Hybrid Module Venting Valve for Gas Release and Liquid Blocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vent valves for hybrid modules in motor vehicles fail to reliably discharge gases while preventing the ingress of liquid media, such as splash water, due to incomplete tightness and clogging issues, especially when the vehicle is at a low position.

Innovation Solution

A vent valve design featuring a first chamber with a sloping boundary wall for gas deflection and condensate drainage, combined with a second chamber equipped with a check valve and splash guard to prevent liquid entry, ensuring efficient gas evacuation and blocking liquid flow through a non-return valve mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate venting valve is integrated into the housing of a power supply module, then the module complexity increases and additional assembly steps are required, but the venting function is improved and thermal expansion can be accommodated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventing functionVSAvoidmodule complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The venting valve is integrated directly into the housing of the power supply module, merging the venting function with the existing housing structure. This eliminates the need for separate venting components and reduces overall assembly complexity while maintaining reliable thermal expansion venting capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If venting slots are provided in the housing, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but dust and dirt can enter the housing through the slots

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing processVSAvoiddust and dirt contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is designed with different local properties: certain areas have venting slots for thermal expansion relief, while other areas maintain solid sealed structures to prevent dust and dirt entry. The venting valve is positioned and configured to allow selective venting while maintaining protection against contaminants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the housing is made completely sealed to prevent dust entry, then protection against harmful factors is improved, but thermal expansion cannot be accommodated and may cause housing rupture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust protectionVSAvoidhousing integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The venting valve is designed to dynamically respond to internal pressure changes caused by thermal expansion. It remains closed during normal operation to maintain sealing, but automatically opens when pressure exceeds a threshold, allowing controlled release of expanding gases while preventing dust entry under normal conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The venting valve operates autonomously based on internal pressure conditions without requiring external control. When thermal expansion creates excessive pressure, the valve self-activates to release the pressure, protecting the housing from rupture while maintaining sealed protection against dust during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 vent valve effectively discharges gases and abrasion particles from the hybrid module housing while minimizing liquid ingress, ensuring reliable operation and durability with a cost-effective design.

Implementation Method 1

a resilient member biased in a first direction against the diaphragm... the resilient member returns to its initial state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3762640B1Venting valve and hybrid module
Publication Date: 2022.04.06 SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO KG
  • EP3762640B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a venting valve for venting a drive unit of a motor vehicle, in particular a hybrid module, and to the hybrid module which is equipped with the venting valve. The venting valve (1) serves for venting a drive unit of a motor vehicle, in particular a hybrid module. It comprises a first chamber (10) for configuring a first flow path (11) along a first flow direction (12), wherein the first chamber (10) has an arrangement side (14) for mechanical fixing on a housing (80) of the drive unit and, on the side which lies opposite the arrangement side (14), has an oblique boundary wall (30), the plane of which runs at an acute angle with respect to the first flow direction (12) and projects laterally beyond the first chamber (20), with the result that, in the case of a perpendicular orientation of the venting valve (1), gas which rises up through the first chamber (10) can be deflected by the oblique boundary wall (30), and condensate which adheres to the oblique boundary wall (30) can run off on the oblique boundary wall (30) and can drip off next to the first chamber (10). The venting valve which is proposed here ensures that gases which are present in a housing, possibly mixed with abrasion particles, can be discharged efficiently from the housing, and the entry of liquids through the venting valve can nevertheless be prevented.