Membrane Pressure Damper Structure for Compact Fluid Circuits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current pressure damping devices for fluid circuits, particularly fuel circuits in vehicles, face limitations in efficiently damping high-pressure fluctuations while maintaining a compact size and operational efficiency across varying temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A pressure damping device with a one-piece body, an elastically deformable membrane, and a spring system, where the membrane support member and cup dimensions are optimized to allow significant membrane deformation, enhancing damping efficiency while maintaining a compact design and autonomous operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a spring is added to the cavity to enhance pressure damping in high-pressure circuits, then pressure damping performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure damping performanceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support member serves dual functions: it provides structural support for the membrane and acts as a spring element for pressure damping. By combining the support function and spring function into a single integrated component, the device achieves improved pressure damping performance without adding separate spring components, thus avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The support member is designed as a multi-functional element that simultaneously provides mechanical support for the membrane and delivers pressure damping through its elastic properties. This universal component performs multiple functions (support + damping) within a single element, resolving the contradiction between enhanced performance and device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the membrane support member height is increased to improve membrane deformation capacity, then damping efficiency is improved, but device volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping efficiencyVSAvoiddevice volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The support member's geometric parameters (height, diameter, wall thickness) are optimized to achieve the desired membrane deformation capacity and damping efficiency within a compact volume. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the device maintains high damping efficiency without requiring excessive height, thus controlling overall device volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The membrane is designed as a thin, flexible element that can undergo significant deformation with minimal support structure height. The flexible nature of the membrane allows it to achieve the required deformation capacity without needing a tall support member, thereby maintaining a compact device volume while preserving damping efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 device effectively regulates pressure variations and reduces noise in fluid circuits, operating efficiently at both low and high pressures and temperatures, with improved damping performance due to the optimized membrane deformation and spring compression mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

an elastically deformable membrane interposed between the body and the cover, the membrane having a generally circular shape and comprising a central part which has a constant thickness

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

it generally also includes a spring which is housed in the cavity of the cover and which bears on the membrane by means of a cup

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring compression: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP4249787B1Pressure damping device for a fluid circuit
Publication Date: 2024.06.12 HUTCHINSON SA
  • EP4249787B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4249787B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4249787B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Pressure damping device (10) for a fluid circuit, this device comprising: - a lower body (12) having fluid inlet and outlet ports (12a, 12b), - an upper cover (14) fixed on the body (12), - an elastically deformable membrane (16) interposed between the body (12) and the cover (14), - a circular cup (50) disposed on the membrane (16), and - a spring (48) interposed between the cup (50) and a bottom (36a) of the cover in which the body (12) includes a support member (32) for the membrane (16), this support member (32) being projecting on the first bottom (18a) and having a free upper end on which the membrane (16) is able to rest.