High-Pressure Fuel Pump Welding Structure for Flexible Component Layout

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in high pressure fuel supply pumps is that the product structure constraints interfere with high energy density beam welding, limiting the freedom of arrangement and making it difficult to join components effectively, as the irradiation angle of the laser is restricted.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves a high pressure fuel supply pump design that allows for improved freedom of arrangement of functional components by using a welding structure with an air gap and oblique laser irradiation, preventing interference and ensuring reliable connection without stress concentration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If high energy density beam welding is performed radially from the outside, then joining strength is improved, but product structure constraints cause interference between the beam and product making joining difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejoining strengthVSAvoidease of joining
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of irradiating the laser beam from the radial outside direction, the patent inverts the approach by irradiating from the axial direction (from the end surface side). This allows the laser beam to pass through the air gap and irradiate the joining surface without interference from product structures, resolving the contradiction between achieving strong joining and avoiding beam-product interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an air gap as an intermediary space between the functional component and the pump body. This air gap serves as a mediator that allows the laser beam to pass through freely during welding while maintaining the structural integrity and functional separation of components, thus enabling easy joining without beam interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the irradiation angle of the laser is adjusted to avoid interference, then ease of joining is improved, but the freedom degree of arrangement of functional components is limited due to laser welding characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of joiningVSAvoidfreedom degree of arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the dimension of laser irradiation from radial (horizontal) to axial (vertical). By irradiating from the axial direction through the air gap, the laser can reach the joining surface regardless of the functional component's radial position, thus improving ease of joining while maintaining freedom of arrangement in the radial direction.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The air gap acts as an intermediary that decouples the laser irradiation path from the functional component arrangement. Components can be freely positioned radially while the laser beam passes through the air gap axially to perform welding, achieving both ease of joining and adaptability in component arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If functional components are firmly fixed to prevent leakage, then reliability is improved, but stress concentration occurs at the joined portion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidstrength at joined portion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The air gap serves as a stress-distributing intermediary between the functional component and pump body. The laser welding through the air gap creates a distributed weld pattern around the periphery rather than a concentrated central weld, dispersing stress and preventing stress concentration while maintaining sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The joining structure is segmented into multiple peripheral weld points distributed around the air gap circumference, rather than a single continuous weld. This segmentation distributes the mechanical stress across multiple locations, preventing stress concentration while maintaining the sealing function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 enhances the freedom of arrangement and reliability of functional components, preventing interference and ensuring secure connections while maintaining the structural integrity and efficiency of the high pressure fuel supply pump.

Implementation Method 1

laser welding or electron beam welding radially from the outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser welding: Laser Beam Welding

Implementation Method 2

irradiating the abutting portion with a high energy density beam radially from the outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHigh energy density beam irradiation: Laser

Data Source

PatentEP3578802B1High-pressure fuel supply pump
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 ASTEMO LTD
  • EP3578802B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3578802B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3578802B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a high pressure fuel supply pump in which the degree of freedom in the arrangement of a functional component is improved and reliability of a connection portion of the functional component is improved. The high pressure fuel supply pump includes: a pump body; a functional component attached to the pump body; a welded portion that fixes the functional component to the pump body; and an air gap formed by the welded portion, the pump body, and the functional component at a tip of a welding direction of the welded portion, in which a straight line connecting a middle of an entrance surface in the welding direction of the welded portion and a middle of an exit surface forming the air gap is formed so as to head from a radially outside to a radially inside of the functional component as heading toward an attachment direction in an axis direction of the functional component.