Fuel Pump Valve Noise Reduction via Magnetic Deceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-pressure fuel pumps in fuel supply apparatuses often generate operation noise due to the collision of movable components, which can be significant and disturbing to occupants.
Innovation Solution
A fuel supply apparatus with a movable portion that uses a coil to apply magnetic attractive force, controlled by a drive circuit to manipulate the movable portion from an open to a closed position using a small driving current, and then switches to a larger current to ensure smooth closure, reducing noise by controlling the start point and drive voltage for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the movable portion is moved to the closed position by being applied with biasing force from a spring, then the inlet valve is opened, but operation noise occurs when the movable portion collides against another component
Solution Approach 1:
The coil is energized in advance before the movable portion reaches the closed position to apply magnetic attractive force that decelerates the movable portion. This preliminary action prevents the collision that would otherwise occur when the spring-biased movable portion reaches the closed position, thereby reducing operation noise while maintaining proper inlet valve operation.
2Reliability
If the coil is energized to move the movable portion to the closed position, then the inlet valve closes, but large current consumption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The coil is energized periodically with a drive signal that has a specific duty cycle, providing magnetic attractive force only during the necessary portion of the movement cycle. This periodic energization reduces overall current consumption compared to continuous energization, while still achieving reliable inlet valve closing through the combined effect of spring force and timed magnetic attraction.
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 solution effectively reduces operation noise and maintains pumping performance by smoothly closing the inlet valve, ensuring quieter operation without compromising fuel discharge efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a coil portion for applying magnetic attractive force to the movable portion
Data Source
AI summary
A movable portion is movable from a closed position, in which the movable portion is in contact with a valve element, to an opened position so as to supply fuel from a fuel portion to a compression chamber through a fuel passage. A drive control unit supplies of a small driving current, which is sufficient to maintain the movable portion at the closed position, to a coil portion so as to move the movable portion from the opened position to the closed position. The drive control unit switches the supply of the small driving current to supply of the large driving current in the course of the movement of the movable portion to the closed position by supplying the small driving current.