Fuel Supply Device with Ball Joint and Compensating Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fuel supply devices for internal combustion engines and fuel cells face issues with optimal sealing due to manufacturing tolerances, leading to geometric defects such as coaxiality and alignment problems between the tube and connection interface.
Innovation Solution
A fuel supply device with a connection interface featuring a threaded portion, a nut with radial play, and a ring that compensates for coaxiality defects, along with a ball joint to allow for tilting and translation, ensuring a secure and aligned connection between the tube and the interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid connection device with fixed geometry is used to connect the tube and connection interface, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the sealing performance deteriorates due to manufacturing tolerances and coaxiality defects
Solution Approach 1:
The connection device incorporates elements that can change their geometric parameters during assembly. The ring can translate along the screw axis and the ball joint allows angular adjustment, enabling the connection to adapt to manufacturing tolerances and achieve proper sealing despite initial misalignments.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection device transitions from a static, rigid structure to a dynamic one with adjustable degrees of freedom. The ring's translational movement and the ball joint's rotational capability allow the system to self-adjust during the connection process, compensating for coaxiality defects and improving sealing reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If manufacturing tolerances are strictly controlled to eliminate coaxiality defects, then the sealing performance is improved, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to eliminate the harmful effect of manufacturing tolerances through stricter controls, the invention converts this tolerance into a beneficial feature. The ring's radial clearance and ball joint are designed to utilize the expected tolerance range, allowing the connection to self-align and achieve proper sealing without requiring ultra-precise manufacturing.
3Reliability
If the ring is constrained to fixed position relative to the nut, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the ability to compensate for misalignment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connection device is segmented into distinct functional elements: the nut for threading, the ring for radial clearance and alignment, and the ball joint for angular adjustment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, with the ring providing translational adjustment and the ball joint providing rotational adjustment, together achieving comprehensive misalignment compensation.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a fuel supply device comprising: - a connection interface (2), - a tube (4) connected to the connection interface by means of a connection device, in which the connection device comprises: - a nozzle (6) having a body (7) and a head (8) comprising a front end (9) and a rear end (10), - a nut (11) having a threaded nut portion (12), - a ring (16) situated around the body (7) of the nozzle (6) and inside the nut (11), the ring (16) comprising a first surface (17) in contact with the rear end (10), and a second surface (18) in contact with the bearing surface (15), in which the rear end (10) of the head (8) and the first surface (17) are configured to form a ball joint, and in which the channel comprises a guide surface (19).