Fuel Pump Partially Annular Duct Angular Range Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fuel pumps used in motor vehicles generate significant noise due to the rapid change in cross-sectional area of the partially annular duct, which does not allow sufficient time for the circulation flow to adjust, leading to increased noise emissions.

Innovation Solution

Extending the angular range over which the cross-sectional area of the partially annular duct is reduced from 40° to 70° to 150°, allowing more time for the circulation flow to shift and reducing noise emissions, with channel designs that can be produced using existing machining processes without significant additional effort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the cross-sectional area of the partially annular duct is reduced over a short angular range (40°), then the pump structure is compact, but the circulation flow does not have sufficient time to adjust, resulting in high noise emissions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise emissionsVSAvoidangular range of duct
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameter of the partially annular duct by extending the angular range from 40° to 70°-150°. This parameter modification allows the circulation flow sufficient time to adjust to the changing cross-sectional area, thereby reducing noise emissions without requiring fundamental design changes to the pump structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a dynamic transition zone where the cross-sectional area of the partially annular duct is gradually reduced over an extended angular range. This creates a smooth, dynamic flow path that allows the circulation flow to adapt progressively to area changes, preventing sudden flow disturbances that generate noise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the cross-sectional area is reduced uniformly over an extended angular range (70° to 150°), then noise emissions are reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise emissionsVSAvoidmachining effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the partially annular duct to achieve a uniform cross-sectional area reduction over an extended angular range. This parameter change creates a linearly tapered duct geometry that can be manufactured using standard machining operations, balancing noise reduction with manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies a specific geometric configuration to the partially annular duct where the cross-sectional area reduction is distributed uniformly over the extended angular range. This local geometric modification is implemented only in the critical noise-generating region, leaving the rest of the pump structure unchanged and easy to manufacture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design significantly reduces noise emissions from the fuel pump while maintaining low production costs, as the elongated outlet zone provides sufficient time for the circulation flow to adjust, stabilizing the flow and minimizing noise at critical areas.

Implementation Method 1

The guide vanes in the pumping chambers generate a circulation flow running transversely to the direction of movement of the guide vanes, which flows out in the radially outer area of the impeller and into the partially annular duct, flows in the partially annular duct from radially outside to radially inside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCirculation flow: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2513483B1Fuel pump
Publication Date: 2016.05.25 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP2513483B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2513483B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a fuel pump, comprising a driven impeller, which rotates in a pump housing and on the two sides comprises guide blades that each delimit a ring of blade chambers, and further comprising partial ring-shaped channels, which are arranged on both sides in the region of the guide blades in the pump housing and which form delivery chambers with the blade chambers for delivering fuel, wherein an inlet channel leads into the one delivery chamber and the other delivery chamber leads into an outlet channel, and mutually opposing blade chambers are connected to each other. The cross-sectional surface of the partial ring-shaped channel arranged on the inlet side decreases toward the end of the partial ring-shaped channel to zero, wherein the region in which the cross-sectional surface decreases extends over an angular region of more than 45°.