Integrated Valve Seal Sleeve Assembly Simplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing arrangements for valve members in coolant circuits of internal combustion engines are complex to assemble and prone to leakage due to multiple potential leakage paths, and they require the same material for guide and sealing sleeves to maintain consistent sealing effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A sealing arrangement where the guide sleeve and sealing sleeve can have different materials, with a single-component guide tube and seal design that eliminates the need for a separate elastomeric sealing ring, using a biasing element to press the components together, and incorporating radial and axial seals for effective sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional sealing arrangement with guide sleeve, biasing element, elastomeric sealing ring, and sealing sleeve is used, then sealing effectiveness is achieved, but assembly becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the guide sleeve and sealing sleeve into a single integrated component with a T-shaped cross-section. The guide portion and sealing portion are merged into one piece, eliminating the need for separate assembly of guide sleeve and sealing sleeve. This reduces the number of parts from 4 (guide sleeve, biasing element, elastomeric sealing ring, sealing sleeve) to 3 (integrated sleeve, biasing element, O-ring), thereby simplifying assembly while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The O-ring is nested within the groove of the integrated sleeve component. The biasing element is positioned within the assembly to exert force on the integrated sleeve. This nested arrangement allows compact packaging of multiple functional elements within a confined space, reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining all necessary sealing functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different materials are used for guide sleeve and sealing sleeve, then material optimization for stability and sealing is possible, but uniform thermal expansion is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated sleeve is designed with different material properties in different regions. The guide portion (first region) and sealing portion (second region) can have different material compositions optimized for their specific functions. The guide portion may prioritize dimensional stability and wear resistance, while the sealing portion may prioritize elasticity and sealing performance. This local differentiation of material properties allows optimization for each function while maintaining a single integrated component structure.
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
Simplifies the assembly process, reduces the risk of errors, and maintains effective sealing across varying temperature conditions while allowing for the use of materials optimized for stability and sealing performance.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing element for pushing the guide sleeve and the sealing sleeve apart in an axial direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a seal assembly (12), in particular for sealing a passage between a fluid supply channel (14) and a valve element (16), having a guide sleeve (18) for sealing against the fluid supply channel (14), a seal sleeve (20) for sealing against the valve element (16), said seal sleeve being movable in an axial direction (26) relative to the guide sleeve (18), and a pretensioning element (22) for pressing the guide sleeve (18) and the seal sleeve (20) away from each other in the axial direction (26). The guide sleeve (18) additionally has a guide tube (28) made of a first material and a seal (30) made of a second material. The seal (30) is designed to seal the guide tube (28) against the seal sleeve (20) and/or against the fluid supply channel (14). The seal (30) is additionally rigidly connected to the guide tube (28).