has an upper part in which a pocket of gas can form above the received liquid, alternately compressed and decompressed by said pulsations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas compression and decompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3380714B1Device for damping surge in the supply of liquid to a vehicle component
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 RENAULT SA
  • EP3380714B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3380714B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3380714B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The device (10) for damping the surge in the supply of liquid to a vehicle component comprises a first housing (21) which comprises a supply inlet (22) for receiving the liquid and a supply outlet (23) for furnishing the liquid received to a pipe (11) supplying the component so as to damp the surge in the pipe (11). The device additionally comprises a second housing (31) distinct from the first housing and which comprises a collection inlet (32) to receive a portion of liquid not used by the component and a collection outlet (33) that allows the received portion of liquid to be reused.