Hydraulic Valve Body with Segmented Wall Thickness

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydraulic pressure control apparatuses with large wall thicknesses fail to meet modern demands for smaller and lighter components in automobiles, as they lack the necessary mechanical strength while being compact.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic pressure control apparatus with a single body design that integrates a first pressure regulating valve, a solenoid-operated valve, and a second pressure regulating valve, along with a relief valve, where the valve body and joining boss provide high mechanical strength while being reduced in size and weight, and the relief valve is designed for easy assembly and leak discharge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the valve body wall thickness is increased to ensure mechanical strength for high-pressure working oil, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the size and weight of the component increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The valve body is divided into multiple sections with different wall thicknesses. The wall thickness is increased only in specific areas where high mechanical strength is required (such as areas subjected to high pressure), while other areas maintain thinner walls to reduce overall weight and size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the valve body have different wall thicknesses tailored to their specific functional requirements. Critical areas experiencing high pressure or stress concentrations have thicker walls for strength, while non-critical areas have thinner walls to minimize weight, creating a non-uniform but optimized structural quality distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the valve body wall thickness is increased to ensure mechanical strength for high-pressure working oil, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the size of the component increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidsize

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The valve body is divided into multiple sections with different wall thicknesses. The wall thickness is increased only in specific areas where high mechanical strength is required (such as areas subjected to high pressure), while other areas maintain thinner walls to reduce overall weight and size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the valve body have different wall thicknesses tailored to their specific functional requirements. Critical areas experiencing high pressure or stress concentrations have thicker walls for strength, while non-critical areas have thinner walls to minimize weight, creating a non-uniform but optimized structural quality distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the relief valve is designed with easy assembly features, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The relief valve is integrated directly into the valve body as a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps. The relief valve features are molded or machined as part of the main valve body, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining ease of assembly through integration rather than additional components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 apparatus achieves high mechanical strength while being compact, allowing for efficient oil pressure regulation and protection against excessive pressure, thus meeting the requirements for smaller and lighter automotive components.

Implementation Method 1

a solenoid-operated valve supplied with an electric current and a reduced oil pressure, the solenoid-operated valve configured to convert the reduced oil pressure into a solenoid pressure in accordance with the supplied electric current

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolenoid: Solenoid

Implementation Method 2

a first pressure regulating valve configured to reduce an initial oil pressure of a working oil introduced from an inlet port

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure regulation: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS9234577B2Hydraulic pressure control apparatus

Publication Date: 2016.01.12 ASTEMO LTD

AI summary

A hydraulic pressure control apparatus includes a first pressure regulating valve for reducing an initial oil pressure of a working oil introduced from an inlet port, a solenoid-operated valve, and a second pressure regulating valve for converting the initial oil pressure of the working oil into an actuating pressure. The three valves share a single body. A joining boss and a relief valve, which is operable to release the working oil out of a passage in the body when the pressure of the working oil in the passage becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, are arranged on a closed end face of the body. The joining boss and the relief valve have respective upper surfaces that are covered by a cover.