Integrated Fuel Pump Pressure Regulator for Low-Part Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure regulators for fuel supply lines in engines have complex structures requiring many components, making them difficult to manufacture and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A simplified pressure regulator design featuring a first housing with a guide part, a second housing with a valve accommodating space, a valve that moves along the guide part, and an elastic member to maintain fluid flow, along with a filter to prevent foreign materials, reducing the number of components and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a prior pressure regulator is designed to operate precisely, then pressure regulation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to using a large number of parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated valve body that houses the valve mechanism, spring, and pressure regulation components within one piece. This merging of components maintains precise pressure regulation capability while significantly reducing the total number of parts compared to traditional pressure regulators that use separate bodies for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the structural housing, the pressure chamber, the guide for valve movement, and the mounting structure for the spring and valve. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function, reducing part count while maintaining regulatory precision.
2Reliability
If a prior pressure regulator uses a large number of parts, then pressure regulation accuracy is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the valve mechanism, spring assembly, and pressure regulation features into a single valve body component, the patent reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked. This significantly improves ease of manufacture while maintaining the precision required for accurate pressure regulation through careful design of the integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve body is designed with distinct functional zones and modular features that can be manufactured using standard machining or molding processes. The segmentation of functions within the single body allows for optimized manufacturing processes for each zone while maintaining overall integration, making production more efficient and easier to control for quality.
3Reliability
If a prior pressure regulator uses a large number of parts, then pressure regulation accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple components into a single valve body, reducing the total part count and associated costs for manufacturing, inventory, quality inspection, and assembly. The integrated design maintains pressure regulation accuracy through precise internal geometry and feature placement, eliminating the need for expensive multi-component assemblies while achieving the same functional performance.
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 simplified design allows for easier assembly and reduced manufacturing costs while maintaining fluid pressure regulation without part separation under fluid pressure, ensuring smooth operation and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member interposed between the valve and the first housing to bring the valve into close contact with the valve seating part
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a pressure regulator and a fuel pump module having the same, which may be easily assembled by including fewer components, the pressure regulator including: a first housing including a guide part positioned therein and guiding movement of a valve, and an outlet part communicating with an inner space thereof and discharging a fluid; a second housing coupled to the first housing, having a valve accommodating space, including a valve seating part, and including an inlet part introducing a fluid; a valve positioned in the valve accommodating space, and moved to thus open and close a fluid flow; and an elastic member interposed between the valve and the first housing to bring the valve into close contact with the valve seating part.