Fuel Pump Inlet Valve Housing for Environmental Liquid Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel pumps with inlet valve assemblies are susceptible to environmental fluid exposure, leading to potential degradation and undesired operation due to liquids like rainwater or saltwater seeping into the components, compromising their functionality.
Innovation Solution
A fuel pump design featuring an inner housing sealed to the fuel pump housing, an outer housing surrounding the inner housing, and elastomer sealing rings to prevent external liquids from reaching the inlet valve assembly, combined with a solenoid assembly and additional sealing mechanisms to maintain operational integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the inlet valve assembly extends outside the fuel pump housing to enable solenoid operation for fuel delivery control, then fuel delivery control capability is improved, but exposure to environmental liquids increases leading to component degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the inlet valve assembly inside a protective housing that extends beyond the fuel pump housing. This inner housing contains the solenoid and inlet valve components, creating a nested structure where the valuable components are protected within an outer shell that shields them from environmental liquids while allowing the assembly to extend outward for functional operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary protective housing between the inlet valve assembly and the external environment. This intermediate structure acts as a barrier that prevents direct contact between environmental liquids and the sensitive components, while still allowing the inlet valve assembly to perform its fuel delivery control function.
2Reliability
If sealing arrangements are provided between the inlet valve assembly and fuel pump housing to prevent fuel leakage, then sealing performance is improved, but complexity of the assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible sealing elements including O-rings and elastomeric sealing rings that conform to the mating surfaces between the inlet valve assembly and fuel pump housing. These flexible sealing components provide reliable seals while accommodating minor manufacturing variations and thermal expansion, maintaining sealing performance without requiring complex rigid sealing structures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If additional protective housings and sealing rings are added to prevent liquid intrusion, then protection against environmental factors is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a nested structure where an inner protective housing containing the inlet valve assembly is placed within an outer housing. This nested arrangement provides multiple levels of protection against environmental liquids while maintaining a compact overall structure, as the protective elements are integrated rather than added as separate external components.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it shields the inlet valve assembly from environmental liquids, provides structural support, and incorporates sealing surfaces for the elastomeric sealing rings. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate protective components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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
Minimizes the likelihood of external liquids reaching critical components, ensuring reliable operation and preventing degradation, while also suppressing vibrations and noise transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing ring which is made of an elastomer material and which is annular in shape and located within the annular chamber such that the sealing ring is compressed axially against the fuel pump housing and the outer housing
Implementation Method 2
an inlet valve assembly which selectively provides fluid communication between an inlet of the fuel pump and the pumping chamber and selectively prevents fluid communication between the inlet of the fuel pump and the pumping chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A fuel pump (18) comprising a fuel pump housing (28) with a pumping chamber (38) defined therein and an inlet valve bore (28a) extending along an inlet valve bore axis (28b) to an exterior of said fuel pump housing (28). A pumping plunger (34) reciprocates within a plunger bore such that an intake stroke of said pumping plunger (34) increases volume of said pumping chamber (38) and a compression stroke of said pumping plunger (34) decreases volume of said pumping chamber (38). An inlet valve assembly (40) selectively provides and prevents fluid communication between an inlet (20a) of the fuel pump (18) and the pumping chamber (38). The inlet valve assembly (40) includes an inner housing (82) received within the inlet valve bore (28a) such that an outer periphery of the inner housing (82) is sealed to an inner periphery of the inlet valve bore (28a). An outer housing (94) circumferentially surrounds the inner housing (82). An annular chamber (96) is defined radially between the inner housing (82) and the outer housing (94) and axially between the outer housing (94) and the pump housing (28). A sealing ring (98) is located within the annular chamber (96) such that the sealing ring (98) is compressed axially against the pump housing (28) and the outer housing (94).