High-Pressure Fuel Pump Suction Chamber Elastic Closure

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-pressure fuel pumps face challenges with pressure pulsations due to the need for separate, elastically deformable membranes, which complicate production and assembly.

Innovation Solution

The use of an elastically deformable bottom area of a closure element integrated into the pump housing eliminates the need for additional components, simplifying manufacturing and assembly by allowing the closure element to absorb or release volume and reduce pressure fluctuations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a separate membrane is used in the suction chamber to reduce pressure pulsations, then pressure pulsations are reduced, but production and assembly become expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure pulsationsVSAvoidproduction and assembly cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the membrane function with the closure element by making the bottom area of the closure element elastically deformable. This integration eliminates the need for a separate membrane component, thereby reducing production and assembly costs while maintaining the pressure pulsation reduction function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The closure element is designed to serve multiple functions: it closes the suction chamber and simultaneously acts as a pressure pulsation reduction mechanism through its elastically deformable bottom area. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated pressure pulsation reduction components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If separate membranes are used in the suction chamber to reduce pressure pulsations, then pressure pulsations are reduced, but production and assembly become complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure pulsationsVSAvoidproduction and assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the membrane function into the closure element structure itself. The bottom area of the closure element is designed to be elastically deformable, integrating the pressure pulsation reduction function into an existing component and simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The closure element performs dual functions: mechanical closure of the suction chamber and dynamic pressure pulsation reduction through elastic deformation. This eliminates the need for separate membrane components and reduces assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the bottom area of the closure element is made elastically deformable to reduce pressure pulsations, then pressure pulsations are reduced, but the closure element structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure pulsationsVSAvoidclosure element structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making only the bottom area of the closure element elastically deformable while keeping the rest of the closure element structure rigid. This localized elasticity provides pressure pulsation reduction functionality without significantly increasing the overall structural complexity of the closure element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameter of the bottom area from rigid to elastically deformable. This parameter change enables the bottom area to dynamically respond to pressure variations, reducing pressure pulsations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 approach simplifies the production and assembly of high-pressure fuel pumps by eliminating the need for separate membranes, effectively reducing pressure pulsations and improving the pump's operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

at least the bottom area (72) of the closure element (64) is designed to be elastically deformable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3061967B1Pump, in particular high-pressure fuel pump
Publication Date: 2018.08.15 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3061967B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3061967B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3061967B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A pump, in particular a high-pressure fuel pump, is proposed, comprising at least one pump element (10) with a pump piston (12) driven in a stroke motion, which defines a pump working chamber (14) within a housing part (16) of the pump. The pump element (10) has an inlet valve (24) through which the pump working chamber (18) can be connected to an inlet (26) for the pumped medium. The inlet (26) opens into a suction chamber (42, 66, 68) defined by the housing part (16) and a closure element (64) connected to the housing part (16). The closure element (64) is elastically deformable, at least in certain areas, such that the volume of the suction chamber (42, 66, 68) can be changed by elastic deformation of the closure element (64).